Well, apparently this is now a rules discussion, somehow...
The Jongleur, the Loremaster, and the Meistersinger:
Jongleur (Juggler / Acrobat)
“[Jongleurs] are masters at manipulating small items with their hands. They can catch and juggle almost anything. On top of this they are skilled acrobats, able to traverse tight-ripes, turn flips, polevault, and perform any number of acrobatic feats.
“…most jongleurs are typically found accompanying carnivals or circuses. A troupe of jongleurs can put on a remarkable show all by themselves. They often perform in taverns or clubs, using their arts to draw in the crowd and captivate them long enough for the barkeeper (as well as the jongleurs) to drain the crowd’s purses.”
Not a 4e Bard: Just about everything the jongleur can do is a rogue class skill or utility. The best representation of the 2e kit is probably as a rogue, maybe with a bard multiclass feat if the artful dodger build is chosen.
Ideal Races: Human, Halfling, Goblin.
Alignment: Any.
Skills: Acrobatics, Athletics, Thievery.
Feats: Ranged weapon feats like Far Shot.
Powers: Ranged weapon attack powers, or those that provide for a lot of mobility. Utility powers that emphasive mobility are also desired.
Consider reworking attack powers like Flashy Riposte or Surefooted Retort (both in Martial Power) into ranged versions, that allow the jongleur to catch a missile weapon directed at him and immeadiately hurl it back at his attacker or even another foe. See below for an example.
Equipment: Jongleurs like to dress flashy, but without compromising their freedom of movement. They stick with light armor and prefer thrown weapons, staves & polearms (for vaulting), slings, and whips.
Instrument/Implement: Juggling, tumbling, musical instruments that are shaken (such as bells, rattles, tamborines, etc.).
Jongleur’s Combat Juggle Rogue Attack 5
Daily • Martial
Immediate Interrupt Ranged 10
Target: The triggering enemy
Attack: Dexterity +2 vs AC
Trigger: An enemy attacks you with a missile weapon
Prerequisite: You must be trained in Acrobatics.
Hit: 2[W] + Dexterity modifier damage.
Effect: The attack has no effect on you.
Special: If your sneak attack damage is available, you can use it on this attack.
Loremaster (Chronicler / Historian)
“Loremasters are romantically entranced by the past. They believe in the circular nature of history and relate the lessons of ancient times to the problems of the present to help guide their people along the path to the future. As loremasters proceed through life, they record the events of their own times for posterity.
“There is a fine line between loremaster and sage… However, true sages are knowledge specialists who concentrate their efforts into mastering a specific field… Loremasters are fond of any aspect of history that makes a good story.”
Ideal Races: Human, Gnome, Tiefling, Doppelganger.
Alignment: Any.
Ability Scores: Int 13+.
Bardic Virtue: Cunning.
Skills: History, any knowledge skills.
Feats: Bardic Knowledge, Expert Ritualist (PHB2), Linguist (ancient languages), wizard multiclass feat.
Powers: Loremasters disdain physical combat, and prefer ranged attack spells.
Equipment: Loremasters appear much like wizards do, in both dress and behavior.
Instrument/Implement: Oratory, any musical instrument (especially ancient instruments), wands.
Meistersinger (Pied Piper / Animal Charmer)
“Meistersingers wander the woodlands, mountains, and deserts, seeking out those who will listen to their songs. Unlike other bards, meistersingers rarely perform for humankind. They tailor their music to the tunes of nature. Their audiences are the birds, the bees, and the behemoths.
“Meistersingers are the mortal enemies of ruthless and profiteering hunters, trappers, and fishermen. They believe such activities should occur only when the game is needed for survival and no part of the animal is wasted… Rarely does a meistersinger adventure anywhere unless animals are somehow involved – as mounts, as companions, or perhaps as captives who need to be set free.”
Ideal Races: Human, Gnome.
Alignment: Any.
Ability Scores: Wis 13+, Con or Int 13+. Meistersingers that want to fully explore multiclassing with druid or shaman will want to increase their Wis as they level, rather than their Con or Int. Note that such a build is not for the faint of heart!
Bardic Virtue: Either.
Skills: Nature.
Feats: Druid, shaman, and/or warlock (fey pact) multiclass feats. A shaman spirit companion might be reflavored as a real animal that is magically summoned by the meistersinger.
Powers: No preference. Meistersingers should seek after rituals that require the Nature skill. They can treat Sanctuary (cleric utility 2) as a bard power (renamed Song of Sanction) and animal friendship (PHB2) as a bard ritual.
Equipment: No preferences.
