Fochlucan Lyrist

[JPL]

Warrior, thief, spy, poet, woodland champion -- the Fochlucan lyrist is a legendary figure who serves as the herald and teacher to great kings, the champion of the common folk, and the keeper of lore long forgotten elsewhere. Only the best and brightest are invited to become Fochlucan lyrists, and those who eventually win the approval of the Fochlucan College's masters are remarkable individuals indeed, skilled in swordplay, magic, and diplomacy.

So . . . the Fochlucan Lyrist prestige class from 3.5 was itself an homage to the convoluted glory of the 1st edition bard (a unique fighter-turned-thief-turned-druid, with a smattering of unique bardic abilities).

Now how would one attempt something like this in 4th Edition? Bard - Druid [hybrid] / Seeker of the Seven? Bard with paragon multiclassing as druid? Maybe throw in Skill Training - Stealth and Thievery?

Since the warden is a cousin to the druid, I'd be tempted to throw some warden combos into the mix --- that would satisfy both the "swordsman" and "keeper of natural lore" requirements.

So maybe the default build here is bard, either hybrid classed or multiclassed into warden or druid, using feats to pick up a couple of key rogue skills.

Of course, all of these mixes suffer from multiple ability score dependence, but that comes with the territory for a weird build like this.

Your thoughts?

 

[Rhun]

I don't play 4E, so I can't help you there. I did love the 1E Bard, and I liked the flavor of the 3E Fochlucan Lyrist. In play, though, the class always seemed pretty weak. So you'll want to make sure however you design it, you keep it competitive with other classes.

 

[Spatula]

I'm not sure the bard needs to do much more than pick up some multiclass feats and/or skill trainings.

fighter levels - the bard is already proficient with several martial weapons & heavy armor. Not much to do here.

thief levels - Sneak of Shadows (req DEX 13+) gives you training in Thievery. Training in Stealth can be picked up via background or Skill Training.

druid abilities - the bard is already quite capable of being an accomplished user of nature magic (Nature is a class skill, free Ritual Caster feat). Initiate of the Faith (req WIS 13+) can be picked up for some free Nature training and the ability to wild shape. Additional wild shape forms can be picked up via the utility power swap feat.

 

[qstor]

I think for 4e there's supposed to be some Paragon Path for multiclassing? I forget where.

I was thinking about this the other day. I had a Fochlucan Lyrist in the RPGA Living Greyhawk campaign. I remade a bard for LFR too.

Mike

 

[Shroomy]

I think for 4e there's supposed to be some Paragon Path for multiclassing? I forget where.

The Studen of the Seven PP is as close at you'd get right now, but this month's "Class Acts" article includes a bard PP focused on multi-classing. Maybe its the Fochlucan Lyrist, maybe its something else.

 

[Dragonhelm]

I was toying around with a build recently where you take the bard, and multiclass as fighter, rogue, and druid. So you have a character who touches upon all four of the roles all in one.

I haven't pursued it further yet.

 

[JPL]

I was toying around with a build recently where you take the bard, and multiclass as fighter, rogue, and druid. So you have a character who touches upon all four of the roles all in one.

I haven't pursued it further yet.

I'd be interested in seeing that build.

Let's see . . . for a bard / warden, you'd want high Charisma and Strength, and both have Con as a secondary ability.

For a bard / druid . . . I guess that Cha/Wis bard from Arcane Power would be the starting point. This would give you a ranged-weapon leader who wild shapes into a close-combat controller. Crazy stuff, but it would make a heck of a 5th man for a party that has all four combat roles accounted for.

 

[Mika]

As an alternative approach, to emulate the actual 3.5e Fochlucan Lyrist, I would probably go with a Hybrid Bard/Shaman who takes the following feats:

Hybrid Talent (Bard Armor Proficiency)

Student of Malediction (for a bit of bonus striker damage)

Implement Expertise (either totem or wand)

Bardic Knowledge


Skills: Diplomacy, Insight, Nature, and Streetwise are all available as starting skills. Thievery, if considered important, would have to be taken via a feat, background, or racial ability.

Ability scores: Constitution of 13+, with wisdom and charisma as high as possible and increased at every opportunity.

Powers: Focus on implement based bard and druid powers. Either a wand or a totem can be used as an implement for all attack powers.


This character build would not only be a good match for the abilities of a Fochlucan Lyrist but a very effective multi-talented Leader (healer) as well. His options at higher levels are wide open.