Looking for a Bardesque class...

[Hurloon]

A lawful wizard in my game is seeking some performance/social skills next level. He is considering rogue but would prefer a bard. His alignment limits his choices. Is there something more appropriate that any of you have discovered? A prestige class or a bard variant option?

Skill points/level = 6+Int would be desired
Perform, diplomacy, bluff as class skills.

 

[calypso15]

Take a look at the Virtuoso PrC in CAdv. It'll require that you're a bit lenient with the skill requirement (ie, allow him to treat Perform as a class skill), but it's a neat class.

Calypso

EDIT: You can also take a look at the variant Prestige Bard:

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/prestigiousCharacterClasses.htm#prestigeBard

Again, you'll have to wiggle on the requirements. Drop the non-lawful requirement (seriously, I've always hated this. Have none of the people at WotC ever heard of a court jester?), and allow him to put full ranks into Perform.

 

[Thurbane]

Beguiler?

 

[Nifft]

For the perform ranks your Wizard may enjoy Human Paragon (from UA, or here).

Cheers, -- N

 

[smootrk]

You state 'he', so the concept does not probably fit, but I have designed an Asian bard concept... the Geisha. You can access the document from my signature. The class does fit one aspect of your request... it is designed with a non-chaotic alignment requirement.

To adapt the concept for male and/or non-Asian, you could consider it some sort of Noble Courtier, or some sort of non-jester style of Court Entertainer, rather than the more tavern/commoner/traveler style of bard.

 

[Mistwell]

Harper Mage prestige class. Why ditch the wizard levels when you can continue as Wizard progression while still getting better skill points and skill selection?

It was even updated to account for some 3.5 changes, and now in the errata it says:

"Page 29: Requirements list for the Harper Mage, Remove Education from the Feats line. Add Knowledge (local) 5 ranks to the Skills line."

 

[hong]

Why not play a fighter/rogue/sorcerer who specialises in enchantment spells?

 

[calypso15]

Why not play a fighter/rogue/sorcerer who specialises in enchantment spells?

Nice one.

 

[Darklone]

UA Bard prestige class. Advances wizard spellcasting.

Edit: Looks like Calypso remember this as well...

The uncanny trickster (Comp Scou) would be nice... entry requirements are possible for wizards. You'll lose one spellcasterlevel though and it has only 3 levels but many skill points.

Daggerspellmage would be even better... many skillpoints, more spellcasting progression but no Bluff.

 

[jasin]

For the perform ranks your Wizard may enjoy Human Paragon (from UA, or here).

Seconded. I'm playing a human paragon/wizad/loremaster in Age of Worms, and I'm finding it a great way to play a social wizard: I'm the best diplomat in the party, I have a little bit of bluff and sense motive, and I'll soon start taking perform (oratory) with loremaster levels, which have perform as a class skill. Loremaster also gets gather info, which I didn't take (yet), but which might also interest the original poster's player.

No magical performance, but that could be faked with spells, or you could go into virtuoso instead of loremaster.