View source for Bladesong Warrior (3.5e Prestige Class)

{{author
|author_name= ElfsMaster
|date_created=2/9/2010
|status=Playable
|editing=Discuss first, please.
|balance=Rogue
}}
<div class="blank">
{{#set:Summary=A bard who stops training his arcane abilities to become a graceful sword fighter.
|Length=10
|Minimum Level=5
|Base Attack Bonus Progression=Good
|Fortitude Save Progression=Poor
|Reflex Save Progression=Good
|Will Save Progression=Good
|Class Ability=Bardic Music
|Class Ability Progression=Other
}}
{{#set:Allowed Alignments=Neutral Good}} {{#set:Allowed Alignments=Neutral}} {{#set:Allowed Alignments=Neutral Evil}} {{#set:Allowed Alignments=Chaotic Good}} {{#set:Allowed Alignments=Chaotic Neutral}} {{#set:Allowed Alignments=Chaotic Evil}}
</div>
[[File:Bardfighter.jpg|thumb|right|400px]]

==Bladesong Warrior==

{{quote
|''The Bladesong, the finest of the duel arts, the ability to fight surrounded by the melody of the swords. Few things are as graceful as a Bladesong warrior fighting, and even fewer are as deadly.''
}}

The Bladesong warrior is a bard who exchanged the arcane learning for a better combat capacity. He studies the Bladesong, the art of creating magical effects through music while fighting in melee. While he gets stronger, he aquires the bladedance, his ultimate technique. With it he can deliver multiple attacks while increasing his and his party's abilities, blocking magic or fascinating his enemies.

===Becoming a Bladesong Warrior===

Bards tend to pursue the Bladesong arts to become powerful warriors and enter the battle rather than inspiring the allies and narrating it later.

{| class="dragon monstats" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|+ style="font-size: larger; white-space: nowrap;" | Entry Requirements
|-
! Alignment:
| Any nonlawful.
|-
! Skills:
| [[Perform]] ([[Bladesong Sword (3.5e Equipment)|Bladesong sword]]) 8 ranks
|-
! Feats:
| [[SRD:Exotic Weapon Proficiency|Exotic Weapon Proficiency]] ([[Bladesong Sword (3.5e Equipment)|Bladesong sword]]), [[SRD:Weapon Focus|Weapon Focus]] ([[Bladesong Sword (3.5e Equipment)|Bladesong sword]])
|-
! Special:
| [[SRD:Bard#Bardic Music|Bardic Music]]
|} 

