TEXT:  
  Percussion Bard 
  0 
   
   
  
   
   
  Percussion Bard 
  Quick Builds: 
  Percussion Bard 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Huge Nerd Games 
  Words and Layout ✦ Brian Stinson 
  Art ✦ Anthony Cournoyer 
   
   
   
  
   
  Percussion Bard 
  1 
   
  Quick Builds 
  Percussion Bard 
  “Do you hear that? That is the sound of victory.” 
  Virtue of Tenacity 
  When you choose your Bardic Virtue, you can 
  choose Virtue of Tenacity instead of another 
  option, such as the ones in Player’s Handbook 2 
  or Arcane Power. 
   
  Virtue of Tenacity: You gain a +1 bonus to 
  attack rolls with one-handed maces and 
  hammers.  
    
  In addition, whenever an ally within 5 squares 
  becomes bloodied for the first time during an 
  encounter, that ally gains resistance to all 
  damage until the end of its next turn. The resist 
  equals 3 + your Strength modifier at 1st level, 5 
  + your Strength modifier at 11th level, and 7 + 
  your Strength modifier at 21st level. 
   
  Level 1 At-Will Spells 
   
    Keep the Beat  
   
     Bard Attack 1 
    With the beat of your weapon, you keep your 
  ally in the rhythm of battle. 
  At-Will ✦ Arcane, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC 
    Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage, and 
  one ally that can hear you within 5 squares 
  gains a power bonus to attack rolls against 
  the target equal to your Strength modifier. 
  Level 21: 2[W] + Charisma modifier damage. 
   
  Level 1 Encounter Spells 
   
    Ascending Tempo 
   
     Bard Attack 1 
    As the battle heats up you increase the vigor of 
  your attacks, inspiring your allies to do the 
  same. 
  Encounter ✦ Arcane, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC 
    Hit: 1[W] + 2 + Charisma modifier damage, and 
  each ally that can hear you gains a +2 power 
  bonus to damage rolls against the target until 
  the end of your next turn. 
  Virtue of Tenacity: The bonus to damage rolls 
  instead equals your Strength modifier. 
   
    Deadly Duet  
   
     Bard Attack 1 
    You and your foe are inexorably tied by song, 
  and you are ready to retaliate if they break the 
  meter you’ve set. 
  Encounter ✦ Arcane, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC 
    Hit: 2[W] + Charisma modifier damage, and 
  the first attack the target makes during its 
  next turn provokes an opportunity attack 
  from you. 
  Virtue of Tenacity: You gain a +2 bonus to 
  the attack roll of the opportunity attack. 
   
  Level 1 Daily Spells 
   
    Deafening Crash 
   
     Bard Attack 1 
    Your weapon strikes your foe like a gong, and 
  the note it plays reverberates in the ears of 
  your enemies. 
  Daily ✦ Arcane, Reliable, Thunder, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC 
    Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier thunder 
  damage, and the target is dazed (save ends). 
  In addition, the target and each enemy within 
  3 squares of the target are deafened until the 
  end of your next turn. 
  
   
   
   Percussion Bard 
  2 
  Level 3 Encounter Spells 
   
    Chorus of Anvils 
   
     Bard Attack 3 
    The note your weapon plays is the final piece of 
  your spell, turning your ally’s armor as hard as 
  an anvil against the blacksmith’s hammer. 
  Encounter ✦ Arcane, Thunder, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC 
    Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier thunder 
  damage, and one ally within 5 squares gains 
  resist 5 to all damage until the end of your 
  next turn.  
  Virtue of Tenacity: You also gain resist 5 to all 
  damage until the end of your next turn. 
   
    Staccato Strikes 
   
     Bard Attack 3 
    The quick, decisive strikes you make lead the 
  way for your allies. 
  Encounter ✦ Arcane, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC, two attacks 
    Hit: 1[W] damage, and the target takes a -2 
  penalty to AC until the end of your next turn. 
  If more than one attack hits, this penalty 
  stacks.  
  Virtue of Tenacity: The attacks deal extra 
  damage equal to your Strength modifier. 
   
