Need Help Advancing my Bard

[Herzog]

Ok, I'm helping others with their characters, time to find out if anyone can help me with mine.

Here's the deal:
I've got a 7th level Bard.
Race: Human
Str 7
Dex 12
Con 11
Int 16
Wis 8
Cha 13

I've got Improved Initiative, Improved Feint, Soothe the Beast and Combat Expertise.

I've got 9 ranks in Bluff, 9 ranks in Concentration, 9 ranks in Craft(Musical Instruments), 9 ranks in Diplomacy, 4 ranks in intimidate, 9 ranks in Knowledge (religion), 10 ranks in Perform(Oratory), 9 ranks in perform(string instruments), 9 ranks in Sense Motive, 9 ranks in Spellcraft and 5 ranks in Survival.

I've got the Spells: 0: Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Ghost Sound, Know Direction, Message, Read magic, 1: Alarm, Comprehend Languages, Identify, Sleep, 2: Eagle's Splendor, Enthrall, Hypnotic Pattern, Sonic Weapon.

We are playing a 'Time Campaign'.
Short explanation: we rotate DM's, and each subsequent DM let's us play in the next part of history. (we have had stone age and bronze age, now have arrived in the iron age).
The characters remain the same, but equipment etc. becomes available slowly.

Also, the trend has been set that 'magic' is slowly becoming less powerfull. (current effect: -3 Caster Level on all Evocation, Transmutation and Abjuration spells, -1 CL on all other schools).

I'm not sure at the moment if this trend will continue, but assuming it will I'm inclined to drop spellcasting progression.

What I'm looking for is this:

1. A (Prestige) Class that let's me take advantage of my Feats.
2. A (Prestige) Class that allows me to be more 'active' in combat.
3. A (Prestige) Class that allows me to increase Bardic Music effects.

Note that because of the 'historical' setting, down-to-earth (Pr)C's and class-abilities are preferred. (rather extra damage to 'normal' attacks than fireballs etc.)

I am currently the DM for this campaign, so I have some time to think this over. Also, I can level to lvl 8 at the moment, and probably to lvl 9 at the moment the next DM steps in, so I have some flexibility.

I hope someone can give me that one Idea that has been eluding me so far.....

Herzog

ps: my character is also currently dead. So, if having been dead and then resurrected or reincarnated can somehow be included, that would be awesome!

 

[szilard]

Multiclass to Warblade. Take Song of the White Raven.

Uses your feats? Yup.
More active in combat? Oh yeah.
Bardic Music? Yup. + White Raven maneuvers for extra leadership fun.

-Stuart

 

[Nifft]

Multiclass to Warblade. Take Song of the White Raven.

Yeah. This.

Warbard = awesome.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Evilhalfling]

learn Insperational Boost (Spell Compendium, ComAdv) 1st level swift bardic spell +1 to inspire courage bonuses)

and the feat Song of the Heart, which does the same.

The campaign sounds good, I had an idea for a very similar across time campaign,
but magic would head in the opposite direction, getting easier to use (starting limited, moving to core, and finally any published source goes) Characters would also be getting SLA's based on their concepts.

 

[Herzog]

I don't get the Warblade suggestion. It looks like a nice class, but on top of 7 levels of Bard?

Inspirational Boost and Song of the Heart are good options. I was aware of them, I just haven't gotten around to adding them to my spell/feat lists.

However, they mainly improve the Bardic Music, which is, from an action view, kind of boring.
Example:
DM: You encounter a number of Orcs.
Bard: I start my inspire courage. Everyone gets.... oh, 8 lvl bard gets +2, inspirational boost for another +1, song of the heard for another +1, makes a +4 on attack and damage etc.
Other players: we do stuff! (hacking and slashing and casting spells)
Bard: I think I......... continue singing.
/example

Now, I am planning to take either Melodic Casting or Lingering Song at lvl 9. That would free up the possibility of spellcasting during bardic music, and other activities...

I am leaning toward taking levels in rogue, and maybe some PrC that allows int bonus to attack and/or AC, and then jumping into Arcane Trickster or something simmilar at some point....

I just don't know! there's too many options!

Herzog

 

[blargney the second]

Another warblade vote. Crusader would also do the deed, but with a totally different feel.

 

[Nifft]

Bard: I start my inspire courage. Everyone gets.... oh, 8 lvl bard gets +2, inspirational boost for another +1, song of the heard for another +1, makes a +4 on attack and damage etc.
Other players: we do stuff! (hacking and slashing and casting spells)
Bard: I think I......... continue singing.

This will blow your mind.

You can sing and attack. You just can't sing and cast spells. So, cast your buff spells, then start singing. Or don't -- just start singing and attack. (Warblade + Song of the White Raven means you can sing + attack in the first round. That's why it's so good.)

Cheers, -- N

 

[FalcWP]

However, they mainly improve the Bardic Music, which is, from an action view, kind of boring.
Example:
DM: You encounter a number of Orcs.
Bard: I start my inspire courage. Everyone gets.... oh, 8 lvl bard gets +2, inspirational boost for another +1, song of the heard for another +1, makes a +4 on attack and damage etc.
Other players: we do stuff! (hacking and slashing and casting spells)
Bard: I think I......... continue singing.
/example

Do what I do... keep track of what the other players are doing, how much extra damage they're doing because of you, and claim it. You're giving everyone a +4 bonus on attacks and damage? Ok... when the fighter normally attacks with his greatsword for, say, 2d6+11, that's *his* damage. When he's got your bard song backing him up, power attacks for 4, and is doing 2d6+23, 12 points of that is yours. Feel free to announce this, particularly if someone else makes a comment about your Bard not being useful... not being nasty or a showoff, just a 'Wow, I'm actually contributing quite a lot... oh, and that kill was mine thanks to that extra damage...".

Now, if spellcasting is starting to lose its potency and you want a more martial class... yeah, Warblade is a great choice. Rogue isn't bad, either; you already have Improved Feint for sneak attacks, or you can flank with your fighter friend.

 

[moritheil]

There's a warrior skald-type PrC with full BAB in C War, isn't there?

 

[blargney the second]

You get a swift, move, and standard action per round. Here's how you can use all of those every round:
Swift: boosts, counters, stances, and some bard spells. With Song of the White Raven you can start inspire courage as a swift action, and your warblade and crusader levels stack with bard for determining its power.
Move: improved feint.
Standard: use a strike to deal bonus damage, and it's much more likely to hit because of your bardic music and they're denied Dex to AC. With your low Strength, using strikes for damage will help you a lot.

-blarg