Bard

Benefits

• Influences group NPC reactions as a true bard: NPCs of another race save at +3, NPCs of the bard's own race save at -2.
• Inspires companions with 4 rounds of heroic song or tale: hearers within 10 feet choose one (bard's pick): +1 attack, +1 saves, or +2 morale; hearers of the bard's own race get +1 more. Lasts 1 round per level. A combatant already engaged cannot be inspired.
• Counters sound-based attacks (songs, chants, wails, magical commands or suggestions) with intense concentration, per the PHB bard rules.
• 5% per level chance to identify the general purpose or function of a magical item.

Hindrances

• No spellcasting.
• -3 to all proficiency checks entertaining another race; a mongrelman bard's performance affects other-race crowds only negatively.

Benefits

• Influence Reactions: performance of 1d10 rounds; all NPCs who hear it save, Save vs. paralyzation at -1 per three levels of the bard (round down). Failure shifts the reaction one step in the chosen direction; a successful save shifts it one step the opposite way.
• Rally Allies: 3 or more rounds of performance; allies within 10 feet per level gain one chosen effect of +1 attack, +1 saves or +2 morale, lasting 1 round per level. Those already actively fighting cannot be rallied.
• Counter Song: once per encounter, moving at half speed only; on a successful save vs. spell it negates hostile sound-based effects within 30 feet. It does not stop spellcasting or command words.
• Legend Lore: 1d10 rounds of scrutiny, 5% per level. Table 12 (3d6, rolled once per bard level on a success) is the optional detail table: 3 charges or uses left; 4 intelligent?; 5 cursed or evil?; 6 market value; 7 name; 8 famous past owners; 9 age; 10 creating race; 11 where made; 12 who crafted it; 13 owners' alignment; 14 who can use it; 15 general effects; 16 activation; 17 item type; 18 the full DMG entry.

Benefits

• Weapons Display: once per encounter, one full uninterrupted round with a non-missile weapon and room to extend the arms; lasts 1 round per level. Opponents of Int 5+ who know weapons, are not already in melee and can see it take -2 morale (no immediate check); allies gain +1 attack.
• Handle Weapon: two-weapon fighting at no penalty on the primary hand and -2 on the secondary, where the rogue default is -2/-4. The Blade is ambidextrous and takes no off-hand penalties. Catching a thrown small weapon via Juggling adds the Blade's level to the roll.
• Trick Throw: called shots with missile and hurled weapons at -4, reduced by 1 per five levels (round up): levels 1-5 -3, 6-10 -2, 11-15 -1, 16-20 0. Blind-fighting extends to hurled and missile attacks out to 30 feet.
• Defensive Spin: once per combat, making no attacks while spinning; AC improves by ceil(level/2), and melee attackers save vs. paralyzation or take ceil(level/2) damage, capped at the weapon's maximum damage including bonuses. Lasts up to Constitution rounds; any hit on the Blade ends it.
• Offensive Spin: one full round without attacking, then a normal attack the next round; on a hit, a target of Int 5+ makes a morale check or keeps 10 or more feet away. Once per creature, and only against creatures that have not yet damaged the Blade.

Hindrances

• No 10th-level ability to use any written magical item.

Benefits

• Charm: a group of up to 'level' persons in average or better spirits, after 1d10 rounds of mingling. Save vs. paralyzation at -1 per three levels of the bard (round down). Failure produces a charm person effect that is non-magical: no Intelligence or time-based re-save, but a new save each time the relationship is stressed. A natural 20 sees through the facade.
• Masquerade: fake any nonweapon proficiency or secondary skill. Skeptics save to detect it, Save vs. paralyzation at -1 per three levels of the bard (round down). An Intelligence check at -10 lets the Charlatan actually function as though proficient, for one check.
• Detect Fakery: a Charisma check detects lies, false pretenses and swindles. A Charisma check at -10, after 1d10 rounds of conversation, reveals alignment.
• Swindling: for purchases up to 10 gp per level, roll Pick Pockets; success means paying that rolled percentage of the price. Failing by more than the Charlatan's Charisma means the con is detected, and a roll above 95 is always detected.

