Erudite Bard (Bard/Wizard)

Many traveling entertainers tell stories, sing, dance, or are practitioners of one of the other performing arts. However, for the bard, the road occasionally loses its luster, or the tavern wells run dry, and he is drawn to the stability and knowledge offered by the well-known academies of the arcane arts. Whether for months or years at a time, these performing artists enter these academies to learn magic from the greatest wizards of the age, and are known as erudite bards. Upon graduating or leaving due to loss of interest, the erudite bard soon returns to the winding roads that spawned him. With both his increased knowledge of the scholarly and arcane worlds intact, the erudite bard endeavors to broaden his horizons, increase his skills, and enhance his performances so as to woo and amaze the minds of those he entertains to new and dizzying heights.

Primary Class: Bard

Secondary Class: Wizard

Hit Dice: d8

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The erudite bard may select three skills from the wizard class skills to add to his class skills in addition to the normal bard class skills. The erudite bard gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 4 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

The ascetic entertainer is proficient with all simple weapons, plus the longsword, rapier, sap, short sword, shortbow, and whip. The erudite bard is also proficient with light armor, but not with shields. The erudite bard can cast bard spells while wearing light armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. Like any other arcane spellcaster, an erudite bard wearing medium or heavy armor or using a shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic component. A multiclass erudite bard still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells received from other classes.

Spellcasting: The erudite bard casts arcane spell drawn from the bard’s spell list, and uses the bard’s daily allotment of spells. However, unlike other bards, the erudite bard learns, prepares, and casts his spells as a wizard equal to his level by studying his spellbook before hand, and therefore may know any number of spells.
Also, the erudite bard uses his Charisma score to determine the level of spells he can cast, the Difficulty Class for their saving throws, and bonus spells per day.
In addition, the erudite bard adds spells from the sorcerer/wizard spell list as he gains levels (see the New Tale and its subsequent abilities). This ability otherwise functions as and replaces the bard’s spellcasting ability.

Composer’s Spellbook (Ex): An erudite bard has mastered a form of shorthand for scribing the spells she learns, resulting in a very compact spellbook. At 1st level, the erudite bard incorporates elements of musical notes, rhythm, meter, and composition into his arcane writings. Creatures take a –4 penalty on skill checks involving the erudite bard’s spellbook. The erudite bard’s spells (not including cantrips or 1st–level spells) take one less page each in his spellbook. At each new erudite bard level, she gains two new bard spell of any spell level or levels that she can cast (based on her new erudite bard level) for her spellbook.
An erudite bard begins play with a spellbook containing all 0-level bard spells plus three 1st-level bard spells of his choice. The erudite bard also selects a number of additional 1st-level spells equal to his Charisma modifier to add to the spellbook. Each time a character attains a new erudite bard level, he gains two spells of his choice to add to his spellbook. The two free spells must be of spell levels he can cast. At any time, an erudite bard can also add spells found in other wizards’ spellbooks to his, but receives a –2 penalty to his Spellcraft check. In all other respects, an erudite bard’s spellbook functions as a normal wizard’s spellbook.

Bardic Performance: The erudite bard gains the following performances in place of those listed in their individual descriptions.

Passive Voice (Su): Starting at 1st level, the erudite bard learns to spin tales of great epic intrigue woven upon the loom of the arcane. Each round of the passive voice he makes a Perform (comedy, oratory, or sing) skill check. The erudite bard must then designate one creature within 30 feet of him (including himself) at the subject of a sanctuary spell. This effect remains for 1 round per level o the erudite bard. At 5th level, and every four levels thereafter, the erudite bard can expand the effects of this ability to include one additional creature with 30 feet, up to a maximum number of creatures equal to his Charisma modifier. Should anyone break this sanctuary effect, it is negated for all who have been affected. The DC of this effect is equal to 10 + 1/2 the erudite bard’s level + his Charisma modifier. This ability replaces inspire courage.

