Polished Dark
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Shadowsinger (Bard Archetype)
What gathers to watch from the shadows are the many eyes of darkness – called to the siren’s soft song under the moonlight.
Emotional Performances (Ex): The shadowsinger may choose to treat any bardic performance as being an emotion effect.
This alters bardic performance, but may be altered or replaced by other archetypes.
Tug the Heartstrings (Ex): At 1st level, whenever the shadowsinger affects a creature with an emotion effect, the shadowsinger may choose to inspire or discourage the target (or targets, if the effect would have multiple targets, and may individually choose to inspire or discourage each target). This ability lasts for 1 round, +1 round per 2 shadowsinger levels, or the duration of the emotion effect, whichever is shorter; if a creature would be affected again, the duration resets.
- Inspire: An inspired creature gains a +1 competence bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls, and a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects. This bonus increases by +1 at 5th level, and every 4 shadowsinger levels (maximum +4). An unwilling target cannot be inspired.
- Discourage: A discouraged creature instead suffers a penalty (equal to the inspire bonus) to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saving throws against charm and fear effects. Discouraged creatures may make a Will saving throw to avoid being discouraged (DC 10 + 1/2 shadowsinger level + the shadowsinger’s Charisma modifier [or casting ability modifier, if a spherecaster]) and must make a new saving throw each time they would be discouraged (such as each round while affected by a bardic performance).
This replaces inspire courage, inspire greatness, and inspire heroics; this ability is treated as the inspire courage bardic performance for the purposes of other features and effects.
Nighteye (Sp): At 3rd level, the shadowsinger gains a cloak with the darkvision (meld) and clearsight option as a constant sphere effect (using their shadowsinger level as their effective Dark sphere caster level).
Songs in the Dark: At 3rd level, the shadowsinger gains the shadow whisper cantata bardic masterpiece (even if they do not meet the masterpiece’s prerequisites) and may adjust the gloom as a move or swift action (even when not maintaining the masterpiece). The shadowsinger’s and their allies may treat the gloom’s area as a beneficial emotion effect (effectively choosing to suffer no additional effects but still be affected by an emotion effect).
At 9th level, whenever the shadowsinger uses the shadow whisper cantata masterpiece, the gloom also gains the staging area augment. In addition, the gloom created by the shadow whisper cantata may lower the light level up to 3 steps (to darkness).
At 15th level, the shadowsinger may adjust the gloom as a free action (but no more than once each round per parameter). In addition, the gloom created by the shadow whisper cantata may lower the light level up to 4 steps (to supernatural darkness).
Author's Note: See DRS Bardic Masterpieces for the shadow whisper cantata masterpiece).