Skald
The Skald is a prestige class of A Dawn of Heroes: a melee fighter that keeps the Bard Song and gains no spellcasting.
| Type | Prestige class |
| Hit die | d10 |
| Skill points | 4 + Intelligence modifier per level |
| Attack progression | 3/4 of your level |
| Strong saves | Fortitude and Will |
| Armour | Medium, granted at level 1 |
| Spellcasting | None |
| Maximum level | 30 |
| Alignment | Any non-lawful |
Requirements
- Alignment: any non-lawful
- Attack bonus: +5
- Discipline: 8 ranks
- Concentration: 8 ranks
- Lore: 5 ranks
- Feats: Toughness, Luck of Heroes, Weapon Proficiency (exotic)
Level progression
| Level | Gain |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bard Song, Armor Proficiency (medium) |
| 2 to 20 | one further use of Bard Song per day at each level |
| 3 | Ambidexterity |
| 6 | Two-Weapon Fighting |
| 9 | Improved Two-Weapon Fighting |
| 10 | +1 Strength, +1 Constitution, +1 Charisma |
| 11 | Epic Skald |
| 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34, 37, 40 | bonus feat |
| 15 | Damage Reduction 1, +1 natural armour, Valkyrie's Cry |
| 20 | Damage Reduction 2, +1 natural armour, +1 Strength, +1 Constitution, +1 Charisma |
| 25 | Damage Reduction 3, +1 natural armour, Battle Hymn |
| 30 | Damage Reduction 4 |
Bard Song
Bard Song is granted at level 1, with one further use per day at each level up to 20.
The strength of the song depends on character level and on the Perform skill together. Both thresholds must be met to reach a tier.
| Tier | Level | Perform |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 3 | 6 | 9 |
| 4 | 9 | 12 |
| 5 | 12 | 15 |
| 6 | 15 | 18 |
| 7 | 20 | 24 |
| 8 | 26 | 60 |
| 9 | 30 | 90 |
The level used is the higher of your Skald level and your Bard level, not the sum of the two.
Tier 9 is the best a Skald can reach. There is a tier above it, but it needs level 40 and Perform 109, and a prestige class stops at 30 levels - so it belongs to a pure Bard.
Perform 90 is reachable: 43 ranks at level 40, +3 from Skill Focus and +10 from Epic Skill Focus, your Charisma modifier, and up to +50 from items and spells.
The singer's own version of the buff is half again as large on saving throws, armour class, skills and temporary hit points, and its damage bonus is magical rather than physical.
Valkyrie's Cry
Granted at level 15, 5 + (Skald level / 5) times a day. It does not work while you are silenced.
| To enemies nearby | positive energy damage, (Constitution modifier)d6, minimum one die |
| To allies nearby | temporary hit points, 50 x (Skald level / 5) |
| +5% immunity to bludgeoning, slashing and piercing | |
| Duration of the ally effect | 2 rounds |
The caster takes no damage from their own cry. The effects granted cannot be dispelled.
Battle Hymn
Granted at level 25, 2 + (Skald level / 5) times a day. It does not work while you are silenced.
| To allies nearby | +2 attack bonus |
| To you | +10% immunity to bludgeoning, slashing and piercing; +5 pure damage per hit |
| Duration | 1 + your base Constitution modifier, in turns |
The duration uses your base Constitution score, so a Constitution buff does not lengthen it.
Epic levels
The class becomes epic at level 11. A bonus feat is granted at levels 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34, 37 and 40, chosen from:
Armor Skin, Blinding Speed, Curse Song, Devastating Critical, Epic Damage Reduction, Epic Prowess, Epic Skill Focus, Epic Toughness, Epic Weapon Focus, Extra Music, Lasting Inspiration, Lingering Song, Overwhelming Critical.
Class skills
Concentration, Discipline, Heal, Listen, Lore, Parry, Perform, Pick Pocket, Ride, Taunt, Tumble, Craft: Harvesting, Craft: Mastery, Craft: Speed.