The Bladesinger kit
Of the rowing elves, few are as deadly as the Bladesinger. They are the masters of their weapons and have spent their lives in the study of their chosen weapons. They have also learned to cast spells while engaged in combat, and thus they double their might.
To be a Bladesinger, a character needs at least a 13 Strength and Constitution, as well as a 15 in Dexterity and Intelligence.
• Role.While some may stay at home, defending the Elven way of life, the essence of civilization, Bladesingers go out and actively promote it. They do this by seeking out their races foes and eliminating them, either words, actions or both. Acting as both diplomats and one-elf-armies, they ensure the safety of the elven race.
• Secondary Skills. Hunter, Trader/Barterer, Trapper/Furrier.
• Weapon Proficiencies. Bonus: None. Recommended: One-weapon style for use in combat and spells; two-handed style for use when spells run out.
• Bonus Nonweapon Proficiencies. Blind-Fighting, Dancing.
• Recommended Nonweapon Proficiencies. Etiquette, Juggling, Singing, Tumbling, Weaponsmithing.
• Equipment. The Bladesinger is always identifiable by his weapon of choise. Such an item is always ornate and beautiful, enhancing the Bladesinger's appearance in battle.
• Distinctive Appearance. Not only are they easily identifiable by their weapon of choise and catlike grace Bladesingers are decorated with their weapon guild's distinctive tatoo. Each guild has a separate and unique tatoo depicting its style of weapon through an animal representation. Long Swords are often represented by great cats such as lions or panthers, a whip would be shown as a striking snake, and so forth.
• Special Benefits. There are four special benefits to the Bladesinger kit, as follows:
1.The Bladesinger chosses one weapon and practices with it extencively, to the exclusion of of most other weapons. if practice makes perfect, the Bladesingers are very well practiced in their weapon of choise - for they are virtually perfect.
The poised steps of the bladesong (the act of attack by a Bladesinger) not only reveals the Bladesinger to be a creature of beauty even during battle, but the steps also carry him into advantageous positions for either offence or defence. He can instinctively grasp the flow of the battle arround him, and his feet will carry him through the intricate maneuvers necessary to optimize his attack.
Such is the intensive training of the Bladesinger that he gains an automatic +1 to hit as well as a +1 for damage. This is in addition to the normal Elven +1 for use of the Long or Short Sword (if applicaple). Despite any additional, further training, this is as high as the bonus can be.
2. Bladesingers receive a special bonus when they wish to try an unusual maneuver with their blade. This bonus is equal to + 1 for every four levels the Bladesinger has attained. The bonus only serves to cancel the penalties normally applied for such a maneuver. All other penalties and bonuses still apply.
EXAMPLE: Vilana Pyreen, a 5th-level Bladesinger proficient in the long sword, attempts to
disarm her opponent (a special maneuver). Normally, this gives her a + 1 to initiative and a -4 to hit.
Since she is a 5th-level Bladesinger, however, her bladesinging ability gains her a + 1 on her disarm
maneuver. Since she is an elf, she gains an additional + 1 because she is using her sword. Finally,
she gains a + 1 for her bladeesinging ability with her sword. Her total is only a -1 to disarm her foe.
If she were 12th level, she would have a + 1 on her disarming attack.
3. Bladesingers have been taught from an early age to grasp the flow of magic around them and to turn it to their advantage. They can cast spells even while in the front lines. Although they cannot actually attack while casting their spells, they may defend themmselves against incoming melee attacks.
Their defense is equal to their level divided by 2, plus 1. All fractions are rounded down . Thus, a 6th-level Bladesinger gains a + 4 to AC (6th level-:-2=3+1= +4 AC). The same goes for 7th-level Bladesingers (7 -:- 2 = 3.5 -.5 = 3 +1 = +4 AC). This does not apply to rear or missile attacks, for it is nearly imposssible to defend against those while casting a spell.
Bladesingers have practiced the somatic portion of their spells well enough that they may cast their spells one-handed, suffering only a slight penalty. It adds + 2 to their castting times, making it easier to disrupt their spells. Like any other spellcaster, if they are hit they lose the concentration necessary for maintaining their spells; they lose the spell. Their spells are, therefore, usually of an offennsive nature with very short casting times.
