seeking Bard as Cheerleader ideas

[Herobizkit]

Yup. So I'm watching a "Bring It On" marathon while at work... in one scene of Bring It On Again, the aspiring head cheerleader is at a college softball game and her home team is demoralized. She stands up, starts cheering, the crowd cheers along, and the home team finds their spirit and starts playing awesome. I know, it's a movie, right?

And then I thought, "Maybe she's a Bard?"

And THEN I thought, how would I stat such a creature?

It could just be fluff, but I'd like to put it to the rules gurus to come with interesting ideas for changing a Bard into a cheerleader, or even designing a Cheerleader prestige class (or even if there is one under a different title).

So come on people, take a shot!
Come and show me what you've got!
Yaaaaaaaaay ENWORLD!

(I'm particularly interested in hearing from Dannyalcatraz for inspiration, Nifft for magical suggestions, and Thanee because her Knowlege: D&D is legendary.)

 

[Nifft]

her home team is demoralized. She stands up, starts cheering, the crowd cheers along, and the home team finds their spirit and starts playing awesome.

Um. Isn't this the usual, no-spin, 100% pure vanilla Cheerleader role? (Well, plus giving the team morale boosts via sexual favors.)

Seriously, I don't see anything unusual about this. Having a bunch of people who blatantly want you to try hard is a sure-fire way to encourage trying hard... or to encourage any other human behavior, really.

Morale is real. Ask any war-gamer.

- - -

So, I'd suggest you merely use cheerleading as a layer of flavor over a normal Bard. Perhaps take some kind of a baton (light mace?) you can smack opponents with to punctuate your cheers, or take Improved Unarmed Strike to make your high kick also a hard kick.

Cheers! -- N

 

[Alzrius]

The Le Games has put out a supplement Unorthodox Modern Cheerleaders, though it's a Modern d20 book.

It's not quite what you're looking for, being more focused on the combat-cheerleader type (and, indeed, the combat-cheerleader adventuring party), but it might be useful for some ideas.

 

[Herobizkit]

Um. Isn't this the usual, no-spin, 100% pure vanilla Cheerleader role?

Yeah, it is. I should have been more encompassing with my description. During the movies, said cheerleader also teach others how to do better at their studies (having an eclectic group of misfits and trying to turn them into performers isn't easy), researches other performances to improve her team's "cheer-off" entry, falls in love... lol

Yeah, it really is all fluff in that regard.

I just wondered what a "Cheerleader" would do in D&D mechanical terms. Sure, Inspire Courage could be "cheering" and light mace as baton is funny. Buffy was a cheerleader, too... maybe I'm trying to make a cube out a square.

 

[Shin Okada]

Bard/marshal multiclass, maybe?

 

[Mark1733]

Use silent image or mirror image in different ways to boost the effect. Mirror image would give you a nice little cheerleading squad. See if your GM will give you that 1/day/level spell power as a freebie. Or maybe simply some free feats like Acrobatics.

 

[Nifft]

I just wondered what a "Cheerleader" would do in D&D mechanical terms. Sure, Inspire Courage could be "cheering" and light mace as baton is funny. Buffy was a cheerleader, too... maybe I'm trying to make a cube out a square.

A Bard with ranks in Balance, Tumble, Jump, Perform(Dance) and Perform(Oratory). That's all.

It's already a cube. Just smear on a light coat of flavor-text, and the Bard is already a Cheerleader.

For spells, just take mostly buffs (Haste, Good Hope, etc.). They're thematic and rather optimal.

Cheers, -- N

 

[rgard]

Female bard, right?

 

[Nifft]

Female bard, right?

IIRC, there were male cheerleaders in that movie.

There weren't any in Buffy, but that's because Buffy was created specifically to appeal to me, while Bring It On targeted a different demographic.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Drowbane]

Bard has been performing that role for a couple decades, in nearly every edition and setting (Dark Sun bards were assassins!). The mechanics are already there, season to taste.