{| class="zebra d20"
|+ <div>Table: The Bladesong Warrior</div>
<p>Hit Die: d6</p>
|-
! rowspan="2" | Level
! rowspan="2" | [[BAB|Base<br/>Attack Bonus]]
! colspan="3" | [[SRD:Saving Throw|Saving Throw]]s
! rowspan="2" | Special
|-
! [[SRD:Saving Throw#Fortitude|Fort]] || [[SRD:Saving Throw#Reflex|Ref]] || [[SRD:Saving Throw#Will|Will]]
|-
| 1st || +1 || +0 || +2 || +2 || style="text-align: left;" | [[#Bladesong|Bladesong]], [[#Shouting Blade|''Shouting Blade'']], [[#Bladedance|Bladedance]]
|- class="even"
| 2nd || +2 || +0 || +3 || +3 || style="text-align: left;" | [[#Musical Defense|Musical Defense]] (1/-), [[#Musical Strike|Musical Strike]]
|-
| 3rd || +3 || +1 || +3 || +3 || style="text-align: left;" | [[#Song of Despair|''Song of Despair'']]
|- class="even"
| 4th || +4 || +1 || +4 || +4 || style="text-align: left;" | [[#Amusing Dance|Bladedance (Amusing Dance)]]
|-
| 5th || +5 || +1 || +4 || +4 || style="text-align: left;" | [[#Rupture Chord|''Rupture Chord'']]
|- class="even"
| 6th || +6 || +2 || +5 || +5 || style="text-align: left;" | [[#Musical Defense|Musical Defense]] (3/-)
|-
| 7th || +7 || +2 || +5 || +5 || style="text-align: left;" | [[#Anti-magic Dance|Bladedance (Anti-magic Dance)]], [[#Note of Madness|''Note of Madness'']]
|- class="even"
| 8th || +8 || +2 || +6 || +6 || style="text-align: left;" | [[#Bladedance|Superior Bladedance]]
|-
| 9th || +9 || +3 || +6 || +6 || style="text-align: left;" | [[#Soundburst|''Soundburst'']]
|- class="even"
| 10th || +10 || +3 || +7 || +7 || style="text-align: left;" | [[#Blossom Dance|Bladedance (Blossom Dance)]], [[#Musical Defense|Musical Defense]] (5/-)
|-
|- class="noalt"
| colspan="42" class="skill" |
'''Class Skills ([[Skill Points::4]] + [[SRD:Intelligence|Int]] modifier per level).'''<br/>
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Balance Skill|Balance}} ([[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Bluff Skill|Bluff}} ([[SRD:Charisma|Cha]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Climb Skill|Climb}} ([[SRD:Strength|Str]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Concentration Skill|Concentration}} ([[SRD:Constitution|Con]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Diplomacy Skill|Diplomacy}} ([[SRD:Charisma|Cha]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Escape Artist Skill|Escape Artist}} ([[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Hide Skill|Hide}} ([[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Jump Skill|Jump}} ([[SRD:Strength|Str]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Knowledge Skill|Knowledge}} ([[SRD:Intelligence|Int]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Listen Skill|Listen}} ([[SRD:Wisdom|Wis]])
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Move Silently Skill|Move Silently}} ([[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Perform Skill|Perform}} ([[SRD:Charisma|Cha]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Tumble Skill|Tumble}} ([[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Use Magic Device Skill|Use Magic Device}} ([[SRD:Charisma|Cha]]), 
|}


====Class Features====

All of the following are class features of the Bladesong Warrior.

'''{{Anchor|Bladesong}}:''' The bladesong warrior wielding a bladesong sword can create magical effects while attacking. Each use of the Bladesong costs one daily use of [[SRD:Bard#Bardic_Music|Bardic Music]] to activate. Bladesong warrior levels stack with [[bard]] levels for purposes of determining how many daily uses of [[SRD:Bard#Bardic_Music|Bardic Music]] the character has, as well as the bonus from [[SRD:Bard#Inspire_Courage|Inspire Courage]].

To activate the Bladesong, the character must take a [[SRD:Full-Round_Actions#Full_Attack|full-attack action]] and deliver a single melee attack, which will have the desired effect added. Unless otherwise noted, the target will still suffer the Bladesong effect even if the attack misses.

* '''{{Anchor|Shouting Blade}} ([[Su]]):''' The warrior creates powerful sonic waves emanating from his sword. All creatures in  10ft-radius circle around the warrior or in a 20ft cone in the direction of the attacked creature (at the character's choice) take 3d6 points of sonic damage +1d6 for every two class levels. Constructs and crystalline objects takes doubled damage. Reflex (DC 10 + Bladesong warrior level + [[Cha]] modifier) halves.

* '''''{{Anchor|Song of Despair}}'' ([[Sp]]):'''The warrior strike creates a terrifying sound, frightening the subject of the attack. The target must succeed in a Will save (DC 10 + Bladesong warrior level + [[Cha]] modifier) or become [[SRD:Frightened|frightened]] for 1d6 rounds.

* '''{{Anchor|Rupture Chord}} ([[Su]]):''' Unlike the other Bladesongs, the rupture chord only works upon a successful attack. The attack deals constitution damage equal to 1/5th the character's [[Perform]]([[Bladesong_Sword_(3.5e_Equipment)|Bladesong sword]]) ranks due to blood loss. Creatures immune to [[Critical_hit#Critical_Hits|critical hits]] are immune to this effect.

* '''''{{Anchor|Note of Madness}}'' ([[Sp]]):''' This single note made by the Bladesong warrior can drive a creature insane. The target must succeed on a Will save (DC 10 + Bladesong warrior level + [[Cha]] modifier) or become [[SRD:Confused|confused]] for 4 rounds.

