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Armored bard?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
lakaniss
Apr 16, 2008 13:58:43 Hi everyone, I have a great character for a upcoming quest, but I need idea to make it work. Im looking foward to play a Bard that wanted to be a Paladin but never been able to make it. The quest will start at level 2 and will probably stay low level for a while.

What I need is a low level way to play a Full armored Bard that tell everyone he is a real paladin. I usually tend to choose specific optmised build, but this time im really going for flavor and roleplay. I would still like to not suck with uber magical spell failure. Ill probly pack my bluff and it would be funny to have still/silent so I can use my ''Lay on hands'' *cough* Cure light wounds * cough* whitout being obvious its Arcane magic.
#2
phaedrusxy
Apr 16, 2008 14:00:48 They can cast in light armor automatically. There is a feat that upgrades that by one armor level. I forget the name. Battlecaster maybe? Take it twice, and you can wear full plate with 0% ASF.

What books are available?
#3
deathlessjuan
Apr 16, 2008 14:16:21 You can only take battlecaster once. Get Mithral Fullplate (counts as medium armor) and do not have to worry about spell failure.

Also, Sudden Still would work for your lay on hands. You can not silence bard spells (see bard's spellcasting description) since music is integral to bardic casting.
#4
Wyvernhand
Apr 16, 2008 15:54:17 Alternatively, you could take levels in both, and synergize them with the Devoted Performer feat. It allows Paladin and bard levels to stack to determine things like music progression, lay on hands, and I believe smitage. That way, you can get more mileage out of your cha, and actually gain some of the neater pally abilities such as Divine Grace and Aura of Courage.

Alternatively, levels in Crusader with the Song of the White Raven feat would be similar, though not the same. Works nicely though.
#5
lakaniss
Apr 16, 2008 18:01:26 The concept wouldnt work if id actually take any level of paladin, the fun reside in the fact he simply cant, so he decide to tell everyone he did succeed on being a great paladin. His goal is of course to climb the ladder of his religion has a renowned paladin.

Battle Caster is exactly the feat I was searching for, thx for the advice! Now I guess ill look at bard handbooks and fit Battle Caster in it!
#6
quickenedwish
Apr 16, 2008 18:19:40
You can not silence bard spells (see bard's spellcasting description) since music is integral to bardic casting.

No where do I see this in the SRD. The only relevant text is "Every bard spell has a verbal component (singing, reciting, or music)." As far as I know, this doesn't prevent a bard from casting silent spells with the appropriate feats.
#7
friendlyfrog
Apr 16, 2008 18:36:29
No where do I see this in the SRD. The only relevant text is "Every bard spell has a verbal component (singing, reciting, or music)." As far as I know, this doesn't prevent a bard from casting silent spells with the appropriate feats.

You need to look under Silent spell, not under Bard:
Special: Bard spells cannot be enhanced by this metamagic feat.

#8
banor
Apr 16, 2008 18:58:59 For low levels, even paladin wear Medium armor due to budget restriction so with Battle Casting you will be fine. When you will have the cash for a Mithril Fullplate, you should go for one and you will be set. I might suggest going into the Warchanter Class and Outcast Champion if you want to keep the paladins melee feel. Actually you could drop battle casting all together and grab a level of fighter and use a full plate Don't worry too much about Lay on Hands, most people won't see the difference.
#9
ratpick
Apr 16, 2008 19:28:20 Or you could play a Divine Bard. Divine spells=arcane spell failure does not apply.
#10
Skrimshaw
Apr 17, 2008 10:35:20
Or you could play a Divine Bard. Divine spells=arcane spell failure does not apply.

+1

I have played one to lvl 16 (from lvl 1) and it is great!

