Battlefield Minstrel

*Some battlefield minstrels flee when the sight of battle grows too near, and when their allies fall. Some battlefield minstrels sing to the dance of death around them, letting their arrows fly and their bow string’s ring across to field, their voices carrying across the field by their arrows, raising the souls of their comrades to fight harder, or for their enemies to fall under his voice.*

## Abilities

### The Wanderer's Minuet (Ex)

The battlefield minstrel sings as he fires his arrows into the fray, his arrows carrying his voice with him into battle, ringing against his foes with every arrow that pierces them, and a harp with his bow to help his comrades at a moment’s notice. The battlefield minstrel begins play with a small harp that is attachable to his bow, allowing him to perform with a bow in hand. When doing a Bardic Performance, he must use this harp. Furthermore, when doing a Bardic Performance, the Battlefield Minstrel may make an extra attack per round with the bow at his highest B.A.B.. This does not stack with Haste.

This replaces Bardic Knowledge and modifies Bardic Performance.

### Stamina Pool (Ex)

At 2nd level, the battlefield minstrel gains a reservoir of stamina that he can draw upon to fuel his talents that he gains below. This stamina pool has a number of points equal to 5 x his Constitution modifier (minimum 1) and this pool increases by 5 + his Constitution modifier per level thereafter. The pool refreshes once per day when the battlefield minstrel rests for a full 8 hours. Sustained modes take up a static amount of stamina points from the battlefield minstrel’s current and maximum stamina pool and most sustained modes stack. If the character has a stamina pool from another class, he then only increases his stamina pool by 5 + his Constitution modifier per level instead.

By spending 5 stamina points, the battlefield minstrel can do one of the following:

* Increase his speed by 10 feet for 1 round, or
* Delay and suppress his fatigue or exhaustion for 1 round, or
* Increase one saving throw by +1 for 1 round.

Each of these powers is activated as a swift action.

This ability replaces Versatile Instrument.

### Talent Trees (Su)

The battlefield minstrel gets access to one talent tree from the Knight class of his choosing and the battlefield minstrel talent tree from below. At 2nd level and every two levels thereafter, the battlefield minstrel chooses to learn one talent from the talent tree below or from the other talent tree he has chosen. **Weapon Requirement:**Any bows or crossbows.

**Battlefield Minstrel Specialization Talent Tree**

* **Barrage:** At the cost of 10 stamina points, as a full-round action, the battlefield minstrel can make an extra attack with his bow at his highest base attack bonus with all attacks taking a –2 penalty to the attack. This extra attack doesn’t stack with effects such as Rapid Shot and *haste*.
* **Enhanced Barrage:** Barrage no longer invokes a penalty. *Prerequisite:* Barrage
* **Ultimate Barrage:** At the cost of 20 stamina points, barrage can now be used with one of the effects from his other talents: Bloodletter, Venomous Bite, or Wind Bite. *Prerequisites:* Barrage, Bloodletter, Venomous Bite, Wind Bite.
* **Bloodletter:** At the cost of 5 stamina points, as a standard action, the battlefield minstrel may make a ranged attack on an enemy and, if successful, deals normal damage + bleed damage equal to his Charisma modifier.
* **Venomous Bite:** At the cost of 5 stamina points, as a standard action, the battlefield minstrel may make a ranged attack on an enemy and, if successful, deals normal damage and inflicts Poison status on the enemy. A Fortitude save (DC 10 + half of the archer’s level + his Charisma modifier) can negate the status effect. The poison status effect lasts for a number of rounds equal to the battlefield minstrel’s Charisma modifier.
* **Wind Bite:** At the cost of 5 stamina points, as a standard action, the battlefield minstrel may make a ranged attack on an enemy and, if successful, deals normal damage and inflicts 10% Spell Failure Chance and a -2 penalty to attack rolls on the enemy. A Fortitude save (DC 10 + half of the archer’s level + his Charisma modifier) can negate the status effect. The SFC and attack penalty lasts for a number of rounds equal to the battlefield minstrel’s Charisma modifier.
* **Flaming Arrow:** At the cost of 10 stamina points, as a standard action, the battlefield minstrel may make a ranged attack on an enemy and, if successful, deals normal damage + 1d6 points of fire damage for every two archer levels and inflicts 1d6 fire damage per round. A successful Reflex save (DC 10 + half of the archer’s level + his Charisma modifier) can negate the status effect. The burning effect lasts for a number of rounds equal to the battlefield minstrel’s Charisma modifier.
* **Arrow Burst:** At the cost of 15 stamina points, Flaming arrow can explode on hit, dealing the extra fire damage, and inflicting 1d6 fire damage per round to the target and all within 15 feet. A successful Reflex save (DC 10 + half of the archer’s level + his Charisma modifier) can halve the damage and negate the status effect. The burning effect lasts for a number of rounds equal to the battlefield minstrel’s Charisma modifier. *Prerequisite:* Flaming Arrow.
* **Sidewinder:** At the cost of 20 stamina points, as a standard action, the battlefield minstrel may fire an arrow, hitting all creatures in a 30-ft.-line, dealing triple his normal damage with the bow. A successful Reflex save (DC 10 + half of the archer’s level + his Charisma modifier) can halve the damage**.**
* **Rain of Death:** As a swift action, the battlefield minstrel can activate this talent as a sustained mode. Every time the battlefield minstrel inflicts damage with his bow, those struck take a –1 penalty to AC + an additional –1 penalty for every four archer levels after 5th. This penalty lasts until the battlefield minstrel’s next turn. This mode uses up 20 points of the battlefield minstrel’s current and maximum stamina pool.

This ability replaces Bardic Inspiration.

### Voice from the Quiver (Ex)

The battlefield minstrel’s voice gives life to his arrows, empowering them with every shot. At 2nd level, the battlefield minstrel may apply his Charisma modifier as a morale bonus to all attack and damage rolls made with a single type of bow he chooses upon obtaining this ability, such as a short bow, longbow, greatbow, etc. At 11th level, he may choose another bow to apply this bonus.

This ability replaces Well-Versed.