* '''{{Anchor|Soundburst}} ([[Su]]):'''  The most powerful Bladesong, the ''soundburst'' creates a huge sonic wave with immense power. All creatures in a 20ft-radius circle around the warrior take 12d6 + the character ranks in [[Perform]]([[Bladesong_Sword_(3.5e_Equipment)|Bladesong sword]]) sonic damage and become [[SRD:Deafened|deafened]] and [[SRD:Sickened|sickened]] for 2d4 rounds. A reflex save (DC 10 + bladesong warrior level + [[Cha]] modifier) halves the damage and prevents the deafness and sickness. Activating the ''soundburst'' costs two daily uses of [[SRD:Bard#Bardic_Music|Bardic Music]].

'''{{Anchor|Bladedance}}:''' The Bladesong warrior's fighting style is as beatiful and fluid as a dance. He can take a -2 penalty on all attacks in a [[SRD:Full-Round_Actions#Full_Attack|full-attack action]] and make an extra attack with his best attack bonus. At 5th level, the warrior can make two extra attacks instead of only one. At 9th level, the warrior no longer takes any penalties from the extra attacks granted by the Bladedance.

Starting at the 4th level, the Bladesong warrior can add special effects with his dance. Whenever he does a bladedance, he can increase the penalty by -4 and spend one daily use of his [[SRD:Bard#Bardic_Music|Bardic Music]] to add the effect of a bladedance. At the 8th level, this penalty decreases to -2.

* '''{{Anchor|Amusing Dance}} ([[Su]]):''' The warrior's dance is so beautiful the watchers can even forget to fight. All enemies within 20ft of the Bladesong warrior that fail a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 Bladesong warrior level + [[Cha]] modifier) becomes [[SRD:Slow|slowed]] for one round. 

* '''''{{Anchor|Anti-Magic Dance}}'' ([[Sp]]):''' The Bladesong warrior can use his dance to end ongoing magical effects around him. He ''[[SRD:Dispel Magic|dispels magic]]'' as the spell cast by a bard with a caster level equal to his class level. The effect is centered on the Bladesong warrior.

* '''{{Anchor|Blossom Dance}} ([[Su]]):''' This is the ultimate ability of the Bladesong warrior. All enemies within a 60ft-radius circle around the warrior who can see him must succeed on a Will save (DC 10 + Bladesong warrior level + [[Cha]] modifier) or become [[SRD:Blinded|blinded]]. In addition, all allies within a 60ft-radius who can hear him receive a +4 morale bonus on saving throws and a +4 dodge bonus to AC. All effects lasts for 1d4+1 rounds.

'''{{Anchor|Musical Defense}} ([[Su]]):''' Starting at the 2nd level, whenever a Bladesong warrior uses his [[SRD:Bard#Bardic_Music|Bardic Music]], Bladesong ability or bladedance, he creates a powerful shield of pure sound, which absorbs incoming attacks, granting him [[SRD:Damage Reduction|DR]] 1/- and elemental resistance equal to his class level. This shield lasts until the warrior's next round for the Bladesong and the bladedance and for as long as he keeps playing his [[SRD:Bard#Bardic_Music|Bardic Music]]. This [[SRD:Damage Reduction|DR]] improves by +2/- at the sixth level and each 4 levels thereafter.

'''{{Anchor|Musical strike}} ([[Su]]):''' Starting at the 2nd level, the Bladesong warrior can add his [[Charisma]] bonus to the damage of all attacks he makes with the Bladesong sword.

{| class="zebra d20"
|+ Table: The [[SRD:Epic Level Basics|Epic]] Bladesong warrior
|-
! Level || Special
|- 
| 11th|| class="left" | 
|- 
| 12th|| class="left" | 
|- 
| 13th|| class="left" | Bonus Feat
|- 
| 14th|| class="left" | [[#Musical Defense|Musical Defense]] (7/-)
|- 
| 15th|| class="left" |
|- 
| 16th|| class="left" | Bonus Feat
|- 
| 17th|| class="left" | 
|- 
| 18th|| class="left" | [[#Musical Defense|Musical Defense]] (9/-)
|- 
| 19th|| class="left" | Bonus Feat
|- 
| 20th|| class="left" |
|}

The epic Bladesong warrior gains a bonus feat (selected from the list of epic [[bard]] feats) every 3 levels after the 10th.

