Mummer Mage, by Aaron Hollingsworth

 I begin here to publish some stuff by my friend Aaron, whose works already appeared on this blog.

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Mummer Mage (Bard Archetype)

While most bards perform their art for admiration and adoration, others long for the prestige and respect that only the most powerful spellcasters command. Mummer mages are bards who pretend to be wizards, sorcerers, and other masters of the arcane. While not complete charlatans, they often present themselves as wiser, more mysterious, and more powerful than they actually are. Some are eccentric actors who simply got carried away with a role. Others are pretentious frauds who seek to bluff their way to ever higher social stations.

Shtick of the Magi

The mummer mage begins with an ornate masterwork quarterstaff that not only grants him the usual bonuses to combat, but also functions as a masterwork prop that grants him a +2 circumstance bonus to Perform (Acting or Oratory) checks and Bluff checks to convince others of his arcane mastery. If a mummer mage’s shtick of the magi is ever lost or destroyed, he can replace it for 400 gp. Starting at 5th level, the quarterstaff grants the bard all the benefits of a bonded item, as per the Wizard arcane bond class feature. 

This replaces bardic knowledge. 

Imperious Gestures

Starting at 2nd level, the mummer mage gains a +2 bonus to Concentration checks when casting his bard spells that have somatic components. 

This replaces well-versed.

Arcane Imitation

Starting at 2nd level, select one spell from the wizard spell list that is of a spell level the mummer mage can cast. He adds this spell to his list of bard spells known as a bard spell of its wizard spell level. He can instead select two spells to add in this way, but both must be at least one level lower than the highest-level bard spell he can cast. At 6th level, and every 4 levels thereafter, the mummer mage can select an additional spell or spells in this manner.

This replaces the versatile performance class feature.

Method Actor

At 5th level, the mummer mage can constantly maintain his wizardly persona to an extent that magic comes easier to him. He treats his bard level as his wizard level for the purpose of qualifying for feats. 

This replaces the lore master class feature. 

Eucatastrophe

At 10th level, a mummer mage can cast any spell on the bard or wizard spell list, even if he does not know the spell. The spell must be of a spell level the bard can cast. The mummer mage can use this ability once per day at 10th level, plus one additional time per day at levels 16 and 19.  

This replaces jack-of-all-trades.