Gnome Bard [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Gnome Bard [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Redfist
03-07-07, 11:32 AM I'd like to hear opinions on 3 different variants I'm considering for a bard's progression. He's likely going the extra music/lyric spell route.

Gnome Bard
Str 6, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 16

01. Bard1,
02. Bard2

OPTION A
03. Bard3
04. Bard4
05. Bard5
06. Bard6, Melodic Casting
07. Lyric Thaumaturge1

OPTION B
03. Marshal1 (motivate dex),
04. Rogue1
05. Rogue2 (evasion)
06. Bard3, Melodic Casting
07. Bard4

OPTION C
03. Marshal1 (motivate dex),
04. Marshal2 (not positive which 2nd minor),
05. Marshal3 (resilent troops),
06. Bard3, Melodic Casting
07. Bard4

08. Lyric Thaumaturge1 (2 if option A)
09. Lyric Thaumaturge2 (3 if option A)
10. Lyric Thaumaturge3 (4 if option A)
11. Sublime Chord1
12. Sublime Chord2,
13. Sublime Chord3
14. Sublime Chord4
15. Sublime Chord5,
Mommy was an Orc
03-07-07, 02:11 PM Is there a reason option B isn't considering Unseen Seer?
Redfist
03-07-07, 03:11 PM Two reasons:
1. Unseen Seer has skill reqs that are different than LT and SC. I'd have to verify that it all works together.
2. Sneak Attack isn't a big focus of the character.
Redfist
03-08-07, 10:00 AM Anyone? :D
Timlagor
03-08-07, 01:38 PM I'd go with A as a more focused build but I can't claim any real expertise on this. I'd think Marshal 1 might be enough.
cetiken
03-11-07, 12:45 PM I'm building a bard having basicly chosen option A.

It does give you the advantage of being able to haste your party faster. Thats an improtant way that bards help out.
clik_ml
03-12-07, 02:58 AM Option A seems the winner to me. It's simple. It advances casting. It doesn't delay your low APL uses of bardic music (that +2/2 really makes a big splash at lower APLs and you don't wanna miss out on that).

Option B is doing too many things, and none of them well. It can't even offer +2 atk/damage for every fight until maybe level 6 or 7.

Option C offers a little something extra, but I certainly wouldn't do the levels in that order, due to the much delayed usefulness of having plenty of inspirationally boosted inspire courage bardic music. If the marshal levels came after 4 bard levels, then it would flow better.

Careful with your spellcasting. Even with lyric spell and extra bardic music, you really don't have many slots to play around with. If you take non-casting class levels then you have even much much less to cast, and as such should definitely be rethinking the lyric spell feats if taking marshal or rogue levels.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Redfist 03-07-07, 11:32 AM	I'd like to hear opinions on 3 different variants I'm considering for a bard's progression. He's likely going the extra music/lyric spell route. Gnome Bard Str 6, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 16 01. Bard1, 02. Bard2 OPTION A 03. Bard3 04. Bard4 05. Bard5 06. Bard6, Melodic Casting 07. Lyric Thaumaturge1 OPTION B 03. Marshal1 (motivate dex), 04. Rogue1 05. Rogue2 (evasion) 06. Bard3, Melodic Casting 07. Bard4 OPTION C 03. Marshal1 (motivate dex), 04. Marshal2 (not positive which 2nd minor), 05. Marshal3 (resilent troops), 06. Bard3, Melodic Casting 07. Bard4 08. Lyric Thaumaturge1 (2 if option A) 09. Lyric Thaumaturge2 (3 if option A) 10. Lyric Thaumaturge3 (4 if option A) 11. Sublime Chord1 12. Sublime Chord2, 13. Sublime Chord3 14. Sublime Chord4 15. Sublime Chord5,
Mommy was an Orc 03-07-07, 02:11 PM	Is there a reason option B isn't considering Unseen Seer?
Redfist 03-07-07, 03:11 PM	Two reasons: 1. Unseen Seer has skill reqs that are different than LT and SC. I'd have to verify that it all works together. 2. Sneak Attack isn't a big focus of the character.
Redfist 03-08-07, 10:00 AM	Anyone? :D
Timlagor 03-08-07, 01:38 PM	I'd go with A as a more focused build but I can't claim any real expertise on this. I'd think Marshal 1 might be enough.
cetiken 03-11-07, 12:45 PM	I'm building a bard having basicly chosen option A. It does give you the advantage of being able to haste your party faster. Thats an improtant way that bards help out.
clik_ml 03-12-07, 02:58 AM	Option A seems the winner to me. It's simple. It advances casting. It doesn't delay your low APL uses of bardic music (that +2/2 really makes a big splash at lower APLs and you don't wanna miss out on that). Option B is doing too many things, and none of them well. It can't even offer +2 atk/damage for every fight until maybe level 6 or 7. Option C offers a little something extra, but I certainly wouldn't do the levels in that order, due to the much delayed usefulness of having plenty of inspirationally boosted inspire courage bardic music. If the marshal levels came after 4 bard levels, then it would flow better. Careful with your spellcasting. Even with lyric spell and extra bardic music, you really don't have many slots to play around with. If you take non-casting class levels then you have even much much less to cast, and as such should definitely be rethinking the lyric spell feats if taking marshal or rogue levels.