Bardic ability vs. feat [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bardic ability vs. feat [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Bard-of-all-trades
12-18-06, 02:42 AM In the PHBII (of which I don't have yet), there is an alternate class ability Bardic Knack. I was wondering if someone could fill me in on this while I wait for Santa to bring me one for Christmas and let me know if Jack of All Trades would be better than or a bonus to this class ability.

PS
I have Complete Adventure.
Fafnir
12-18-06, 08:00 AM Jack of All Trades would allow you to apply Bardic Knack on "Trained only" skills. It's good synergy, though I don't know how much good.
Bards usually get fewer feats than skill points, so you could be better off buying 1 or 1/2 rank in all skills labeled as such.
Khan the Destroyer
12-20-06, 10:44 PM I love Bardic Knack. Your effective skill points go through the roof as you level.

If I were to play a bard in a game and choose the Bardic Knack ability, I would also grab the 1st level spell Improvisation (well, I would grab it anyways).

Bardic Knack: Ranks in all skills equal to 1/2 your character level rounded up.

Improvisation: Gain a pool of luck points equal to twice your caster level. Add a luck bonus equal to 1/2 your caster level to an attack roll, skill check, or ability check.

Now (assuming you don't multiclass), when you use both of these abilities together, you basically have a bonus to any skill equal to your character level (1/2 character level + 1/2 caster level). And it starts at level 3.

I think that's pretty badass.

As far as Jack of all Trades is concerned, I'll have to read it over to be sure.

EDIT: Ok, I read it over, and I'm not sure where I stand. Bardic Knack says that to use a skill which requires you to be trained, you need at least 1 actual rank. JoaT gives you an effective 1/2 rank. I think it would be up to the DM, though I don't think the text supports it.
Sines
12-22-06, 10:53 AM It says you need actual ranks in the skill. And you can't take 10s. You want good synergy, try running an Illumian, you get +2 to all skill checks of two attributes of your choice (3 if you pick Hoon, I believe, it adds to Con and Wis checks) a level 2 bard with knack and 14 int has +5 to his Power Sigil Attribute skill checks. Sweet :D

Anyway, I found that most skills that are trained only I either had points in or didn't care about. Your Mileage May Vary, but the only skills I wanted to be trained was my knowledge skills. Still, put a single point in each of them, kinda degrades the Bardic Knack bonus, but once you hit level 3 you already have a +1 to all your knowledge checks with ranks. Jack of All Trades is also an option, if you don't have any better choice for feats at first level. I haven't seen many good bard feats available at first level myself, but I hear there are some good ones in Complete Mage.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Bard-of-all-trades 12-18-06, 02:42 AM	In the PHBII (of which I don't have yet), there is an alternate class ability Bardic Knack. I was wondering if someone could fill me in on this while I wait for Santa to bring me one for Christmas and let me know if Jack of All Trades would be better than or a bonus to this class ability. PS I have Complete Adventure.
Fafnir 12-18-06, 08:00 AM	Jack of All Trades would allow you to apply Bardic Knack on "Trained only" skills. It's good synergy, though I don't know how much good. Bards usually get fewer feats than skill points, so you could be better off buying 1 or 1/2 rank in all skills labeled as such.
Khan the Destroyer 12-20-06, 10:44 PM	I love Bardic Knack. Your effective skill points go through the roof as you level. If I were to play a bard in a game and choose the Bardic Knack ability, I would also grab the 1st level spell Improvisation (well, I would grab it anyways). Bardic Knack: Ranks in all skills equal to 1/2 your character level rounded up. Improvisation: Gain a pool of luck points equal to twice your caster level. Add a luck bonus equal to 1/2 your caster level to an attack roll, skill check, or ability check. Now (assuming you don't multiclass), when you use both of these abilities together, you basically have a bonus to any skill equal to your character level (1/2 character level + 1/2 caster level). And it starts at level 3. I think that's pretty badass. As far as Jack of all Trades is concerned, I'll have to read it over to be sure. EDIT: Ok, I read it over, and I'm not sure where I stand. Bardic Knack says that to use a skill which requires you to be trained, you need at least 1 actual rank. JoaT gives you an effective 1/2 rank. I think it would be up to the DM, though I don't think the text supports it.
Sines 12-22-06, 10:53 AM	It says you need actual ranks in the skill. And you can't take 10s. You want good synergy, try running an Illumian, you get +2 to all skill checks of two attributes of your choice (3 if you pick Hoon, I believe, it adds to Con and Wis checks) a level 2 bard with knack and 14 int has +5 to his Power Sigil Attribute skill checks. Sweet :D Anyway, I found that most skills that are trained only I either had points in or didn't care about. Your Mileage May Vary, but the only skills I wanted to be trained was my knowledge skills. Still, put a single point in each of them, kinda degrades the Bardic Knack bonus, but once you hit level 3 you already have a +1 to all your knowledge checks with ranks. Jack of All Trades is also an option, if you don't have any better choice for feats at first level. I haven't seen many good bard feats available at first level myself, but I hear there are some good ones in Complete Mage.