Post/Author/DateTime	Post
tubaman527 04-30-07, 09:51 AM	I'm just looking for a few development ideas for a charater i'm creating. The character is a Halfling bard 4/Dragonmark Heir 1 of House Jorasco. He's filling the healer slot for the party, as well as acting the face. Combat ability is not a serious issue, but depending on party makeup i can juggle some stats to make him somewhat effective. He currently has the Least Dragonmark, Favored in house, and (due to my DM allowing me to use the Strongheart halfling race, from Forgotten Realms to help flesh out the character with an extra feat) the Dragonmark Prodigy feat. Mechanically, he's an effective filler for both the healer and face slot. So, what i'm asking is this: If this was a character you were creating, what background ideas would you use for him (keeping in mind that he is, and wishes to remain, in good standing with the house) and what personality quirks would you use. I'm just looking for some quick ideas to use/borrow/steal for the character.
Aise 04-30-07, 07:34 PM	Well since he's a halfling I like the idea that they are all self consious about their height. When I was a half-elf bard the moment I went into a town I asked, "Where are the taverns?" went to each one in turn and did a little preformance where I danced on a table and sang.
Hideous Phidias 05-01-07, 01:30 AM	Ok first take Least restoration as your spell from your dragonmark. I say this because for most classes but the paladin it is a second level spell and not on the bards spell list. For your lesser I would take restoration becaus again it is not on the bards spell list. The greater is easy, the great heal. Feats you may want to look at Augment Healing-get a +2 per level to healing spells CD p79 Reach Spell-touch spell become range touch 30ftCD p84 Practices Spell caster-get +4 to spell level for non DH levels CD Quicken Dragonmark DM Protective mark-get DR5/magic DM Dragonmarked Protagy DM Dragonmark mastery DM Background Ok remember you are Jorasco a prode and old family with a mission to help all the people of Khorvaire. But healing comes only with coin. Don't just be the face of the party be the leader. Because not only are you a Jorasco, you are also from Karrnath or at least spent some part of your childhood there. Take some ranks in Knowledge history at least 5 for the synergy bonus with bardic knowledge and it is alway good to know why where things happen. I suggest being educated at the Rkkenmark military academy. I would also say you saw action during the last war maybe even make yourself older then standard starting age to get the plus to charsma. That said remember you did not fight during the last war but you saw the horror first hand. You help heal soldiers on the front line, seen death take far to many. Maybe take some sort of character flaw that sayes you have to try everything and anything to stop people under your care from dying. Take some ranks in Knowledge religion. Remember Olladra god of healing. He will look out for you in your times of need, but don't push it. I would not go to religius but maybe have an unlike for the undead. Karrnath may have need them during the war but they still are unnatural and maybe even people you looked after. Or you could go the other way and the last war has jaded you and you see the undead as a way to keep people alive and off the lines. But as a business man this does not make much sence because undead are not going to pay for healing. Travel is a must in the life of an adventure. If you have to travel on the roads no dinosaurs or dogs. Dinosaurs are for your rustic barbarian cusions of the plains and riding dogs just smell bad. It is orien coach allthe way for you. Other then that lightning rails and airshp. When in sharn skycoaches willonly do. You have style taste,and culture. Equipment Wands and scrolls of cure spells are a must. Potions are ok but they take up alot of space and cast more then scrolls. The scrolls and wands will helpmake up for your lost spell casting levels of Dragonmarked heir. The Rapier is the best sword for a cultured healer tyoe of character, but a dagger will do too. Crossbows need no strength for their power. Jorasco are there at the front in the worst of it but they fight smart and from range. Studded leather is a good start but anything is better with magic. A shield is also a must, keeps them off of you when trying to heal the fighters in combat.
tubaman527 05-01-07, 01:26 PM	great suggestions Phidias... some quick questions. First of all, my feats are tied up with favored in house and the dragonmark prodigy/adept/etc. feats. Coincidentally, this, along with Dragonmark Heir, gets around the loss of healing from taking restoration because i get a ton of extra dragonmark powers and uses of the dragonmarks from those feats and such. With that being said, i have questions about the equipment specified. The weapon choices make sense, but what would you think of a Whip (too flashy (for your view of the character) or too wierd?). Secondly, Bards don't get Shield Proficiency (i don't have ECS with me, but i doubt Dragonmark Heirs get any new weapon/armor proficiency either) so i could still cast my dragonmark powers (i think) but my bard spells would risk Arcane Spell Failure....the Deadly ASF syndrome, always strikes at the WORST times. Lastly, what about companions, i play with people who like making....eccentric...characters. Wierd races, classes, race/class combos, and extremely odd backgrounds. I need this character to get along with his party....a healer who no one likes is hardly an effective healer, let alone party leader. Any suggestions on ways to get along with quirky races or personalities (goblins, orcs, warforged, kobolds in the party....any and all are possible with the folks i play with)?
Hideous Phidias 05-01-07, 02:16 PM	One bards get shields and light armor as well as the ability cast in light armor. You may want to reread the bard if you haven't played one in a while. Bards don't have to worry about ASP because of this. A whip sounds like a fun idea and no not so flashy. May even come in handy with the Kobold. I say be a noble, but one who knows when to speak his mind. Just because you may hate other races like kobolds and goblins does not mean you would not work with them. Let them do their own thing and worry about keeping them a live. Or you could play them off as your servents.
tubaman527 05-01-07, 04:44 PM	well, we were both right to a degree.... A bard gets proficiency with light armor and shields (except tower) BUT a bard only ignores Arcane Spell Failure from light armor....they still have to roll for the shield. /sadface still, thanks a bunch for all the great ideas so far Phidias (and others!) both here and in the Eberron Classes board (just trying to get a wide range of comments)
TheAnthroDM 05-01-07, 10:34 PM	Get a Twilight Shield, PHB II on the Duskblade page.