Bard or Bard / Wizard? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bard or Bard / Wizard? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
RodinGates
07-01-07, 02:49 PM I'm going to be starting my first Forgotten Realms campaign in a few days and have hit something of a snag in working out my character. I have settled on a backstory for a Half-elf bard who is more of a historian and collector of lore than a musician. This being the case I considered pursuing the loremaster Prestige Class later on only to realize that the benefits of said class don't do much for a bard and the prerequisites are more stacked towards a non-spontaneous spellcaster.

Since our DM has allowed us to start at level 3 I figured maybe I could add a level of wizard as it would be acceptable given the character's backstory. Now I'm wondering whether such a move would not just complicate the character too much. I figure I can hold off the decision until I roll up my stats with the DM before first session so I thought I'd throw a few questions out here.

1.) How difficult would it be to manage a bard / wizard?
2.) What would be the best way to handle such a multiclass character?
3.) Is there a better path to pursue the loremaster class or is there a more appropriate prestige class that would involve less stress?
4.) Should I even bother and just remain a bard?

(Also, if it helps, the make of the rest of our party seems to be Human Ranger/Fighter, Half-drow Cleric/Rogue, Halfling Cleric)
bitter thorn
07-01-07, 03:11 PM 1) It doesn't seem to be that hard if you only take 1 level of bard.

2) I'm playing a Gnome that took 1st level as Bard and will pursue wizard (most likely) until hitting a PrC.

3) You might want to take a look at the Urban Savant from the Cityscape book. I think it might be just what you're looking for.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/953867200

4) In light of your parties composition and starting level, I would go with a Bard/Wizard mix (1/2). A party that has a bard as its only arcanist could face some serious party balance challenges.
bitter thorn
07-01-07, 03:17 PM If you use flaws in your game, you might want to take a flaw that weakens your bardic music ability to de-emphasize that aspect of the character.

There is also a variant bard in UE.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#bardVariantB ardicSage
Dielzen
07-01-07, 09:12 PM Ultimate Magus, Complete Mage
dragonheart
07-02-07, 08:35 AM while the ultimate magus would allow you to continue improving yoru casting ability as abard it doesn't allow for improving your bardic abilities so its probably not what you really want. the Sublme chord (Complete Arcane) may be more what you want since its levels stack with the bardic ones. the Virtuoso from Complete Adventurer may also be more in line with concept as its focus is on bardic abilities. Frankly I wouldn't bother with the wizard levels or Loremaster as its not goign to add much - just roleplay your PC as being interested in aquiring lore of all sorts and keeping climbing he bardic tree would be my advice. If your PC is elven or half-elven then you might look into the Olin Gisir as a possible PrC since some of its abilities stack with bards and its spell progression would also stack. - if so your job might be finding lost/ancient evils for the better trained Olin Gisir to guard.
Steelwind
07-05-07, 12:44 AM May I suggest an alternate route, try a Wiz5/Harper Mage5/Loremaster10, thats 15 lvls of bardic knowledge right there and full wizard casting, which is always nice and needed seeing the rest of your party.
dragonheart
07-07-07, 03:10 PM give the character perform: lute and perform singing as class/background skills and you have a bard who isn't a bard but gets to use the knowledge rolls - nice.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
RodinGates 07-01-07, 02:49 PM	I'm going to be starting my first Forgotten Realms campaign in a few days and have hit something of a snag in working out my character. I have settled on a backstory for a Half-elf bard who is more of a historian and collector of lore than a musician. This being the case I considered pursuing the loremaster Prestige Class later on only to realize that the benefits of said class don't do much for a bard and the prerequisites are more stacked towards a non-spontaneous spellcaster. Since our DM has allowed us to start at level 3 I figured maybe I could add a level of wizard as it would be acceptable given the character's backstory. Now I'm wondering whether such a move would not just complicate the character too much. I figure I can hold off the decision until I roll up my stats with the DM before first session so I thought I'd throw a few questions out here. 1.) How difficult would it be to manage a bard / wizard? 2.) What would be the best way to handle such a multiclass character? 3.) Is there a better path to pursue the loremaster class or is there a more appropriate prestige class that would involve less stress? 4.) Should I even bother and just remain a bard? (Also, if it helps, the make of the rest of our party seems to be Human Ranger/Fighter, Half-drow Cleric/Rogue, Halfling Cleric)
bitter thorn 07-01-07, 03:11 PM	1) It doesn't seem to be that hard if you only take 1 level of bard. 2) I'm playing a Gnome that took 1st level as Bard and will pursue wizard (most likely) until hitting a PrC. 3) You might want to take a look at the Urban Savant from the Cityscape book. I think it might be just what you're looking for. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/953867200 4) In light of your parties composition and starting level, I would go with a Bard/Wizard mix (1/2). A party that has a bard as its only arcanist could face some serious party balance challenges.
bitter thorn 07-01-07, 03:17 PM	If you use flaws in your game, you might want to take a flaw that weakens your bardic music ability to de-emphasize that aspect of the character. There is also a variant bard in UE. http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#bardVariantB ardicSage
Dielzen 07-01-07, 09:12 PM	Ultimate Magus, Complete Mage
dragonheart 07-02-07, 08:35 AM	while the ultimate magus would allow you to continue improving yoru casting ability as abard it doesn't allow for improving your bardic abilities so its probably not what you really want. the Sublme chord (Complete Arcane) may be more what you want since its levels stack with the bardic ones. the Virtuoso from Complete Adventurer may also be more in line with concept as its focus is on bardic abilities. Frankly I wouldn't bother with the wizard levels or Loremaster as its not goign to add much - just roleplay your PC as being interested in aquiring lore of all sorts and keeping climbing he bardic tree would be my advice. If your PC is elven or half-elven then you might look into the Olin Gisir as a possible PrC since some of its abilities stack with bards and its spell progression would also stack. - if so your job might be finding lost/ancient evils for the better trained Olin Gisir to guard.
Steelwind 07-05-07, 12:44 AM	May I suggest an alternate route, try a Wiz5/Harper Mage5/Loremaster10, thats 15 lvls of bardic knowledge right there and full wizard casting, which is always nice and needed seeing the rest of your party.
dragonheart 07-07-07, 03:10 PM	give the character perform: lute and perform singing as class/background skills and you have a bard who isn't a bard but gets to use the knowledge rolls - nice.