In a psionic society, a bard is not bound by the limits of sound. Thoughts and feelings are her instruments, and a gifted empath can create a symphony of memory and emotion unlike anything that can be heard with the ear. These thoughtsingers fill the same role that the bard does in a traditional fantasy setting; they are storytellers and satirists, keepers of knowledge and sources of inspiration. Generally speaking, her abilities are similar to those of the traditional bard, but because she relies on psionic power there are some key differences.
Alignment: Any
Hit Die: d6
GAME RULE INFORMATION
Thoughtsingers have the following game statistics.
Class Skills:
Appraise, Autohypnosis, Balance, Bluff, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Decipher Script, Diplomacy, Disguise, Escape Artist, Gather Information, Hide, Jump, Knowledge (all skills, taken individually), Listen, Move Silently, Perform, Psicraft, Profession, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, Speak Language, Swim, Tumble, and Use Psionic Device. Skill points at each level: 6 + Int modifier. Skill points at 1st level: (6 + Int modifier) x4.
Class Features:
All the following are class features of the thoughtsinger.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Thoughtsingers are proficient with all simple weapons, plus the longsword, rapier, sap, short sword, shortbow, and whip. Thoughtsingers are proficient with light armor and with shields (except tower shields).
Power Points/Day: While the bulk of a thoughtsinger’s telepathic talents are focused on her empathic broadcasts, she can develop other psionic powers. A thoughtsinger’s ability to manifest powers is limited by the power points she has available. Her base daily allotment of power points is shown on the thoughtsinger table above. In addition, she receives bonus power points per day if she has a high Charisma score. Her race may also provide bonus power points per day, as may certain feats and items. A 1st-level thoughtsinger gains no power points for her class level, but she gains bonus power points (if she is entitled to any), and can manifest the single power she knows with those power points.
Powers Known: A thoughtsinger begins play knowing one thoughtsinger power of your choice. Each time she achieves a new level, she unlocks the knowledge of a new power. Choose the powers known from the thoughtsinger power list. A
thoughtsinger can manifest any power that has a power point cost equal to or lower than her manifester level.
The total number of powers a thoughtsinger can manifest in a day is limited only by her daily power points. A thoughtsinger simply knows her powers; they are ingrained in her mind. She does not need to prepare them, though she must get a good night’s sleep each day to regain all her spent power points.
The Difficulty Class for saving throws against thoughtsinger powers is 10 + the power’s level + the thoughtsinger’s Charisma modifier.
Maximum Power Level Known: A thoughtsinger begins play with the ability to learn 1st level powers. As she attains higher levels, she may gain the ability to master more complex powers. To learn or manifest a power, a thoughtsinger must have a Charisma score of at least 10 + the power’s level.
Bardic Knowledge: A thoughtsinger may make a special bardic knowledge check with a bonus equal to his thoughtsinger level + his Intelligence modifier to see whether he knows some relevant information about local notable people, legendary items, or noteworthy places. (If the thoughtsinger has 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (history), he gains a +2 bonus on this check.) A successful bardic knowledge check will not reveal the powers of a magic item but may give a hint as to its general function. A thoughtsinger may not take 10 or take 20 on this check; this sort of knowledge is essentially random.
Thoughtsong (Su): Once per day per class level, a thoughtsinger can project a symphony of emotions into the minds of those around her. This is similar in nature to mass missive, and the thoughtsinger can choose to exclude people from the effect. The duration lasts as long as the thoughtsinger continues to “sing.” Just as a bard can weave supernatural effects into his music, a thoughtsinger can channel psionic powers into her song. Each thoughtsong ability requires a minimum thoughtsinger level and a minimum number of ranks in Perform (thoughtsong); if the character does not possess requisite ranks in Perform, she will not gain the associated thoughtsong ability until these ranks are acquired.
Starting a thoughtsong effect is a standard action. Some thoughtsong abilities require concentration, which means that the thoughtsinger must take a standard action each round to maintain the ability. Even when performing a thoughtsong effect that does not require concentration, a thoughtsinger cannot cast spells or manifest powers, or activate items requiring a command thought or power completion. Thoughtsong effects do not use sound and are not language-dependent abilities; they are unaffected by silence, and the thoughtsinger suffers no failure chance when deafened.
Thoughtsong affects a 45’ radius around the thoughtsinger. The singer can increase the radius of a thoughtsong effect by investing psionic power points when she activates the ability; each power point she invests when she begins to perform increases the range by 5 feet.
Fascinate (Ps): A thoughtsinger with 3 or more ranks in Perform (thoughtsong) can emit thoughts and sounds to cause one or more creatures to become fascinated with him. Each creature to be fascinated must be within 90 feet, within sight of the thoughtsinger, and able to pay attention to him. The thoughtsinger must also be able to see the creature. The distraction of a nearby combat or other dangers prevents the ability from working. For every three levels a thoughtsinger attains beyond 1st, he can target one additional creature with a single use of this ability.
