pathFinal Fantasy

Bards are not only skilled in song and verse, but also with a more steady craft. These bards, also known as Artists, rely less on tempo and song and prepare their magics through paintings, trinkets, or other small crafts.

Artist is an archetype of Bard

Works of Art

Artists, at 1st level, can choose one of three Artistry skills to utilise their magics. Each choice determines which spell list the Artist can prepare from. Artists have a caster level equal to their bard level.

Painting - Artists who choose Paintings make use of the White Mage spell list.

Jewelry - Artists who choose Jewelry make use of the Black Mage spell list

Sculpting - Artists who choose Sculpting make use of the Red Mage spell list.

Artists can prepare a number of Works of Art equal to ½ Bard level + their Intelligence modifier, Minimum 1. Works of art function like a Scroll of that spell, and use the Bard’s Effective Caster Level and Intelligence modifier for that spell. Artists can prepare spells with a base cost according to the following table:

Like normal scrolls, spells an artist prepares are augmented only to their minimum base cost.

In addition, the Artist gains 3 cantrips from their class, also prepared at the start of the day. Cantrips prepared in this way can be used at-will.

Preparation takes 1 hour, and each spell is represented by a small scroll of art, a piece of jewelry or statuette. While these items might be in a pouch, hung or a belt, or worn, they have no explicit value, can only be used by the Artist, and do not take magic item slots in the case of jewelry.

In addition, any Bard feature not replaced or adjusted by Artist uses the Artist’s intelligence modifier in place of their charisma modifier

This ability replaces Spellweaving.

The Art of the Dance (Ex)

Battle Tempo applies whenever the Artist casts a spell with a base MP cost of 1 or more, instead of a chorus. The duration is equal to half the Artist’s Intelligence modifier + the spell’s level.

This ability modifies Battle Tempo.

Versatile Art (Ex)

At 2nd level, an Artist gain the ability to use their Artistry in place of two social skills, determined by which Artistry they chose:

Painting - Diplomacy and Sense Motive

Jewelry - Bluff and Disguise

Sculpting - Intimidate and Climb

At 6th level and every 4 levels, the Artist can add one of the following skills to their Versatile Art:
Acrobatics, Bluff, Climb, Disguise, Fly, Handle Animal, Intimidate or Sense Motive

This ability replaces Versatile Performance

Art Imitates Magic (Ex)

At 2nd level, the Artist gains access to the talents of their spell list, as follows:

Painting - The Bard gains access to Opal Talents

Jewelry - The Bard gains access to Onyx Talents

Sculpting - The Bard gains access to Ruby Arcanas. The Artist gains an Arcane pool at 2nd level that can only be used for the purpose of Ruby Arcanas, and then takes talents from level 4 onwards.

This ability replaces Bardic Talents

Art is Eternal (Su)

At 4th level, Once per combat, the Artist may restore 1 used up Work of Art that is a spell level lower than the maximum he can prepare

This ability replaces Preemptive Verse

Improved Art (Su)

At 7th level, the Artist gains a MP pool equal to their Caster Level * Intelligence modifier, which can only be used for crafting feats, and for augmenting spells prepared via Works of Art

This ability replaces Life Sustenance Tempo

Art in Nature’s Vision (Su)

At 8th level, the Artist gains the capacity to learn a number of Blue Mage spells equal to half their Artist level + Intelligence Modifier. He learns them in the same way as a Blue mage, except he substitutes his Artistry skill for the required Knowledge skill if it is higher

This ability replaces Twin Tempo

(Note: At the current moment, Blue Mage does not currently exist. As such this ability does nothing. For the time being, this ability instead allows you to choose a spell list you didn't pick at 1st level and prepare spells from that list.)

Art is a Battlefield (Su)

At 12th level, The Artist’s sheer force of will causes even the smallest works of art to potentially wound a foe.

Whenever the Artist casts a Cantrip, an enemy within 30 feet must make a Will save (DC 10 + INT + ½ Bard level) or take 1d6 sonic damage.

Whenever the Bard performs a Spell with a base cost of 1 or higher, the same effect happens, except the damage is a number of D6 equal to the Spell’s base cost.

This ability replaces Earshredding Ballad.

The Art of Battle (Su)

At 13th level, for a number of times per day equal to 3 + their intelligence modifier, the Bard can perform Spell Combat or Spellstrike, as a Red Mage of the same level

This replaces Battle Verse

True Art is an Explosion! (Su)

At 15th level, the Artist can cast their spell from the location of an ally within 30 feet, a number of times per day equal to their Intelligence modifier, using the Ally to determine line of sight, ranges and any other effects

This replaces Let’s Put On A Show

Living Art (Su)

At 16th level, a number of times per day equal to their Intelligence Modifier, As a standard action the Artist can summon an artistic interpretation of a creature they learned their blue mage spells from (with a CR equal to the maximum base cost of spells he can prepare). The creature lasts a number of rounds equal to 1 + The Artist’s Intelligence Modifier. If a spell is learnable from multiple creatures, the Artist can choose one who’s HD is equal to ¾ of his Artist level, rounded down

This replaces Triad Tempo

I Wish Blood Came in more colours (Su)

At 19th level, when using True Art is an Explosion!, the Artist can spend multiple uses of True Art is an Explosion! To use an ally within 30 feet as the source of their spell. For each use spent, they can then select a further ally. The last ally picked is then used as per True Art is an Explosion. For each ally in the chain, apply one trigger of Art is a Battlefield to an enemy within 30 feet of them, depending on the cantrip or spell. The bard themself does not apply Art is a Battlefield using this.

This replaces Let’s Put On A Killer Show!

Art Imitates Life (Su)

At 20th level, Once per day, the Artist can prepare a simulacrum of one of their allies, at 3/4s of their current level. This Simulacrum can be summoned as a full round action, and lasts for 3 rounds before running out of energy

This replaces A True Afficionado