Band of Wandering Minstrals [Archive] - Wizards Community

Band of Wandering Minstrals [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ddan0901
02-12-07, 09:16 AM My group and I are thinking of starting a new campain. In this campain the four PC would all start off as bards, we would be a band of wandering minstrals. I know, I know, this is also kind of a joke just to see how badly a group of bards will get mopped up. But I was just curious to see how other people would say, take this Idea, and how they would map out thier bards to lets say 10th lvl.

I know 10th lvl is a streach for a party of 4 bards, but hey curiosity killed the bard right.
Drag0nUL
02-12-07, 09:40 AM This party sounds quite fun to me actually. If you choose to all go straight bards it would be very difficult in some cases(a golem for example would mop the floor with you-at any level)but in most encounters you would have more than the enough diplomacy/bluff/fascinate/charm person/suggestion to avoid fighting and just convince your enemies that leaving peacefully and returning to their homes is what they have always wanted.
Another alternative is you all take leadership and get what other characters you need as cohorts.
And multiclass is also an option to fill the roles that you are lacking.
The standard party is made up of a front-line, arcane caster, divine caster and skill-monkey.
front line: this is I think your most vulnerable role; bards have quite low hp, not so good AC and proficiencies therefore make lousy tanks. One of you might have to multiclass into something more martial to fulfill this role.
arcane caster: bards have their own spell lists which are quite decent and the rest (I think) can be bought in the form of scrolls/wands/staffs(bards have umd as a class skill).
divine caster: the most important role of a divine caster is to heal. But 4 bards provide healing power at least on par with a cleric/druid. As for the other useful divine spells read the arcane caster entry.
skill-monkey: bards have plenty of skill points on their own and being 4 of you each can specialize in a certain field. The only thing you lack is ability to detect/disable traps. A couple of rogue levels for one of you should do the trick.
Krusk
02-12-07, 11:11 AM As for leadership, every band needs roadies.

But this sounds lke it could be cool. Just make sure each of you specialize in a diffrent area of bard-ing. Healing, arcane, skills, and fighting.
Some_call_me_Tim
02-12-07, 12:28 PM I know, I know, this is also kind of a joke just to see how badly a group of bards will get mopped up. But I was just curious to see how other people would say, take this Idea, and how they would map out thier bards to lets say 10th lvl.I think you could run an adventure like this and have fun doing it and actually make it worthwhile. To be honest I wouldn't force everyone to play a bard class just a bard character.

For example, a priest of music goddess, emphasis would be on sonic attacks for example. Another could be rogue, a thespian in training; emphasis on diplomacy, bluff, etc and not lock-picking, trapfinding. The fighter could be their bouncer, or actor trained in stage fighting. A magic-user could be into illusions.

If you just want to see how badly a party would get mopped up, just make everyone commoner fungi--1st-level commoner shriekers are so much fun to play. "Let's see, this round I will use my extraordinary ability--I shriek."
CaoSlayer
02-12-07, 12:38 PM It is actually very viable, the only thing you cant do is detecting traps, still if one of you multiclasses can get detect traps...

For a whole party, I would do something like:

Bardic fighter:
Bard 2/melee classes 3/warchanter 5. Dump charisma and use heavy armor while being able to use bardic music pretty well.

Bardic main caster:
Bard/sublime chord:

Singer bard
Bard/virtuoso or seeker of the song.

Support bard:
Foculan lyrist build (bard/rogue/druid)

Being everyone able to cast healing spells but the bardic caster you get the healer role suported, the fighter bard get the role of tank and frontliner covered and the support bard gets trap sense besides druid spellcasting), the sublime chord will take into the board the powerful arcane casting.
Note how one of the warchanter´s songs pump the party´s bab to warrior bab... this is a scary party if played well (have the warchanter use that song, another bard I.C., other I. Greatness and the last haste for a full plarty of scary meleers in a round).

