Post/Author/DateTime	Post
00_Whupass 04-18-06, 12:45 AM	I've recently started in an ECL 6 game with A Bard 6, and I'm really excited about this character. The only catch is I have no idea how to advance this character as the party levels up. The campaign is expected to be a plane hopping affair. The rest of the party is as follows: Rogue 3/Swashbuckler 2/Dread Pirate 1 Planer Ranger 1/Psychic Warrior 4/SRD Slayer 1 Fighter 2/Sorceror 4 (going the Spellsword/EK classic gish route) Archivist 6 Monk 1/Druid 5 Artificer 6 (I know its a big party) My niche is that of party face and the groups biggest skill monkey. The details of the Character follows: Middle Aged Human Bard Str 12, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 16, Wis 12, Cha 15 BAB +4, Fort save +2, Ref save +5, Will save +5 Feats: Combat Expertise, Improved Disarm, EWP (Quickblade Rapier), Negotiator. Appriase +11 (6 ranks +2 tools +3 Ability) Bluff +11 (9 ranks +2 Ability) Decipher Script +12 (9 ranks +3 Ability) Diplomacy +19 (9 ranks +6 synergy +2 feat +2 Ability) Disguise +16 (+2 synergy +2 Tools +10 Disguise Self +2 ability) Intimidate +8 (4 ranks +2 synergy +2 ability) Gather Information +11 (9 ranks +2 ability) Knowledge Geography +7 (4 ranks +3 ability) Knowledge History +10 (7 ranks +3 ability) Knowledge Nobility and Royalty +8 (5 ranks +3 ability) Knowledge The Planes +8 (5 ranks +3 ability) Perform (Storytelling) +11 (9 ranks +2 ability) Profession (Chef) +8 (5 ranks +2 tools +1 ability) Sense Motive +12 (9 ranks +2 feat +1 ability) Noteworthy Equipment: Bag of Holding Type I, +1 Merciful Quickblade Rapier, Hat of Disguise. So here's the question, how should I advance this character. So far I'm leaning towards Exemplar, but what else?
DM_Greatness 04-18-06, 12:56 AM	'SRD Slayer 1' LOL - :heehee I think everyone on these boards has at least one level in that class, because everyone is 'slaying' the SRD rules pretty hard every time I read a post! :D
pale_enchantress 04-18-06, 01:29 AM	Well both the seeker of the song, and the sublime chord (both complete arcane) are great bard PrC's. If your a skill monkey virtuoso (complete adventurer) might offer a little more. Everyone usually goes with sublime chord for 9th level sorceror spells but truthfully i'd check out seeker of the song its a very cool bard PrC. (Of cource you can't qualify at level 6). I'd also consider a 1 level dip into mind bender, even for a skill monkey it gives you alot of flexability telepathy does.
X-Codes 04-18-06, 03:51 AM	Well both the seeker of the song, and the sublime chord (both complete arcane) are great bard PrC's. If your a skill monkey virtuoso (complete adventurer) might offer a little more. Everyone usually goes with sublime chord for 9th level sorceror spells but truthfully i'd check out seeker of the song its a very cool bard PrC. (Of cource you can't qualify at level 6). I'd also consider a 1 level dip into mind bender, even for a skill monkey it gives you alot of flexability telepathy does. Enchantress might like Seeker of the Song, but I guarantee you that I truly do not. If at all possible, drop Inspire Competence for Song of the Heart. This option is given in the Eberron Campaign Setting which your DM obviously has no problem with. You might also want to swap out Song of Freedom for Haunting Melody at 12th level. (Break Enchantment is already on your spell list and you don't come across many things that you can actually use it on, so just keep 1 or 2 scrolls around.) As for other feats, what's the general alignment composition of the group? If going exalted won't put a pinch on the rest of the party then pick up Sacred Vow, Vow of Nonviolence, and Words of Creation. Since this is going to be plane-hopping, you will likely wind up fighting few Monsterous Humanoids and fewer Humanoids. Just make sure your allies don't intentionally kill anything of those types and keep your merciful rapier around and you're fine. Also, consider a 6-level plunge into War Chanter. This will give you a 4th attack, Combine Songs, Inspire Recklessness, and a much-needed boost to your Fortitude save. This doesn't cost you too terribly much either.
Vaelan 04-18-06, 05:15 AM	I would stick with Bard. Your two primary assets are skills and support spells. No prestige class is going to allow you to perform these two roles as well as a straight Bard. If you aren't satisfied with a purely support role, I would suggest picking some spells that will enhance your melee capabilities and helping out in melee combat. Your lack of serious hitpoints and armor shouldn't be a problem as you have so many other melee combatants in your party.
00_Whupass 04-18-06, 12:33 PM	I would stick with Bard. Your two primary assets are skills and support spells. No prestige class is going to allow you to perform these two roles as well as a straight Bard. If you aren't satisfied with a purely support role, I would suggest picking some spells that will enhance your melee capabilities and helping out in melee combat. Your lack of serious hitpoints and armor shouldn't be a problem as you have so many other melee combatants in your party. Well I was really looking to emphasize the skills side, hence why I was considering exemplar. I'm not expecting a very combat heavy game (I could be wrong). Warchanter kind of fits with the characters background since he used to be a sailor and marine, of course I couldn't qualify until 13th level unless I multiclass into fighter since I need two more feats. Are there any other non-bard and non-bard PrC options that would further a skill monkey/support role, that I'm not aware of? Is that Ebberon bard stuff from EBCS? Or one of the other books? I'd like to take a look at it but EBCS is the only Ebberon book avialiable.