ROGUE - BARD Minstrel Kit Description: Minstrels spend their entire lives seeking musical perfection. Of course, the definition of perfection varies from one culture to the next, but in general Minstrels believe that music should be simple, pure, beautiful, and natural. Further, they tend to believe that those who listen should become lost in the music, letting their spirits ride on the sweet flow of glittering notes. Within many societies (particularly among elves), Minstrels are regarded as equal in many respects with the nobility and frequently hold honored posts in royal courts or grand annual balls, banquets, and festivals. Minstrels occasionally break out of the simply entertainer's life and take up adventuring, some to seek life-experience to add depth to their music and some simply to wander and relish the sensation of freedom that inspires their music. Requirements: As a standard Bard. Weapons & Armor: Axe (hand), blowgun, bow (any), dagger/knife (any), dart, javelin, quarterstaff, sling, spear (any), staff sling, sword (fencing blades only). A Minstrel may wear only leather, padded leather, or elven or magical chain mail, and they do not use shields. Thief Abilities: Detect Magic, Detect Noise (+10), Move Silently, Read Languages Special Benefits: Minstrels are exceptional musicians, with great technical skill and considerable improvisational invention. In general, Minstrels enjoy the adventuring life almost as much as they do performing their music for others, and they possess the following class abilities: Counter Song: This ability allows the Minstrel to counteract the effects of hostile sound, whether it be songs, screams, roars, chants, wails, or even a command or suggestion (but not a power word or holy word). The bard must concentrate in order to do this, and can move at no faster than half speed. If he or she is struck by a physical attack or fails a saving throw, the counter song is instantly disrupted. The exertion is such that this ability can be used only once per encounter or battle. Success of the counter song occurs only if a bard succeeds in a saving throw vs. spells (including the above-mentioned bonus to saves vs. sound-based attacks and the granting a save when none is normally allowed). If this is successful, no hostile sounds have any effect whatsoever within 30 feet of the bard. This does not prevent spellcasters from using spells or reading from scrolls, though it does prevent an enemy spellcaster from issuing commands to a charmed victim, etc. Entertainment: As a standard Bard. Language Lore: As a standard Bard. In addition, a Minstrel can use scrolls written by a Spellsinger (Wizard) without difficulty. When casting any spell from the school of Song Magic or the priestly sphere of Music, a Minstrel has no chance of reading the scroll incorrectly and causing a magical 'backfire'. Leadership & Influence: As a standard Bard. Music Mastery: Minstrels have expertly trained ears for music and other sound, granting them a +10 bonus to their Detect Noise ability. In addition, they are expert at all forms of musical magic, and this understanding aids in resisting such attack forms. As a result, Minstrels gain a +2 bonus to their saving throws to any magical effect or attack form that is based on music, speech, or sound of any sort. If the attack does not normally allow a saving throw, the Minstrel is granted the benefit of an unmodified saving throw vs. spell to avoid its effects anyway. In addition to this, many magical items that use music or sound will work with enhanced effect in the hands of a Minstrel. They are also able to sing and play in an almost mesmerizing musical performance quite apart from the application of their magical skill and knowledge in the arts of music. Any creature within 40' when a Minstrel plays and sings has a 5% chance per level of the Minstrel to be caught up in his or her music, stopping what they were doing and listening enraptured for one round. At the end of this time, all affected creatures must save vs. spell or else be compelled to sit and listen for as long as the Minstrel performs, swept away by the beauty of the Minstrel's music. All creatures enthralled in this fashion become subject to suggestion (as the spell), with a -2 penalty to their save vs. spell to resist it if the Minstrel implants the suggestion through his or her song. Those who save vs. the suggestion ignore it and are also immediately freed from the Minstrel's charming effect, and no creature can be charmed by a Minstrel's music more than once per day. It must be stressed that this musical charming ability is negated immediately by any loud noise, impending attack, or other large-scale or emergent distraction; however, this has no effect upon a suggestion that has already been implanted. Performance Magic: As a standard Bard, but a Minstrel can also use any spell from the school of Song Magic, and Song Magic spells cast by a Minstrel take effect at their full normal level (rather than half their level, rounding down, as normal for Bards). However, because they meld music and magic in a subtle and delicate way, Minstrels cannot cast spells from the school of Enchantment at all. Special Hindrances: Minstrels love their music and devote themselves to it wholeheartedly. All other studies take a back seat to the learning of their craft. As a result, Minstrels begin with only half the normal amount of non- weapon proficiencies, and they gain new weapon and non-weapon proficiency slots only every five levels. They also possess only four thieving abilities (rather than the usual five for Bards), and they gain only half the normal number of discretionary points (i.e., 15 at 1st level and 10 at each level thereafter). Their single-minded focus on the musical arts also precludes the well-rounded study and personal interaction that provides a standard Bard with his or her Rumor & Legend ability. Bonus Proficiencies: Musical Instrument, Singing Preferred Proficiencies: Ancient History, Artistic Ability, Craft Instrument, Etiquette, Grooming, Heraldry, Language (Ancient), Language (Modern), Local History, Poetry, Reading/Writing, Spellcraft, Whistling/Humming ***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 >