4. The training is hard enough that only a 3rd-Ievel Bladesinger can begin to teach even the rudiments of the bladesong. If another elf wishes to learn the bladesong, he must seek one of the masters of the blade. Bladesingers charge a high price for sharing their skills.
• Special Hindrances. To offset their abiliities, Bladesingers suffer some severe penalties. Not only must they attempt to advance the cause of elvendom somehow at all times, they must also lend aid to any elf in need. Unless the elf is proven to be an enemy of the elven way of life, the Bladesinger must sacrifice life and limb to save that elf's life.
Of course, the Bladesinger is free to deterrmine whether there is, in fact, an elf in danger. Too many times other races have tried to elimminate the Bladesinger menace through illusion and trickery. The Bladesingers have grown wary and have, unfortunately, allowed fellow elves to perish while trying to determine the truth of the threat. Thus, most Bladesingers carry at least one detect magic spell in order to avoid possible errors.
Bladesingers are so devoted to their chosen weapon that they can never learn another one. Unlike other elves, they do not gain a + 1 to hit with a bow. With all other weapons, they suffer a -1 penalty to hit, even if they have taken it as a proficiency. If they have not devoted the slot to learn the weapon, the Bladesinger suffers the ordinary nonproficienncy in addition to the -1 penalty.
If the player is using The Complete Fighters Handbook, he may not allow his character to specialize in weapon groups. The Bladesinger focuses on a single weapon only.
Bladesingers may wear no armor heavier than elven chain or studded leather. Bulkier armor restricts the Bladesingers' movement enough that they have at least a - 2 penalty to attacks if they try to use their bladesinging ability while wearing such armor. The penalty is greater for heavier armor, although this is at the DM's discretion.
Bladesingers rarely use weapons other than swords. With only rare exceptions, they never learn two-handed fighting styles. They may not use shields or two-handed weapons, for these interfere with the bladesong. Even when they have run out of spells, Bladesingers will fight one-handed or with both hands on their single-handed weapon. To do otherwise neegates all bladesinging bonuses.
• Wealth Options. Bladesingers start their adventuring lives with 30 to 180 gp (3d6 X 10), and only one restriction: They must purchase their weapon of choice. Any monies left after buying their initial equipment must be reeturned to the Bladesinger's Guild. Later in their adventures, they must take opportuniities to upgrade their weapons. Other than these restrictions, they are free to do as they wish with their money.
• Suggested Elf Subraces. Grey elf, high elf.
Bladesong Fighting Style
Dedicated elf warriors take their craft seriiously enough to have created a uniquely elven fighting style. Unlike the martial arts of other races, the elven fighting style, also known as the bladesong, emphasizes beauty and econnomy of movement over sheer destructive power. However, the Elven bladesong is deceptively dangerous, for all its seeming gentleeness and apparent grace.
There are two types of bladesingers: those who learn it as an additional skill (described below), and those who have made it their lives. Those in this second category are known as Bladesingers, and they are described in above.
Bladesong is so named for several reasons. The first and most obvious is because of the whistling of the blade as it slices through the air when this style of fighting is used. The seccond is for the haunting, wordless tune many of its practitioners sing as they fight.
Those who practice the bladesong appear as if they are dancing when they fight. Their movements seem misleadingly slow and eleegant, deflecting opponents' blades while lazily drifting back to score hits themselves. The technique requires, above all, misdirection and subtlety. The blade singers do not believe in smashing blows or strong and crushing offense, but rather in guiding their opponents to anticipate a different attack entirely, thus overbalancing the foe and making him seem clumsy.
Bladesinging can be done with any Smalllor Medium-sized melee weapon, although the majority of practitioners practice their art with the sword. Due to the awkwardness of polearms and two-handed weapons, there are no known students of bladesinging proficient in these weapons.
To take advantage of the bladesinging techhnical benefits, the character (who must be a member of the warrior, priest, rogue, or warrrior/mage classes) must devote at least two weapon proficiency slots to the style. Otherrwise, the character can gain no benefits from the technique. This cost does not include the initial slot devoted to learning rudimentary use of the weapon, so the total cost is three weapon slots.
