Tavern Con

Expert manipulators using their smile, a kind word or an outright lie to get what they want. Cash.

Informer: Jason Sonia

By: Jason Sonia

(jaye.sonia@gmail.com)

Description

            Not all those who seek to master the ability to influence men through song and spell have noble and just hearts. No, some are just plain greedy. These men take an ignoble path, using their songs and poetics to weaken the wills of those around them, fleecing them of what little coin they may have. As they develop their abilities as conmen and rogues, they hone their musical abilities to a keen edge, using them to eventually create areas of intense chaos.

            Unlike simple cons (and even some of their fellow bards), the Tavern Con specializes in using drinking songs and alcohol to maximize his abilities. With a sharp eye, a Tavern Con can follow they spirit of a crowd, craftily manipulating it to capitalize on all the coins flowing into a tavern's coffer. 

            However, a Tavern Con is dangerous in all walks of life, and can use his abilities easily outside of a tavern or inn. Whether using his shrewd diplomacy to haggle with a merchant or his ability to bluff his way out of a king's court, the Tavern Con excels in perfecting skills to shape the hearts and minds of men.

Hit Dice: D6

The Tavern Con in the Iron Kingdoms

            The Tavern Con is rare in the Iron Kingdoms, but has been known to crop in dark taverns in places like Five Fingers or Blackwater. In Five Fingers, two Tavern Cons are employed by High Captain Hurley to increase profits in his various taverns and casinos he operates in the Emerald District.

            While the Tavern Con is a rare sight, those who do perfect their skills to this level are often mistaken for common rogues with knack for working the crowd, making it hard to know their true numbers.

Requirements

To qualify as a Tavern Con, a character must fulfil all the following criteria.

Alignment: Any non-lawful, non-good.

Base Attack Bonus: +3

Skills: Bluff 6 ranks, Diplomacy 6 ranks, Gather Information 6 ranks, Performance 6 ranks, and Sense Motive 6 ranks.

Feats: Skill Focus (Performance), Skill Focus (Bluff).

Special: Must have the Bardic Music Ability.

Spells: Ability to cast Arcane spells of 2^nd level or higher.

Class Skills

 The Tavern Con's class skills (and the key ability for each skill are) Bluff (Cha), Craft (gunsmithing, small arms) (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (all skills) (Int), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Speak Language (Int), Spellcraft (Int), and Use Magic Device (Cha)

Skill Points at Each Level: 4+ Int modifier.

Class Features

All the following are class features of the Tavern Con prestige class.

Weapon and Armour Proficiency: Tavern Cons gain no proficiency with additional weapons or armour.

Spells per Day: At every level, starting at 1^st level, the Tavern Con gains new spells per day as if he had gained a level in the Bard class. He does not gain any other benefits as a member of that class except for increased spellcasting level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a Tavern Con's spell is 10 + the spell level + the Tavern Con's Charisma modifier.

Enchanting Smile (Ex): At 1^st level, the Tavern Con can attempt to improve his diplomatic standing with another character or NPC by evoking an Enchanting Smile that acts much like the Charm Person spell. The Tavern Con and the target make opposed Cha checks, and if the Tavern Con wins, he is automatically treated as a trusted friend (the target's attitude becomes friendly). However, if the Tavern Con loses the contest, then the target's attitude automatically worsens two degrees (often to outright violence). Like the Charm Person spell, the target receives a +5 to his save if he or his allies are under attack from the Tavern Con or his party. The Tavern Con can use his Enchanting Smile ability once per day.

Grace Under Fire (Ex): At 2^nd level, the Tavern Con gains the feats Combat Reflexes and Dodge during melee combat while in enclosed and congested places, such as inns and taverns.

Tavern Tune (Su): At 4^th level, a Tavern Con with 9 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use a song or poetics to influence those imbibing alcohol (or other mind-altering substances) in his or her favour, reducing their ability to resist his or her lure and appeal. At the beginning round of the Tavern Tune, the Tavern Con makes a Perform check. Each creature within 60 feet of Tavern Con (excluding himself) must make a Will Save, where the DC is equal to the Tavern Con's Perform check. Each creature that has been drinking receives a -1 to their Will save for every drink they have had in excess of their Con ability modifier. Those who fail his or her save suffer a -2 penalty to all future Will saves made against the Tavern Con. The effect lasts for as long as the target creatures hear the Tavern Con sing and for 5 rounds thereafter. Those who successfully save are unaffected.

Impressive Facade (Ex): At 6^th level, the Tavern Con gains the ability to make the false and far-fetched seem extraordinary, but believable. Once per day (per point of Cha ability modifier) the Tavern Con gains a +4 to the Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidation skills.

Rowdy Drinking Song (Su): At 8^h level, a Tavern Con with 12 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use song or poetics to inspire reckless and unruly behaviour in those around him, provided they are imbibing alcohol (or other mind-altering substances). At the beginning round of the Drinking Song, the Tavern Con makes a Perform check. Each creature within 60 feet of Tavern Con (excluding himself ) must make a Will Save, where the DC is equal to the Tavern Con's Perform check. Those who fail their saving throws are Confused for as long as the creature hears the Tavern Con sing and for 5 rounds thereafter. Those who successfully save are unaffected.

Rogue's Delight (Ex): At 10^h level, a Tavern Con can select a number of skills equal to 3 + her Charisma modifier. When making a skill check with one of these skills, she may take 10 even if stress and distractions would normally prevent her from doing so.

The following Prestige Class was created and distributed by Jason Sonia, free of charge and with no intent at generating profit by its release. All of the material above, with the exception of the section "In the Iron Kingdoms" is considered Open Game Content. The section "In the Iron Kingdoms" contains intellectual property owned and copyrighted by Privateer Press, Inc. Comments and questions can be e-mailed to the author at: jaye.sonia@gmail.com