Bard Multiclass..anything good?

[Spatula]

Bard/sorcerer - both use Cha to cast spells, but sorcerer levels don't have much else to offer. The sorcerer has worse hp, BAB, saves, and skills than the bard. The sorcerer spells are not going to be as useful as the bard spells you would have gotten with further bard levels. And you'd suffer ASF when casting sorcerer spells if you wear armor. Maybe one level could be worthwhile, to get unrestricted access to sorcerer scrolls/wands, but that's more cherry-picking than multi-classing.

I can definitely see a bard taking levels in either fighter or rogue, in order to focus more on one aspect of the bard's abilities (fighting or skill-use). Unfortunately, the 3.5 bardic music abilities are tied to your class level, so you lose out on spells and music if you go that route.

 

[danielinthewolvesden]

I'd never multi-class a bard. Pure power-wise, particularly in 3.5 when the bard song ramps up so nicely, pure bard will almost always be a better fighter than a fighter/bard multiclass (with the better song and more defensive spells). Maybe 1 level of fighter for a feat (if you MUST) or weapon proficiency -- not more. .

Right- taking an early level of fighter (say 2nd) can give you that all important extra feat and composite longbow.

Other than that- don't.

 

[Wolf72]

I still want to try a Half-Orc Barbarian/Bard ...

 

[tarchon]

It used to work well in 3.0, but since the Bard Song got more level dependence, it's less attractive.
I played a Bard 8/Barb 2 for a while, seemed to be good. I'd just take a few levels in a class that reflects which bard abilities you want to emphasize, though I don't think I'd do Sorc or Cleric. Warrior types or Rogue are probably the most promising.

 

[irdeggman]

bard/sorcerer is really a pretty decent combo.

They both use the same ability score for spell casting. They have different spell lists. Bards have fewer spells on their list but get access to higher level ones quicker than does a sorcerer. Bard spells include the cure spells (something I really hate about 3/3.5 and about the only issue I have with the bard spell list) while sorcerers don't. Sorcerers get better offensive spells (magic missile, fireball, etc.)

Sorcerers get familiars. Gotta luv them. The familiar's hit points are determined by the master's total, regardless of class. Most other abilities are dependent on master appropriate class level (sorcerer in this case).

The bard's special abilities are real useful, especially when a character has used up all of his spells for the day. That way the character can still be useful to the party.

Both classes cast spontaneous spells, thus no spell books. While a bard can cast his spells in light armor w/o a chance for arcane spell failure a sorcerer can't - a conditional choice for the player.

Now the character will never be as good at either class as he would have if he hadn't multiclassed, but for overall use the two work fairly decently together.

 

[Vrecknidj]

In an upcoming campaign, I plan to play a character that starts out as a bard. He's basically the type to run from a fight, so he'll be far more fun to role play than to use in combat. I don't plan for him to get better at combat for a long time, so I'm planning on taking one level each in bard, rogue, and expert before he ever gets a BAB of +1.

I also see him as the girlfriend-stealer-type, so he'll probably get punched out a lot. Basically, he'll be a bit of a comedic sidekick, with just enough information, and just enough roguery skills to make him useful enough not to just abandon at the next inn.

I see him starting a lot of fights that his comrades have to then take care of.

As far as being a bard goes, I've picked that class for its particular combination of skills and class abilities, but I'm probably going to spread his skill points as widely and shallowly as possible, so that he doesn't have max ranks in anything except Escape Artist and Tumble (gotta be able to get away . . .).

Should be an interesting.

Dave

 

[CCamfield]

Ok, really weird idea here... what about taking a few levels (maybe only one) in bard, and given an appropriate alignment change (NG to LG, say), multiclassing to paladin?

 

[tarchon]

bard/sorcerer is really a pretty decent combo.

I have considered that in the past - the one scenario that looks good to me is higher levels of bard with 1 of sorcerer, provided that you choose 1st level spells, especially non-bard spells, like Color Spray (pretty bardly anyway IMO), Endure Elements, and True Strike that don't have a level dependence (Identify also might be OK, if only for opening a bard spell slot). True Strike in particular recommends itself as something pretty weak for single-class sorcerers, but more attractive for a bard who spends a lot more time trying to hit things.
Being able to fill out your cantrip list and pick up 4 extra 1st level utility spells per day (off a list of 2), plus the familiar, could be just enough to make up for the lost bard level.

(Getting that +3 Bluff from the snake does look nice, dunnit?)

 

[two]

In an upcoming campaign, I plan to play a character that starts out as a bard. He's basically the type to run from a fight, so he'll be far more fun to role play than to use in combat. I don't plan for him to get better at combat for a long time, so I'm planning on taking one level each in bard, rogue, and expert before he ever gets a BAB of +1.

I also see him as the girlfriend-stealer-type, so he'll probably get punched out a lot. Basically, he'll be a bit of a comedic sidekick, with just enough information, and just enough roguery skills to make him useful enough not to just abandon at the next inn.

I see him starting a lot of fights that his comrades have to then take care of.

As far as being a bard goes, I've picked that class for its particular combination of skills and class abilities, but I'm probably going to spread his skill points as widely and shallowly as possible, so that he doesn't have max ranks in anything except Escape Artist and Tumble (gotta be able to get away . . .).

Should be an interesting.

Dave

That's a schtick. I've seen it done a fair amount in the past; it's one of the Bard stereotypes. Seems like you could do this very well as a pure bard. Plus, of course, while you COULD suck at combat/battles, you don't need to. You can play a fighter with an 8 strength using a dagger in battle (no shield) and be pretty durn useless in combat as well. Bards dont' have a lock on that.

I'm not quite sure why people have a desire to play a bard in a narrow way such as this (only good at people skills, runs from danger) when you could also play a more multi-faceted bard (good at people skills, runs from danger, but when backed into a corner has a surprisingly strong punch).

But, whateva.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

I would never ever, ever multiclass in Bard. Okay, I might take a single level in another class for roleplaying reasons, but that would be it. The Bard class itself is already a pseudo-multiclass -- a second stringer at a broad number of things. Spreading out further just waters your character down.

If you want a little spellcasting and then something else, I would combine Rogue levels with cleric or wizard or psion, and then blend in other class. A multiclassed Bard is easily going to fall behind a buffing specialized WizX/OtherX or ClericX/OtherX. Spontaneous casting means squat when your caster level and spell selection are weak.