Obviously, rogues and priests cannot pick up this technique until they reach the 4th level or higher, since they start out with only two weapon proficiency slots and don't acquire a third until having progressed in levels. (As noted above, mages cannot learn this style at all.) Even if rogues and priests devote all their initial slots to a weapon and the first half of the bladesong proficiency, they must take a significant amount of time away from advennturing to learn the second half. Unless their companions are remarkably understanding and willing to wait some years, this could cause party friction. Thus, the style is usually practiced only by warriors and warrior/mages.
Please note: Elves never teach this style to non-elves, including half-elves and drow (the latter of whom have their own teachers and their own style anyway). Elves make no excepptions to this rule, even for those who have proven themselves eternal friends to the elves or even those who have married into the elven life. Elves have several reasons for not doing so.
The first is that this style could be a terrible weapon against the elves should any non-elf students choose to use it that way. Though they may trust someone with their lives, the teaching of the bladesong is most definitely a racial secret-a secret that will not be revealed even under pain of death. The only conceivvable way for a non-elf to gain this knowledge is by using powerful magicks to force it from a practitioner. In such a case, elves would swear the blood oath and doggedly hunt the thief until he or she is destroyed. They would not hesitate to use every trick at their command.
The second is that there are so few teachers of bladesinging that they have no desire to deevote the time required to any other than elves. Although this is biased against non-elves, bladesinging masters are adamant about not teaching any other than elves. While a few other creatures might have the grace necesssary for the intricacies of the bladesong, they certainly do not have the judgment and disscernment most elves possess.
Finally, and most compellingly, few other beings have the time necessary to properly learn bladesinging. In the years it takes to master even the rudiments of the bladesong, a human could raise a family, build a successful business, and retire a wealthy man. There are numerous other ways to become a fierce fighter, all of which demand less time than learning the bladesong. Even most elves are not willing to take the time necessary to learn this techhnique. Only the most fiercely devoted will spend the decades required for this fighting style.
Advantages
Although the cost is rather steep to learn bladesinging, its practitioners swear by it. Its wide versatility often astounds those who are not familiar with its intricacies. The things even an amateur bladesinger can do with one blade echo tricks that accomplished warriors can do with two, or with a weapon and shield.
Those elves willing to devote two slots to learning the rudiments of bladesinging gain the use of the following benefits:
1. They may gain a + 1 bonus to their AC or, if they wish to spend an extra slot, may boost this bonus to + 2 to their AC. That is the highest bonus those who choose bladeesinging as an additional skill can attain. or
2. They may gain a + 1 to hit or, if they wish to spend an extra slot, may boost this to a + 2 to attack. As with the AC bonus, + 2 is the best they can hope for. or
3. They may attack and parry in that same round, without wasting any additional atttacks.
Note that these three benefits are not cumulative; that is, practitioners cannot use all three at once. However, they do have the option of varying between these three options during the course of a combat.
EXAMPLE: Amaranth Silversword, a 6th-level fighter fully proficient in the bladesinging
weapon style with three slots, encounters a band of 20 orcs while he is walking well ahead of his party.
He immediately shifts into a deefensive posture, giving himself a + 2 bonus to his AC so that he may
gauge the arc band's capability.
When they fail to hurt him appreciably in the first exchange of attacks, Amaranth places his back to a tree so that fewer of them can approach. He shifts to a slightly offensive stance, going with one attack and one parry. He dispatches an arc, and the rest still have failed to harm him severely.
Now that he has fully learned their meaasure, he goes totally on the offensive and whirls through their midst with deadly capability. When the rest of his party finally catches up with him, hurried by the sound of clashing blades, they find Amaranth standing atop several dead arc bodies, calling elaborate and inventive insults after those who have fled.
Disadvantages
The most obvious disadvantage to acquiring the bladesinging weapon style is that a characcter cannot carry a shield and practice the style at the same time. This technique requires far too much concentration on movement and flow, and the shield gets in the way of the graace and balance necessary to successfully use the style.
A more esoteric disadvantage is that this style is most often used by loners-solitary inndividuals who have no desire to be part of a group. Rarely, this technique may be praccticed by someone whose companions will part company with the PC for a decade. Since bladesinging is a very demanding style, the training is intense, difficult, and, above all, long. Therefore, a PC would be well advised to study this style in his or her early years beefore joining up with a group of adventurerssor else develop some long-lived and understanding friends.
Back