Instrument/Implement: Song, any musical instrument.
The Jongleur, the Loremaster, and the Meistersinger:
Jongleur (Juggler / Acrobat)
“[Jongleurs] are masters at manipulating small items with their hands. They can catch and juggle almost anything. On top of this they are skilled acrobats, able to traverse tight-ripes, turn flips, polevault, and perform any number of acrobatic feats.
“…most jongleurs are typically found accompanying carnivals or circuses. A troupe of jongleurs can put on a remarkable show all by themselves. They often perform in taverns or clubs, using their arts to draw in the crowd and captivate them long enough for the barkeeper (as well as the jongleurs) to drain the crowd’s purses.”
Not a 4e Bard: Just about everything the jongleur can do is a rogue class skill or utility. The best representation of the 2e kit is probably as a rogue, maybe with a bard multiclass feat if the artful dodger build is chosen.
Ideal Races: Human, Halfling, Goblin.
Alignment: Any.
Skills: Acrobatics, Athletics, Thievery.
Feats: Ranged weapon feats like Far Shot.
Powers: Ranged weapon attack powers, or those that provide for a lot of mobility. Utility powers that emphasive mobility are also desired.
Consider reworking attack powers like Flashy Riposte or Surefooted Retort (both in Martial Power) into ranged versions, that allow the jongleur to catch a missile weapon directed at him and immeadiately hurl it back at his attacker or even another foe. See below for an example.
Equipment: Jongleurs like to dress flashy, but without compromising their freedom of movement. They stick with light armor and prefer thrown weapons, staves & polearms (for vaulting), slings, and whips.
Instrument/Implement: Juggling, tumbling, musical instruments that are shaken (such as bells, rattles, tamborines, etc.).
Jongleur’s Combat Juggle Rogue Attack 5
Daily • Martial
Immediate Interrupt Ranged 10
Target: The triggering enemy
Attack: Dexterity +2 vs AC
Trigger: An enemy attacks you with a missile weapon
Prerequisite: You must be trained in Acrobatics.
Hit: 2[W] + Dexterity modifier damage.
Effect: The attack has no effect on you.
Special: If your sneak attack damage is available, you can use it on this attack.
Loremaster (Chronicler / Historian)
“Loremasters are romantically entranced by the past. They believe in the circular nature of history and relate the lessons of ancient times to the problems of the present to help guide their people along the path to the future. As loremasters proceed through life, they record the events of their own times for posterity.
“There is a fine line between loremaster and sage… However, true sages are knowledge specialists who concentrate their efforts into mastering a specific field… Loremasters are fond of any aspect of history that makes a good story.”
Ideal Races: Human, Gnome, Tiefling, Doppelganger.
Alignment: Any.
Ability Scores: Int 13+.
Bardic Virtue: Cunning.
Skills: History, any knowledge skills.
Feats: Bardic Knowledge, Expert Ritualist (PHB2), Linguist (ancient languages), wizard multiclass feat.
Powers: Loremasters disdain physical combat, and prefer ranged attack spells.
Equipment: Loremasters appear much like wizards do, in both dress and behavior.
Instrument/Implement: Oratory, any musical instrument (especially ancient instruments), wands.
Meistersinger (Pied Piper / Animal Charmer)
“Meistersingers wander the woodlands, mountains, and deserts, seeking out those who will listen to their songs. Unlike other bards, meistersingers rarely perform for humankind. They tailor their music to the tunes of nature. Their audiences are the birds, the bees, and the behemoths.
“Meistersingers are the mortal enemies of ruthless and profiteering hunters, trappers, and fishermen. They believe such activities should occur only when the game is needed for survival and no part of the animal is wasted… Rarely does a meistersinger adventure anywhere unless animals are somehow involved – as mounts, as companions, or perhaps as captives who need to be set free.”
Ideal Races: Human, Gnome.
Alignment: Any.
Ability Scores: Wis 13+, Con or Int 13+. Meistersingers that want to fully explore multiclassing with druid or shaman will want to increase their Wis as they level, rather than their Con or Int. Note that such a build is not for the faint of heart!
Bardic Virtue: Either.
Skills: Nature.
Feats: Druid, shaman, and/or warlock (fey pact) multiclass feats. A shaman spirit companion might be reflavored as a real animal that is magically summoned by the meistersinger.
Powers: No preference. Meistersingers should seek after rituals that require the Nature skill. They can treat Sanctuary (cleric utility 2) as a bard power (renamed Song of Sanction) and animal friendship (PHB2) as a bard ritual.
Equipment: No preferences.
Instrument/Implement: Song, any musical instrument.
