ROGUE - BARD Thespian Kit Description: Of all the types of bards, Thespians put the most time and energy into their performances. Thespians are actors, displaying their talents in plays, skits, and dramatic productions. Some even perform in streets or village squares. When a Thespian is not acting, he or she is likely writing scripts or reading for upcoming parts. They rarely travel from town to town unless they are on an acting 'tour', and even at such times they often return to their established home, where they may belong to a local actors' guild and take part in regularly scheduled performances to enhance their reputation and keep their name and face in the public eye. Occasionally, Thespians are secretly hired to serve as spies or to act as a 'body double' for a person who has been killed or kidnapped (or is away on secret errands or other personal business). The adventuring Thespian is unusual, though some take up the profession as 'field research' to help them in developing their acting skills or really "getting into a role". Some, of course, crave the adventuring life just for the constant thrills that it offers, looking upon the profession as part of the "Great Play of Life" and going to any length to mold adventures in which they take part into a dramatic production, with themselves as the stars. Weapons & Armor: As a standard Bard, but Thespians gain the ability to use any type of armor or shield (see Special Benefits: Stage Dressing). Thief Abilities: Bribe Official, Detect Illusion, Detect Noise, Pick Pockets, Read Languages Special Benefits: A Thespian's consummate skill at acting and stage theatrics grants him or her several special abilities: Entertainment: As a standard Bard, but they can apply their bonus to non-weapon proficiencies to any of their Bonus or Preferred Proficiencies, not merely those used directly in a performance. General Acting: Thespians are masterful actors. Using this ability ,they can act as if a light blow was fatal, pretend to faint, or exaggerate or disguise their abilities or personal characteristics. These skills are required on stage, but they are also very useful during adventuring. This acting ability acts in much the same way as an illusion spell but requires a successful Acting proficiency check. If the check succeeds and those observing the Thespian have no real reason to be suspicious, they will believe the act without question. If an observer is skeptical, that creature may attempt a saving throw vs. spell with a penalty of -1 per three levels of the Thespian (rounding down). If the saving throw succeeds, the observer realizes that the Thespian is merely acting; otherwise, they accept the act. The level of suspicion held by an observer is usually a factor of its Intelligence score (with more intelligent creatures more likely to be skeptical) and how plausible the act is (e.g., acting the part of a famous and powerful wizard or noble is more likely to draw skepticism than pretending to fall dead when struck by an ogre's club). Thespians also learn a smattering of pseudomagical words and gestures and can use these to act convincingly as though he or she can cast powerful spells. To put on such a performance, the Thespian must be easily viewed by all who will be affected as he or she chants arcane words, gestures dramatically, and tosses 'magical' powders and 'components' about in the direction of the intended targets of the 'spell'. After one round of such paramystical gesticulation, the Thespian must make a Magecraft proficiency check. If successful, one target per level of the Thespian must make a morale check or flee in terror for 2d4 rounds from the terrifying 'magical power' of the Thespian. Note that creatures with less than Low (5-7) Intelligence or who are immune to fear cannot be affected by this ability, nor can other player characters (who have no morale score). Language Lore: As a standard Bard. Leadership & Influence: As a standard Bard. Observe Motions: As actors, Thespians are trained to observe the motions of others. Usually, they use this skill to see cues from fellow actors during a performance. However, this ability also allows them to predict the movements of opponents during combat. This attentiveness to small motions and body language grants Thespians a -1 bonus to initiative rolls and a +1 bonus to avoid surprise. Further, in any round that a Thespian wins initiative, he or she gains a +2 bonus to Armor Class and saving throws and a +1 bonus to attack rolls against any opponent that he or she can see. They also gain a +4 bonus to saving throws vs. illusions, as they are more attuned than other characters to the subtle clues that give away an illusion's unreality. Rumor & Legend: As a standard Bard. Stage Dressing: Since they are actors, Thespians spend a lot of time practicing with all types of weapons in order to make fight scenes during their plays realistic. Hence, a Thespian can use any weapon nonproficiently with only a -2 penalty; however, they do not spend enough time in study in weapons to become proficient with more than a scant few of the most common theatrical weapons. Hence, all 1st level Thespians begin with Narrow Group Proficiency in Short Blades, but they never gain additional weapon proficiencies thereafter. Similarly, their experience with wearing all types of armor in the course of their stage acting grants Thespians skill with armor and shield that far exceeds that of other Bards. Thus, they can wear all types of armor and use any type of shield and gain full defensive benefits from it. However, though they know how to use such items to advantage they are not comfortable wearing it or maneuvering in it for long periods, suffering double the normal Dexterity check penalty for wearing heavy armor or using a heavy shield. Special Hindrances: Thespians are masterful performers, adept in a variety of skills, but they focus their attention and skill to perfecting their natural art and talent. They feel that true talent must be unaugmented with supernatural powers, that the use of magic in their art is "cheating". Thus, they do not care to learn the secrets of Performance Magic that other Bards learn. Also, though they gain the ability to use magical scrolls and other written magical items at 10th level, they will never use these in their artistic performances. Bonus Proficiencies: Acting, Disguise, Display Weapon Prowess, Magecraft Preferred Proficiencies: Artistic Ability, Carpentry, Crowd Working, Dancing, Etiquette, Grooming, Jumping, Language (any), Musical Instrument, Poetry, Reading Lips, Reading/Writing, Seamstress/Tailor, Singing, Spellcraft, Tumbling, Ventriloquism, Weaving ***DISCLAIMER*** As with all postings by me of classes or races, it should be noted that portions of the information contained herein were inspired by or derived from information in published works of TSR, Inc., and may contain references to those works, quotations or passages of text (especially in the area of 'Character Description', where applicable sections from TSR works were often carried over more or less intact into my campaign world), or particular powers or abilities invented by TSR staff writers. No relationship with TSR, Inc., is to be implied by this use, nor is any attempt being made to solicit profit or remuneration of any kind. I have read the TSR Online Policy document, and have tried to accommodate the stipulations contained therein. In instances where I have lifted an essentially complete class or race without significant alteration, I have not included these in my postings but instead have inserted a reference to the appropriate D&D sourcebook for those curious in including it in their campaign. Only variations that include a significant component of original work, alteration, or reformulation (including the compositing elements from various TSR sources into new combinations) of have been included in this set of postings. Jason Eric Nelson < tjaden@u.washington.edu >