  Level 5 Daily Spells 
   
    Set the Tone  
   
     Bard Attack 5 
    The command you hold over the flow of battle 
  allows you to set the tone, turning the battle 
  into your personal symphony. 
  Daily ✦ Arcane, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC 
    Hit: 2[W] + Charisma modifier damage. 
  Miss: Half damage. 
    Effect: You set the tone until the end of the 
  encounter or until you are reduced to 0 hit 
  points or fewer. Choose one of the options 
  below. While you set the tone, each ally 
  within 5 squares that can hear you gains that 
  effect:  
     Sharp: The target gains a power bonus to 
  damage rolls equal to your Strength modifier.  
     Flat: The target gains a +2 power bonus to AC.  
     Natural: The target gains regeneration 2 while 
  bloodied. 
   
  Level 7 Encounter Spells 
   
    Heartbeat Drums 
   
     Bard Attack 7 
    The drumming of your weapon matches the 
  drumming of an ally’s heart, uplifting them and 
  keeping them in the fight. 
  Encounter ✦ Arcane, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC 
    Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage, and 
  one ally within 5 squares that can hear you 
  gains 10 temporary hit points. 
  Virtue of Tenacity: The temporary hit points 
  instead equal 10 + your Strength modifier. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   Percussion Bard 
  3 
    Reverberating Crash  
     Bard Attack 7 
    Your weapon’s note is almost as loud as your 
  war cry as your blow sends its victim tumbling. 
  Encounter ✦ Arcane, Thunder, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC 
    Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage, and 
  the target is pushed 2 squares and knocked 
  prone. If it stands up before the start of your 
  next turn, it takes thunder damage equal to 
  your Charisma modifier. 
  Virtue of Tenacity: The thunder damage 
  equals your Charisma modifier + your 
  Strength modifier. 
    Special: When charging, you can use this 
  power in place of a melee basic attack. 
   
  Level 9 Daily Spells 
   
    Closing Drum Roll 
   
     Bard Attack 9 
    With a flurry of attacks, your weakened 
  opponent is done for. 
  Daily ✦ Arcane, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One bloodied creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC, three attacks 
    Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage, and 
  your allies gain a +2 power bonus to attack 
  rolls against the target until the end of your 
  next turn. If more than one attack hits, this 
  bonus stacks. 
   
  Level 13 Encounter Spells 
   
    Punctuated Percussion 
   Bard Attack 13 
    Your crushing attack makes a threatening 
  note, one that you and an ally are ready to 
  repeat if necessary. 
  Encounter ✦ Arcane, Thunder, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC 
    Hit: 2[W] + Charisma modifier thunder 
  damage, and the first attack the target makes 
  during its next turn provokes an opportunity 
  attack from you and an ally of your choice. 
  Virtue of Tenacity: Your ally’s opportunity 
  attack gains a +2 bonus to the attack roll and 
  a bonus to the damage roll equal to your 
  Strength modifier. 
   
    Rising Crescendo 
   
   Bard Attack 13 
    At the height of battle, your foes have no 
  chance against you and your allies’ crescendo. 
  Encounter ✦ Arcane, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma + 2 vs. AC 
    Hit: 2[W] + Charisma modifier damage, and 
  each ally that can hear you gains a +2 power 
  bonus to attack rolls against the target until 
  the end of your next turn. 
  Virtue of Tenacity: The bonus to attack rolls 
  instead equals your Strength modifier. 
   
  
   
   
   Percussion Bard 
  4 
  Level 15 Daily Spells 
   
    Resounding Crash 
   
   Bard Attack 15 
    An incredible note of percussion resounds from 
  your weapon, leaving its target stupefied and 
  blasting the eardrums of those nearby. 
  Daily ✦ Arcane, Thunder, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC 
    Hit: 2[W] + Charisma modifier thunder 
  damage, and the target is stunned until the 
  end of your next turn. 
  Miss: Half damage. 
    Effect: Each creature adjacent to you or the 
  target takes thunder damage equal to your 
  Strength modifier and is pushed 1 square. 
   
