Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Shanga the half-elf bard 06-11-05, 02:43 AM	:d
Cilveran 06-11-05, 03:00 AM	Are you writing on behalf of your half-elf bard now? Character class is a bit more essential to know, than race for this purpose. Also asking a question like that with such wide limits here is going to get you a whole bunch of different and contrasting answers ;) Have you considered a playstyle yet, or is this to be decided after you know which weapon you end up choosing?
Flay Crimsonwind 06-11-05, 03:04 AM	Also asking a question like that with such wide limits here is going to get you a whole bunch of different and contrasting answers.Agreed. I almost always (yeah, sounds dumb) go for a bastard sword, even at the expense of that proficiency feat, but just because it's my style. most people I know start with a longsword and go for something else later on down the line. Really depnds n who you are and what you want your character to think like.
Shanga the half-elf bard 06-11-05, 03:05 AM	heres the deal im not sure hes going to be a half-elf but is for sure going to be a bard does that help :D I want my character to be passive yet dangerous and stealthy like knives or a bow and arrow
HappyDragon 06-11-05, 10:17 AM	The "classic" look for the Bard usually involves weapons like the rapier, long sword or crossbow.....mostly lighter weapons like the rapier in particular usually suit the Bard quite well. In the end though it really will come down to your own personal preference. Often a Bards weapons are more for show than actual use, however being proficient in a weapon they carry can always be useful.
PlutoniumKnight 06-11-05, 05:37 PM	The best weapon for a Bard is his words. No really. A level 2 half elf bard with a charisma of 18 can have a + 20 or so diplomacy. 5 ranks. +2 synergy from bluff. +2 synergy from Sense motive. +2 synergy from Knowledge royalty. +2 from half elf. +3 from skill focus. +4 from charisma. +20 to diplomacy. On a roll of 5 you can turn some orcs that are hostile into people who don't really care. Hostile to indifferent. Lets say you are third level and get a +5 item to diplomacy . You have 6 ranks. +2 synergy from bluff. +2 synergy from Sense motive. +2 synergy from Knowledge royalty. +2 from half elf. +3 from skill focus. +2 from persuasive +4 from charisma. +5 from item. A +28 to diplomacy. You get hostile to indifferent without a roll. You get hostile to friendly with a 7+. Your words are your best weapon
Sir Ferdinand 06-11-05, 06:25 PM	PlutoniumKnight, you're forgetting that if the orcs (in this case) would be hostile, it would take at least 1 minute to change their minds. From SRD 3.5: Action: Changing others’ attitudes with Diplomacy generally takes at least 1 full minute (10 consecutive full-round actions). In some situations, this time requirement may greatly increase. A rushed Diplomacy check can be made as a full-round action, but you take a –10 penalty on the check. Now you could take a rushed Diplomacy check with -10 penalty, so you'd now basically have only +10 in the check, but you'd need to roll 15 to succeed in the check. But as you said, this is only at 2nd level (assuming you have a very high Charisma and good Intelligence and you'd spend one feat), so at later levels, Bards really can be very effective at talking :)
PlutoniumKnight 06-11-05, 08:08 PM	I am assuming 18 charisma because i usually assume point buy. But if you have a free minute than they are your friend. And with some gold you can really boost it up. Also if you get them to unfriendly instead of indifferent they still won't go into a screaming rage threatening to take your eyes and squeezing them into a soup. You only really need a 10 to do that so half of the time you would get them to eye you suspiciously and tell you to leave them alone in a pointed voice. In addition I am fairly sure there is a regional feat that means you take a -5 instead of a minus ten for a rushed check. You could replace skill focus diplomacy with that for a 12 when rushing it. In my opinion a bard should talk first, then start inspiring courage in combat. They really aren't the best with weapons.
Twick the Gnome Thief 06-11-05, 08:59 PM	wat about for gnome thieves or druids?
Shaken, not Stunned 06-11-05, 09:02 PM	If you grab that feat from RoD that gives you +3 synergy bonuses instead of +2, your bonus is even better. You can take a -20 on your check to make the diplomacy as a full round action. All you need to do is win initiative.