The Quintessential Bard
The Quintessential Bard
| Author | Shannon Kalvar |
| Series | The Quintessential Series |
| Publisher | Mongoose Publishing |
| Publish date | 2003 |
| Pages | 128 |
| ISBN | 1-903980-57-6 |
| OGL Section 15 | qbrd |
Explorer
Not all Bard are eager singers making their way thought the world with silver tongues. There are those who spend their entire lives out exploring the world, seeking out adventure and newness for their own sake. These fellows rely on their wits to keep them alive. A healthy dose of magic and bladework never hurts either.
Explorers search out new places and things for the joy of discovery. They constantly search for rumours, myths and legends to lead them to their next adventure. Some are scholars, questing for obscure truths. Others come from more colourful backgrounds, drawn into the world by their love of adventure and an insatiable wanderlust.
Bards are uniquely well suited for exploration no matter what their background. Their diverse skills give them an edge that other classes simply do not enjoy. By combining solid combat skills with appropriate exploration abilities plus healing and minor magic a Bard can deal with just about anything his travels might throw at him. Add to that his Bardic Lore ability (representing either long scholarly study or the practical wisdom of the road) and the Bard becomes a one-man exploratory party.
Adventuring: Explorers are adventurers in the truest sense of the word. They seek out and explore anything new that thing they can find. They boldly go where angels and demons both fear to tread. If there is an ancient ruin, a forgotten city, or a cryptic map you can pretty much bet that an explorer is going to make a direct path to it. In a party, he brings diverse talents and a strong focus on practical adventuring skills that can only be matched by a Rogue.
Role-Playing: Explorers are typically daring, confident and very bold. They view life as a constant series of challenges to overcome, each one more exciting than the last. Every day becomes another chance to learn something new. Every night is a chance to talk to other people and learn their stories. Every inn is a wellspring of new places to go and new rumours to track down.
Benefits: Bardic explorers have a lot in common with their Roguish cousins. As such, Rogue is always considered a favoured class for them. This counted as an additional favoured class and does not affect the base favoured class of their race.
Penalties: Explorers are less well-versed in music than their compatriots. Perform is always a cross-class skill for them even if they multi-class or join a prestige class with Perform as a class skill.
The material below is designated as Open Game Content
Back to Barbarian Character Concepts
Explorer
Some barbarians leave their native homes to seek out new people, lands, civilisations and wonders. As explorers, they are always on the move trying to find new places to colonise, new vistas to reach. Some explorers travel across the wide seas seeking new ground to conquer and settle. Others seek the great battlefields where the gods of might and valour sport with mortals. In barbarian cultures, these rare few realise the world is bigger than they are and so they are worldlier than their typical counterparts.
The Quintessential Barbarian
The Quintessential Barbarian cover
| Author | Robert Schwalb |
| Series | Quintessential Series |
| Publisher | Mongoose Publishing |
| Publish date | 2003 |
| Pages | 128 |
| ISBN | 1-903980-92-5 |
| OGL Section 15 | qbbn |
Adventuring: Explorers explore. It is in their blood; they hear the call of wanderlust and succumb to its cloying voice. Explorers will often unite with other adventurers, especially when new lands are to be discovered, new treasure available for the taking. Motivated by knowledge and the acquisition of it, they will be less bold in wiping out hordes of humanoids. Rather, they would learn from them, discovering how their people function as opposed to their own. On the other hand, explorers lack a certain amount of common sense; they will venture into dangerous areas more readily than others as such places might harbour some waiting secret. Adventuring is the overarching goal of any explorer and thereby makes it the quintessential choice for any explorer.
Role-playing: Explorers are full of questions. Their size and potential for violence due to their savage streak makes them unusual conversationalists. They will press for almost any action that will push the limits of exploration, seeking to outdo those who have done so before. In addition to their aggressive behaviour, these barbarians are more tolerant of magic and sorcery. They understand other cultures adhere to different values. While the barbarian may not appreciate them fully, he will always be respectful.
Benefits: Explorers must work with maps, notes and instruments. Therefore, these characters have a wider selection of skills than other barbarians. All explorers may purchase literacy for 1 skill point instead of 2 due to their abundant thirst for knowledge. Explorers receive 6 + Int modifier x 4 at first level and 6 + Int modifier every succeeding level. Explorers have access to the following skills: Craft (Wis), Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (geography) (Int), Profession (sailor) (Wis), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Speak Language and Survival (Wis).
Penalties: Explorers rely on transportation in their travels and so they do not gain the Fast Movement class ability. In addition, their greater refinement and self-control limits the explorer’s rage. Explorers gain a +2 to Strength and Constitution, +1 morale bonus to Will saves, -2 penalty to AC and this rage only lasts for 1 round + the newly improved Constitution modifier. In all other respects, the rage functions normally.
