Sound Shaper [3.5 PrC]

[FireInTheSky]

Sound Shaper


Image Credit: Veekie’s Dropbox + ex-astris1701 + editing


“Sound has a profound effect on the senses. It can be both heard and felt. It can even be seen with the mind’s eye. It can almost be tasted and smelled. Sound can evoke responses of the five senses. Sound can paint a picture, produce a mood, trigger the senses to remember another time and place. From infancy we hear sound with our entire bodies. When I hear my own name, I have as much a sense of it entering my body through my back or my hand or my chest as through my ears. Sound speaks to the sensorium; the entire system of nerves that stimulates sensual response.”

-Louis Colaianni, an early philosopher on the shaping of sound

The multiverse is made up of vibrations. Unimaginably small particles oscillating back and forth at incredible speeds. Infinitely vast planes of existence, each with its own specific resonance. Most creatures are unaware of all but the tiniest fraction of these fluctuations around them, living out their lives oblivious to the vibrations that permeate everything they do. A lucky few have their eyes opened to the wonder surrounding them. These fortunates dedicate their lives to the study of sound, using audible vibrations to influence their environment.

Prerequisites
Skills: Listen 6 ranks, Spellcraft 8 ranks
Spellcasting: Must be able to cast two of Ghost Sound, Sculpt Sound, Shatter, Silence, and Sound Burst.

Class Skills
The Sound Shaper's class skills are Craft (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Knowledge (Arcana, Architecture & Engineering)(Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Search (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis).
Skill Points: 2+Int

Table: The Sound Shaper					HD: d4
Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10	Base Attack Bonus +0 +1 +1 +2 +2 +3 +3 +4 +4 +5	Fort Save +0 +0 +1 +1 +1 +2 +2 +2 +3 +3	Ref Save +0 +0 +1 +1 +1 +2 +2 +2 +3 +3	Will Save +2 +3 +3 +4 +4 +5 +5 +6 +6 +7	Special Audiophile, Blindsense, Golden-Eared Acoustic Engineer, Sound Mind High Fidelity, Sound Bubble Sound Body Ear-Splitting Greater Acoustic Engineer Blindsight Amplifier Perfect Acoustic Engineer Sonic Boom	Spellcasting - +1 level of existing class +1 level of existing class +1 level of existing class +1 level of existing class - +1 level of existing class +1 level of existing class +1 level of existing class +1 level of existing class

Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: A Sound Shaper gains no weapon or armor proficiencies.

Spellcasting:  At each level except 1st and 6th, a Sound Shaper gains new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known, if applicable) as if he had also gained a level in a spellcasting class to which he belonged before adding the Sound Shaper level.  He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If he had more than one spellcasting class before becoming a Sound Shaper, he must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining spells per day, caster level, and spells known.

As a Sound Shaper’s knowledge of, and experience with sound grows, his selection of spells follows suit. The list of additions to the Sound Shaper’s spell list can be found below. These spells are added to his class list to be learned or prepared as normal. If he had more than one spellcasting class before becoming a Sound Shaper, he must decide to which class to add his spell list.

Audiophile: A Sound Shaper believes that sound is the purest and most powerful force in the multiverse, and thus does more extensive study of spells manipulating it. All spells with the [sonic] descriptor cast by the Sound Shaper have their caster level increased by 1. In addition, Spell Shapers gain Energy Substitution (Sonic) as a bonus feat. However, any spells modified by this feat do not have their caster level increased by this ability.

Blindsense (Ex): Sound Shapers are incredibly experienced at knowing how sound interacts with, and moves around, the world around them. This knowledge gives the Sound Shaper blindsense, with a range equal to 30’+5’/sound shaper level. This ability does not work if the Sound Shaper cannot hear (e.g. he is deafened or within the area of a silence spell). At 7th level, this improves to blindsight, and the range increases to 30’+10’/sound shaper level.

Golden-Eared: Sound Shapers are extremely adept at noticing even the quietest of sounds. They gain a bonus on Listen checks equal to their Sound Shaper level.

