Inspiring Captain (Helmsman)

In the traversal of vast expanses, it is common for Helmsman to rely heavily upon the loyalty of their crew. The captain of a ship must not only be skilled at his craft but also adept at rallying and unifying his followers. Inspiring captains commonly use powerful motivative techniques to achieve victory in battle, channeling their willpower into akashic manifestations as well as their allies to achieve victory.

Grandiose Veilweaver

An inspiring captain gains perform as a class skill and uses his Charisma modifier in place of his Intelligence modifier to determine the effects of his helmsman class features (including veilweaving).

Rallying Song (Su)

At 1st level, the inspiring captain gains the ability to use his words or songs to motivate his followers. As a standard action, the inspiring captain can begin using this ability; starting at 7th level, he may start it as a move action, and as a swift action at 13th level. He can use this ability a number of rounds per day equal to 4 + his Charisma modifier at 1st level, plus 1 additional round per day for each level beyond 1st.

This ability duplicates the effect of the countersong, distraction, or inspire courage bardic performance of a bard of the inspiring captain’s helmsman level.

• At 3rd level, he can choose to duplicate the effects of inspire competence.
• At 9th level, he can choose to duplicate the effects of inspire greatness.
• At 15th level, he can choose to duplicate the effects of inspire heroics. These abilities work on companion vehicles, even though such entities do not have an intelligence score.

This ability counts as bardic performance for the purpose of meeting prerequisites and replaces the hypercharges gained at 1st, 3rd, 9th, and 15th level.

Shipwright Balladeer

Starting at 5th level, the inspiring captain gains the ability to select a bardic masterpiece in place of a hypercharge. The inspiring captain must have the sufficient skill ranks to select the masterpiece, and expends rounds of rallying song in place of bardic performance.

Overdrive Melody

At 12th level, the inspiring captain learns to use his song to augment the abilities of his vessel beyond their normal limits. He gains a unique use of bardic performance known as Overdrive Melody.

Overdrive Melody-While the helmsman maintains this bardic performance, all of the helmsman’s akashic armaments gain the ability to accommodate one additional point of essence and the Helmsman gains a number of points of bonus essence equal to his charisma modifier which can only be used for the akashic armaments class feature. At 18th level, while maintaining this ability, all of the helmsman’s akashic armaments instead gain the ability to accommodate two additional points of essence and the Helmsman gains twice his charisma modifier in bonus essence.

This ability replaces Turboboost and Improved Turboboost.