  Level 17 Encounter Spells 
   
    Allegro Strikes  
   
   Bard Attack 17 
    Like the quickening beat of a drum, your fast 
  attacks shake the battlefield as they cut 
  through your foe’s defenses. 
  Encounter ✦ Arcane, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC, three attacks 
    Hit: 1[W] damage, and the target takes a -2 
  penalty to all defenses until the end of your 
  next turn. If more than one attack hits, this 
  penalty stacks. 
  Virtue of Tenacity: The attacks deal extra 
  damage equal to your Strength modifier. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    Solid Sound Strike 
   
   Bard Attack 17 
    The sound of your weapon striking your 
  opponent transforms into a physical barrier 
  thanks to your bardic magic. 
  Encounter ✦ Arcane, Thunder, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC 
    Hit: 3[W] + Charisma modifier thunder 
  damage, and each ally within 2 squares of the 
  target gains resist 5 to all damage until the 
  end of your next turn.  
  Virtue of Tenacity: You also gain resist 5 to all 
  damage until the end of your next turn. 
   
  Level 19 Daily Spells 
   
    Strike a Chord  
   
   Bard Attack 19 
    Your attack strikes a chord with your enemy, 
  manipulating it into the state of mind that best 
  suits you. 
  Daily ✦ Arcane, Charm, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC 
    Hit: 2[W] + Charisma modifier damage. 
  Miss: Half damage. 
    Effect: You strike a chord with the target until 
  the end of the encounter or until you are 
  reduced to 0 hit points or fewer. Choose one 
  of the options below. While you strike a 
  chord, the target gains that effect:  
    Sharp: Whenever the target attacks, it takes 10 
  damage. This damage cannot be reduced in 
  any way.  
    Flat: Whenever the target moves or shifts more 
  than 1 square, it falls prone at the end of its 
  movement.  
    Natural: Whenever an ally hits the target, that 
  ally regains 10 hit points. 
   
  
   
   
   Percussion Bard 
  5 
  Level 23 Encounter Spells 
   
    Beat the War Drums  
   Bard Attack 23 
    Like the war drums of old, the sound of your 
  percussive strikes invigorates your allies. 
  Encounter ✦ Arcane, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC 
    Hit: 3[W] + Charisma modifier damage, and 
  each ally within 5 squares that can hear you 
  gains 15 temporary hit points. 
  Virtue of Tenacity: The temporary hit points 
  instead equal 15 + your Strength modifier. 
   
    Whirling Drum Roll 
   
   Bard Attack 23 
    A spinning flurry of attacks sounds like an 
  applauding audience, though your opponents 
  may not have the same appreciation for your 
  performance. 
  Encounter ✦ Arcane, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Close burst 1 
  Target: Each enemy in the burst 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC 
  Virtue of Tenacity: Charisma + 2 vs. AC 
    Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage, and 
  the target is pushed a number of squares 
  equal to your Charisma modifier and is dazed 
  until the end of your next turn. 
   
  Level 25 Daily Spells 
   
    Marching Beat  
   
   Bard Attack 25 
    You set a beat with your attacks, your allies 
  naturally falling in and stepping to it with 
  clockwork precision. 
  Daily ✦ Arcane, Reliable, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC 
    Hit: 3[W] + Charisma modifier damage, and 
  you and each ally within 5 squares gain a +2 
  bonus to speed and can shift 2 squares as a 
  move action until the end of your next turn. 
  Sustain Minor: The effect persists. 
   
  Level 27 Encounter Spells 
   
    Defiant Chorus 
   
   Bard Attack 27 
    Your booming voice is as heavy as your 
  weapon. If your foe dares to strike, the voice of 
  your allies will join yours in retribution. 
  Encounter ✦ Arcane, Thunder, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC 
    Hit: 2[W] + Charisma modifier thunder 
  damage. If the target makes an attack during 
  its next turn, you and each ally within 3 
  squares of the target can charge or make a 
  basic attack against the target as an 
  opportunity action. 
  Virtue of Tenacity: Each ally within a number 
  of squares equal to 3 + your Strength 
  modifier can charge or make a basic attack. 
   
    Prestissimo Strikes 
   
   Bard Attack 27 
    Faster than the eye can see or the ear can 
  hear, your incredible flurry smashes its target’s 
  armor and weapon to pieces. 
  Encounter ✦ Arcane, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC, four attacks 
    Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage, and 
  the target takes a -2 penalty to all defenses 
  and attack rolls until the end of your next 
  turn. If more than one attack hits, this 
  penalty stacks. 
  Virtue of Tenacity: The attacks deal extra 
  damage equal to your Strength modifier. 
   
