I got the character concept pretty much nailed down: A lizardfolk who has overread pirate-novels and wants to become a pirate captain, and I'm looking for suggestions for feats and such to take to improve his AC and his ability to not get hit. I'm not after any extreme powergaming, just something to improve his survivability, or his spellcasting. Any suggestions are welcome though
His current stats are (All skills are marked as +rank):
Neutral Good Lizardfolk Bard 3/Swashbuckler 3 (ECL 7, hp 66)
Str 12, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 14, Wis 13, Cha 18
Base Saves: Fortitude +3, Reflex +4, Will +4
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Skills (by rank): Balance +4, Bluff +2, Concentration +4, Diplomacy +8, Escape Artist +7, Gather Information +4, Knowledge (the planes) +2, Move SIlently +4, Perform (Singing) +8, Sense Motive +6, Spot +4, Swim +1, Tumble +7, Use Magic Device +6
Feats (by level): Extra Music (1st), Weapon Finesse (Bonus), Improved Toughness* (6th)
Spells (by level): Detect Magic (0), Prestidigation (0), Songbird (0), Mage Hand (0), Cure Light Wounds (1), not taken (1), not taken (1).
Equipment: Cloak of Charisma +2, Ring of Protection +1, Ring of Use Magic Device +5, Gloves of Dexterity +2
*This feat has been houseruled so that it stacks, plus it replaces thoughness for any requirements.
This far, I've been thinking of taking:
Deadly defense (Complete Scoundrel): Not a to bad feat, as fighting defensivly will improve his odds to not get hit.
Combat expertise: Lose attack for defense is a fair tradeoff.
Dodge: For Mobility.
Mobility: It grants me the ability to move around a bit despite drawing those pesky AoOs. It seems I'll have to move around a bit to protect the ninja of the group once he gets outed.
Spring Attack: As above, with mobility, but it gives me the ability to strike from cover against enemies that I couldn't strike otherwise.
Weapon Focus: I have nothing against getting a +1 to attack, but it still feels sorta like taking a worthless feat.
Combat Reflexes: We fight samurais... Samurai Orcs, so their int is 8, meaning that they move about pretty stupidly. A lot of giants and such too and many things that doesn't worry about AoOs, so getting more is more.
Improved Critical: Increasing my main weapon, the rapier, from 18-20, to 15-20 is a good choice imo. I'm figuring of adding Keen to my weapons to spare a feat.
Improved Disarm: Something I'm thinking of taking, but it's quite a long shot.
Swashbuckler is a full BAB class, so you have a BAB of +6/+1.
I don't have much experience designing bardic characters, but Improved Initiative is never bad.
Alright, click there. Which is also the sticky link at the very top of these forums and look for the Bard handbook, or just Ctrl+F "Bard"
Trust me, you'll find what you are looking for. Human, Lizardfolk, whatever.
Edit:
Why Swash 4 instead of Bard 4? You'll get 2nd levels spells instead of +1 to fort/d10.
How are you a Lawful Bard?
Swashbuckler is a full BAB class, so you have a BAB of +6/+1.
I don't have much experience designing bardic characters, but Improved Initiative is never bad.
Pure stupidity on my part. I accidently copied a section of the text and didn't edit it. It's supposed to read Neutral Good, not Lawful. so sorry.
The BAB is a mistake made by the same copy, so I'll change the first post to correct it.
Yeah, Improved Initative is actually something I've been thinking about, since it would allow me to throw up a defensive stance and such earlier on.
This one might help a little too: Optimize Bard / Dread Pirate
That is a bard / swash / pirate (edit: but the emphasis is more on singing)
Why Swash 4 instead of Bard 4? You'll get 2nd levels spells instead of +1 to fort/d10.
The Basic plan is to go Brd 10/Swash 10, before hitting epic levels, hence why I was looking for feat suggestions. I have been thinking of the dread pirate class, but as it looks right now, we won't be gathering up a crew or such in quite some time, so he'll be landlocked at least until level 20. The ship could be aquired though, or waivered as a requirement for the time being, as this game is more about fun than we regularly play (otherwise the argument "But I'm a hero!" wouldn't work when we take 5 ft. steps in ways normaly not possible).
I might abandon the Bard progression after level 5 or so, as the caster level and spells per day will drop behind as I progress as a dread pirate, putting me at a bard 5/swashbuckler 5/dread pirate 10. Taking the 5th level of Swashbuckler could be a good idea as we've housruled 'Dodge' to work against all opponents (mostly because we keep forgetting to designate it).
Lizardfolk pirate-poser and orc sams. I want to join^^
heh, to bad it's an irl game at my place, otherwise it would've been fun. The campaign is based around the tyrannical orcs who rule a fairly large island and oppressing the commoners. They've ruled for 500 years and the rebellion is now getting in a good roll. A common quote is: "Bah, samurai's are to proud to not get lost in a forest! Of course we can hide there!"
The whole point of the suggestion, is that Dread Pirate Stacks with bard for bardic music. Swash 3, Bard X Dread Pirate X is way better, because you start piling on inspire courage, etc.
Ignore me, I found it
Look for the feat: Captain’s Two-Fisted Hammer of Death here
I would go Swash 3 / Bard 7 though. I find Haste or Displacement are better then a generic +1 dodge AC, Unless you are using the Arcane Stunt Variant. Then I don't know- at the moment.
The above meets most of the Pre-reqs for Sublime Chord- If I am not mistaken- should you begin to crave real power later in your career. Just keep an open mind.
Ah there it is! It may be a little genocidal in your situation but I think your character will be a little more optimal with this feat.
Look for the feat: Captain’s Two-Fisted Hammer of Death here
haha... that's just insane xD
I would go Swash 3 / Bard 7 though. I find Haste or Displacement are better then a generic +1 dodge AC, Unless you are using the Arcane Stunt Variant. Then I don't know- at the moment.
The above meets most of the Pre-reqs for Sublime Chord- If I am not mistaken- should you begin to crave real power later in your career. Just keep an open mind.
You bring up a valid point with Displacement, as 20% miss chance is something that's worth investing in. I'm probably gonna retrain my character on those grounds alone, alotuhg such an item could probably be crafted to grant me a 20% miss chance without having to go the levels. It would cost me 3x5x2000x4 = 120 000 gp though, so going the levels will mitigate that cost. I'll end up with a base attack bonus of +18, which is fairly good for a multiclass character. I think I'll go that way
It's originally from Magic of Faerun but I believe it is printed in Spell Compendium as well.
You bring up a valid point with Displacement, as 20% miss chance is something that's worth investing in. I'm probably gonna retrain my character on those grounds alone, alotuhg such an item could probably be crafted to grant me a 20% miss chance without having to go the levels. It would cost me 3x5x2000x4 = 120 000 gp though, so going the levels will mitigate that cost. I'll end up with a base attack bonus of +18, which is fairly good for a multiclass character. I think I'll go that way
Lesser Cloak of Displacement is 24,000 gold for a constant 20% mischance. Standard DMG item.
Lizardfolk pirate-poser and orc sams. I want to join^^
This one might help a little too: Optimize Bard / Dread Pirate
That is a bard / swash / pirate (edit: but the emphasis is more on singing)
The whole point of the suggestion, is that Dread Pirate Stacks with bard for bardic music. Swash 3, Bard X Dread Pirate X is way better, because you start piling on inspire courage, etc.
Wow, first time I have been quoted for a build :D
Seriously, I am currently playing that build but have not used Dragonfire Inspiration yet.
Holding on to that one and only revealing my powers slowly for the rest of the group. Nothing like being a little mysterious :P
But I can tell you it is extremely fun roleplaying this type of character.