Is a very viable party without any weak point saving resurrection.
kelvinaw273
02-12-07, 03:07 PM My group and I are thinking of starting a new campain. In this campain the four PC would all start off as bards, we would be a band of wandering minstrals. I know, I know, this is also kind of a joke just to see how badly a group of bards will get mopped up. But I was just curious to see how other people would say, take this Idea, and how they would map out thier bards to lets say 10th lvl.

I know 10th lvl is a streach for a party of 4 bards, but hey curiosity killed the bard right.

Well just because they are a band does not make them all bards! Look at how many different classes have perform as a skill!

I suggest one bard (let's call him Paul) as your lead man. Then you want a class with perform as his backup, I suggest a Monk (let's call him John). That gives you a certain emount of combat power, but you will want a divine caster, and there are a number of deities that can allow perform for a cleric with the right domains (let's call him George). Now all you need is a wizard for your real blasting power, say with a couple of wands and rings (we'll call him Ringo).

Voila! I guarentee you they'll be a hit ...
Johnny_Angel
02-12-07, 06:12 PM I actually think a party of bards could be very effective. You're all getting at least 6 skill points every level, so you'll be able to spot, listen, and do other things just as well as any other character.

As far as the different roles: melee, arcane, divine; etc... There are plenty of Bard PrCs that would allow each of you to be different kinds of bards. Your more melee oriented bard could be a War Chanter, a Seeker of Song would fulfill a lot of your healing and casting needs, and I'm sure there are others.

In all honesty, I feel that the bard is one of the most under-rated classes; IMHO a party of bards could be very effective.

As a DM, I once had the PCs face a group of evil bards, and they had a really hard time with it.
kelvinaw273
02-12-07, 07:19 PM Yes, a hundred bards can take on a thousand fighters any day!

If you don't believe me, watch the movie Zulu: One hundred Welsh Male Voice Choirists singing Men of Harlech vs. 4-5000 Zulu warriors at the Battle of Rorke's Drift ... no contest!
fanitullen
03-05-07, 04:33 PM 4 orc bard 1 /fighter x with nothing but heavy armor and weaponry... heavy metal band, anyone? :)
_SIN_
03-05-07, 06:19 PM Naaaahhhhh, I'd go multiclassed Cleric/Bards..... All of you. How you build them doesn't matter...... Because.......

*The stage is set. Smoke rolls across the darkened stage as the set lights play across the floor, highlighting the swirls of smoke, adding a mystical effect*.....

"GOOD EVENING FAAAAAAEEEEFUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!!! WHOOOOOO!".........
"BOY HAVE WE GOT LINE UP FOR YOU TONIGHT!"
"LET ME INTRODUCE THE STARS OF THIS EVENING............"
"LET ME HEAR YOU PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR............."

"JESUS ON DRUMS, GHANDI ON GUITAR, BUDDAH ON THE BASS AND THE ONE, THE ONLY, THE ORIGINALE HIMSELF.....MOSES ON THE MIC!"

"TOGETHER, THEY ARE..... THE LOST PROPHETS!! WHOOOOOOOOO-YEEEEEAAAHHH!!!........"

(Please note: No offence intended. With the exception of infidels and non-believers...;) )
mephistophelesatefaust
03-05-07, 06:55 PM ...Huh. Not too far off of one of my recent campaign ideas. An entire party of chameleons (RoD prestige class). The party could cycle roles daily, confusing the hell out of rival parties. You might, given the versatility of the bard, be able to manage a similar feat.
Saytr
03-05-07, 07:53 PM I had a game that broke up right before we got to try this. Damn, it would have been fun tho.

The plan was: Breeze into town, play a gig. In the morning we're gone and there's a lot of stuff missing. See how long we can get away with it.

:(

:bravo: Bards Rule
_SIN_
03-05-07, 08:10 PM That would have worked too...... as long as you're characters had an Irish accent!

