Bard/Rogue/Unseen Seer in search of Rays

[Herzog]

I'm in the process of building an Unseen Seer based on a Bard.
I've already got 8 lvls of bard and 1 lvl of rogue. The next level of rogue will get me the desired remaining skillpoints (and class skills) to enter US at lvl 11.

I'm in the process of selecting the third level spells for my 8th level of bard, and replacing one spell as allowed at 8th level, and I noticed something in the available spell lists:

The Bard doesn't actually have any damage-dealing rays, at least not as far as I know.
Low level spells such as ray of frost etc. are rather useless most of the time, unless you can combine them with sneak attack! however, I'm having a hard time finding such spells in the bard spell lists.

Does anyone know of spells of this type in the bard spell list? maybe a sonic ray or something like that?

 

[Shin Okada]

I cannot think of any particular high damaging ray spells. But there are several ideas I can think of.

But you can use ray spells in several ways.

First, you can be a Spellwarp Sniper (Completer Scoundrel) instead of (or in addition to) Unseen Seer levels. That way you can eventually change non-ray spells into rays.

Second, Sublime Chord (Complete Arcane) can be another option, too. If you take this prestige class at least 1 level before taking Unseen Seer, you can increase your spell casting ability as a Sublime Chord instead of a bard. So you can learn 4+ level Sor/Wiz spells.

Third, you can alway use your UMD skills to activate wands of Orb spells. For a Bard, it is not so difficult to beat DC 20.

4th, some of the Reserve Feats, gives you weak ray attacks and you can apply sneak attack damages on them. They are weak. But you can use it virtually unlimited times/day.

 

[Herzog]

Let me start by saying I don't need high-damaging ray spells.
The idea is to have a low-dmg spell and add sneak attack damage for the real damage.

As to your options:

Spellwarp sniper doesn't fit the character. (if I'm completely honest, the whole ray-thing doesn't really fit the character, but I'm looking for additions)
Also, Spellwarp sniper creates rays out of other spells that do damage. Bard's just don't have that kind of spell list.

Sublime Chord would help, but the group I play in is very much against 'dipping'. Taking base class levels like rogue to get into a Prestige Class is one thing, dipping into a Prestige Class like that is a no-go.

Given the campaign I'm in, magic items are rare (as in: we're around 10th level and have maybe 1 or 2 items, all weak even for a first level party....)

The Reserve Feat option was a good one. I had thought about it, but it had slipped my mind again. Thank you for reminding me! I think Invisible Needle, powered by Sepia Snake Sigil is a nice combo..... Sepia Snake Sigil fits the character concept, and it will allow her to sneak attack with the invisible needle all day long
Only problem: I'm already low on Feats. I took Sniper's Shot at lvl 9, and planned on taking Lyric Spell or Disguise Spell at lvl 12.
However, since I will only have 8 bardic music uses available, and Disguise Spell is more of a campaign restriction bypass (magic will become increasingly unwelcome throughout the campaign, and hiding it will be required to avoid the inquisition) maybe Invisible Needle is just what I am looking for....

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I don't know how many spells on the Bard list are rays, and I don't know that many do damage.

...and I don't know how many of their spells are touch spells.

But if you know and like some of their touch spells, however, take the Feat, Reach Spell, which (as I recall) for the price of a +1LA transforms a touch spell into a ray.

Still, that Reserve feat trick for Invisible Daggers is probably your best bet without multiclassing into a full-casting class.

 

[Herzog]

About 90% of the bard spells result in bonusses, penalties, control(charm) and information(divinations)
About 9% of the bard spells result in area damage.
Less than 1% of the bard spells actually allow you to deal direct damage with an attack roll. And those are high-level spells.

Reach spell is nice, but the amount of Bard spells for which that would come in handy is just too low in my opinion. (and I don't think it actually transforms the attack into a ray. It just transforms it into a ranged touch instead of a touch. Kind of like using spectral hand to deliver touch spells?)

And yes, I think Invisible Needle is my best bet, should I go for it. (I can always stick to my bow.....)
Only thing I'm still searching for is the best Force spell to use for this. Also since the range is determined by spell level....

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Reach spell is nice, but the amount of Bard spells for which that would come in handy is just too low in my opinion. (and I don't think it actually transforms the attack into a ray. It just transforms it into a ranged touch instead of a touch. Kind of like using spectral hand to deliver touch spells?)

And yes, I think Invisible Needle is my best bet, should I go for it. (I can always stick to my bow.....)
Only thing I'm still searching for is the best Force spell to use for this. Also since the range is determined by spell level....

Reach Spell is pretty suboptimal for a Bard (which is why I jumped on the Invisible Needle bandwagon). The main use I'd see for it is not offensive, but rather being able to use the Cure spells on your allies without getting into melee range.

I'm pretty sure Reach Spell makes the spell into a Ray. I don't have my books handy at this time- they're packed up while I'm doing a renovation- but I found this:

SRD - Divine Feats
REACH SPELL [METAMAGIC]
Benefit: You may cast a spell that normally has a range of touch at any distance up to 30 feet. The spell effectively becomes a ray, so you must succeed at a ranged touch attack to bestow the spell upon the recipient. A reach spell uses up a spell slot two levels higher than the spell’s actual level.

And, apparently, I was off on the LA- its +2.