Benefits

• Essence of Purity: +1 hit point per level, in addition to any Constitution bonus. Any failed save that would cause death may be rerolled. A Gallant slain while defending love, innocence, beauty or the opposite sex fights on for 1d4 more rounds, or until further damage equal to his level is taken.
• Code of the Gallant: while keeping the code, a +2 usable once per round on ONE of attack, damage, AC or a save, declared before the roll and never split. Breaking the code loses the bonus until atonement. The code: defend lovers, innocents and the opposite sex; never marry or vow to one person; never retreat before allies of the opposite sex; never overstay a welcome; spend half of all money on the innocent or on romance; own only what can be carried.
• Romantic Appeal: non-hostile encounters shift one step friendlier unless the NPC saves, Save vs. paralyzation at -1 per three levels of the bard (round down). Same-sex NPCs who SUCCEED on the save shift one step worse instead.
• Poetic Charm: one target of the opposite sex, over 1d10 turns including a poem. Save vs. paralyzation at -1 per three levels of the bard (round down). Failure means charmed, non-magical, and permanent until abused, with each abuse allowing a new save at the DM's modifiers.

Hindrances

• Never builds a stronghold, and attracts no followers at 9th level.

Benefits

• Animal Rapport: Animal Handling, Animal Lore, Animal Training and Riding (land-based) are granted FREE, in addition to the four bonus proficiencies. Training and riding extend to any familiar animal. Once per day as a spell-like ability: animal friendship at 5th level, locate animals or plants at 10th, speak with animals at 15th.
• Allure of the Gypsies: a group performance with three or more Gypsy-bards, or a willing audience, over 1d10 turns; produces the effect of any one enchantment or charm spell that one of the performers could cast and knows.
• Fortune Telling: with any scrying item, usable by the class or not, or a deck of many things, produces an augury effect, one question per five levels (round up) per day. Cards drawn from a deck of many things this way never affect the Gypsy-bard.

Hindrances

• Climb Walls at -25% on cliffs, building walls and cave walls. Trees are unaffected.

Benefits

• Identify Rumors: learns twice as many rumors as anyone else, and a Charisma check tells true from false.
• Local Lore: after one day per 1,000 inhabitants, an Intelligence check recalls the names of officials, at -2 to recognize one on sight. A natural 20 means the information is false.
• Basal Communication: with any speaking creature of Low Intelligence or better within 10 feet and no distractions, a Read Languages roll sends a message and a separate roll receives one.
• Persuade Crowd: 1d10 minutes of rumor and news in a shared language. Save vs. paralyzation at -1 per three levels of the bard (round down). Failure shifts the hearer one step toward the Herald's opinion; a successful save shifts one step the opposite way.

Benefits

• Fool's Luck: +1, or +5% on a percentile roll, to saves, initiative, surprise, proficiency checks, thief skill checks, ability checks and ability sub-checks such as bend bars or resurrection survival; and +1 to AC. It does NOT apply to attack rolls, damage rolls, character generation or Hit Die rolls.
• Jesting: one silent sentence per round to anyone who passes a Wisdom check at -5, within 30 feet and in full view. Taunt: viewers within 30 feet save vs. paralyzation at -1 per three levels or must try to strike the Jester, ignoring tactics, for as long as the jesting continues.
• Joking: 1d10 rounds in a shared language. Save vs. paralyzation at -1 per three levels of the bard (round down). Failure shifts the reaction one step in the desired direction; a successful save shifts it one step the opposite way. A one-round joke grants everyone affected by fear a second save, vs. spell if no save was allowed the first time.
• A Jester's Mind: immune to insanity attacks; a save bonus equal to level against wizard enchantment/charm and the priest charm sphere, though a natural 1 still fails; and mind-readers have a chance equal to the Jester's level in percent of being confused.

Benefits

• Extended Proficiencies. Juggling: add level to the catch roll, and oversize missiles may be deflected. Jumping: double level for jump calculations, poles up to 20 feet longer than the Jongleur, vaulting from a 15-foot run, and the pole is kept on a second successful check. Tightrope Walking: all penalties halved, dropping fractions (-5 on a one-inch rope, -2 on two-to-six-inch, -2 to attack), and a balancing rod gives +4. Tumbling: the +4 AC applies in any round initiative is won, even if the Jongleur attacks later; no check is needed to reduce falling damage, and a successful check doubles the distances (no damage to 20 feet, half to 120 feet).
• Dodge: a save vs. paralyzation, to which only the Dexterity defensive bonus applies, fully avoids falls, things dropped from above, dodgeable area spells such as fireball, lightning bolt and web, and, at the DM's option, breath weapons. It replaces every other save for that hazard. It does not work against missiles, hurled weapons, single-target spells, or spells with no physical effect.
• Entertain Crowd: as Influence Reactions but only in the friendlier direction, over 1d10 rounds. Save vs. paralyzation at -1 per three levels (round down); a natural 1 worsens the reaction one step.

