A charismatic jester with the ability to fascinate and inspire.
Stat Block Level 1:
Shadow Master: Male, Human Jester 1; CR 1; Medium Humanoid (Human); HD 1d6+2; hp 8; Init +4; Spd 30 ft.; AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +0; Grp -1; Atk Whip +0 melee (1d3-1); Full Atk Whip +0 melee (1d3-1) or Dagger +0 melee (1d4-1); SA Fascinate, Inspiring Quip; SQ Jester’s Audacity +1, Jester’s Performance; AL CN; SV Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +2; Str 8, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 18.
Skills and Feats:
Diplomacy 4, Intimidate 4, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Listen 4, Perform (Comedy) 4; Cosmopolitan (Listen), Improved Initiative. Special Attacks and Qualities: Fascinate – the jester can use their performance to cause one or more creatures to become fascinated with them. Inspiring Quip – once per day, the jester can make an inspiring quip that grants allies within 30 ft. a +2 moral bonus on their next attack roll, skill check, or saving throw. Possessions: Chainshirt, Whip.
Level 5 Brief:
This build is a trickster focused on using charms and performances to manipulate enemies. Despite low physical stats, it focuses on social skills and spellcasting.
Stat Block Level 5:
Shadow Master: female, human jester 5; CR 5; Medium humanoid (human); HD 5d6+10; hp 25; Init +4; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16, touch 10, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +3; Grp +2; Atk whip +3 (1d3-1) or whip +3 (1d3-1); Full Atk whip +3 (1d3-1) or whip +3 (1d3-1); SA spells, performances; SQ Jester’s Audacity +2, Inspire Courage, Taunt; AL CN; SV Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +4; Str 8, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 18.
The level 10 build focuses on blending Jester and Virtuoso abilities, offering strong spellcasting with notable Bardic Music features.
Stat Block Level 10:
Shadow Master: female, Human Jester 7/Virtuoso 3; CR 10; Medium Humanoid (Human); HD 10d6+20; hp 55; Init +4; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +5; Grp +4; Atk Whip +5 melee (1d3-1); Full Atk Whip +5 melee (1d3-1); SA Bardic Music, Fascinate, Jester’s Audacity +2, Jester’s Performance, Inspiring Quip, Calming Performance; SQ Bardic Lore, Persuasive Song, Sustaining Song; AL CN; SV Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +10; Str 8, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 18.
Skills and Feats:
Diplomacy +6, Intimidate +6, Knowledge (Arcana) +13, Listen +17, Perform (Comedy) +16, Profession (Astrologer) +8, Spellcraft +10; Cosmopolitan (Listen), Improved Initiative, Deflect Arrow, Item Familiar, Snatch Arrow, Skill Focus (Perform – Comedy), Obtain Familiar. Special Attacks and Qualities: Bardic Music (1/day), Fascinate (2 targets, DC 15), Jester’s Audacity (+2 to attacks and saves against fear), Jester’s Performance (at will), Jester’s Taunt (DC 17), Calming Performance (at will), Persuasive Song, Sustaining Song. Possessions: Chainshirt, Whip, Item Familiar (enhancing Perform skills and providing bonuses to saves).
Level 15 Brief:
At this level, the Shadow Master, proficient in casting 9th level spells, is highly versatile in both combat and utility. With a mix of performances and powerful magic, they can rival top-tier spellcasters.
Stat Block Level 15:
Shadow Master: Male, Human Jester 7/Virtuoso 3/Sublime Chord 5; CR 15; Medium humanoid (human); HD 15d6+30; hp 82; Init +4; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16, touch 10, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +7; Grp +7; Atk Whip +7 melee (1d3 nonlethal) or Dagger +7 melee (1d4); Full Atk Whip +7 melee (1d3 nonlethal) or Dagger +7 melee (1d4); SA Bardic Music, Spells, Jester’s Performance, Jester’s Taunt; SQ Jester’s Audacity +2, Song of Arcane Power, Item Familiar, Bardic Lore; AL CN; SV Fort +7, Ref +9, Will +10; Str 8, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 22.
Skills and Feats:
Diplomacy 4, Intimidate 4, Knowledge (Arcana) 13, Listen 13, Perform (Comedy) 16, Profession (Astrologer) 6, Spellcraft 6; Cosmopolitan (Listen), Improved Initiative, Deflect Arrow, Item Familiar, Snatch Arrow, Skill Focus (Perform – Comedy), Obtain Familiar, Extend Spell, Empower Spell. Special Attacks and Qualities: Bardic Music (inspire courage, fascinate, inspire competence, suggestion, inspire greatness), Jester’s Performance (inspire courage, fascinate, taunting laugh), Jester’s Audacity (+2 competence bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, Disguise, Perform, Sleight of Hand), Song of Arcane Power (+1 caster level for arcane spells); Item Familiar allows significant spell power boosts. Possessions: Chainshirt, Whip, Component Pouch, Spellbook.
Level 20 Brief:
The Shadow Master is a versatile spellcaster with 9th level spells, rivaling tier 1 classes. Notable for the Song of Cosmic Fire dealing immense damage.
