No BAB

[Eltern]

What's a reasonable thing to get for NO BAB?

I'm playing a bard who is simply never going to attack anything, ever. What would be a sensible thing to get if he had a BAB of straight zeros OR bumped it down to a wizard's BAB (more reasonable, methinks)? My thought is better spell progression or more skill points.

Note: This isn't a Vow of Peace, spells are still an option...

Thanks!
Eltern

 

[sfedi]

What would the concept of the new class be?

 

[JimAde]

I'd strongly suggest the wizard BAB as you said. Straight 0 just seems too extreme.

For taking the wizard progression, I'd give you a d8 hit die and maybe... a +1 caster level?

 

[Eltern]

He's a person of words and knowledge. He's got Perform: Oration, diplomacy and knowledge up the wazzoo, etc. He's too busy thinking, knowing, and leading to be hitting.

More specifically...
He has amnesia. Came to in the process of walking out of this plains area about a week ago. Knows all these things (Bardic lore, knowledge), but doesn't know how he knows them. The character concept is just taking off, but he's going to end up being more like an Aborigine wiseman/chieftan than a jack of all trades guy.

Thanks!
Eltern

 

[sfedi]

Then, 2 to 4 more skill points seem nice.
Maybe more class skills.

Don't know about the larger hit dice though...

 

[Geoff Watson]

Nothing.

Why should you get something useful when you give up something you'll never use?
Plenty of fighters never use more than two or three martial weapons. Should they be able to trade all the other martial weapons for other feats?

Geoff.

 

[Vrecknidj]

First, I don't see how you could have a worse BAB than a commoner, so, I'd start there.

Second, it seems a reasonable question to ask (of a DM who is willing to consider such things), "Can I lower my BAB progression and gain something else instead?" And, if I were the DM, and you were to approach me with such a thing, I'd probably offer you something like this. Pick one of these: a free extra feat from among a small list (I'd probably include things like Run and Toughness); one more point if you're using point-buy to create a character; an extra 0-level spell per day, that you can trade in for an extra 1st level spell per day when you get to 5th level (which can be traded in for a 2nd level spell per day when you get to 10th, and again for a 3rd at 15th, and finally again for a 4th at 20th)--you'll never have more than one freebie spell, but it'll get more and more useful to you as you gain levels.

Dave

 

[VirgilCaine]

Nothing.

Why should you get something useful when you give up something you'll never use?

Geoff.

Good point. That was the downfall of the 2e Players Option books.