Need help building a Bard

[tankiller]

I have a friend joining a 3.5 campaign and Im helping him build is character. He wants to be a bard which is the only base class that I have never played or played with, so I need help building him. I have heard that bards are not the best class I the world and I don't want him to feel useless in a party fill with Wizards and Driuds.

He will be lv 9 and I would like an idea of the best feats and PrC to pick.

The party consist of
Cleric
Druid x2
Barbarian x2
Wizard
Sorc
Fighter (sword and board)
Ranger (ranged)

Thank you for any help and tips ahead of time.

 

[Empirate]

How about Bard 5/Mindbender 1/Lyric Thaumaturge 4/Sublime Chord 6/Fatespinner 4?

Take Mindsight at 6th and Doomspeak whenever it will fit. Lyric Spell is another good one.

You end up with 9th level spells from the Bard AND Sor/Wiz list, telepathy (with Mindsight, this is ultra good), and the best debuffing ability in the game (Doomspeak). If you specialize in SoDs and abuse Doomspeak liberally, not many BBEGs will stand against you.

 

[kitcik]

If I only had the nerve...

 

[Grogg of the North]

Bards are awesome. I love playing bards.

What kind of bard does s/he want to be? Enchanter, healer, party buffer, jack of all trades or something else entirely? What race is this character?

A couple of general tips:

Dump wisdom. You won't need it. Plus you can then be a Spoony Bard.

Depending on what you want to do with said bard, I'd recommend the following feats:
Force of Personality gives Cha to Will saves instead of Wis (CAdv)

Melodic Casting lets you use perform instead of Concentration and lets you activate certain magic items and cast spells while singing (CM)

Lyric Spell and Extra Music can give a great deal of extra spells.

Versatile Performer is great for the RP aspect. However, I don't know if this is going to be a combat heavy game or not. It is one of my favored feats though.

Lingering Song will let you move between inspiring courage and greatness on your party members.

If you're going to be a back up fighter then Snowflake Wardance from Frostburn will turn your Bard into a combat monster.

As for skills Perform, UMD, and Listen are must haves. Afterwards I'd go for Diplomacy, Bluff, Gather Info, and any Knowledges that the other "smart" people have neglected. Though if your GM is anything like me and my past GMs, Bardic Knowledge may be good enough.

As for PrCs I like Seeker of the Song and Troubador of the Stars. Though I also like going just Bard 20.

You'll not be the scariest fighter or mage in the group but every +1 you give your fighters to hit with (Missing due to Power Attack makes a sad Barbarian) and every skill check you make to replace a cast spell (Diplomacy vs. Charm) will make everyone's life a little easier.

If you can provide a little more info on what the character wants to do, I'll try to provide more advice. Hope this helps though.

 

[Dandu]

Take two levels off of this.

 

[Herzog]

I definately want to recommend Improvisation (from Spell Compendium IIRC). Because it's versatile, and allows you to 'patch up' those areas you may fall behind.

 

[tankiller]

Thank you everyone that has given advice and here is some more info that was asked for.

His goal is to be support / backup melee.
His race is currently undicided but he want to play something different and not common (he isnt big on humans, elves, dwarves ect)
The game is about 50% combat, 25% exploration, 25% social.
Enamies are mainly humanoid and giant with elemental and a few undead mixed in.

Thank you again for the help.

 

[orion90000]

For a combat supporting role, I would equip him with a longspear to help with flanking without getting his hands too dirty.

Bards make excellent party representatives, so the party will be grateful for his bluff, diplomacy, and sense motive skills.

Don't overlook summon monster spells to help friends in combat (more flanking). And by enchanting foes he can definitely help with crowd control.

The important thing for a bard to remember is: don't be something he isn't. Let him find his niche and be happy.

 

[Samloyal23]

Thank you everyone that has given advice and here is some more info that was asked for.

His goal is to be support / backup melee.
His race is currently undicided but he want to play something different and not common (he isnt big on humans, elves, dwarves ect)
The game is about 50% combat, 25% exploration, 25% social.
Enamies are mainly humanoid and giant with elemental and a few undead mixed in.

Thank you again for the help.

I'd recommend Halfling or Gnome. He's in a support role, not a heavy hitter, so go for the maximum AC bonus with a Small sized, nimble race. Both of these are also good for exploration and neither has a Cha problem. If you can do a +1 level template for feykissed, from the BOEF, it lends an additional +2 Charisma bonus, damage resistance, and some spell-like powers at higher levels...