Bladesinger (3.5e Prestige Class)

Bladesinger

The iconic defender of the elven lands, a bladesinger is a master of blending swordplay and magic.

Making a Bladesinger

A bladesinger can serve multiple roles in an adventuring party. He does well supporting a well armored companion in combat or serving as the magic user from the back lines.

Abilities: Intelligence determines how many spells a Bladesinger can cast in a day, and how hard they are to resist. To cast a spell a Bladesinger must have an intelligence score of 10 + the spells level. A Bladesinger gets bonus spells based on intelligence. The DC of a saving throw against a Bladesinger’s spell is 10 + the spell's level plus the Bladesinger's intelligence modifier.

Races: Bladesingers are always elven. Very Rarely a highborn half-elf could become a Bladesinger, but any other race would have no access to the bladesinging art. A Bladesinger protects his skills and abilities with great secrecy. No one is trained in the art of bladesinging without the approval of the elven nations. There are no known Bladesingers that aren't elf or half-elf.

Creators Note: I'm starting to think there's no need to restrict this to only elves. The flavor is based on a 2nd edition class from the elves handbook, but it may not be necessary here.

Alignment: Any.

Starting Gold: 1d6x10 gp

Starting Age: As Wizard

Table: The Bladesinger

Hit Die: d8

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special	Spells per Day
		Fort	Ref	Will		0	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
1st	+0	+0	+2	+2	Code of Conduct, Bonus Weapon Feat, Signature Weapon, Armored Mage	2	-	—	—	—	—	-
2nd	+1	+0	+3	+3	Bladesurge	2	0	—	—	—	—	-
3rd	+2	+1	+3	+3	Soulblade (1 Alignment)	2	1	—	—	—	—	-
4th	+3	+1	+4	+4	Bladesong 1/Day	2	2	0	—	—	—	-
5th	+3	+1	+4	+4	Spellblade (1d6)	3	2	1	—	—	—	-
6th	+4	+2	+5	+5	Improved Defensive Casting	3	2	2	0	—	—	-
7th	+5	+2	+5	+5		3	2	2	1	—	—	-
8th	+6/+1	+2	+6	+6	Bladesong 2/day	3	3	2	2	0	—	-
9th	+6/+1	+3	+6	+6	Soulblade (2 Alignments)	3	3	3	2	1	—	-
10th	+7/+2	+3	+7	+7	Spellblade (2d6)	4	3	3	2	2	0	-
11th	+8/+3	+3	+7	+7	First Blade Discipline	4	4	3	3	2	1	-
12th	+9/+4	4	+8	+8	Bladesong 3/day	4	4	4	3	2	2	0
13th	+9/+4	+4	+9	+9		4	4	4	4	3	2	1
14th	+10/+5	+4	+9	+9	Second Blade Discipline	4	4	4	4	4	3	2
15th	+11/+6/+1	+5	+9	+9	Spellblade (3d6)	4	4	4	4	4	4	3
16th	+12/+7/+2	+5	+10	+10	Bladesong 4/day	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
17th	+12/+7/+2	+5	+10	+10	Third Blade Discipline	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
18th	+13/+7/+3	+6	+11	+11	Bonus Feat	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
19th	+14/+9/+4	+6	+11	+11	Bonus Feat	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
20th	+15/+10/+5	+6	+12	+12	Bladesong 5/day, Fourth Blade Discipline	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
Class Skills 4 + Int modifier per level, (4 + Int modifier)×4 at 1st level Balance(dex), Concentration(con), Diplomacy(Cha), Jump(Str), Knowledge Arcana(int), Knowledge Religion(int), Move Silently(dex), Perform[dance](Cha), perform[sing](Cha), Spellcraft(Int), Search(Int), Swim(Str), Tumble(Dex)..

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the bladesinger.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Bladesingers are proficient with one simple or martial one-handed weapon of choice (See Signature Weapon and Bonus Weapon Feat below), and with light armor but not shields. Armor of any type interferes with a bladesinger's movements, which can cause his spells with somatic components to fail.

Spells: A Bladesinger has the ability to cast some arcane spells. He is limited to a certain number of spells of each spell level per day, according to his class level. He learns these spells from the Wizard spell list. A Bladesinger must prepare spells ahead of time by getting a nights rest and spending 1 hour studying his spell book. While studying, the Bladesinger decides which Spells to prepare. A Bladesinger is banned from casting any Necromancy spell, Conjuration(Calling), Conjuration(Creation) or Conjuration(Summoning) spells. Necromancy is considered unclean and taboo magic; the conjuration spells would be use of another weapon besides their signature weapon -- something that is forbidden. A Bladesinger knows 2+intelligence modifier spells per level he can cast.

Code of Conduct: A Bladesinger's sworn duty is to protect elves and the elven way of life at all times. He must take reasonable steps to lend aid to any good elf in danger, even if it means sacrificing his own life. A bladesinger gets a -4 to saves vs any spell that attempts to trick him into believing an elf or the elven nation is in danger. A Bladesinger who does not fulfill his duty is unable to use some of his bladesinging abilities and cannot progress further in the class until he undergoes Atonement from an Elven cleric.

When a Bladesinger breaks his code of conduct he loses access to these abilities: Bladesurge, Soulblade, Spellblade, and the ability to cast any spells granted by the Blade discipline divine favor.

Bonus Weapon Feat (Ex): At 1st level, a bladesinger selects Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus or Exotic Weapon Proficiency as a bonus feat. If he selects Exotic Weapon Proficiency he must choose a one-handed bladed weapon and it replaces the weapon proficiency he gained for selecting this class. If he chooses Weapon Focus or Weapon Finesse he must select his signature weapon.

