Mix Artist (Bard/Alchemist)

While many bards perfect their skill with instruments and song, some choose to master a spectacular kind of alchemy, performing grand shows of fire, smoke, sparks, and explosions. The mix artist does not sing epic ballads nor act out famous tragedies; rather, he wows his audience with reactive flair. He imbibes extracts instead of casting spells, and dazzles with fireworks instead of inspiring courage. The mix artist's alchemy is more about the show than anything, preferring to impress people with flamboyant performances than a true alchemist's talent for creating bombs or turning lead to gold. (Original Concept by Flak)

Primary Class: Bard.

Secondary Class: Alchemist.

Alignment: Any.

Hit Dice: d8.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The mix artist may select three alchemist skills to add to his class skills in addition to his normal bard class skills. The mix artist gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 6 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A mix artist is proficient with all simple weapons, with light armor, but not with shields. He can cast cantrips while wearing light armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. Like any other arcane spellcaster, a mix artist wearing medium armor, heavy armor, or a shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic component. A multiclass mix artist still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells received from other classes.

Cantrips: Despite favoring extracts over spells, mix artists can cast ghost sound, prestidigitation, and spark as 0-level arcane spells an unlimited number of times per day. A mix artist's caster level for these effects is equal to his class level, and the DC for them is 10 + his Charisma modifier. All three spells require non-expensive material components found in an alchemist's kit.

Extracts: The mix artist prepares extracts as an alchemist of his level instead of casting spells as a bard. The alchemist's formula list replaces his spell list, allowing him to use spell trigger (but not spell completion) items if they appear on his formula list. The mix artist's extract preparation functions differently from an alchemist's in a few key ways, however.

The mix artist does not keep a formula book—he instead memorizes his formulae, learning them as a spontaneous caster would. He begins play knowing two 1st-level formulae of his choice. At each new mix artist level, he gains one or more new extracts, as indicated on Table: Mix Artist. This is the same progression used by bards for the purposes of learning new spells. The mix artist may take the Expanded Arcana feat to learn new formulae, but otherwise can only learn new formulae by leveling up.

Upon reaching 5th level, and at every third mix artist level after that (8th, 11th, and so on), a mix artist can choose to learn a new extract formula in place of one he already knows. In effect, the mix artist “loses” the old extract in exchange for the new one. The new extract’s level must be the same as that of the extract being exchanged, and it must be at least one level lower than the highest-level mix artist extract the mix artist can prepare. A mix artist may swap only a single formula at any given level, and must choose whether or not to swap the formula at the same time that he gains new formula known for the level.