Stat Block Level 20:
Shadow Master: male, human Jester 7/Virtuoso 3/Sublime Chord 10; CR 20; Medium humanoid (human); HD 20d6+40; hp 110; Init +4; Spd 30 ft.; AC 21, touch 16, flat-footed 17; Base Atk +10; Grp +9; Atk Whip +10 melee (1d3-1); Full Atk Whip +10 melee (1d3-1); SA Song of Cosmic Fire, Bardic Music, Song of Arcane Power; SQ Jester’s Audacity +2, Taunt, Song of Timelessness, Bardic Lore; AL CN; SV Fort +10, Ref +12, Will +15; Str 8, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 24.
Skills and Feats:
Diplomacy +22, Intimidate +22, Knowledge (Arcana) +23, Listen +23, Perform (Comedy) +20, Profession (Astrologer) +16, Spellcraft +16; Cosmopolitan (Listen), Improved Initiative, Deflect Arrows, Item Familiar, Snatch Arrows, Skill Focus (Perform: Comedy), Obtain Familiar, Extend Spell, Empower Spell, Widen Spell. Special Attacks and Qualities: Capable of casting 9th level spells, including Wish. Highly versatile in spellcasting, able to mimic sorcerers and wizards. Notably powerful with the Song of Cosmic Fire ability, dealing significant damage with performances. Possessions: Chainshirt, Whip.
Critical Milestones of Level Distribution
Levels 1-7: Jester – This is where you lay down the foundation of your trickster, focusing on skills like Perform, Sleight of Hand, and other abilities that will make your Jester stand out.
Levels 8-10: Virtuoso – Here, we start to refine our Jester’s talents, enhancing their performances and adding a touch of persuasive power.
Levels 11-20: Sublime Chord – The final touch, turning our Jester into a spellcasting force to be reckoned with, capable of casting 9th level spells.
Equipment Progression of the Shadow Master Build
Level Range
Equipment
Description
1-5
Chainshirt, Whip, Dagger, Performing Props
Chainshirt: Light armor offering protection without hindering mobility. Whip: Versatile for disarming and tripping foes. Dagger: Reliable backup weapon for close combat. Performing Props: Essential for Fascinate ability (e.g., musical instrument, juggling balls).
5-10
+1 Chainshirt, +1 Whip, +1 Dagger, Cloak of Charisma +2, Wand of Cure Light Wounds
+1 Chainshirt: Magic armor providing an additional +1 enhancement bonus to AC. +1 Whip: Magic weapon with a +1 enhancement bonus to attack and damage rolls. +1 Dagger: Magic weapon with a +1 enhancement bonus. Cloak of Charisma +2: Increases Charisma by +2, enhancing performances and spellcasting. Wand of Cure Light Wounds: Provides healing capabilities.
10-15
+2 Chainshirt, +2 Whip, +2 Dagger, Circlet of Persuasion, Boots of Elvenkind, Item Familiar
+2 Chainshirt: Provides a +2 enhancement bonus to AC. +2 Whip: Magic weapon with a +2 enhancement bonus. +2 Dagger: Magic weapon with a +2 enhancement bonus. Circlet of Persuasion: Grants a +3 competence bonus on Charisma-based skill checks. Boots of Elvenkind: Grants a +5 competence bonus on Move Silently checks. Item Familiar: Choose an item to bond with for additional spell power boosts.
15-20
+3 Chainshirt, +3 Whip, +3 Dagger, Ring of Protection +2, Amulet of Health +2, Cloak of Displacement
+3 Chainshirt: Provides a +3 enhancement bonus to AC. +3 Whip: Magic weapon with a +3 enhancement bonus. +3 Dagger: Magic weapon with a +3 enhancement bonus. Ring of Protection +2: Grants a +2 deflection bonus to AC and saving throws. Amulet of Health +2: Increases Constitution by +2, boosting hit points and durability. Cloak of Displacement: Provides a 20% miss chance for attacks against you.
Party Synergy
The Shadow Master’s versatility means they can complement nearly any class. Pair up with a rogue for a deadly combination of stealth and surprise, or work alongside a paladin to balance their straightforward honor with your cunning tricks. The key is to communicate with your party and plan your moves together.
Boost morale with your Jester’s performances, granting bonuses to your allies’ attack rolls, skill checks, or saving throws.
Use your spells to control the battlefield, allowing your party’s heavy hitters to do what they do best.
Employ your Taunt ability to protect more vulnerable members by drawing enemies’ attention.
Party Support
As a jester, your job is to cover everyone’s shortcomings and draw attention to their strengths when working within a group. You are the group’s glue, keeping enemies off-balance and spirits high with your wit and charm.
Support Casters: Your ‘Song of Arcane Power’ can boost fellow spellcasters, making their spells even more devastating.
Frontline Fighters: Distract foes and set up your warriors for powerful attacks with your crowd control abilities.
Ranged Attackers: Keep enemies at bay with enchantments and illusions, allowing archers and spell-slingers to strike from a distance.
