Class Skills
The maestro's class skills are Appraise (Int), Bluff (Cha), Diplomacy (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (history) (Int), Knowledge (local), Knowledge (nature), Knowledge (nobility), Linguistics (Int), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Ranks per Level: 4 + Int modifier Class Features
All of the following are class features of the maestro.
Weapon Proficiency: Maestros are proficient with simple weapons.
Armor and Shield Proficiency: Given their experience lugging around heavy instruments, maestros are proficient with shields, but not tower shields.
Maestros are not proficient with any form of armor. In addition, maestros ignore the arcane spell failure chance normally incurred by the use of a shield, but not a tower shield.
Scores
A maestro's primary source of power stems from an intellectual understanding of the music that more visceral practitioners, such as bards, take for granted and use without "real" effort.
A score is a piece of music containing an intro, an outro, and a number of melodies. Intros, outros, and melodies are drawn from the maestro's composition book. A maestro begins play with two scores, plus additional scores equal to his Intelligence modifier / 3, rounded down, minimum 0. Each score must contain a single intro, a single outro, and a single melody. At 3rd level and every five levels thereafter, a maestro's mastery over music allows him to prepare scores with an additional melody, to a maximum of five melodies per score at 18th level. At 5th level and every six levels thereafter, a maestro receives an additional score, for a total of five scores at 17th level. A maestro's composer level is equal to his maestro class level.
To prepare or use a score, a maestro must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 12 + the number of melodies in the score. The Difficulty Class (DC) for a saving throw against a maestro's score is 10 + 1/2 the maestro's class level + the maestro's Intelligence modifier.
Composition
A maestro must get 8 hours of sleep and study his composition book for 1 hour in order to change his scores. A maestro does not need to study his composition book each day to refresh his daily uses of the conduct composition class feature (see below).
Rather, in order to refresh his daily uses of the conduct composition class feature, a maestro need only get 8 hours of sleep each night. In essence, a maestro need not study his composition book at all if he is happy with his current score selection. Further, if separated from his composition book, a maestro can continue to use the scores he has already prepared until he is reunited with it.
A maestro begins play with a composition book containing 1 intro, 1 outro, and his choice of an additional intro or outro. His composition book also begins play with melodies equal to 1 + his Intelligence modifier, minimum 1. At each new maestro level, a maestro gains one intro or outro for which he meets all of the prerequisites, as well as one melody for which he meets all of the prerequisites.
At any time, a maestro may copy intros, outros, and melodies, known collectively as "compositions", found in other composition books to his own. Given the highly complex nature of what a maestro works with, special inks and paper are required. The special paper is, luckily, identical to that found in wizard spellbooks, thus allowing a maestro to buy a spellbook and scrawl
"composition book" on the front cover. Further, any magic items designed to record wizard spells can record compositions without a problem. The ink cost to record a composition is equal to 100 gp times the effective minimum level of what is being recorded. For example, a melody that requires 4 ranks in a skill effectively requires a minimum level of 4th and costs 400 gp to record, while an intro that requires the Improved Initiative feat effectively requires a minimum level of 1st and costs 100 gp to record. Compositions take up a number of pages equal to the effective minimum level of the composition.
Specialty stores are known to carry compositions in convenient folios. Given the high cost of copying these compositions to a primary composition book after purchase, many experienced composers are known to have a small library of compositions and musical theory on their person. The market price of these folios is 150 gp times the effective minimum level of the composition. A folio of effective minimum level 10 or lower weighs 1 pound, while a folio of effective minimum level 11 and above weighs 2 pounds.
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Bradley Crouch, Jason Linker The Maestro
Spells
A maestro knows arcane spells drawn from the maestro spell list. He can cast any spell he knows without preparing it ahead of time. Every maestro spell has a somantic component (conducting). To learn or cast a spell, a maestro must have an Charisma score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class (DC) for a saving throw against a maestro's spell is 10 + the spell level + the maestro's Charisma modifier.
Like other spellcasters, a maestro can only cast a certain number of spells per day. Unlike other spellcasters, however, the maestro is not limited by spell level.
Instead, a maestro can cast each spell he knows once per day. This limitation also includes cantrips. A maestro's spells known is given on Table: The Maestro.
Rather than receive bonus spells per day if he has a high Charisma score, a maestro instead learns new spells if he has a high Charisma score. New spells learned in this manner can be cast once per day just like any other spell. See Table: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Spells.
Upon reaching 7th level, and at every third maestro level after that (10th, 13th, and so on), a maestro can choose to learn a new spell in place of one he already knows. In effect, the maestro “loses” the old spell in exchange for the new one. The new spell’s level must be the same as that of the spell being exchanged, and it must be at least one level lower than the highest-level maestro spell the maestro can cast. A maestro may swap only a single spell at any given level, and must choose whether or not to swap the spell at the same time that he gains new spells known for the level.
A maestro need not prepare his spells in advance;
however, a maestro's daily use of each spell he knows does not replenish itself unless he gets 8 hours of rest each night. No study is required.
