I need a character idea

[babomb]

Ok, so I'm joining a new D&D group. I need help with my character. The other party members are:
Rogue 9
Fighter 8
Monk 8
Wizard/Cleric/Mystic Theurge 9 (I don't know how the levels are divided, but it's a total of 9; I don't know what he's a cleric of either.)

I was thinking a bard would be the most useful character to add. The trouble is that I've never played a bard before, and I'm having a hard time coming up with a concept. In other words, I need something to keep him from being just a generic bard. If you've got a cool idea for a bard or for another character that would work well with this group, I'd love to hear it.

The character needs to be level 8 (minimum experience for level 8 and with normal starting gold for that level, if it matters), non-evil, and built using only the core books for 3.5e. Also, I've never played under this DM before, so I don't want to play a paladin.

Thanks.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

I think there were some nice bard ideas in this thread right here.

http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=82162

AR

 

[Altalazar]

You could always make Sir Robin's Minstrel...

Do you have any artistic talents yourself? It doesn't have to be musical - though if it was, you could bring the instrument, if it were appropriate to D&D (i.e. not an electric guitar) and play it when the bard would play.

Otherwise, non-musical talents work as well. Writing epic poetry about the group's exploits, for example. Or even just keeping a travelling journal, which you could add to each session and then give it to everyone else to show the Bard's artistic impression of what has happened.

There is a lot of fun to be had playing a bard!

 

[Crothian]

This is a Ranger/ Bard I will make one day, but just haven't found the right campaign for it yet.

A human Bard/ Ranger. Starts out a lazy bard. He hangs around in taverns, really handsome and gets drinks by charming young nobel women. He hears of a nobel widower who is wealthy beyond imagine. She has been having troubles with finding someone new, no one is interested in her. He figures this is his chance to woo her, marry her, and live the high life. He writes letters to her. First they are very romantic, but as the corospondunce goes on between the two; it gets rather heated. Finally after many months of this, he finally meets her over a big royal dinner. He doesn't even make it through dinner, there's no way he can go through with it. He bolts. She has fallen in love with him, so wants him caught and brought back to marry her. So, he hides in the wilderness becoming a boar hunter.

 

[brehobit]

Some ideas:

Level 1 barb, level 7 bard. Character could be bard from a viking-like culture (or Celtic for that matter). Brought up in a barbarian culture, went off to school. Now more of a scholar than "bard" but still has a temper and skill with sword.

Level 1 cleric of Fharlanghn, level 7 bard. Character is older (say 40-60) and is a wonderer, picking up jobs in inns and the like. Recently became a cleric and ministers to other travellers. Probably dirt poor but perhaps recently came into a large bit of stuff (his starting items) perhaps as a gift, perhaps from a traveller who died in his care. Now looking for that next thing in life (joining the party for universal good). Could be a mild drug user, or at least smokes at every opertunity. Has a problem with "the system" or at least stands up for the real issues of the "people". Think 60's commie/flower child with a great deal of education and a fair amount of personal power.

-or-
The party probably could use another spell caster. A sorc would probably not step on any toes, neither should a druid.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

Some ideas:

Level 1 barb, level 7 bard. [...] Level 1 cleric of Fharlanghn, level 7 bard.

Or you could check out the Bard variants (Savage Bard, Divine bard) in UA.

AR

 

[Calico_Jack73]

I'd play your Bard like a romantic swashbuckler. If you really wanted to you could take levels in the Swashbuckler class (Complete Warrior) and then eventually qualify for the Duelist class. The tricky thing about a Bard is picking a direction because they really are "Jacks of All Trades". You could be Macguyver with a Bard because they really do know everything.

Actually if you did the Bard/Swashbuckler thing you'd probably already have qualified for Duelist and might have a level in it already.

Edit: Oops... you DM is allowing ONLY the Core Book??? As a Fighter/Bard you could also qualify for the Duelist which I believe is in the DMG in 3.5 and as such should be available per your DM.

 

[Thanee]

A druid might also fit well into the group, depending on the background (in some campaigns, druids make very little sense). Just in case you don't find a way to play a bard that suits you.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Plane Sailing]

Ok, so I'm joining a new D&D group. I need help with my character. The other party members are:
Rogue 9
Fighter 8
Monk 8
Wizard/Cleric/Mystic Theurge 9 (I don't know how the levels are divided, but it's a total of 9; I don't know what he's a cleric of either.)

I don't know if you are committed to a Bard, but a single-class wizard (or sorcerer) would be useful for this party.

The mystic theurge is likely to be (at best) a 3/3/MT3, making him a 6th level caster, with maximum of 3rd level spells.

If your wizard is 8th level he will have 4th level spells, if he is 9th he will have 5th level spells... and your party will need those kinds of spells if you are facing CR8/9+ challenges!

You could equally be a sorcerer - leave the unparalleled daily versatility to the MT and enjoy slinging high-value spells. Whether 8th or 9th you'll have at least one 4th level spell so again you will be magically ahead of the game and a real party asset (especially if you take the time to theme your sorcerer in some way)

Cheers

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Depending on how the rest of the group is structured, a bardic archer could work well... grab ranged feats and off you go!

Hang at the back, offer cover fire and backing vocals. Take some illusions and charms spells + social skills for outside of combat.

Perhaps fits well with an elven 'master archer' concept - uses a different kind of natural magic (song!). not to mention you'd also get the advantages of using a longbow - look no munchkins here!


Depending on what you feel like playing - I agree that a druid or sorceror would fit in nicely without stepping on anyones toes.

YMMV and I have no idea what the group is like: but if tends to be 'combat heavy' then I'd avoid the bard like the plague.