Strengths & Weaknesses of the Shadow Master Build
Weakness
Counter
Low Physical Strength
– Enchantment Spells: Use spells like Bull’s Strength to temporarily boost your physical prowess. – Gauntlets of Ogre Power: Grants a +2 enhancement bonus to Strength.
Reliance on Charisma
– Charisma-Enhancing Items: Equip items like Circlet of Persuasion for a +3 competence bonus on Charisma-based skill checks. – Cloak of Charisma +2: Increases Charisma by +2.
Vulnerability to Silence
– Contingency Plans: Have non-verbal tricks like Silent Image to create distractions. – Wand of Summon Monster I: Summon creatures to aid in combat without verbal commands.
Spell Resistance
– Spell Penetration Feats: Take feats like Spell Penetration and Greater Spell Penetration to break through spell resistances more effectively. – Pierce Magical Protection Feat: Allows you to bypass magical defenses.
Direct Confrontation
– Hit-and-Run Tactics: Use mobility and abilities like Expeditious Retreat to strike when the enemy is vulnerable and retreat before retaliation. – Boots of Speed: Grants the ability to move faster and avoid direct confrontation.
Roleplaying Themes
Roleplaying a Jester is about more than just cracking jokes – it’s about embodying the spirit of chaos and unpredictability. Embrace the unexpected, and use it to drive your narrative forward. But remember, there’s a method to the madness, and your choices should always serve the story you’re helping to tell.
Themes & RP Opportunities
Mystery: Keep others guessing about your true intentions, revealing only what you choose to.
Duality: Play up the contrast between your light-hearted exterior and the strategic mind beneath.
Transformation: Let your character evolve over time, influenced by their experiences and the company they keep.
These themes can add depth to your character, making them more than just a source of comic relief. They can be a catalyst for character development and plot progression, adding layers to the game that go beyond the mechanics.
Cultural Influence & Traditions
Storytelling: Your Jester might come from a culture where oral traditions and storytelling are sacred, infusing their performances with ancient tales and wisdom.
Masks and Disguises: Perhaps in your Jester’s homeland, masks are more than just a costume—they’re a symbol of one’s role in society, and your Jester wears theirs with pride.
Festivals and Feasts: Your character could be the star of seasonal festivals, adept at turning any gathering into an unforgettable celebration.
Roleplaying Jester Mannerisms and Interactions
There’s more to embodying your Jester than just dressing brightly. It’s in the way they speak, the way they hold up their hands to joke, or the cunning wink they give when they are aware of something the others are not. These subtle details give your character life and help other players remember them.
FAQ
What is the optimal starting ability score distribution for the Shadow Master Build?
Your primary stat should be charisma, so try to get a high score there. Spellcasting and other agile feats are also made possible by intelligence and dexterity. Although strength isn’t as important, don’t discount it completely because you never know when you’ll need to defend yourself in a fight.
The lifeblood of the group, your jester uses their abilities to influence opponents with their spells, raise spirits, and extract information from NPCs. They can play many different roles depending on the situation, making them an adaptable asset to any team.
Performance is your bread and butter, but don’t forget about skills like Bluff, Diplomacy, and Sleight of Hand. These will serve you well in both social and combat encounters, allowing you to manipulate the situation to your party’s advantage.
Races with a bonus to Charisma, like Half-Elves or Tieflings, are a natural fit. As for backgrounds, anything that involves a history of performance or deception, such as Entertainer or Charlatan, will give you a solid foundation to build upon.
Can The Shadow Jester[1] be effectively played in both combat and social encounters?
With their array of spells and abilities, The-Shadow-Jester can control the battlefield and sway the hearts of allies and enemies alike. They’re as adept at dodging a sword as they are at mastering shadow dancing, making them a versatile and valuable member of any party.
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Writer, Editor, GM, Technologist – Andrew’s been playing TTRPGs since as far back as he can recall… at least sometime in the nineties… or was it the early 2000s?
“So… you really are a woman?” Asked the scribe, who barely dared blink as he watched the… person shedding the lord’s mannerisms slowly into those of a trained killer, step by step.
“No, although I may have enjoyed that role for a while, that identity was merely one of many. I also was an archmage of some renown before I became the temptress.”
She removed the face, this time his new visage that of a sage old man.
The Scribe gasped. The visage belonged to an archmage from the Arcane Order who went missing a decade ago. This was a man that the Scribe had known, at least in passing.
“Do you know my friend, how difficult it is to emulate an archmage of such caliber? The hoops and loops I had to work through to appear as such…”
He continued, a smile slowly manifesting beneath his bearded face, “But, it was by living such a life, that I truly began to realize that my life was not a tragedy, but a comedy.”
You can cast 9th level spells like Wish. You can pass off easily as a Sorcerer or even as a Wizard, and are an extremely strong spellcaster. You’re capable of rivaling the so-called “tier 1” classes in versatility.
When you get the Song of Cosmic Fire, with the help of your Item Familiar, you can deal hundreds of damage each round simply by spending your performances.
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