Acoustic Engineer (Su): A Sound Shaper of 2nd level has learned to manipulate and alter existing sounds. As a standard action at will, he can target one sound whose source is within 10’ per Sound Shaper level, such as a person speaking or singing, or a group of related sounds, such as the patter of many raindrops or the tramp of soldiers passing by. A sound as quiet as a snapping finger can be controlled. He can substitute any sound he has heard for the target sound. The substitution lasts as long as the Sound Shaper concentrates on it. If attempting to exactly duplicate the voice of a specific individual, or an inherently terrifying sound (such as a dragon’s roar), he must succeed on a Bluff check with a +5 circumstance bonus opposed by the intended listener’s Sense Motive check to avoid arousing suspicion.

The Sound Shaper can entirely muffle a noise or magnify a sound to such loudness that it drowns out all other conversation in the immediate area. In this way, he can provide himself or an ally with a +4 circumstance bonus on Move Silently and Listen checks.

Sound Mind (Ex): By 2nd level, Sound Shapers have become discerning enough to tell the difference between real and imaginary sounds. They are automatically successful on saves against illusions with auditory components. In addition, they gain a bonus to saves against spells with the [Sonic] descriptor equal to half their Sound Shaper level.

High Fidelity: Beginning at 3rd level, Sound Shapers no longer rely on fictitious sounds for their illusions, instead creating the real thing. Illusion [figment/glamer] spells cast by a Sound Shaper with only an auditory component have their school changed to Evocation, lose the [mind-affecting] descriptor (if they have it), and cannot be disbelieved. Illusion [figment/glamer] spells with multiple components including auditory become dual-school spells (as described in the Players Handbook II), gaining the Evocation school, and interaction with the auditory component of such a spell cannot cause disbelief.

Break the Silence (Su): Sound Shapers quickly come to the realization that silence is not a barrier to sound, but simply an absence of it. While in an area of silence, Sound Shapers or 3rd level or higher can speak normally (and thus may still cast spells with verbal components), and can be heard normally by others, if the Sound Shaper so chooses. In addition, any spells cast by a Sound Shaper which would not normally work in an area of silence now work as normal. Finally, a Sound Shaper’s blindsense (or blindsight) work normally inside the area of a silence.
 
Sound Body (Su): At 4th level, a Sound Shaper’s work with sonic energy has acclimated his body to its forces, granting him Sonic Resistance equal to twice his Sound Shaper level. In addition, he can no longer be deafened.

Ear-Splitting: By 5th level, Sound Shapers have become so knowledgeable within their area of expertise that they have learned how to affect even those creatures who would normally be resistant to spells cast by anyone else. Spells which deal sonic damage ignore one point of sonic resistance per Sound Shaper level. If an opponent is normally immune to sonic damage or effects with the [sonic] descriptor, they instead take half damage and gain a +5 bonus to relevant saving throws.

Greater Acoustic Engineer (Su): At 6th level, a Sound Shaper has become increasingly proficient in working with pure sound. He can use Ghost Sound, Sculpt Sound, and Silence at will as supernatural abilities. This ability can be used to counter the Ghost Sound, Sculpt Sound, and Silence effects of others.

Amplifier: By 8th level, the Sound Shaper has put extraordinary effort into the study of sonic energy, and how best to call it into being. Any Evocation spells cast by the Sound Shaper which normally deal sonic damage deal force damage instead, but still maintain the [sonic] descriptor. The original energy type must have been sonic, and cannot have been modified by Energy Substitution or similar means.

Perfect Acoustic Engineer: At 9th level, a Sound Shaper’s facility with pure sound is unparalleled. Within the radius of his Acoustic Engineer ability, he may modify multiple sounds simultaneously, up to a number of different sounds equal to the modifier of his spellcasting stat. The Sound Shaper may stop concentrating on any number of sounds as a free action, and may add another sound to his attention as a swift action, up to his limit, all while maintaining his concentration on other sounds.

Sonic Boom: 10th level Sound Shapers are incredible to behold on the battlefield, leaving even their most powerful enemies reeling and clutching their ears. Any creature targeted by, or within the area of, a damage-dealing Evocation [Sonic] spell cast by the Sound Shaper must make a fortitude save at the same DC as the rest of the damage. A failed save results in being knocked down, regardless of size, stunned for 1 round and permanent deafness, while a successful save results in being dazed for one round and deafened for 1d4 rounds. Creatures immune to any of these conditions are still affected by this ability, but gain a +5 bonus on their save. The spell must have originally had the [sonic] descriptor, and cannot have been modified by Energy Substitution or similar means.