===Campaign Information===


====Playing a <-class name->====

'''Combat:''' Even though a Bladesong warrior is a better loner than the bard, he rarely adventures without a party, after all, he's still a storyteller and exploring dungeons with his party adds a lot of content to the tales he tells. Due to his skills at helping others, a party would also love to have him with them.
A Bladesong warrior usualy plays both a support and a striker role within the party. Using the bladedance, he can improve the abilities of his team-mates, and with the Bladesongs he can both damage and disable the enemies.

'''Advancement:''' The main goal of the Bladesong Warrior is to improve his combat prowess, therefore, any talent or prestige class that improves his skill with the Bladesong sword would be good for him. Also, increasing his Bardic Music uses per day also increases the amount of times per day he can use the Bladesong and the Bladedance abilities.

'''Resources:''' (This entry is campaign specific. The DM can alter this to adapt to any campaign setting.) The Bladesong is taught in the "Art of the Blade" college, in Tarragima. The most specialized artists are reunited there and would gladly help any other student in whatever they can. All kinds of stories, from the best storytellers in the world spread around in the corridors and the headmaster, Leslous, the Singing Knight, offer food and shelter for adventurers willing to share their tales.

Other than that, ever since the national dueling tournament was won by a Bladesong Warrior, adventurous bards from all around the world, amused by his abilities, started to follow the path of the sword. While they're mostly friendly, some of them who want to participate in the tournament would like a little spar, just to test their ability.

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====Bladesong Warriors Lore====

Characters with ranks in Knowledge (Local) can research a Bladesong Warrior to learn more about them.  When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

{| class="zebra d20"
|+ [[SRD:Knowledge|Knowledge]] (local)
! DC || class="left" | Result
|-
| 11 || class="left" | Bladesong warriors are bards specialize in fighting with a sword.
|-
| 16 || class="left" | The Bladesong warriors can use their sword to create music.
|-
| 21 || class="left" | Some Bladesong warriors create sonic effects so powerful that can wipe off an entire army.
|- 
| 26 || class="left" | Leslous, the headmaster of the Art of the Blade college can deafen a great wyrm with a flick of his wrist.
|}

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====<-pluralized class name-> in the Game====

<-How characters of this class fit in the game (PC and NPC) and what roles they play->

'''Adaptation:''' <-Fitting this class in your campaign->

'''Sample Encounter:''' <-DM placement for NPC of this class->

''EL <- whatever ->:'' <-Encounter scenario and character info on sample NPC including stat block.  The CR of the NPC is typically the same as the EL for the encounter->
 REMOVE THIS LINE WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE "... IN THE GAME" SECTION -->


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{{3.5e Prestige Classes Breadcrumb}}
[[Category:3.5e]]
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{{Navboxes}}
Allowed Alignments	Neutral Good +, Neutral +, Neutral Evil +, Chaotic Good +, Chaotic Neutral + and Chaotic Evil +
Article Balance	High +
Author	ElfsMaster +
Base Attack Bonus Progression	Good +
Class Ability	Bardic Music +
Class Ability Progression	Other +
Fortitude Save Progression	Poor +
Identifier	3.5e Prestige Class +
Length	10 +
Minimum Level	5 +
Rating	Unrated +
Reflex Save Progression	Good +
Skill	Balance +, Bluff +, Climb +, Concentration +, Diplomacy +, Escape Artist +, Hide +, Jump +, Knowledge +, Listen +, Move Silently +, Perform +, Tumble + and Use Magic Device +
Skill Points	4 +
Summary	A bard who stops training his arcane abilities to become a graceful sword fighter. +
Title	Bladesong Warrior +
Will Save Progression	Good +