Welcome to Saturday Potpourri, this time we call out your mother for being a hamster, and your father for smelling of elderberries!
Heckler (Bard Archetype)
“The bard is the master of language, song, and voice. His songs soothe our hearts, his tales fire our imagination, and his speeches provoke us to action. May, not his arts also lead us to anguish?”
The heckler is an archetype of the bard class.
The heckler is a master at the art of bullying. He erodes his enemies’ will to fight with strings of jibes and mocking jeers until his relentless verbal assaults lead them to despair.
A heckler has the following class features.
Diminished Spellcasting
A heckler casts one fewer spell of each level than normal. If this reduces the number to 0, he can cast spells of that level only if his Charisma score allows bonus spells of that level.
This alters the bard’s spellcasting.
Bardic Performance
A heckler gains the following types of bardic performance:
Rallying Cry (Su) At 1st level, a heckler can use performance to rally dispirited allies. Each round he makes an Intimidate check. Any ally (including the bard) within 30 feet may use this check in place of his own saving throw against fear and despair effects. Those already under a fear or despair effect can attempt a new save each round using the bard’s intimidate check. Rallying cry does not work on effects that don’t allow saves. This is a mind-affecting ability that uses audible components.
This performance replaces countersong.
Bardic Vitriol (Ex)
At 1st level, a heckler gains +3 bonus on all checks involving the Intimidate skill. If he has 10 or more ranks in that skill, this bonus increases to +6. Bardic vitriol counts as having the Intimidate Skill Focus feat.
This ability replaces bardic knowledge
Bullying Display (Ex)
Starting at 2nd level, a heckler can perform a bewildering show of prowess as a full-round action. Make an Intimidate check to demoralize all foes within 30 feet who can see your display,
This ability replaces well versed.
Demoralizing Tirade
Starting at 5th level, a heckler may spend a move action to make an Intimidate check. Upon success, his words fill a single enemy with dread. He gains +2 on all attack and combat maneuver checks against the target until the end of his next turn.
This ability replaces lore master 1.
Dreadful Display
Starting at 11th level, when a heckler successfully uses Bullying Display against any shaken, frightened, or panicked opponents, their fear increases by one step. An already panicked creature demoralized by dreadful display cowers. Once affected by dreadful display, a creature cannot be affected by it again (by you or anyone else) for 24 hours.
This ability replaces lore master 2.
Antagonize
At 17th level, heckler gains Antagonize as a bonus feat.
This ability replaces lore master 3.