Hindrances

• No 10th-level ability to use any written magical item.
• All special benefits are suspended while wearing anything heavier than leather, studded leather, padded or elven chain.

Benefits

• Legend Lore: as the True Bard, except that all of the optional rules, Table 12 included, are mandatory for this kit.
• Arcane Lore: may attempt ANY magical item on a successful Wisdom check, rolled per use. Casts and memorizes spells as one level higher than actual.
• Persuasion: 1d10 rounds; listeners who understand save, Save vs. paralyzation at -1 per three levels of the bard (round down). Failure shifts the reaction one step in either direction, the Loremaster's choice; a successful save has no effect, and a natural 20 shifts one step the opposite way.
• Etymology: two Read Languages attempts on ancient (dead) languages; runes, glyphs and pictograms may be read with Read Languages; and an Ancient Languages check grants elementary use of an unknown ancient tongue at one-tenth the normal rate.

Benefits

• Song of Companionship: an animal companion at 1st level (tiny or small, granting its primary sense), at 5th (small or medium, allowing the Meistersinger to polymorph arms and head for unarmed attacks at his own THAC0 with the animal's damage and number of attacks), and at 10th (medium or large, allowing a shape change into it once per day). A companion's hit points equal the Meistersinger's at the level the companion was gained, and are fixed. On a companion's death: a system shock roll or die, then 101 days of mourning; one replacement per level gained. Maximum three companions.
• Song of Sanction: attacking animals and monsters save, Save vs. paralyzation at -1 per three levels of the bard (round down). Failure means ignoring the Meistersinger and everyone within 1 foot per level. It ends if he moves, or on any attack made from inside the area.
• Animal Charm: one animal, giant animals included, of Hit Dice no greater than the Meistersinger's level, over 1d10 rounds. Save vs. paralyzation at -1 per three levels of the bard (round down). Failure means charmed; a natural 20 means enraged and attacking. Total charmed Hit Dice may not exceed twice his level.
• Influence Reactions: as the True Bard, but on animals only.

Hindrances

• No followers and no typical stronghold.

Benefits

• Probable Path: a secret Intelligence check made by the DM, penalized by the number of prior uses that day; success reveals significant clues, and a natural 20 is misleading.
• Riddles and Puzzles: double the attempts, one free mistake, and double the time on in-game riddles and puzzles. +10% to learn spells, to a maximum of 95%. The use-any-written-magic-item ability arrives at 8th level instead of 10th.
• Common Sense: +1 AC, and +1 (or +5% on a percentile roll) to saves, individual initiative, attack rolls, damage rolls, proficiency checks, thief skill checks, ability checks and ability-based rolls. It does NOT apply to surprise, character generation, Hit Die rolls, resurrection survival, or monster damage.
• Riddling and Rhyming: Influence Reactions exactly as the True Bard.

Benefits

• War Chant: begun three or more rounds before combat, ranging 10 feet per level; it ends at the Skald's first wound, or after a number of rounds equal to his level if he is never wounded. The number of effects chosen is 1 at 1st level, 2 at 3rd, 3 at 6th, 4 at 9th, 5 at 12th and 6 at 15th. The effects: bonus hit points equal to the Skald's Hit Dice; +1 morale per six levels (round up); +1 attack; +1 damage; +1 saves; and -1 to AC, an improvement.
• Influence Reactions: 1d10 rounds. Save vs. paralyzation at -1 per three levels of the bard (round down). Failure shifts the reaction one step better; a successful save has no effect, and a natural 20 shifts it one step worse. This one improves reactions only.
• Battle Chant: +1 attack whenever chanting in combat, and +1 damage with a broadsword, any axe, or a spear while chanting and proficient with it.
• Legend Lore: as the True Bard, but restricted to items of war and combat.

Hindrances

• Cannot take Reading/Writing at character creation, and gains no Read Languages at 3rd level while living in his home society. On contact with a literate culture, Reading/Writing costs double and Read Languages starts at a base of 0%.
• No spells at all until contact with a spellcasting culture. From the level after that contact he begins as a 2nd-level caster, if he is at least 3rd level, and gains one caster level per level thereafter.
• No 10th-level ability to use any written magical item.

