General Prestige Class : Jester
by Richard Pett, Dragon #330
Irreverent, motley, self-indulgent, witty, and roguish, the jester has the ear of all. One skilled at his trade also gains the admiration, trust, and friendship of his audience. No one thinks ill of the fool, but the jester is no fool. The trusted clown with the ear of the noble court, the comic actor whom everyone flocks to see, or the juggler on the street corner bringing laughter to the poor - when you perform all eyes watch you and the crowd is at your mercy. You play the fool, but laughter is a powerful tool and you use it better than anyone.
The bard class provides the easiest path to becoming a jester as Bluff and Perform skills are class skills and many of the bard's abilities enhance the jester's abilities. Monks and rogues also make good entry paths, as rogues need not take any cross-class skills and monks need only pick up Bluff, Charisma (for Perform checks and spellcasting) and Dexterity (for sneaking and tumbling) are key ability scores for you.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Jester, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Skills: Perform (comedy) 13 ranks, Perform (any other) 13 ranks, Bluff 6 ranks.
Class Skills
The jester's class skills are Balance, Bluff, Climb, Diplomacy, Disguise, Escape Artist, Gather Information, Knowledge (local), Knowledge (nobility and royalty), Perform, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, and Tumble.
Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + Int modifier.
Class Features
As they advance in level, jesters gain abilities in Perform that make their spells more potent. They also gain a number of spell-like abilities to compliment their improved spells. For all spell-like abilities, your caster level equals your jester levels plus your bard levels (if any), and the DCs equal 10 + spell level + Charisma modifier.
Weapons and Armor Proficiency: The jester gains no proficiency with any weapons or armor.
Enhanced Perform (Ex): Select one Perform skill in which you have at least 1 3 ranks. You gain a bonus on all checks of the appropriate Perform skill equal to your jester level. Your exceptional talent allows you to make unequaled performances, as shown in the Enhanced Perform Check sidebar.
Enthrall (Sp): You can cast enthrall once per day per two jester levels (minimum once per day).
Tasha's Hideous Laughter (Sp): You can cast Tasha's hideous laughter once per day per jester level.
Vice Versa (Ex): At 2nd level your special training enables you to use your act as a tool to befriend, befuddle, or belittle. Once per day per two jester levels you can choose to use the result of a Perform skill in place of a Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate check.
Little Spell (Sp): At 2nd level and again at 3rd level, choose a spell from the following list to cast as a spell-like ability once per day: dominate person, modify memory, phantasmal killer, or shout. Once you have chosen a spell for this ability you may not change it later.
Ridicule of Persuasion (Sp): Beginning at 3rd level you gain the ability to infuse your jests and wordplay with magical energy. These ridicules, as they arc called, take several different forms. A ridicule simulates a specific spell, but it has only a verbal component and it is a language-dependent, mind-affecting effect.
The least powerful ridicule, the ridicule of persuasion, mimics the effects of the charm monster spell, but with the modifications common to all ridicules.
At 3rd level, you may use only one ridicule per day.
Silently Enthralling Laugh (Su): At 4th level you gain the ability to cast silent versions of your enthrall and Tasha's hideous laughter spell-like abilities, as if you were using the Silent Spell metamagic feat. This does not increase the number of spell-like abilities you may use in one day.
Middling Spell (Sp): At 5th level and again at 6th level, choose a spell from the following list to cast as a spell-like ability once per day: mind fog, mislead, song of discord, or mass suggestion. Once you have chosen a spell for this ability you may not change it later.
Ridicule of Insanity (Sp): Beginning at 6th level you gain access to the ridicule of insanity, which in mimics the effects of the insanity spell, but with the modifications common to all ridicules.
At 6th level, you may use a total of two ridicules per day.
Quick Enthralling Laugh (Su): At 7th level, once per day you may choose to cast a quickened version of your enthrall and Tasha's hideous laughter spell-like abilities in place of a silent version, as if you were using the Quickened Spell metamagic feat. This does not increase the number of spell-like abilities you may use in one day.
Mighty Spell (Sp): At 8th level and again at 11th level, choose a spell from the following list to cast as a spell-like ability once per day: demand, Otto's irresistible dance, scintillating pattern, or greater shout. Once you have chosen a spell ability you may not change it later.
Quick and Silently Enthralling Laugh (Su): At 9th level you may cast quickened and silent versions of your enthrall and Tasha's hideous laughter spell-like abilities three times per day in place of normal, silent, or quickened versions. This does not increase the number of spell-like abilities you may use in one day.
Ridicule of Death (Sp): At 10th level you gain access to the ridicule of death, which mimics the effects of the power word kill spell, but with the modifications common to all ridicules.
At 10th level, you may use a total of three ridicules per day.
| Jester | Hit Die: d6 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special |
| 1st | +0 | +0 | +2 | +0 | Enhanced Perform, enthrall, Tasha's hideous laughter |
| 2nd | +1 | +0 | +3 | +0 | Little spell, vice versa |
| 3rd | +2 | +1 | +3 | +1 | Little spell, ridicule of persuasion |
| 4th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +1 | Silently enthralling laugh |
| 5th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +1 | Middling spell |
| 6th | +4 | +2 | +5 | +2 | Middling spell, ridicule of insanity |
| 7th | +5 | +2 | +5 | +2 | Quick enthralling laugh |
| 8th | +6 | +2 | +6 | +2 | Mighty spell |
| 9th | +6 | +3 | +6 | +3 | Quick and silently enthralling laugh |
| 10th | +7 | +3 | +7 | +3 | Mighty spell ridicule of death |
Enhanced Perform Check
The jester's enhanced Perform ability allows him to succeed with performances beyond the levels of even the most accomplished bard. The following table adds to that found in Bard. These additions might apply to performers of other classes with few alterations.
| Perform DC | Performance |
| 40 | Incredible performance. In a prosperous city, you can earn 1d6 platinum/day. Your fame begins to spread, people try to repeat your acts on street-corners, your jokes are told in all the local taverns and inns, and in a short time you might begin to draw attention from distant potential patrons or even extraplanar beings. |
| 50 | Legendary performance. In a prosperous city you can earn 3d6 platinum/day. Your fame spreads. People might stop you in the street and want to be your friend, children sing songs about your act, and lesser performers attempt inadequate copies. Your performances are bound to bring attention from potential patrons or extraplanar beings. |
| 75 | Divine performance. You attract the attention of extraplanar creatures. Deities (not necessarily good or neutral ones) request you to play for them. |
Jester Lore
Characters may attempt Knowledge (local) or Knowledge (nobility and royalty) to research jesters. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the information below, remembering that higher checks reveal information from lower DCs as well.
- DC 10: "Jesters provide entertainment for all from the simple street juggler to the most admired comic actors in the land."
- DC 15: "Tradition allows jesters a chance to make a performance in exchange for room and board."
- DC 20: "Imagine having the ear of a local lord or lady! Jesters must know a lot of secrets and information."
- DC 30: Characters who achieve this level of success can learn important information about specific jesters or ensembles in your campaign as well as the necessary protocols or intermediaries to contact them.
PCs trying to make contact with jesters must make a DC 20 Gather Information check. Remember that very few street entertainers, clowns, or mummers actually possess levels in the jester prestige class. If PCs have something useful to the jester, such as information or a magic item to offer, they should receive a +2 circumstance bonus on the attempt.
Source: Dragon #330