Skald

Skald is one of the hybrid classes available.

## Abilities

### Raging Performances

A Skald is trained to use music, oration, and similar performances to inspire his allies to feats of strength and ferocity. At 1st level, a Skald can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to 3 + his Charisma modifier. For each level thereafter, he can use Raging Performance for 2 additional rounds per day.

Starting a Raging Performance is a standard action, but it can be maintained each round as a free action. A Raging Performance cannot be disrupted, but it ends immediately if the Skald is killed, paralyzed, stunned, knocked unconscious, or otherwise prevented from taking a free action each round to maintain it. A Raging Performance counts as the Bard’s Bardic Performance special ability for any effect that affects bardic performances.

A Raging Performance has audible components, but not visual components. Affected allies must be able to hear the Skald for the song to have any effect. A deaf Skald has a 20% chance to fail when attempting to use a Raging Performance. If he fails this check, the attempt still counts against his daily limit. Deaf creatures are immune to Raging Performances.

If a Raging Performance affects allies, when the Skald begins a Raging Performance and at the start of each ally’s turn in which they can hear the Raging Performance, the Skald’s allies must decide whether to accept or refuse its effects. This is not an action. Unconscious allies automatically accept the song. If accepted, the Raging Performance's effects last for that ally’s turn or until the song ends, whichever comes first.

At 7th level, a Skald can start a Raging Performance as a move action instead of a standard action. At 13th level, a Skald can start a Raging Performance as a swift action instead.

The Skald gains Raging Song as their first Raging Performance at 1st level. They gain a new one at 5th level, and every 5 levels thereafter.

### Well-Versed

At 2nd Level, the Skald gains +4 to Saving Throws against Performances and Sound effects.

### Rage Powers

At 3rd level and every 3 levels thereafter, a Skald learns a Rage Power that affects the Skald and any allies under the influence of his Raging Song. This cannot be a rage power that requires the creature to spend a standard action or rounds of rage to activate it. For example, the Skald cannot choose terrifying howl (which requires a standard action to activate), but can choose knockback (which is made in place of a melee attack).

Unless otherwise noted, a Skald cannot select an individual rage power more than once.

When starting an inspired rage, the skald chooses which rage powers (if any) to add to the song, and all affected allies gain the benefit of these rage powers, using the Skald’s level as their effective Berserker level. The Skald uses his Skald level as his Berserker level for the purpose of selecting rage powers that require a minimum Berserker level. If the rage power’s effects depend on the Skald’s ability modifier, affected allies use the Skald’s ability modifier instead of their own for the purposes of this effect.

If a rage power requires another rage power (such as disruptive, which requires superstition), the Skald cannot grant that rage power to allies unless he can also grant that power’s prerequisite. He may add multiple rage powers to an inspired rage at the same time using this ability (such as granting superstition and disruptive simultaneously).

If a rage power can only be used a certain number of times per day or per rage (such as renewed vigor), each ally affected by the inspired rage song is subject to that limit (with once per rage abilities limited to once per inspired rage).

If the Skald has rage powers from another source, he (but not his allies) can use those rage powers during an inspired rage. He cannot select a duplicate rage power, unless that rage power can be taken multiple times.

If the Skald has the ability to rage from another source, he can use his Skald rage powers during that rage as well.

### Always Ready

At 3rd Level, a Skald can no longer be caught Flat-Footed, nor do they lose their Dex bonus to AC due to their opponent being invisible. The Skald can still lose their Dex bonus due to being immobilized, however.

### Spell Keening

At 5th level, a Skald is learned in the magic of other spellcasters, and can use his own magic to duplicate those classes’ spells. Once per day, a Skald can cast any spell on the bard, cleric, or mage/wizard spell list as if it were one of his Skald spells known, expending a Skald spell slot of the same spell level to cast the desired spell. Casting a spell with spell kenning always has a minimum casting time of 1 full round, regardless of the casting time of the spell.

At 11th level, a Skald can use this ability twice per day. At 17th level, he can use this ability three times per day.

### Counter-Flank

At 7th Level, the Skald cannot be flanked. This denies any bonuses, special attacks, or effects that are given from flanking an opponent to the enemies, unless that enemy's class level is 4 or more levels higher than your Skald level.

### Deep Skin

At 15th Level, the Skald has a 20% chance to negate critical hits against it.

### Mighty Skald

At 20th Level, the Skald can perform any Performance in combination with Raging Song (using 2 rounds of performance each round). A Skald’s Raging Song no longer gives allies a penalty to AC, nor limits what skills or abilities they can use. Allies with rage class abilities may use features dependent on those abilities without restriction while under the effects of Raging Song, such as a Berserker's rage powers and a Bloodrager's blood casting and bloodline abilities. Finally, when making a full attack, affected allies may make an additional attack each round (as if using a Haste effect).

## Subclasses

### Battle Scion

The Battle Scion is an unstoppable force, difficult to put down.

### Court Poet

The Court Poet changes the brutal rage of their music for a calmer and more intelligent aura.

### Demon Dancer

The Demon Dancer uses the power of the abyss to fuel their power.

### Herald of the Horn

The Herald of the Horn frees their allies and destroys their enemies with powerful sound.

### Hunt Caller

The Hunt Caller taps into the animal world with their music.

### War Drummer

The War Drummer uses their marching tune to mow down any obstacles.