Benefits

• General Acting: a performance treated as an illusion; skeptics save vs. SPELL at -1 per three levels to see through it. Note that this save is vs. spell, where most of the kit abilities in this book use paralyzation.
• Spell Acting (requires Spellcraft): one round of fake casting; targets make a morale check or flee. If a real, flashy spell is cast alongside it, the morale check takes a penalty equal to that spell's level.
• Influence Reactions: 1d10 rounds. Save vs. paralyzation at -1 per three levels of the bard (round down). Failure shifts the reaction one step in the desired direction; a successful save shifts it one step the opposite way.
• Observe Motions: in any round the Thespian wins initiative, +2 AC, +2 saves and +1 attack.

Hindrances

• AC is 1 worse in any armor outside the bard's own allowance, and a carried shield grants no AC bonus.

Benefits

• Counter Chant: the demi-bard counter spell, performed as a chant. It additionally cancels a learned spell already in effect, a wall of force for instance, for a number of rounds equal to the Chanter's level on a successful chance-to-learn roll, and permanently if that roll comes up less than or equal to his level.
• War Chant: up to ten dwarves per level, or one non-dwarf per level, who join the chant. After 1d10 rounds the chanters gain +1 initiative, +2 against surprise and +2 morale, while opponents take -1 initiative and -2 morale.
• Timing Chant: for mining, forging, marching or labor, +5% productivity per level, to a maximum of 75% at 15th. Each hour requires a Constitution check or 1d4 temporary hit points are lost, regained at 1 per hour of rest; at 0 hit points the Chanter collapses and must make a Constitution check or die. Requires a percussion instrument.
• Trance: 1d10 turns to enter, then one activity continues until a preset condition is met. A Constitution check is required for each missed drink (1d8), meal (1d3), rest (1d4) and sleep (1d8). Only reaching 0 hit points breaks it early.

Hindrances

• No wizard spells at all.
• No 10th-level ability to use any written magical item.

Benefits

• Special Resistance: +2 on saves against music-based magical effects, and a save is granted where none would normally be allowed.
• Spell Singing: the verbal component becomes singing and the somatic component becomes playing a stringed, or other hand-manipulated, instrument. Material components are carried in a prepared deer-leather bag and are consumed without being handled. Spells that emanate from the hand emanate from the instrument instead. Casting is otherwise normal.
• Influence Reactions: as the True Bard; if the Minstrel is both singing AND playing, the reaction shifts two steps instead of one. This does not stack with Crowd Working or with reputation.
• Counter Song: identical to the True Bard's.

Hindrances

• Cannot cast any spell with a somatic component without an instrument in hand.

Benefits

• Legend Lore: as the True Bard.
• Profess: after 1d10 rounds of study, hand out a number of single-use +1 bonuses (or +5% on a percentile roll) equal to the Professor's level, to any die rolls made by allies who follow the plan. They do not stack.
• Mechanically Inclined: Find/Remove Traps at the thief-average progression, with no racial, Dexterity or armor adjustments. The same percentage serves as a general mechanical check.
• Invention: a mechanical percentage roll with a DM modifier of -25 to +25. A roll under the Professor's level is a great success; 95 or more causes injury; and 100 is fatal unless a save vs. paralyzation succeeds.
• Armor experiment: once per month, one other armor type or a shield may be worn for up to 1d10 days, at 1 worse AC and with all Dexterity defensive adjustment lost.

Hindrances

• Spell selection is restricted to the illusionist's schools.

Benefits

• Influence Reactions: exactly as the True Bard.
• Counter Tune: the demi-bard counter spell, performed by whistling against spells with a verbal component, or by humming.
• Chattering: fundamental communication with any natural animal that squeaks, chirps or whistles.
• Stormwhistle: priest spells cast once per day each, by whistling and with no components: pass without trace at 1st level, obscurement at 3rd, plant growth at 5th, speak with plants at 7th, control winds at 9th, weather summoning at 11th, control weather at 13th and entangle at 15th.

Hindrances

• No wizard spells at all.
• No 10th-level ability to use any written magical item.

Benefits

• Table 10 replaces the bard's Table 33 bases: Pick Pockets 10%, Open Locks 5%, Find/Remove Traps 5%, Move Silently 5%, Hide in Shadows 5%, Detect Noise 30%, Climb Walls 50%, Read Languages 10%. Progression as a bard.
• No more than half a clan is ninja-class. A clan member of any other class MUST take their shinobi kit — it is not an optional choice within the clan.

Hindrances

• Spell progression runs two levels behind an ordinary bard's, so the first spell arrives at 4th level.
• Full clan obligation, identical to a ninja's: assignments are not optional, and the clan's interest outranks every other loyalty.