Bards: do they even use feats?

[muhcashin]

Right...

A bbn1/brd1?! I don't see how that combination can be any good. You need too many good ability scores. A good str, dex, cha, and con. That's a lot.

I play a Forgotten Realms 6th-leve aasimar bard and I have Obscure Lore (Song & Silence), Blooded (FRCS) and Dodge.

Also, does the bard get to be proficient with the rapier and the bow, or does he have to choose one?

 

[Yeoman]

The last bard I played had...
Alluring
Artist
Charlatan
Persuasive
Trustworthy

But then she was killed at 10th level so I moved on to a new character, she was fun to play though. I tried to keep her skills as my main focus.

 

[Darklone]

Re: Right...

A bbn1/brd1?! I don't see how that combination can be any good. You need too many good ability scores. A good str, dex, cha, and con. That's a lot.

Yeah, one less than a paladin or monk ? It worked out fine though.... Good rolls: one 18 and two 16s were enough. Well, he was NOT wise. Dex was 14.

Also, does the bard get to be proficient with the rapier and the bow, or does he have to choose one?

He has to choose one.

 

[Sullaf]

I'm aiming for a bard primarly using his skills and general cunning to go through life, although I do think that a party will much appreciate an archer, so I'm switching to a Longbow. I will keep the rapier to impress stupid opponents (isn't there a specific perform that covers this?) and else will rely on my 'always at the ready expeditious retreat' which will be in reach next level.

I have to admit that this will be my very first bard, but I like the idea sofar.

I'm pretty new to the boards, and just did my very first steps into the PbP community. I really love PbP. You get to try all sorts of roleplaying characters, because imho the focus is less on combat. I've been meaning to try and DM a PbP but how do you get players?

 

[MerakSpielman]

My current bard (human, 9th level) has the following feats:

Point-blank shot
Weapon Focus: Morningstar
Skill Focus: Perform
Improved Initative
Craft Wand

By far his most useful feat has been Craft Wand. He made a Gaseous Form wand, a Dispel Magic wand, and an Invisibility Sphere wand already, and uses them quite often. Just the concept of the wand-wielding bard is great - their diverse spell list is chock full of great spells, but you don't want to waste your very few learned spells on them.

My most useless feat was weapon focus: morningstar. He's just too fragile to move into combat, and does too little damage. Our party tanks are a bevy of 9th level rogues who swarm in, flank a target, and unload the sneak attack damage. My measly 1d8 just doesn't cut it. Also, I've squandered all my money on wands and Arrows of Slaying (humanoid) (freaking the best item in a NPC-driven adventure) so have yet to get a magical melee weapon.

Don't forget to max out your Perform - I have a +23 at 9th level.
(12 ranks +7 (21 CHA, w/ circlet of persuasion & pink&green ioun stone) +2 (skill focus) +2 (masterwork instrument))

 

[Plane Sailing]

Don't overlook the metamagic feats - extend spell, enlarge spell, still spell are all useful +1 level feats that you could take now (and start to use them on your cantrips next level ) Spell Focus(Enchantment) has to be a great one for you too!

 

[Sullaf]

I think I will start out with Improved Iniative (beginning the bardsong at the first sign of battle is pretty effective) and Skill Focus: Perform and pick up an itemcreation feat along the way (either craft: wand or scribe scroll). He will be proficient with a bow, not with a rapier, although he pretends he can wield it like a true swordmaster. I really dislike taking weapon feats, as it will go against my bard's nature, and therefor will not take any. Although Point Blank Shot is a pretty good feat...

Oh well you all showed me a lot of possibilities. Now I am once again where I aught to be: In dire need of more feats, as there are too many to choose from

 

[Voadam]

The enchiridion of mystic music has a bunch of bar music affecting feats (sort of like metamagic).

 

[alsih2o]

... someone smarter than me is going to have to help me out with that one...

i use this phrase all the time myself

 

[Kae'Yoss]

If you want to show off, take expertise and start disarming people. Maybe get a weapon suitable for trip attacks and pull them off their feet.