[FireInTheSky]

Sound Shaper Spell List Additions

(click to show/hide)

All of the following spells are additions to the Sound Shaper’s class spell list, to be learned or prepared as normal:
 
0th – Amplify^SpC, Ghost Sound, Lullaby, Sonic Snap^SpC

1st – Deafening Clang^SpC, Distort Speech^SpC, Ironthunder Horn^SpC, Lesser Orb of Sound^CArc, Sonic Blast^SpC, Ventriloquism, Warning Shout^SpC, Waveform*

2nd – Caterwaul^CM, Dissonant Chant^SpC, Magic Mouth, Painful Echoes^CM, Shatter, Silence, Sonic Weapon^SpC, Sound Burst, Whispering Wind

3rd – Clairaudience, Creaking Cacophony^SpC, Deafening Blast^CM, Great Thunderclap^SpC, Resonating Bolt^SpC, Sculpt Sound, Sound Bubble*, Sound Lance^SpC, Thunderous Roar^SpC

4th – Battlecry^CM, Castigate^SpC, Fugue^SpC, Interminable Echo^CM, Orb of Sound^SpC, Shout, Stone Shatter^SpC, Zone of Slience

5th – Cacophonic Burst^SpC, Cacophonic Shield^SpC, Channeled Sound Blast^CM, Discordant Malediction^CM, Resounding Thunder^CM, Sonic Rumble^SpC

6th – Resonating Agony^CM, Sympathetic Vibration

7th – Blasphemy/Holy Word, Dictum/Word of Chaos/Word of Balance^SpC, Mass Sound Bubble*

8th – Greater Shout, Lion’s Roar^SpC

9th – Wail of the Banshee

*Indicates New Spell

New Spells

(click to show/hide)

Sound Bubble
Evocation [Sonic]
Level: Sound Shaper 3
Components: V,S,F/DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100’ + 10’/level)
Target: One large or smaller creature
Duration: 1 round/level (D)
Saving Throw: Reflex negates
Spell Resistance: No

You form compression waves around the subject, wrapping them up like a mummy. The subject can still breathe but is otherwise helpless, unable to speak or take any physical actions. The subject’s nostrils are clear (air passes through the bubble normally). The subject can execute purely mental actions (such as casting spells with no verbal, somatic, or material components or manifesting powers).

Cutting or damaging the bubble can free a victim. The bubble has hardness 8 and 20 hit points. Teleportation and other forms of travel provide a means of escape, but the bubble extends into the Ethereal Plane, blocking ethereal travel. A sound bubble can’t be affected by dispel magic, but it can be dismissed with silence, or otherwise destroyed by extreme measures or items.

The creature within the bubble is visible only as a vague shape (substantial enough to interrupt line of sight) and cannot be directly harmed or interacted with unless the bubble is destroyed. The creature can be moved normally (the weight of the bubble is negligible).

A creature that is affected while aloft begins to fall immediately, and a creature that is affected while swimming or underwater may drown.

Sound Bubble, Mass
Evocation [Sonic]
Level: Sound Shaper 7
Components: V,S,F/DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100’ + 10’/level)
Area: 20’ radius burst
Duration: 1 hour/level (D)
Saving Throw: Reflex negates
Spell Resistance: No

As sound bubble, except you can capture several creatures (or a single big creature that fits in a 20-foot radius sphere or hemisphere) in a mass of compression waves. Targets entirely within the area who fail their save are caught and captured. If a creature’s body is only partially within the area, this spell does not affect that creature.

Waveform
Conjuration (Creation) [Sonic]
Level: Sound Shaper 1
Components: V,S,F/DF
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Close (25’ + 5’/2 levels)
Effect: One created creature
Duration: 1 round/level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

This spell creates one creature out of pure sound – anthropomorphic compression waves (treat as a 1st level Astral Construct).  It appears where you designate and acts immediately, on your turn. It attacks your opponents to the best of its ability. As a free action, you can mentally direct it not to attack, to attack particular enemies, or to perform other actions. The waveform acts normally on the last round of the spells’s duration and dissipates at the end of its turn.

Waveforms are not summoned; they are created on the plane you inhabit. Thus, they are not subject to effects that hedge out or otherwise affect outsiders; they are constructs, not outsiders.

This spell may be prepared in, or cast from, a higher level spell-slot than 1st. If so, use the rules of creation for an Astral Construct of the same level as the spell-slot used to cast Waveform. If any menu item is chosen which would allow a choice of energy types, [Sonic] must be chosen.