Conduct Composition: At 1st level, a maestro has learned how to conduct his scores in such a way that he unleashes the magic inherent in the melody. Each individual score can be conducted for a number of rounds per day equal to a maestro's ranks in the Perform (conducting) skill + his Intelligence modifier.
Starting to conduct a score is a standard action that provokes attacks of opportunity, but it can be maintained each round as a free action. When a maestro starts to conduct a score, the intro effect chosen for that score triggers immediately, while all melody effects start immediately and persist for as long as the score is performed. A maestro can end a performance in one of two ways. First, he can simply stop conducting as a free action; however, ending a performance in this manner does not trigger the score's outro effect. Secondly, he can end the performance with a proper flourish as a standard action that provokes attacks of opportunity. If he ends a score in this manner, the score's outro effect triggers. If a maestro stops conducting a score as a free action, he cannot start conducting another score that round.
Conducting a score cannot be disrupted, but it ends immediately if the maestro is killed, paralyzed, stunned, knocked unconscious, or otherwise prevented from taking a free action to maintain it each round. A maestro cannot have more than one score in effect at one time.
All scores that a maestro conducts rely on audible components unless otherwise noted.
Insightful Performance (Ex): At 1st level, a maestro has learned to approach music from both an intellectual standpoint and an emotional standpoint. If a maestro's Intelligence modifier is greater than his Charisma modifier, he adds his Intelligence modifier to his ranks in the Perform skill to calculate his skill modifier. If done, this replaces the addition of his Charisma modifier to calculate his Perform skill modifier.
Myron the Metronomic, human maestro
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Scribe Folio (Ex): At 1st level, a maestro has mastered the technique of writing musical notation on paper. These recorded compositions, or folios, contain all of the information necessary to act as an extension of the composition book of any composer who uses one. In other words, scores can be prepared using compositions found in folios. The cost to create a folio is equal to 100 gp times the effective minimum level of what is being recorded. The effective minimum level of a composition, as well as the weight of the resulting folio, are discussed in the Composition section. A maestro can only scribe a single folio per day, but that folio can be of any cost and still be scribed in a single day. If he does so, he cannot craft magic items that day.
Musical Analysis (Ex): At 2nd level, a maestro's studies have given him the ability to draw strange and unusual insights regarding music out of thin air, no matter how obscure. As such, he receives a bonus equal to half his level, rounded down, to all Knowledge checks involving music. Possible applications include a Knowledge (religion) check to determine the likely use of a piece of music found in a temple, a Knowledge (local) check to recall the name of the local innkeeper's favorite tavern song, and a Knowledge (engineering) check to determine the precise frequency capable of shattering an otherworldly bridge made of glass.
Refrain: At 2nd level, a maestro has realized the importance of ubiquitous bits of music that can be inserted into any composition at pretty much any time without ruining the feel of the music. A refrain is a special kind of score that contains a number of melodies equal to the number allowed in a standard score, no intro, and no outro. Unlike a standard score, a refrain cannot be used with the conduct composition class feature. When conducting a standard score, a maestro can choose to use a refrain for 1 round as a move action.
The refrain's melodies replace the effects of the standard score's melodies, but the rounds per day of the standard score continues to be deducted. Intro and outro effects remain unchanged.
When a maestro studies his composition book to prepare his scores, he also prepares his refrains. A maestro gains his first refrain at 2nd level and gains an additional refrain for every six levels beyond second, to a maximum of four refrains at 20th level.
Opus: Every now and then, a maestro creates a work of such beauty that altering it would be unthinkable. These works are known as opuses. Like standard scores, all opuses are conducted as a standard action that provoke attacks of opportunity, are maintained as a free action, and can be stopped as a free action. Any standard score being conducted, if any, is immediately halted when an opus begins and no standard score can be conducted while an opus is active. No outro effect occurs when a composition is halted by an opus. Unlike standard compositions, an opus can only be used once per day. At 4th level and every 3 levels thereafter, the maestro selects an opus from the list below. Opuses can be selected multiple times. Each time, the number of times that particular opus can be used per day increases by +1.
All opuses rely on audible components.
Anthem of the Juggernaut (Su):This opus nests itself in the heart of a single individual, causing a momentary ascension that can only be referred to as the creation of a juggernaut. A single willing creature within 60 feet increases in size by two size categories; however, rather than gaining the typical ability score adjustments for changing size, the creature is granted a size bonus to Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution equal to 2 + 1/3 the maestro's level, as well as fast healing equal to the maestro's Intelligence modifier. This opus lasts for 2d6 rounds or until the maestro stops conducting, but ends immediately if the juggernaut is more than 60 feet away from the maestro at any time.
Recommended music - Also Sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss
Breath of Life (Sp):This opus revels in the stuff of life itself. The maestro restores life to a deceased creature.
The opus can raise a creature that has been dead for no longer than 1 week per maestro level. Further, the soul of the deceased creature must be both free and willing to return. If the soul is not willing to return, then this opus does nothing. There is no saving throw required;
the soul has control whether or not it will return.
Though the lacerations and wounds that caused death are restored by this opus, the body to be raised must be totally accounted for. It need not be whole, a severed arm will reattach itself over the course of this opus, but everything must be present. Mundane poisons and diseases are removed by this opus, but magical poisons and diseases are not. Any ability scores damaged to 0 are raised to 1.
