Lettered Bard (Apath)
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The lettered bard is an educated songsmith and spellcaster, composing and using songs and magic much like a wizard does.
Class Information
This is a bard archetype
Publisher: Trailseeker magazine.
Hit Die: d8.
Class Features
This archetype has all normal class deatures, except as noted.
Spells
Lettered bards have Intelligence as their spellcasting attribute. To learn, prepare, or cast a spell, the lettered bard must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a lettered bard's spell is 10 + the spell level + the lettered bard's Intelligence modifier.
A lettered bard can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His base daily spell allotment is given on Table: The bard. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Intelligence score (see Table: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Spells).
A lettered bard prepares spells from a spellbook, much like a wizard does. He does not use the Spells Known table for bards, and may know any number of spells. He must choose and prepare his spells ahead of time by getting 8 hours of sleep and spending 1 hour studying his spellbook. While studying, the lettered bard decides which spells to prepare.
A first-level lettered bard knows four level zero spells and two level 1 spells. In addition, he has learned a number of additional level zero and level one spells each equal to his Intelligence bonus (if positive). For each level gained, the lettered bard adds one spell of any level she can cast to her spellbook for free; this represents personal research on the part of the lettered bard. Further spells are acquired the same way wizards do, by scribing.
The spellbook of a lettered bard is more of a collection of notes and lyrics than the arcane notations in a wizard's spellbook, but as far as they share spell lists, wizards and lettered bards can still copy each others' spellbooks. A lettered bard can also copy a spell from an arcane scroll or be tutored by another spellcaster, most commonly a normal bard.
A lettered bard can learn and use the Spell Mastery feat, just like a wizard can. Like a wizard, a lettered bard can prepare read magic from memory alone.
Cantrips
Lettered bards can prepare a number of cantrips, or 0-level spells, each day, as noted on Table: Bard Spells Known under “Spells Known.” These spells are cast like any other spell, but they are not expended when cast and may be used again. Note that the meaning of this table entry has changed from cantrips known to cantrips that can be prepared each day.
Table: Lettered Bard
| Class Level |
Base Attack Bonus |
Fort Save |
Ref Save |
Will Save |
Special | Spells per Day | ||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||||
| 1st | +0 | +0 | +2 | +2 | Bardic knowledge, bardic performance, cantrips, countersong, distraction, fascinate, inspire courage +1 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd | +1 | +0 | +3 | +3 | Versatile performance, well-versed | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd | +2 | +1 | +3 | +3 | Inspire competence +2 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +4 | — | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| 5th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +4 | Inspire courage +2, lore master 1/day | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| 6th | +4 | +2 | +5 | +5 | Suggestion, versatile performance | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| 7th | +5 | +2 | +5 | +5 | Inspire competence +3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 8th | +6/+1 | +2 | +6 | +6 | Dirge of doom | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 9th | +6/+1 | +3 | +6 | +6 | Inspire greatness | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
| 10th | +7/+2 | +3 | +7 | +7 | Jack-of-all-trades, versatile performance | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — |
| 11th | +8/+3 | +3 | +7 | +7 | Inspire competence +4, inspire courage +3, lore master 2/day | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — |
| 12th | +9/+4 | +4 | +8 | +8 | Soothing performance | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — |
| 13th | +9/+4 | +4 | +8 | +8 | — | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 14th | +10/+5 | +4 | +9 | +9 | Frightening tune, versatile performance | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — |
| 15th | +11/+6/+1 | +5 | +9 | +9 | Inspire competence +5, inspire heroics | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — |
| 16th | +12/+7/+2 | +5 | +10 | +10 | Jack-of-all-trades (class skills) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 17th | +12/+7/+2 | +5 | +10 | +10 | Inspire courage +4, lore master 3/day | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 18th | +13/+8/+3 | +6 | +11 | +11 | Mass suggestion, versatile performance | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 19th | +14/+9/+4 | +6 | +11 | +11 | Inspire competence +6, jack-of-all-trades (take 10) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| 20th | +15/+10/+5 | +6 | +12 | +12 | Deadly performance | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Summary of Changed Class Abilities
These abilities of the original class are lost or modified in this archetype:
- Spells
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