Awesome lead-in to Hammer of Moradin too!
#11
the_shaman
Apr 17, 2008 16:55:58 +1 for battlecaster and mithral fullplate. It's not too bad in the first place - encumbrance can be a b...h. Actually, you could wear a lightweight (Underdark, +1 enhancement iirc) fullplate and save yourself a feat.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 lakaniss Apr 16, 2008 13:58:43	Hi everyone, I have a great character for a upcoming quest, but I need idea to make it work. Im looking foward to play a Bard that wanted to be a Paladin but never been able to make it. The quest will start at level 2 and will probably stay low level for a while. What I need is a low level way to play a Full armored Bard that tell everyone he is a real paladin. I usually tend to choose specific optmised build, but this time im really going for flavor and roleplay. I would still like to not suck with uber magical spell failure. Ill probly pack my bluff and it would be funny to have still/silent so I can use my ''Lay on hands'' cough Cure light wounds * cough* whitout being obvious its Arcane magic.
#2 phaedrusxy Apr 16, 2008 14:00:48	They can cast in light armor automatically. There is a feat that upgrades that by one armor level. I forget the name. Battlecaster maybe? Take it twice, and you can wear full plate with 0% ASF. What books are available?
#3 deathlessjuan Apr 16, 2008 14:16:21	You can only take battlecaster once. Get Mithral Fullplate (counts as medium armor) and do not have to worry about spell failure. Also, Sudden Still would work for your lay on hands. You can not silence bard spells (see bard's spellcasting description) since music is integral to bardic casting.
#4 Wyvernhand Apr 16, 2008 15:54:17	Alternatively, you could take levels in both, and synergize them with the Devoted Performer feat. It allows Paladin and bard levels to stack to determine things like music progression, lay on hands, and I believe smitage. That way, you can get more mileage out of your cha, and actually gain some of the neater pally abilities such as Divine Grace and Aura of Courage. Alternatively, levels in Crusader with the Song of the White Raven feat would be similar, though not the same. Works nicely though.
#5 lakaniss Apr 16, 2008 18:01:26	The concept wouldnt work if id actually take any level of paladin, the fun reside in the fact he simply cant, so he decide to tell everyone he did succeed on being a great paladin. His goal is of course to climb the ladder of his religion has a renowned paladin. Battle Caster is exactly the feat I was searching for, thx for the advice! Now I guess ill look at bard handbooks and fit Battle Caster in it!
#6 quickenedwish Apr 16, 2008 18:19:40	You can not silence bard spells (see bard's spellcasting description) since music is integral to bardic casting. No where do I see this in the SRD. The only relevant text is "Every bard spell has a verbal component (singing, reciting, or music)." As far as I know, this doesn't prevent a bard from casting silent spells with the appropriate feats.
#7 friendlyfrog Apr 16, 2008 18:36:29	No where do I see this in the SRD. The only relevant text is "Every bard spell has a verbal component (singing, reciting, or music)." As far as I know, this doesn't prevent a bard from casting silent spells with the appropriate feats. You need to look under Silent spell, not under Bard: Special: Bard spells cannot be enhanced by this metamagic feat.
#8 banor Apr 16, 2008 18:58:59	For low levels, even paladin wear Medium armor due to budget restriction so with Battle Casting you will be fine. When you will have the cash for a Mithril Fullplate, you should go for one and you will be set. I might suggest going into the Warchanter Class and Outcast Champion if you want to keep the paladins melee feel. Actually you could drop battle casting all together and grab a level of fighter and use a full plate Don't worry too much about Lay on Hands, most people won't see the difference.
#9 ratpick Apr 16, 2008 19:28:20	Or you could play a Divine Bard. Divine spells=arcane spell failure does not apply.
#10 Skrimshaw Apr 17, 2008 10:35:20	Or you could play a Divine Bard. Divine spells=arcane spell failure does not apply. +1 I have played one to lvl 16 (from lvl 1) and it is great! Awesome lead-in to Hammer of Moradin too!
#11 the_shaman Apr 17, 2008 16:55:58	+1 for battlecaster and mithral fullplate. It's not too bad in the first place - encumbrance can be a b...h. Actually, you could wear a lightweight (Underdark, +1 enhancement iirc) fullplate and save yourself a feat.