You could have even have called yourself 'The Boomtown Rats'. Later in your campaign you could have gone as far as to repent for your sins.......... In the form of a Live Aid concert!!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ddan0901 02-12-07, 09:16 AM	My group and I are thinking of starting a new campain. In this campain the four PC would all start off as bards, we would be a band of wandering minstrals. I know, I know, this is also kind of a joke just to see how badly a group of bards will get mopped up. But I was just curious to see how other people would say, take this Idea, and how they would map out thier bards to lets say 10th lvl. I know 10th lvl is a streach for a party of 4 bards, but hey curiosity killed the bard right.
Drag0nUL 02-12-07, 09:40 AM	This party sounds quite fun to me actually. If you choose to all go straight bards it would be very difficult in some cases(a golem for example would mop the floor with you-at any level)but in most encounters you would have more than the enough diplomacy/bluff/fascinate/charm person/suggestion to avoid fighting and just convince your enemies that leaving peacefully and returning to their homes is what they have always wanted. Another alternative is you all take leadership and get what other characters you need as cohorts. And multiclass is also an option to fill the roles that you are lacking. The standard party is made up of a front-line, arcane caster, divine caster and skill-monkey. front line: this is I think your most vulnerable role; bards have quite low hp, not so good AC and proficiencies therefore make lousy tanks. One of you might have to multiclass into something more martial to fulfill this role. arcane caster: bards have their own spell lists which are quite decent and the rest (I think) can be bought in the form of scrolls/wands/staffs(bards have umd as a class skill). divine caster: the most important role of a divine caster is to heal. But 4 bards provide healing power at least on par with a cleric/druid. As for the other useful divine spells read the arcane caster entry. skill-monkey: bards have plenty of skill points on their own and being 4 of you each can specialize in a certain field. The only thing you lack is ability to detect/disable traps. A couple of rogue levels for one of you should do the trick.
Krusk 02-12-07, 11:11 AM	As for leadership, every band needs roadies. But this sounds lke it could be cool. Just make sure each of you specialize in a diffrent area of bard-ing. Healing, arcane, skills, and fighting.
Some_call_me_Tim 02-12-07, 12:28 PM	I know, I know, this is also kind of a joke just to see how badly a group of bards will get mopped up. But I was just curious to see how other people would say, take this Idea, and how they would map out thier bards to lets say 10th lvl.I think you could run an adventure like this and have fun doing it and actually make it worthwhile. To be honest I wouldn't force everyone to play a bard class just a bard character. For example, a priest of music goddess, emphasis would be on sonic attacks for example. Another could be rogue, a thespian in training; emphasis on diplomacy, bluff, etc and not lock-picking, trapfinding. The fighter could be their bouncer, or actor trained in stage fighting. A magic-user could be into illusions. If you just want to see how badly a party would get mopped up, just make everyone commoner fungi--1st-level commoner shriekers are so much fun to play. "Let's see, this round I will use my extraordinary ability--I shriek."
CaoSlayer 02-12-07, 12:38 PM	It is actually very viable, the only thing you cant do is detecting traps, still if one of you multiclasses can get detect traps... For a whole party, I would do something like: Bardic fighter: Bard 2/melee classes 3/warchanter 5. Dump charisma and use heavy armor while being able to use bardic music pretty well. Bardic main caster: Bard/sublime chord: Singer bard Bard/virtuoso or seeker of the song. Support bard: Foculan lyrist build (bard/rogue/druid) Being everyone able to cast healing spells but the bardic caster you get the healer role suported, the fighter bard get the role of tank and frontliner covered and the support bard gets trap sense besides druid spellcasting), the sublime chord will take into the board the powerful arcane casting. Note how one of the warchanter´s songs pump the party´s bab to warrior bab... this is a scary party if played well (have the warchanter use that song, another bard I.C., other I. Greatness and the last haste for a full plarty of scary meleers in a round). Is a very viable party without any weak point saving resurrection.
