Bardic Ranger
Bardic Ranger
In many ways, a Ranger and a Bard are opposites. Above all else, a Bard is a people person and a Ranger is more comfortable with animals and nature. There is the extreme rare case where a person with an affinity for nature finds the right people to share this passion. In order to be a life changing event, this must happen early in life, even before the chosen class become clear. This results in a character that grows up to be outgoing abut his connection with nature. While the character may simply develop into a Bard with Nature lore specialty and some minor nature related skill or spells, in the most rare cases, when the calling and environment are just right, a Bardic Ranger comes to life.
To an outsider, a Bardic Ranger is not a true ranger, for unlike most rangers, the Bardic is comfortable with outsiders; many are thus considered to be simple warriors. And while religion is important to all rangers, the Bardic Ranger is most likely to preach about, leaving many to believe they have met a Druid or another nature priest. The simple fact is the Bardic Ranger is both wild warrior and Nature priest and often some type of neutral alignment.
In game terms the character is a customized Ranger with one requirement.
1) The Bardic Ranger gets followers without building a keep. These followers can be of a Demi human nature and may include intelligent creature from terrain that the Bardic Ranger is comfortable with. The Bardic Ranger has the option to share up to half of his experience points with non-character class followers and improve their stats similar to a Beast master kit.
Option: If the character is particularly religious, I would think they could use a customized priest class and have a similar requirement.
--John
11/7/10
Looking at point system, I realize this is not listed. Rangers can get followers without a keep but only at 7th level. Priests can get followers at any level but still need to build a keep. Without creating a kit, as customized a class and using a kit seems like double dipping. Does anybody think we can spend more point for either a ranger or a priest to get humanoid followers at any level without building a keep?
John
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Other Comments
8/29/09
I took out the required weakness of having to fear the indoors. First it is too restrictive for some campaigns and does not necessarily fit into the character concept.While it is a possible hindrence, other possible weakness or hindrances could be lack of spells, slower progression of spells.
John
10/30/08
Vicki, quick question about this kit you are creating. How is it different from the Bardic Kit Meistersinger? You can delete this question from this area whenever you wish so it doesn't mess up what you are creating.
Meistersinger
Qualifications: Standard ability scores. Elves can become Meistersingers and reach 15th level.
My dearest friends are Simbiom, a red barn owl, and Moshma, a jet black panther. They accompany me wherever I go. And where is that? Well, I don't really have a job as most people would define it. I often help the rangers who patrol the Great Wood. They are concerned with the security of some kingdom or other and want to keep the forest free of spies and evil monsters. I help them by reporting any strange people or creatures I encounter.
But my real goal is to keep the forest and its animals safe from the encroachment of "civilization." Greedy furriers and loggers and wasteful travelers are my enemies. I have freed countless animals from live traps, have broken numerous logging saws, and have scared off several dozen city folk this year.
I secretly work with the druids. Together we have kept the forest and its creatures relatively safe from harm. But our jobs grow more and more difficult as new villages keep popping up near the forest's edge. And with that said, I must go and plant some more trees before Simbiom eats all of my nuts.
Meistersingers have wandered unsettled lands since the dawn of mankind. Loremasters tell tales about how the ancient dryads and nymphs would find lost human children and teach them the ways of the forest. Others were taken in by druids. Over the years, these children of nature have evolved into a definable class of character--the Meistersinger. Whether these tales are true or not, Meistersingers do exist.
The concerns of Meistersingers center around nature, especially animals. Lawful neutral, true neutral, and chaotic neutral Meistersingers see themselves as one with nature (although each views the structure of nature differently). They protect animals as humans protect those of their society. Neutral good Meistersingers look upon animals as innocent children who should be isolated and protected from the harsh and uncaring realms of civilization. Neutral evil Meistersingers see animals as subjects to be controlled and exploited. They use animals as some lords use slaves. True neutral Meistersingers are closest to druids in the way they look upon animals.
