What would be better for this build?

[Skead]

Human Bard1/Paladin4/Fighter2/ Bard+13
Level Class                                    BAB                Feats
1     Bard1:                                     0    Power Attack, Melodic Casting
2     Bard1/Paladin1:                         1
3     Bard1/Paladin2:                         2    Snowflake Wardance
4     Bard1/Paladin3:                         3
5     Bard1/Paladin4:                         4
6     Bard1/Paladin4/Fighter1:             5    Devoted Performer, Two Weapon Fighting
7     Bard1/Paladin4/Fighter2:             6    Imp. Two Weapon Fighting
8     Bard2/Paladin4/Fighter2:             7
9     Bard3/Paladin4/Fighter2:             8    Divine Might
10    Bard4/Paladin4/Fighter2:            9
11    Bard5/Paladin4/Fighter2:            9
12    Bard6/Paladin4/Fighter2:           10   Practiced Spellcaster
13    Bard7/Paladin4/Fighter2:           11
14    Bard8/Paladin4/Fighter2:           12
15    Bard9/Paladin4/Fighter2:           12   Greater Two Weapon Fighting
16    Bard10/Paladin4/Fighter2:         13
17    Bard11/Paladin4/Fighter2:         14
18    Bard12/Paladin4/Fighter2:         15   [OPEN]
19    Bard13/Paladin4/Fighter2:         15
20    Bard14/Paladin4/Fighter2:         16

I didnt make it, but I really like the idea of a melee bard that doesn't have to use 10 different books to make him do really nice damage. It has amazing charasima synergy, but i wanted to know if I should go TWF or 2 handed?

thnaks!

 

[roguerouge]

Your BAB is +16. That's good, not great. I'd avoid anything that reduced your attack bonus further.

 

[Felix]

2-handed weapon. Some bard spell still have somatic components, and you can't use somatic components if you have a weapon in both hands. Also, you'll get more from Power Attack.

And of course there is the small matter of your Alignment. A Bard cannot be Lawful and advance in the class and a Paladin must be Lawful Good to even retain his abilities. Work this little wrinkle out with your DM and you'll be ok.

 

[Maleketh]

And of course there is the small matter of your Alignment. A Bard cannot be Lawful and advance in the class and a Paladin must be Lawful Good to even retain his abilities. Work this little wrinkle out with your DM and you'll be ok.

He has - Devoted Performer lets you advance as a bard even if you're lawful.

 

[Skead]

Hmmm, 2 weapon fighting eh? That opens up a lot of feats, what would go in replacement of?

 

[Nifft]

And of course there is the small matter of your Alignment.

Note the Devoted Performer feat at level 6, before he takes any more Bard levels.

IMHO, a better build would be to discard the Fighter levels, and instead go Greatsword (two-handed weapon) and Longbow. Your maximum per-round damage will go down, but you have to realize that the TWF Snowflake Wardance build's damage is based on a theoretical maximum, which assumes a round of full attacks -- and that ain't gonna happen often in melee. Archery makes it much more likely, and the Bard makes a godlike archer.

The trick is to simply take two levels of Bard first, then switch to Paladin for 4 levels. Take Devoted Performer (of course), but focus on using Power Attack and Inspire Courage for damage.

It'd look something like this:

1/ Bard 1 -- Power Attack, Melodic Casting
2/ Bard 2 (hey, first level spells! Take inspirational boost)
3/ Paladin 1 -- Devoted Performer
4/ Paladin 2
5/ Paladin 3
6/ Bard 3 -- Song of the Heart (Eberron)
7/ Paladin 4
8/ Bard 4
9/ Bard 5 -- Divine Might or Divine Vigor
10/ Bard 6
11/ Bard 7 (3rd level spells, get haste)
12/ Bard 8 -- Point Blank Shot or Extra Smiting or a Divine feat
13/ Bard 9
14/ Bard 10
15/ Bard 11 -- Rapid Shot or Extra Smiting or Practiced Spellcaster
16/ Bard 12
17/ Bard 13
18/ Bard 14 -- Precise Shot or Extra Smiting or Leadership
19/ Bard 15
20/ Bard 16 (ooo, 6th level spells!)

(Since Snowflake Wardance adds to your attack rolls, I don't really see the point of TWF + Power Attack. You are going to suck relative to what a Greatsword could dish out.)

If you can't get Song of the Heart, just invert the levels of Bard 3 and Paladin 4, and pick up Divine Might at 6th level instead.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Quartz]

Why are you taking 4 levels in Paladin?

Have you considered levels in Knight instead - Kt 5 / Bd 15?

 

[Nifft]

Why are you taking 4 levels in Paladin?

Turn Undead + Power Attack -> Divine Might -> Cha to damage for a round, 3 + Cha times per day. Awesome for archers.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Felix]

He has - Devoted Performer lets you advance as a bard even if you're lawful.

Pfft. I'd have known that if I was paying attention. As if.

Turn Undead + Power Attack -> Divine Might -> Cha to damage for a round, 3 + Cha times per day. Awesome for archers.

Cheers, -- N

Not bad for two-handed weapon tanks either.

 

[Nifft]

Not bad for two-handed weapon tanks either.

Since it's a direct damage bonus and not an attack bonus, it's best for archers and TWF melee dudes. Bonuses to attack are best for two-handed tanks.

Cheers, -- N