Spellscale Bard

CHARACTER OPTIONS

110

Table 6–11: Kobold Rogue Racial Substitution Levels Base Attack Fort Ref Will

Level Bonus Save Save Save Special

1st +0 +0 +2 +0 Rapid retreat, shrewd trapfinding +2, sneak attack +1d6 3rd +2 +1 +3 +1 Improved trap sense +2, shrewd trapfi nding +4, sneak attack +2d6 8th +6/+1 +2 +6 +2 Evasive skitter, shrewd trapfinding +6

a cumulative +2 competence bonus on Search checks to fi nd traps and on Disable Device checks to disarm traps. This bonus is lost if the kobold rogue does not have a number of ranks in Craft (trapmaking) equal to or greater than her rogue class level. This substitution feature alters but does not replace the standard rogue’s trapfi nding class feature.

Improved Trap Sense (Ex): At 3rd level, a kobold rogue gains an intuitive sense that alerts her to danger from traps. This is the same as the rogue’s trap sense class feature, except that the bonus granted on Refl ex saves and to AC is +2 instead of +1. A kobold rogue’s trap sense continues to improve at the normal rate (to +3 at 6th level, +4 at 9th, and so on). This extra bonus is lost, reducing the kobold rogue’s trap sense bonus to the normal rogue value if the kobold rogue does not have a number of ranks in Craft (trapmaking) equal to or greater than her rogue class level. This substitution feature augments the standard rogue’s trap sense class feature.

Evasive Skitter (Ex): A kobold rogue who takes the 8th-level racial substitution level gains the ability to move out of the area of dangerous spells and effects. A kobold rogue who succeeds on a Refl ex save against a spell or effect gains the normal benefi t for the successful save, and she can choose to move out of the area of the spell or effect. She must take the shortest path available to her, and she can’t move farther than her speed. If more than one path of equal distance is available, she can choose which path to use. If no such path is available, the kobold rogue can’t use this ability. This movement provokes attacks of opportunity as normal for movement.

Example: A kobold rogue with a speed of 30 feet is within the area of a fi reball spell. She successfully saves against the spell, so she takes no damage from the blast and can move out of the spell’s area by the shortest route available. This substitution feature replaces the standard 8th-level rogue’s improved uncanny dodge class feature.

SPELLSCALE BARD

Despite their inclination for sorcery, spellscales make excellent bards, exploiting their racial affi nity for arcane magic and superior charm. However, knowledge of arcane mysteries remains an important part of a spellscale bard’s abilities.

Hit Die: d6.

Requirements

To take a spellscale bard substitution level, a character must be a spellscale about to take his 1st, 3rd, or 6th level of bard. Class Skills

Spellscale bard substitution levels have the class skills of the standard bard class.

Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + Int modifi er (or four times this number as a beginning character).

Class Features

All the following are features of the spellscale bard racial substitution levels.

Draconic Bardic Knowledge (Ex): A spellscale bard has special interest in events, items, and individuals important to dragons. Upon taking the 1st-level racial substitution level, a spellscale bard’s keen interest in dragon lore grants him a +5 competence bonus on any bardic knowledge check related to dragons, so long as he maintains a number of ranks in Knowledge (arcana) equal to or greater than his bard class level.

Inspire Arcana (Su): Beginning at 3rd level, a spellscale bard can spend one daily use of bardic music to make a single allied arcane spellcaster more powerful. To use this ability, a spellscale bard must have 3 or more ranks in Perform and a number of ranks in Knowledge (arcana) equal to or greater than his bard class level. The ally must be within 30 feet of and able to see and hear the spellscale bard, and the bard must be able to see the ally. As long as the chosen arcane spellcaster continues to hear the bard’s performance, she casts her arcane spells with a +1 bonus to her caster level. The effect lasts as long as the spellscale bard concentrates, up to a maximum of 2 minutes. A bard can’t inspire arcana upon himself. Inspire arcana is a mindaffecting ability. This substitution feature replaces the standard bard’s inspire competence class feature.

Superior Suggestion (Sp): A spellscale bard who takes the 6th-level racial substitution level draws on his knowledge of his sorcerous ancestors to enhance his suggestion ability. So long as he maintains a number of ranks in Knowledge (arcana) equal to or greater than his bard class level, a spellscale bard gains a +2 bonus on the save DC whenever he uses his suggestion bardic music ability. This substitution feature augments the standard bard’s suggestion class feature, and it replaces the 2nd-level spell slot gained by a standard bard at 6th level. From 6th level on, a spellscale bard who takes this substitution level can cast one less 2nd-level spell per day than shown on Table 3–4 (PH 27).

Table 6–12: Spellscale Bard Racial Substitution Levels Base Attack Fort Ref Will

Level Bonus Save Save Save Special Spellcasting

1st +0 +0 +2 +2 Bardic music, draconic bardic knowledge, Same as bard countersong, fascinate, inspire courage +1 3rd +2 +1 +3 +3 Inspire arcana Same as bard 6th +4 +2 +5 +5 Superior suggestion One less 2nd-level spell; see text