Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Whisper_Swiftblade 01-20-07, 05:35 PM	like the title says, I am looking for ideas on makeing a the bard a force to be feared in melee perfuribly with as little multy classing as possible.
OologahQ 01-20-07, 05:39 PM	I would try the typical inspire courage buffs combined with the new Deadly Defense feat in Complete Scoundrel and a rapier.
Xeraph 01-20-07, 05:40 PM	Bard 1/ Paladin 19 with Devoted Performer, Divine Might and Snowflake Wardance. Edit: And Two Weapon Fighting.
Blade2718 01-20-07, 05:43 PM	Bard 1/ Paladin 19 with Devoted Performer, Divine Might and Snowflake Wardance. Edit: And Two Weapon Fighting.And Initiate of Milil, if Faerun material is allowed.
Whisper_Swiftblade 01-20-07, 05:45 PM	snowflake wardance looks good, as does deadly defence, but the rapier would have to go, as the snowflake wardance requires a slashing weapon.
Whisper_Swiftblade 01-20-07, 05:45 PM	And Initiate of Milil, if Faerun material is allowed. it is, but i don't know what book that is in.
Xeraph 01-20-07, 05:48 PM	it is, but i don't know what book that is in. Championes des Valores
Whisper_Swiftblade 01-20-07, 05:55 PM	Championes des Valores no good, I don't have champions of valor
GaffeR 01-20-07, 06:02 PM	Bard X 1. Power attack, Lingering Song 3. Song of the Heart (ECS) 6. Words of Creation (BoED) 9. Arcane strike? 12. Snowflake? Use a drum, cast inspirational boost from the SC, inspire courage yourself, maybe cast haste. Power attack with your Longsword. Edit: The only issue is surviving in light armor (Mithral Breastplate?) and a d6 HD.
TheOne 01-20-07, 06:12 PM	Bard4/Crusader16 Song of the White raven+Words of Creation+Song of the Heart+inspirational boost
GaffeR 01-20-07, 06:26 PM	Bard4/Crusader16 Song of the White raven+Words of Creation+Song of the Heart+inspirational boost Nice.
Whisper_Swiftblade 01-20-07, 06:33 PM	Bard X 1. Power attack, Lingering Song 3. Song of the Heart (ECS) 6. Words of Creation (BoED) 9. Arcane strike? 12. Snowflake? Use a drum, cast inspirational boost from the SC, inspire courage yourself, maybe cast haste. Power attack with your Longsword. Edit: The only issue is surviving in light armor (Mithral Breastplate?) and a d6 HD. I am likeing the looks of that, but I don't have ECS so I will just use the feat slot to get some better armor. any other ideas guys?
GaffeR 01-20-07, 06:39 PM	Honestly, the Crusader version is a great bet if you don't want spellcasting.
NTD 01-20-07, 06:39 PM	Warchanter+Inspire Recklessness for the suicidal bard.
Whisper_Swiftblade 01-20-07, 06:47 PM	Honestly, the Crusader version is a great bet if you don't want spellcasting. I don't have the stuff to make it work though, also like I said in the original post I would like to avoid multyclassing as much as possible.
PhaedrusXY 01-20-07, 07:04 PM	Take Obtain Familiar. Get a wand of Shield Other. Have your Familiar use the wand on you (via your Use Magic Device ranks, which the familiar can use). Then share all your healing spells with the familiar whenever you take damage. That should greatly increase your capacity to take damage. This is just a magical variation on the Psionic "Psicrystal + Shield Other + shared Vigor/Body Adjustment" trick.
Whisper_Swiftblade 01-20-07, 07:07 PM	Take Obtain Familiar. Get a wand of Shield Other. Have your Familiar use the wand on you (via your Use Magic Device ranks, which the familiar can use). Then share all your healing spells with the familiar whenever you take damage. That should greatly increase your capacity to take damage. This is just a magical variation on the Psionic "Psicrystal + Shield Other + shared Vigor" trick. Sharing False Life with your familiar would help with this combo, also. Genius, that should do just fine.
PhaedrusXY 01-20-07, 07:09 PM	You quoted me in the middle of an edit. :D I wasn't sure about the False Life part, and after checking it isn't a Bard spell. So I doubt it would work (unless your DM lets you share spells from magic items).
Xylem 01-20-07, 07:22 PM	There have been various Bard variants, some of whom are a bit better at fighting, posted on the "Classes" board if your GM will let you use unofficial material. There is also in one of the Faerun settings books the Warrior Skald PrC which has full BAB, but gives you poetics powers (buff and debuff) instead of advancing spellcasting. And you still have d6's.
Whisper_Swiftblade 01-20-07, 07:37 PM	You quoted me in the middle of an edit. :D I wasn't sure about the False Life part, and after checking it isn't a Bard spell. So I doubt it would work (unless your DM lets you share spells from magic items). oh well, easy come easy go.
PhaedrusXY 01-20-07, 07:40 PM	oh well, easy come easy go.The rest of it still works fine (and will add about 1/3 to your capacity to take damage, and let you double your healing spell powers). Just not the False Life part.
lifeblender 01-20-07, 08:16 PM	Use the Battle Caster feat from Complete Arcane to be able to cast in medium armor. You'll also need proficiency with medium armor. A lot of things suggest themselves. I'd take Cleric 1 as the simplest, but I'm sure there are better methods.
TheDanishCartoonist 01-20-07, 08:25 PM	If you have to dip, Cleric 1 gives you heaps of uses of divine might and divine shield as a bard, which should boost your combat capability substantially, assuming you take the aforementioned feats.
JanusJones 01-21-07, 12:02 AM	Here's a fun way to optimize music and casting in combat: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=747428
Phelot_Plaguecrafter 01-21-07, 01:52 AM	Warchanter out of Complete Warrior is pretty good. It smashes your casting as it's a ten level bard prestige with no casting whatsoever, but it DOES give you ten levels of full BAB, which is always fantastic. It also gives you some amazing music abilties like Singing Shout, Inspire Toughness, and Inspire Legion.
Shadow_Fox_Deepwood_Arche 01-21-07, 04:36 AM	snowflake wardance looks good, as does deadly defence, but the rapier would have to go, as the snowflake wardance requires a slashing weapon. Deadly defense works in conjunction with all light weapons and any weapon that can have Weapon Finesse applied to it. In addition, if you use a shield you cant benefit from Deadly Defense and you must be unarmored or in light armor. Deadly Defense also works when you utilize Combat Expertise.
gellor 01-21-07, 10:09 AM	This isn't probably the best, but I have enjoyed playing him. Bard 8 Fighter 2 Sublime Cord 8 (8 cause i'm 18th right now) My campaign doesn't allow a lot of quick dips into prestige classes. I can't remember all of my feats, but he uses a scimitar of speed and has bracers of Armor AC 8. I think the feats are something like this. Weapon Focus - Scimitar Improved Critical Improved Toughness Power Critical Arcane strike Heroic Destiny Protected Destiny Lyric Spell I have some other non-combat feats I didn't list here like Leadership because of my character does stuff other then fight:) One thing, if you do ever take leadership, make sure you get the Glory or Valiant Defense buff on your shield outta heroes of battle, I think its free or close to. I love playing this guy but he is heavily based on buffing himself with his spells in combat. i'm sure the wizards on this board could improve him :)