Masterful Storytelling (Ex): At 3rd level, an erudite bard can use his bardic performance to weave fantastic tales meant to heighten the confidence of those who hearken to them. At the commencement of this performance, the erudite bard must choose what type of song or story he will perform. This decision determines the type of benefits his allies receive. Any ally that that can hear and is within 30 feet of the erudite bard (including himself) gains a +2 insight bonus, as determined by the erudite bard’s chosen theme. At 7th level and every four levels thereafter, this bonus increases by +1, to a maximum of +6 at 18th level. The benefit of this performance lasts until the end of the erudite bard’s next turn. This ability replaces inspire competence and inspire greatness.
The erudite bard may choose from the following storytelling themes. Once chosen, it cannot be changed until the erudite bard begins a new performance.

• Inspiring Words: Targets receive a bonus to saving throws. In addition, they may make a single new saving throw against any non-permanent ongoing effects (poison, charm, etc.).
• Heroic Myth: Targets receive 1 temporary hit point per class level of the erudite bard, and a bonus to attack rolls.
• Rousing Tale: Targets may ignore the fatigued and exhausted conditions, and receive a bonus to AC.
• Tall Tale: Targets receive a bonus to initiative and feint or trip attempts.
• Wise Parable: Targets receive a bonus to Heal, Survival, Disable Device and Craft attempts.

Tale of Deception (Ex): At 8th level, an erudite bard can use his bardic performance to trick others into believing incredible tales. Any ally that can hear and is within 30 feet of the erudite bard (including himself) gains a +2 bonus to all Bluff and Diplomacy checks for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 the erudite bard’s level. During this performance, the erudite bard may choose to expend a spell slot as a swift action, granting an additional bonus of twice the spell’s level, for a maximum total of +20 if the erudite bard expends a 9th–level spell slot. In addition, while under the effects of this performance, the erudite bard is immune to detect lies, zone of truth, or other similar spells or effects. Casters of such spells or effects always believe the erudite bard is speaking truthfully unless he wishes otherwise, or until the effect ends, whichever comes first. This ability replaces dirge of doom.

Scribe Scroll: The erudite bard gains Scribe Scroll as a bonus feat. This ability replaces distraction.

Raconteur (Sp): Beginning at 2nd level, whenever the erudite bard uses his bardic performance, he can create sounds to enhance his performance, as an immediate action. This effect functions like the ghost sound spell and remains for as long as the performance persists.
At 6th level, the erudite bard can create illusory images and sounds to enhance his performance. This effect functions like the minor image spell.
At 10th level, the erudite bard can create images, sounds and thermal effect to enhance his performance. This effect functions like the major image spell.
At 14th level, the erudite bard can create images, sounds and thermal effect to enhance his performance, but once the performance has ended, the effect persists for 1 round per erudite bard level. This effect otherwise functions like the persistent image spell.

Versatile Performance (Ex): This is exactly like the bard ability of the same name, except that the erudite bard gains versatile performance only once at 2nd level. He can select no additional Perform skills as higher levels.

Amazing Folklore: At 4th level, the erudite bard may select two spells from the sorcerer/wizard spell list of 2nd–level spells or lower and adds them his spellbook. This ability replaces versatile performance at 6th and 10th level.

Extraordinary Legend: At 7th level, the erudite bard may select two spells from the sorcerer/wizard spell list of 3rd–level spells or lower and adds them his spellbook. This ability replaces jack-of-all-trades.

True Odyssey: At 10th level, the erudite bard may select two spells from the sorcerer/wizard spell list of 4th–level spells or lower and adds them his spellbook. This ability replaces soothing performance.

Great Saga: At 13th level, the erudite bard may select two spells from the sorcerer/wizard spell list of 5th–level spells or lower and adds them his spellbook. This ability replaces frightening tune.

Grand Epic: At 16th level, the erudite bard may select two spells from the sorcerer/wizard spell list of 6th–level spells or lower and adds them his spellbook. This ability replaces versatile performance at 14th and 18th level.

Living Masterpiece (Ex): At 20th level, an erudite bard unlocks a deep secret beyond the realm of their greatest dreams. The erudite bard chooses any three spells from the sorcerer/wizard spell list of up to 8th–level and adds them to their spellbook. Any 7th and 8th–level spells are added as 6th–level bard spells. In addition, the erudite bard gains a +2 inherent bonus to his Intelligence score. This ability replaces deadly performance.