  
   
   
   Percussion Bard 
  6 
  Level 29 Daily Spells 
   
    All Together Now 
   
   Bard Attack 29 
    “All together now!” you sing, and your allies 
  launch their synchronized attack again and 
  again. 
  Daily ✦ Arcane, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC 
    Hit: 2[W] + Charisma modifier damage, and 
  each ally within 5 squares that can hear you 
  makes a basic attack against a target of their 
  choice as a free action. 
  Sustain Standard: You repeat the attack 
  against the target or against a different 
  target. On a hit, each ally within 5 squares 
  that can hear you makes a basic attack 
  against a target of their choice as a free 
  action. On a miss, you can no longer sustain 
  this power. 
   
   
  
   
   
   Percussion Bard 
  7 
  Percussive 
  Perfectionist 
  “Places, everyone! Let’s give these scum a good 
  performance!” 
   
  Prerequisite: Bard, Virtue of Tenacity class 
  feature 
   
  There are many bards who consider themselves 
  crusaders of music, who wish to hear the world 
  bathed in beauty. Often they will seek to refine 
  a single type of song or instrument, and many 
  become grandmasters in their field. To you, 
  however, the best music is the sound of your 
  bludgeon crushing your opponent, and your 
  allies agree. You’ve chosen the art of battle 
  percussion, and you seek to perfect it. 
   
  Some would consider you a brute, hardly 
  worthy of the title of bard, but you are likewise 
  appalled by their words. Do their tin ears not 
  hear the notes, the ringing staccato of metal 
  upon metal? Do they not feel the rhythm of 
  battle, the beats and rests and crescendos? 
  These philistines couldn’t notice your music if it 
  hit them in the face. Thankfully, your allies are 
  better connoisseurs of the fine art you create, 
  and your enemies make a more attentive 
  audience than your critics ever could. 
   
  Percussive Perfectionist 
  Path Features 
  Improved Instruments (11th Level): You gain 
  proficiency with military maces, military 
  hammers, and heavy shields. 
  Perfect Percussion Action (11th Level): When 
  you spend an action point to make an arcane 
  weapon attack, you can make two attack rolls 
  and take the better result. 
  Lead Musician (16th Level): Whenever you 
  become bloodied for the first time during an 
  encounter, you gain resistance to all damage 
  until the end of your next turn equal to 5 + your 
  Strength modifier. This resistance equals 7 + 
  your Strength modifier at 21st level. 
   
  Percussive Perfectionist Spells 
    Acoustic Assault   
   
   
   
   
           Percussive Perfectionist Attack 11 
    A deafening wave of sound blasts from your 
  weapon after your strike, leaving your target 
  addled and vulnerable. 
  Encounter ✦ Arcane, Thunder, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC 
    Hit: 2[W] + Charisma modifier thunder 
  damage, and the target and each enemy 
  adjacent to the target grant combat 
  advantage until the end of your next turn. 
   
    Precise Protection  
   
   
   
   
           Percussive Perfectionist Utility 12 
    Your command of protective magic is enough 
  that you can tailor it to fit any scenario. 
  Encounter ✦ Arcane, Varies 
  No Action 
   
  Close burst 5 
  Trigger: You grant an ally a resistance using 
  your Virtue of Tenacity class feature 
    Effect: The resist is increased by 5 and 
  becomes of a type chosen from the following 
  list: acid, cold, fire, force, lightning, necrotic, 
  poison, psychic, radiant, thunder. 
   
    Marching Band Formation 
    
   
   
           Percussive Perfectionist Attack 20 
    With a note from your weapon, enemies and 
  allies alike have a strange compulsion to fall 
  into formation like a well-trained band. 
  Daily ✦ Arcane, Charm, Psychic, Weapon 
  Standard Action 
  Melee weapon 
  Target: One creature 
  Attack: Charisma vs. AC 
    Hit: 3[W] + Charisma modifier damage. 
   Miss: Half damage. 
    Effect: You activate an aura 5 that lasts until 
  the end of the encounter. Any ally that ends 
  its turn in the aura gains temporary hit points 
  equal to your Charisma modifier, and any 
  enemy that willingly leaves the aura takes 
  psychic damage equal to your Charisma 
  modifier. A creature can only take this 
  damage once per turn. 
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/3rd Party/4th Edition/Huge Nerd/Quick Builds - Percussion Bard.pdf