Forests, deserts, and mountains are the typical arena for the adventuring Meistersinger. Rarely does a Meistersinger adventure any where unless animals are somehow involved--as mounts, as companions, or perhaps as captives who need to be set free.
As a hunter and woodsman, a Meistersinger must maintain a variety of weapons: those that are purely for melee, those that are purely missile weapons, and those that can be used in both melee and missile combat (hurled weapons). At 1st level, a Meistersinger must select one melee and one missile weapon. Each additional weapon proficiency slot must be spent in the following repetitive sequence: hurled, melee, missile.
Bonuses: Animal Lore, Musical Instrument, Singing, Survival.
Suggested: Agriculture, Animal Training, Blacksmithing, Craft Instrument, Dancing, Direction Sense, Fire-Building, Fishing, Herbalism, Hunting, Mountaineering, Riding (airborne), Riding (land-based), Rope Use, Set Snares, Swimming, Tracking, Weather Sense.
Armor/Equipment: Standard.
Special Benefits:
Song of Companionship: At 1st, 5th, and 10th levels, a Meistersinger can play the Song of Companionship, which lasts for 2d12 hours.
The Meistersinger and animal can communicate simple thoughts and desires. Such communication must be in the form of music or song by the Meistersinger, and a growl, caw, hiss, or some other appropriate sound by the animal. Others cannot understand the communication. The companion has hit points equal to those of the Meistersinger at his current level. The companion's hit points do not increase as the Meistersinger rises in level.
The companion gained at 1st level should be tiny or small (as per the "Size" entry in the Monstrous Compendia ). The animal transfers its primary sensory power onto the Meistersinger. This is much like the find familiar spell, but it is not identical and does not take the place of that spell.
The 5th-level companion should be small or medium in size. The Meistersinger gains the ability to polymorph his arms and head into those of this companion, for purposes of unarmed combat. Attacks are made using the Meis ter singer's THAC0, but successful attacks cause damage equal to that of the animal's natural weaponry. The Meis ter singer also receives multiple attacks, if the animal is entitled to them.
The 10th-level companion should be medium or large. The Meistersinger gains the ability to shape change (as the 9th-level wizard spell) into this companion's form once per day.
A Meistersinger's companions are his best friends. If one is slain, the mental strain of the loss forces the Meistersinger to roll a successful system shock check or die. (Likewise, if the Meistersinger is slain, the companion animals must roll system shock checks, at 80% + 1% per hit die.) If the check is successful, the Meistersinger goes into deep mourning for 101 days, during which he does not adventure. A Meistersinger can call for one replacement companion each time he advances in level (he is not required to call for a replacement). The replacement is the same size as the lost companion and confers the same abilities upon the Meistersinger.
If the Meistersinger concentrates, he can attempt to charm one animal within view by his singing. Only an animal of Hit Dice equal to or less than the Meistersinger's level can be affected. Furthermore, the total Hit Dice of all such charmed animals accompanying the Meistersinger cannot exceed twice the Meistersinger's level.
The song takes 1d10 rounds, but the animal is held temporarily spellbound during the performance, as long as no hostile advances are made upon it by the Meistersinger or his allies. After 1d10 rounds, the monster rolls a saving throw vs. paralyzation with a -1 penalty per three levels of the Meistersinger. If it fails, it is under the effects of a charm spell. If it succeeds, it is unaffected and acts normally. If the roll was a natural 20, the animal is enraged and immediately attacks the Meistersinger.
Fritz
Actual Fritz,this was my creations, Vicki is just a editor. It is an idea I have for a specific character, more so than a kit. As so I think the restriction, while interesting, does not necessarily match the intention of the character I was thinking about. I had not seen the Kit you show here, not sure where it is from. Clearly there are significant differences, so it would not be the same character, but one I would consider.
John
Fritz and John, I couldn't possibly create something this advanced with absolutely no knowledge of characteristics like John does. Earlier I think I did some corrections with spelling, this time I fixed that box that appeared on the screen. I hope it looks alright still. Thanks John for tolerating all the edits I do on your pages.
Vicki