To use the ability, a thoughtsinger makes a Perform (thoughtsong) check. His check result is the DC for each affected creature’s Will save against the effect. If a creature’s saving throw succeeds, the thoughtsinger cannot attempt to fascinate that creature again for 24 hours. If its saving throw fails, the creature sits quietly, enthralled by the thoughtsong, taking no other actions, for as long as the thoughtsinger continues to concentrate (up to a maximum of 1 round per thoughtsinger level). While fascinated, a target takes a –4 penalty on skill checks made as reactions, such as Listen and Spot checks. Any potential threat requires the thoughtsinger to make another Perform (thoughtsong) check and allows the creature a new saving throw against a DC equal to the new Perform check result.
Any obvious threat, such as someone drawing a weapon, manifesting a power, or aiming a ranged weapon at the target, automatically breaks the effect. Fascinate is a telepathy (charm), mind-affecting ability.
Inspire Courage (Su): A thoughtsinger with 3 or more ranks in Perform (thoughtsong) can use projected empathy to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be withing sight of thoughtsinger. The effect lasts for as long as the ally can see the thoughtsinger and for 5 rounds thereafter. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls. At 8th level, and every six thoughtsinger levels thereafter, this bonus increases by 1 (+2 at 8th, +3 at 14th, and +4 at 20th). Inspire courage is a mind-affecting ability. The targets do not need to hear the thoughtsinger, as long as they are within the area of effect.
Inspire Competence (Su): A thoughtsinger of 3rd level or higher with 6 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use projected empathy to help an ally succeed at a task. The ally must be within 30 feet and able to see and hear the thoughtsinger. The thoughtsinger must also be able to see the ally. The ally gets a +2 competence bonus on skill checks with a particular skill as long as he or she continues to hear the thoughtsinger’s projectedempathy. Certain uses of this ability are infeasible. The effect lasts as long as the thoughtsinger concentrates, up to a maximum of 2 minutes. A thoughtsinger can’t inspire competence in herself. Inspire competence is a mind-affecting ability.
Suggestion (Su): A thoughtsinger of 6th level or higher with 9 or more ranks in Perform (thoughtsong) can make a suggestion (as the power) to a creature that he has already fascinated (see above). Using this ability does not break the thoughtsinger’s concentration on the fascinate effect, nor does it allow a second saving throw against the fascinate effect.
Making a suggestion doesn’t count against a thoughtsinger’s daily limit on thoughtsong performances. A Will saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 thoughtsinger’s level + thoughtsinger’s Cha modifier) negates the effect. This ability affects only a single creature (but see mass suggestion). Suggestion is a telepathy (charm), mind-affecting, language dependent ability.
Inspire Heroics (Su): A thoughtsinger of 15th level or higher with 18 or more ranks in Perform (thoughtsong) can project his thoughts to inspire tremendous heroism in himself or a single willing ally within 30 feet. For every three thoughtsinger levels the character attains beyond 15th, he can inspire heroics in one additional creature. To inspire heroics, a thoughtsinger must “sing” with his thoughtsoung and an ally must “hear” the thoughtsinger sing for a full round. A creature so inspired gains a +4 morale bonus on saving throws and a +4 dodge bonus to AC. The effect lasts for as long as the ally is within the area of effect and for up to 5 rounds thereafter. Inspire heroics is a mind-affecting ability.
Emotional Shield (Su): By projecting a wall of sheltering emotions, a thoughtsinger can disrupt the effects of mindaffecting powers. Establishing the shield is an immediate action that uses one of the character’s daily uses of thoughtsong. Each round that she maintains the shield, the thoughtsinger should make a Perform (thoughtsong) check. All characters within a 15-ft radius receive power resistance equal to her Perform check for purposes of resisting mindaffecting powers. The thoughtsinger can maintain the shield for up to 1 round/class level. If the thoughtsinger takes any other action while maintaining the shield, she suffers a -5 circumstance penalty to her Perform check for that round.
Purifying Thought (Ps): A thoughtsinger of 12th level or higher with 15 or more ranks in Perform (thoughtsong) can create a web of thought and motion that produces an effect equivalent to the aura alteration power. Using this ability requires 1 minute of uninterrupted concentration, and one of the character’s daily uses of thoughtsong. It functions on a single target within 30 ft. If a thoughtsinger has more than 15 ranks of Perform, she adds those extra ranks to augment the effect, as if she were spending additional power points.
Mass Suggestion (Sp): This ability functions like suggestion, above, except that a thoughtsinger of 18th level or higher with 21 or more ranks in a Perform skill can make the suggestion simultaneously to any number of creatures that he has already fascinated. Mass suggestion is an compulsion and mind-affecting ability.