Signature Weapon (Ex): At 1st level a bladesinger chooses a simple, exotic or martial one handed bladed weapon to be his signature weapon. He gains proficiency with this weapon. If he is wielding a weapon other than his signature weapon, he cannot use a number of his bladesinging abilities. If he attempts to wield any weapon other than his signature weapon he also receives a -2 penalty. This penalty stacks with the normal penalties for wielding a non-proficient weapon.

A bladesinger loses access to these abilities when wielding a weapon other than his signature weapon: Bladesurge, Soulblade, Spellblade, Bladesong and Improved Defensive Casting. He also loses the benefits from the blade disciplines Song of Fury, Battledance, Battlegrace, and Combat Tumbler.

Armored Mage (Ex): A Bladesinger’s rigorous training allows him to overcome the hindrances of armor on spell-casting. He is able to overcome any chance of arcane spell failure while wearing light armor.

Bladesurge (Su): At 2nd level a Bladesinger learns to channel his magic through his blade for a devastating round of attacks. As a swift action a Bladesinger with this maneuver can sacrifice up to 6 levels of spells to charge his blade. For each spell level sacrificed this way, he gains +1 to hit and +1d6 to damage. This effect lasts one round (so it affects full round attacks and attacks of opportunity).

Level 0 spells can be sacrificed as well. They count as 1/2 a level. They add +1 to attack and +1 to damage.

Soulblade (Su): At 3rd level a bladesinger chooses one alignment: good, lawful, or chaotic. A lawful bladesinger cannot choose chaotic, and a chaotic bladesinger cannot choose lawful. His signature weapon gains this alignment. A weapon that is aligned can bypass the damage reduction of certain creatures. This supernatural ability has no effect on a weapon that already has an alignment.

At 9th level the bladesinger chooses a second alignment. If he chose chaotic or lawful at level 3, he must choose good at level 9. His weapon gains this alignment as well.

If a lawful or chaotic character changes to the opposite alignment, his weapon also changes to that alignment. No change occurs if the character changes to neutral.

Bladesong (Ex): At 4th level a Bladesinger can cast any prepared spell as a swift action once per day, so long as the casting time of the spell is one standard action or less. His regular standard action or full round action cannot be used or have been used to cast another spell this around. He can only cast a spell using this ability if he's wielding his signature weapon or is empty handed. If another effect grants him the ability to cast more spells this turn, those remain unaffected. A Bladesinger can only cast spells granted to him by the Bladesinger class with this ability.

A bladesinger can use this ability one additional time per day for every four levels after 4th (twice per day at 8th, three times at 12th, and so forth)

Spellblade (Su): Enemies a bladesinger has affected with his spells are more vulnerable to his weapon attacks. At 5th level the bladesinger's signature weapon deals an additional 1d6 points of damage against enemies who have failed a saving throw against or have been damaged by one of his Bladesinger spells. This lasts for the remainder of the encounter. The additional damage increases to 2d6 at level 10 and 3d6 at level 15.

Improved Defensive Casting (Ex): At 7th level a bladesinger no longer provokes attacks of opportunity while casting a spell from enemies he threatens and against whom he may apply his dexterity bonus to AC. He must be holding his signature weapon in one hand and nothing in the other. He loses this benefit when wearing medium or heavy armor. This does not require a concentration check.

Blade Disciplines: At levels 11, 14, 17 and 20 a bladesinger learns a blade discipline. He may also choose a blade discipline instead of a standard feat at level 12, 15 or 18.

Song of Fury (Ex): When a Bladesinger with this discipline makes a full attack with his signature weapon, he can make an extra attack at his highest base attack bonus, but this attack and each other attack made in that round takes a -2 penalty. This penalty applies for one round, so it also affects attacks of opportunity the Bladesinger might make before his next action. A Bladesinger may only take this discipline once.

Swift Feet (Ex): A Bladesinger with this discipline has an increased base speed of 10 feet when wearing light armor or no armor. A Bladesinger may only take this discipline once.

Bladedance (Ex): A Bladesinger with this maneuver cannot be flanked or caught flat-footed while wearing light or no armor and wielding no weapon or his signature weapon. A Bladesinger may only take this discipline once.

Battlegrace (Ex): A Bladesinger with this maneuver may move up to his base speed as a swift action before a full round attack.

Combat Tumbler (Ex): A Bladesinger with this maneuver may tumble at full speed through or past enemies with no penalty. Normal penalty is -10. A Bladesinger may only take this discipline once.

Divine Favor (Ex): A Bladesinger with this discipline can add one divine spell to his spellbook. The following domains are banned: Death, Evil, Destruction and Strength. The spell must be of a level no higher than that of the highest-level arcane spell he can cast. This spell is granted by his god for his religious dedication and service to the elven nations, and is cast in the same manner as his arcane spells. The spell must still not be conjuration (summoning, calling, creation) or necromancy in nature (at DM’s discretion). A Bladesinger may take this discipline multiple times. A bladesinger may select this Blade Discipline at anytime as a standard feat.

Ex-Bladesingers

A Bladesinger who breaks the alignment restrictions cannot gain new levels as a Bladesinger but retains all Bladesinger abilities. Like a member of any other class, a Bladesinger may be a multiclass character, but multiclass Bladesingers face a special restriction. A Bladesinger who gains a new class by a level may never again raise his Bladesinger level, though he retains all his Bladesinger abilities.

Campaign Information

Religion: A Bladesinger is devoutly religious. He believes in the elven way of life and in the elven religion. He will have a great deal of respect for any priest, but particularly elven priests.

Other Classes: A Bladesinger generally considers other classes unrefined, with the exception of monks, clerics, and mages. He generally doesn't get along well with barbarians, the lack of self control goes against all that the Bladesinger has devoted his life too.

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