Building a Better Bard - A Re-Imagining III- "What a Fascinating Turn of Events" (Swords & Wizardry)

Alright, lets see what other uses we can get from the Cleric's Turning Chart (reproduced here for your ease of reference and mine).

So, how different is a Bards "Fascinate" ability from a "Turn Undead" ability? Not much really.

Here's how it works in 3e:

Fascinate (Sp)

A bard with 3 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use his music or poetics to cause one or more creatures to become fascinated with him. Each creature to be fascinated must be within 90 feet, able to see and hear the bard, and able to pay attention to him. The bard must also be able to see the creature. The distraction of a nearby combat or other dangers prevents the ability from working. For every three levels a bard attains beyond 1st, he can target one additional creature with a single use of this ability.

To use the ability, a bard makes a Perform check. His check result is the DC for each affected creature’s Will save against the effect. If a creature’s saving throw succeeds, the bard cannot attempt to fascinate that creature again for 24 hours. If its saving throw fails, the creature sits quietly and listens to the song, taking no other actions, for as long as the bard continues to play and concentrate (up to a maximum of 1 round per bard level). While fascinated, a target takes a -4 penalty on skill checks made as reactions, such as Listen and Spot checks. Any potential threat requires the bard to make another Perform check and allows the creature a new saving throw against a DC equal to the new Perform check result.

Any obvious threat, such as someone drawing a weapon, casting a spell, or aiming a ranged weapon at the target, automatically breaks the effect. Fascinate is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting ability.

So, how would that convert to Swords & Wizardry?

The check would be made against the Turn Undead Table as indicated above. Success would prevent the affected creature from taking any other action. Can not be used in combat, so your party would have to have no weapons drawn when you encounter the individuals your want to fascinate. Works well on town guards, less so on dungeon guards.

A "T" on the chart or a roll 10 better than needed for success on the Fascinate roll allows the bard to attempt to implant a suggestion (normal save). A "D" result imparts a further -2 penalty on the target's save.

One attempt per day per at level 1, increasing by one more use per day per 2 levels, so two uses at level 3, three uses at level 5, etc. Maximum number of targets per attempt follows the same formula, but each would get their own D20 roll on the chart.

Hmm, that covers Fascinate and Suggestion.

(nice - 12 S&W Content Posts in 11 days - building myself a cushion if I miss a day later ;)