Multiclass bard/favored soul

[Mistwell]

Yoinked summary, Mistwell.

There's that Favored Soul alternate class feature somewhere which gives temporary hitpoints when you cast spells on someone... that might help with the hitpoints if you buff yourself. Does it work with Close Wounds?

Good call! That's the Deity's Favor alternate class feature from Player's Handbook II, pg. 43. Whenever you cast a Favored Soul spell on an ally (including yourself), you can grant one of those allies (or yourself) 3xspell level for up to 1 min/spell level. You lose Weapon Focus and Specialization.

Yeah, I would say that is a great call. Casting Divine Favor or Divine Power on yourself, while under the effect of Inspire Courage, and gaining temporary hitpoints for having cast Divine Favor on yourself, would be a big boost for that combat.

And if set up the right way, it wouldn't even slow your entry into combat much. If you had Song of the White Raven, you could trigger Inspire Courage as a swift action, cast Divine Power as a standard action, gain 12 temporary hit points in addition to all the bonuses from the music and spell, and still have a move action to get yourself near combat for a massive full attack action in round 2.

What about a Favored Soul/Divine Bard prestige class build from UA?

I think thematically it would fit, but mechanically I am not sure how much benefit it would offer.

 

[Darklone]

Hmm, you'd have to combine the divine bard with the prestige bard:
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/prestigiousCharacterClasses.htm#prestigeBard

It would enhance the Favored Souls Spellcasting a bit while giving up the bard spellcasting. Not sure if it would be that great.

 

[moritheil]

The prestige bard is weak due to losing four levels of spellcasting (two of them early on.)

If it's just music and healing you want, there are (as others have said) many ways to do that without using favored soul. Is it just the charisma-based casting? Shugenja are spontaneous divine spellcasters with more spells known that also use Cha.

You can afford a little MAD if all you're going to be doing is healing people, anyhow. Cloistered Cleric into a bardlike PrC is perfectly viable.