Looking to make a high Bluff skill-monkey... Help!

[sideeffects]

Hello all,

It has been quite a while since I have played a 4e game. My friend is starting up a campaign and he tends to lean heavily on the RPG side of things whilst DMing. I want to make a high bluff/diplomacy character whom is very loosely based off Sherlock Holmes in terms of personality and wit.

I will most likely be making a Human (even though a Changeling or Teifling would suit my cause better) Sorcerer. Our starting level is 12 and thus far I have come across these feats/items/powers to boost my bluff and/or other supporting skills.

Feats:
Skill Focus (Bluff)
Beginners Luck
Champion of the Bloody Circle

Powers:
Unseen Aid
Fast Talk

Items:
Liar's Trinket +3

I mainly want to focus on raising bluff... What are some of the best ways of doing this? So far my bonus to bluff is +23.... If I switched to a Changeling or Teifling it would be +25.

Thanks for your input guys!

 

[Nemesis Destiny]

The feat Disciple of Lore gives you +1 to all trained skills, requires Int 13.

If your group is using Themes and Backgrounds, they both offer you the potential for another +2 each. You might even be able to squeeze a +3 out of background.

With numbers like that you will auto-pass any Bluff check DC, and be able to routinely pass DCs a full tier ahead of you. Hopefully it won't make your DM want to smite you in fire.

For some real power, try to find ways to substitute your use of Bluff for other skills, like "whenever you would make a 'whatever' check, make a bluff check instead." That kind of thing is really cheesy. A player did that with Arcana in my wife's game, such that not only was the character the best in the group at Arcana, several times per encounter he could be better than anyone else at Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, and Streetwise as well. That's when it got really annoying.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

Student of the Cosmos
Hammergate Conniver
Halfling Fast Talk (but you obviously need to be a halfling, it is pretty good though)

Student of the Cosmos would likely be your most straightforward choice. I'd note that there are a LOT of other situational feats that can apply to a bluff check. Most of them have various pre-reqs and many only apply to combat bluff, but some might be useful depending on what you want to do.

Skill Powers are a rich vein to mine too:

Serpent's Tongue
Befriend

 

[Saagael]

I'll second the use of copious skill powers to get more from your Bluff ability than just the ability to lie.

Also, consider getting a level 10 head item called the Hat of Disguise. It's got an at-will power that lets you make yourself look like anyone else, even specific people if you've seen them. Its an illusion, though, not a polymorph, so its not infallible, unlike that ridiculously high bluff check.

 

[benicetodan]

Check out Skald's Armor from PHB2

 

[sideeffects]

Thanks guys for all the input. I ended up making a Teifling Cosmos Sorceress.

Background:
Brains +2 Bluff

Feats:
Student of the Cosmos
Disciple of Lore
Skill Focus (Bluff)
Far Thought
Champion of the Bloody Circle
Skill Training (Stealth)
Unarmored Agility (should I go for training in thievery here instead?)
Danger Sense

Powers: (that pertain to skills)
Unseen Aid
Fast Talk (This essentially lets me use a Bluff check in place of a Diplomacy or Intimidate check; Badass)
Stall Tactics

Items: (that pertain to skills)
Liar's Trinket +3
Hat of Disguise

So all in all his skills main look like this:
Arcana: 16
Bluff: 28 (+2 when in moon phase, and +2 with unseen aids +32!!)
Diplomacy: +18
Insight: 12
Intimidate: 14
Stealth: 14
Streetwise: 20

All in all I think she looks pretty awesome. Only skill I wish was higher would be thievery. Oh well, thanks again guys and if you have any further input lemme know. We don't play until Thursday

 

[Wednesday Boy]

If you're a Bard the Friendly Deception feat lets you use Words of Friendship (encounter power that give a +5 bonus to Diplomacy) on Bluff checks.