Upon being raised by this opus, the raised creature takes 1 permanent negative level. If the creature is 1st level, he takes 2 points of Constitution drain. If this would reduce the creature's Consitution to 0, it cannot be raised by this opus. A raised creature has a number of hit points equal to its current hit dice. This opus requires 10 minutes of uninterrupted conducting to complete. During this time, the maestro and the creature to be raised must never be more than 60 feet away, else the opus is wasted. A maestro must be at least 13th level to take this opus.
Recommended music - Theme from a Summer Place by Max Steiner
Death and Decay (Su): Slow and mournful, this opus weeps for the very life it is taking away. A single creature within 60 feet of the maestro takes 1 point of ability drain to all ability scores each round with a DC 10 + 1/2 the maestro's class level + the maestro's Intelligence modifier Fortitude save to negate. At 13th level, this open deals 2 points of ability drain to all ability scores each round instead. This opus lasts for 1 minute or until the maestro stops conducting, but ends immediately if the victim is ever more than 60 feet away from the maestro at any time. A maestro must be at least 7th level to take this opus.
Recommended music - Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig von Beethoven
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Bradley Crouch, Jason Linker The Maestro
Denizens of the Deep Caverns (Su): Within moments, those listening understand that something has been disturbed and that it's most definitely not happy about it. Immediately upon beginning this opus, a bat swarm comes into being in an empty square within 60 feet of the maestro. At 9th level and every five levels beyond 9th, an additional bat swarm comes into being. These bat swarms are treated as summoned creatures. When beginning this opus, the maestro may give each swarm a command to move as a free action. The destination must be a legal square for it to occupy. For the duration of the opus, the maestro can command a swarm to move as a swift action, though it must have a move action available to comply and the destination must be a legal square for it to occupy. At 6th level and every three levels beyond 6th, each bat swarm gains 2 additional hit dice, a +1 bonus to all saves, and a +2 bonus to all damage rolls. Further, starting at 11th level, the wounding special ability of bat swarms summoned by this opus results in cumulative bleed damage. Starting at 15th level, all bleed damage dealt by bat swarms summoned by this opus is returned to the maestro as healing. Though this bleed damage can continue long after the opus ends, once the opus ends, the bleed damage no longer returns to the maestro as healing. If a bat swarm is ever more than 60 feet away from the maestro at any time, it vanishes and immediately appears in an empty square adjacent to the maestro. If there is no legal square, the swarm vanishes, never to return. This opus lasts for rounds equal to the maestro's class level or until he stops conducting.
Recommended music - Night on Bald Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky
Downhill Charge (Su):This calm and measured theme slowly builds to a triumphant roar. All allies within 60 feet of the maestro gain a +1 morale bonus to Strength and a +5-foot enhancement bonus to base land speed.
Each round, the morale bonus to Strength granted by this opus increases by +1 and the bonus to base land speed increases by +5 feet, to a maximum of +6 and +30 feet, respectively. This opus lasts for rounds equal to half the maestro's class level or until the maestro stops conducting.
Recommended music - Bolero by Maurice Ravel Everybody Dance! (Sp): There's just something about this opus. The urge to dance is utterly irresistible! All creatures within 60 feet of the maestro begin to dance and caper about with no saving throws allowed. This capering halves any shield bonus to AC granted by a physical shield that is strapped to the arm and reduces movement speed by half, but dancers are otherwise able to act normally. This opus lasts for rounds equal to the maestro's class level or until he stops conducting, but ends immediately for an individual if he is ever more than 60 feet away from the maestro at any time.
Creatures who approach to within 60 feet of the maestro immediately begin to caper. This is a mind-affecting ability.
Recommended music - Can Can Music by Sergei Offenbach
Figaro! (Su): One wouldn't think that shouting one's own name over and over would elicit such an effect.
Immediately upon beginning this opus, a single ally within 60 feet of the maestro gains the supernatural ability to make a single breath attack as a standard action. This breath weapon deals 1d6 points of sonic damage, plus an additional 1d6 points of sonic damage for every two maestro levels of the conductor, to creatures in a 30-foot cone with a DC 10 + 1/2 the maestro's class level + the maestro's Intelligence modifier Fortitude save for half damage. A creature granted the ability to make a breath attack in this manner loses the ability to do so if the opus ends, if the creature finds itself more than 60 feet away from the maestro at any time, or if it uses its breath weapon once.
If this opus is not currently granting a creature the ability to make a breath attack, the maestro may grant a single ally within 60 feet the ability to make a breath attack as detailed above. Doing so is a standard action.
This opus lasts for 3 rounds or until the maestro stops conducting.
Recommended music - The Barber of Seville:
Figaro's Aria by Gioachino Rossini
Flight of the Bat (Su):An interesting mixture of long, dramatic notes and quick staccatos, this opus evokes a sinister creature in flight over an easily-surveyed
Flight of the Bat (Su):An interesting mixture of long, dramatic notes and quick staccatos, this opus evokes a sinister creature in flight over an easily-surveyed