Help decide on a new class for a player in the Banewarrens

[JesterPoet]

I have to agree that a bard can play a significant role in the Banewarrens (especially when dealing with various factions- figuring out their agendas, and getting them on your side).
However, it sounds like what you are describing is a good old fashioned paladin from the PHB.
Charismatic leader? Check. Capable in melee? Check. A variety of special abilities? Check. Noble aspirations? Why not?

Well, it's not really that he's incapable of using the bard's social skills to play the agenda game in the adventure. He really is. What worries me, and him, is that the module still has significantly less of that than it does dungeon crawling, which is also the specialty of the other 3, more experienced players. I love running a political game, but the other members of the party will likely make that difficult, as will the format in which we're playing the game (it seems easier, in my opinion, to roleplay at the table where facial expressions and hand gestures and such mean a lot more).

My main concern is that I want him to have a good time. I'm not sure how easy that will be as a new player playing a bard. The bard is a fantastic class, but is much easier to get the hang of when you know all that the game has to offer. In fact, I think it's one of the hardest classes to play.

 

[ekoesling]

Hey guys. Elliott here, and I am the person who is playing the Bard being discussed.

The reason I wanted to play a bard is because of its wide variety of skill sets. It most refelcts my own self. I am good at lots of things but not a master of one. I thought that I would play this class well. Apparantly I was wrong =)

I have played DnD before, but I was like 10 or so. And Ive only played a handful of games in my life, none of which had initiative or restrictions etc. So this will be my fist game ever played where the rules actually apply.

I think another factor is that I dont know how to properly play a bard.

I have noticed that Charm and suggestion etc are pretty much useless against enemy's that we engage. I have played EQ and was hoping I could manage multiple creatures etc but I guess not =)

I have a few good spells and some great equipment. I have a light crossbow with rapid reload and Mac-Fuirmidh Cithern with Grants +2 circumstance bonus on perform (strings) checks and +2 competence bonus on bardic music checks for counter song, facinate, and suggestion. Anyone with 4 ranks in perform can use it to do Cure light wounds, mage armor, and sleep 1/day.

We happend to come across some unfortunate creatures that I could not hit. Some Jelly that would split on anything with slash and pierce and a wraith that needed magical weapon which I have but my bolts are not. I have sound burst but that does not effect the wraiths we were dealing with.... so it was kind of unlucky really.

I have noticed that the facanate and charm etc are very specific and can only be used in non agressive moments which we seem to have very little of.

The single non agressive person we did encounter I was unable to facenate with a 31 (i have a +15 in perform)

Anyway =) I dont nessicarrily think that the bard is worthless but I sometimes feel like I am hindering the group more than helping.

I have some decent spells but all are either self defence or interation with people.

 

[ekoesling]

Make that a +17 on preform strings I forgot to add in the Mac-Fuirmidh Cithern bonus

 

[JesterPoet]

I have noticed that the facanate and charm etc are very specific and can only be used in non agressive moments which we seem to have very little of.

The single non agressive person we did encounter I was unable to facenate with a 31 (i have a +15 in perform)

Okay, just so that I don't totally look like a crappy GM here, I must say that the character he was trying to fascinate had a will of +7, rolled a 20, and had a bonus to his save because:

Spoiler

"Kalerecent seethes with rage...in fact, unless it is clear that the PCs are on the side of good (bearing holy symbols or something similar) Kalerecent may likely attack them." along with the fact that he had just survived a pretty nasty attack.

Technically, I don't think I should have allowed the fascinate (as, "the distraction of nearby combat or other dangers prevents the ability from working"), but I did, with a modifier, because it seemed like a decent idea.

 

[JesterPoet]

One of the other combinations we looked into was rogue/ranger. It would allow him more combat moments, while still preserving some of those skills he wants.

 

[ekoesling]

Holly cow Jester! I totally didnt mean that as you were a crappy GM. Infact I have no idea what it takes to really facanate someone. Jester here is a great GM and has been very fair and accomidating througout our adventures thus far (and I expect it to get better).

 

[Satori]

Stay away from ranger. Put the ranger in a nice little box and save him for a different campaign.

GO PALADIN!

Lots of players take one look at the restrictions and say "The hell with it!", since they figure playing someone so straight-laced would be a real drag.

It isn't. At all. In fact, religiously fanatic PCs are some of the most intriguing, stabilizing characters within the game, since they often provide the basis for morality upon which the party begins to measure their actions.

It also provides an opportunity to portray a truly noble, inhumanly pure character that also kicks some SERIOUS arse in combat. If played properly, a paladin can be a really fun, engrossing RP experience.