kelvinaw273 02-12-07, 03:07 PM	My group and I are thinking of starting a new campain. In this campain the four PC would all start off as bards, we would be a band of wandering minstrals. I know, I know, this is also kind of a joke just to see how badly a group of bards will get mopped up. But I was just curious to see how other people would say, take this Idea, and how they would map out thier bards to lets say 10th lvl. I know 10th lvl is a streach for a party of 4 bards, but hey curiosity killed the bard right. Well just because they are a band does not make them all bards! Look at how many different classes have perform as a skill! I suggest one bard (let's call him Paul) as your lead man. Then you want a class with perform as his backup, I suggest a Monk (let's call him John). That gives you a certain emount of combat power, but you will want a divine caster, and there are a number of deities that can allow perform for a cleric with the right domains (let's call him George). Now all you need is a wizard for your real blasting power, say with a couple of wands and rings (we'll call him Ringo). Voila! I guarentee you they'll be a hit ...
Johnny_Angel 02-12-07, 06:12 PM	I actually think a party of bards could be very effective. You're all getting at least 6 skill points every level, so you'll be able to spot, listen, and do other things just as well as any other character. As far as the different roles: melee, arcane, divine; etc... There are plenty of Bard PrCs that would allow each of you to be different kinds of bards. Your more melee oriented bard could be a War Chanter, a Seeker of Song would fulfill a lot of your healing and casting needs, and I'm sure there are others. In all honesty, I feel that the bard is one of the most under-rated classes; IMHO a party of bards could be very effective. As a DM, I once had the PCs face a group of evil bards, and they had a really hard time with it.
kelvinaw273 02-12-07, 07:19 PM	Yes, a hundred bards can take on a thousand fighters any day! If you don't believe me, watch the movie Zulu: One hundred Welsh Male Voice Choirists singing Men of Harlech vs. 4-5000 Zulu warriors at the Battle of Rorke's Drift ... no contest!
fanitullen 03-05-07, 04:33 PM	4 orc bard 1 /fighter x with nothing but heavy armor and weaponry... heavy metal band, anyone? :)
_SIN_ 03-05-07, 06:19 PM	Naaaahhhhh, I'd go multiclassed Cleric/Bards..... All of you. How you build them doesn't matter...... Because....... The stage is set. Smoke rolls across the darkened stage as the set lights play across the floor, highlighting the swirls of smoke, adding a mystical effect..... "GOOD EVENING FAAAAAAEEEEFUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!!! WHOOOOOO!"......... "BOY HAVE WE GOT LINE UP FOR YOU TONIGHT!" "LET ME INTRODUCE THE STARS OF THIS EVENING............" "LET ME HEAR YOU PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR............." "JESUS ON DRUMS, GHANDI ON GUITAR, BUDDAH ON THE BASS AND THE ONE, THE ONLY, THE ORIGINALE HIMSELF.....MOSES ON THE MIC!" "TOGETHER, THEY ARE..... THE LOST PROPHETS!! WHOOOOOOOOO-YEEEEEAAAHHH!!!........" (Please note: No offence intended. With the exception of infidels and non-believers...;) )
mephistophelesatefaust 03-05-07, 06:55 PM	...Huh. Not too far off of one of my recent campaign ideas. An entire party of chameleons (RoD prestige class). The party could cycle roles daily, confusing the hell out of rival parties. You might, given the versatility of the bard, be able to manage a similar feat.
Saytr 03-05-07, 07:53 PM	I had a game that broke up right before we got to try this. Damn, it would have been fun tho. The plan was: Breeze into town, play a gig. In the morning we're gone and there's a lot of stuff missing. See how long we can get away with it. :( :bravo: Bards Rule
_SIN_ 03-05-07, 08:10 PM	That would have worked too...... as long as you're characters had an Irish accent! You could have even have called yourself 'The Boomtown Rats'. Later in your campaign you could have gone as far as to repent for your sins.......... In the form of a Live Aid concert!!