Prestige Class: Elven BattlePoet

Here we go, companion and subordinate to last weeks BW', the Battle Poet



Elven BattlePoet
Lv           Atk               Fort               Ref               Wil
Special             Spells

1             +0               +0               +0               +1
Morale I          +1 to existing

2             +1               +0               +0               +2
War on Ship    +1 to existing

3             +1               +1               +1               +3
Morale II         +1 to existing

4             +2               +1               +1               +4
Item               +1 to existing

5             +2               +2               +2               +5
Protection on Ship               +1 to existing



Requirements:

Race:    Elf

Abilities:            Charisma 12; Wisdom 12

Spellcasting:    Access to level 3 arcane spells AND level 3 divine spells

Domains:            War or Protection (Both is preffered but not required)

Skills:    Knowledge - Elven Lore (2), Spellcraft (2), Performance - Oratory
& Singing (2)

Feats:    Leadership, Skill Focus (performance)

Special:    25 years military service, minimum age 150



A companion to the BattleWizard, the BattlePoet shares a little of the BW's
arcane magic aptitude, but tends more towards divine power.  Boosters of
Ship-Board morale with their oratories and beautiful elven song at lower
levels, their mere prescence sufficient at higher levels, their divine
spells are enhanced later in their careers to effect large groups of crew,
or even a ship itself.  With ship duties of clergy and counsel, not to
mention helm operation, often navigation, and more frequently weekly or more
often performances, they have little time for item creation, and are even
rewarded by the fleet for their service in later years.



Abilities:



Morale I: Once a BattlePoet has had at least three months with a particular
crew to get to know them, and earn their spiritual trust, he can give them
morale enhancements to saves, attack modifiers (including large ship
weapons), piloting or spacehand checks, and initiative.  By poem or song (or
more often a mix of both) he can do this, giving them a +1 to all the listed
statistics above, excluding initiative for which the entire ship gets a
collective +2 modifier.  This effect lasts for ten rounds after the
cessation of his performance (he must make a check versus DC15 +1 per five
crew members to begin), or until ten rounds have passed since a particular
crew member heard him.  The only drawback is should the BattlePoet be
dropped in combat where his crew may see, they become severely demoralised,
suffering penalties equal to those above for the remainder of the day, or
until his safety is assured.  Should a BattlePoet die it is not uncommon for
crews to feel this effect for up to a month after his passing - regardless
of his likely passage to Arvandor, there is a void left in the crew with his
absence.

War on Ship:            After spending at least six months on a particular
(specific) ship, the BattlePoet can cast spells from the War domain upon his
ship, due to familiarity with its very "spirit", or "chi".  Only spells of
up to, and including 3rd level may be cast this way.  The spells work in the
following way :-

Magic Weapon:            All shipboard attacks gain a +1 bonus for the
duration(basically large weapons and ramming)

Spiritual Weapon:            Every heavy weapon on the ship becomes easier
to use, needing one less crewmember (to a minimum of one)

Magic Vestment:            The AC of the ship is increased by +1 per 3 total
caster levels of the BattlePoet

Morale II:            Once the BattlePoet reaches this level the morale
effects from above are in permanent effect, and he may add them again
(stacking) with his oratory/song performance - though at this level he has a
base DC of 20 on the performance, +1 per 5 crew of the ship.

Item:     For his service to the fleet and personal sacrifices in time and
magical studies, the military bestows him with an appropriate major magical
item (determined either randomly or by the DM).  This class ability is
reoccurring over time, giving him another item every 25 years.  Note that,
however, the BattlePoet does not own the item - at least not until he is
given another one.  At 100, 150, and 200 years of total service, he is given
an item with automatic ownership, but any time he leaves the fleet he must
return any item he does not own, although he can regain it for use with the
fleet at DM's descretion.  At the BattlePoet's request spells (arcane or
divine) can be granted by the fleet, after a minimum 50 years service and
instead of the item.  Their ownership and use is (obviously) permanent,
although moral and ethical restrictions on their use apply.  A total of
twice the BattlePoet's character level in spell levels are given.  Their
type/school may be requested, but specific spells may not.  Roleplaying one'
s part within the fleet, and more importantly within the chain of command,
should be a deciding factor in any Items.

Protection on Ship:     The final ability of the BattlePoet is that of
casting spells from the protection domain upon his ship, as above under the
War on Ship entry - except with no level limit.  Spell area, if insufficient
to cover the entire ship, is not enlarged, but can be re-shaped to cover the
ship if its cubic area can cover the ship.  Spells are as follows (one
creature, touch, or "you" spells DO effect the ship).

Sanctuary:            As per normal, but in regards to other ships attacking
the BP's ship.  Individual enemy ship weapons receive an average will save
of their crew, and it is possible for several of one enemy ships weapons to
fire while others may not - but any fire from the BP's ship ends the spell
immediately.

Shield Other:            A dangerous spell for the BP to invoke, he takes
half of any damage done to the ship, in its place.  For example, after
hardness is included, a ship might take 20 damage from a cannonball
normally, but with this spell in effect would take only 10, while the BP
took the other 10.

Protection from Elements:            Standard

Spell Immunity:            Useful when disintegrate and other highly
damaging combat spells are being thrown at the ship, this spell works
normally.

Spell Resistance:            Standard

Antimagic Field:            This spell instead gives one "arc" of facing an
anti-magical shield, like a dome, from enemy ship's spells.  Possible arcs
include Fore, Aft, Starboard, Port, Above, and Below.

Repulsion:            as Standard but targeted on the ship itself, instead
of the caster - particularly useful for boarding attacks.

Mind Blank:            This spell cloaks the ship from magical location,
preventing it from being scryed upon at all.  It does has no otherwise
effect.

Prismatic Sphere:            This spell surrounds the ship (if the area is
big enough), with a radius of 10 feet per caster level - with a maximum of
90ft radius.  It is particularly useful for defense.



Class Skills:    As cleric and bard combined



Skill Points per level:    2 + intelligence modifier



Hit Dice:    d4's



Weapons and Armour: Armament is limited only by the characters previous
classes.



SotSM notes:            BattlePoets are only required to have the
spelljammer feat and pilot skill in this setting, other than the standard
requirements.



Shipboard Duties:            Helmsman, Morale Officer, Medic, Clergy,
Counselling, Training, Captain's Counsel, Occasionally First Officer.



Rank:   Unless otherwise noted (ie by being the first officer or captain), a
BattlePoet is outranked only by the BattleWizard, First Officer, and Captain
of a ship.  He defers to the battlewizard in combat to allow more flowing
tactical situations.



Equipment:            Standard, excepting the items granted above.  Typical
gear is elven chainmail, robes of office/priestly vestments, favoured weapon
(if any), and often many healing potions to distribute during battle.



Gaining this Prestige Class:            As per the elven BattleWizard, but
substitute other BattleWizards for BattlePoets, and High Mages for lv20+
clerics.  The average elf with this class achieves a level but once every 20
to as much as 50 years, due to his less-combat active role.  He is often the
last to be chosen for an "away mission", and misses most of the action
excluding ship to ship combat.


Tilaurin
tilaurin@?????????????????.com
http://www.planetbaldursgate.com/atreus/index.html
"Dying Swans/Twisted Wings,
Bring This Savage Back Home"
- Brave New World, Iron Maiden