Playing a Bard for the first time - need suggestions

[Ace]

Okay - so we are starting up a new campaign and I have decided that I want to play a bard, something that I have never done before. I have one major problem and that is I don't really know how to play a bard. Where should my stats go and what skills and feats should be selected??? And then there is spells??

Anyway, here are my stats: (feel free to suggest rearrangments)

STR 15
DEX 14
CON 12
INT 11
WIS 10
CHA 17

I choose a human for the benifit of added skill points and a bonus feat. I was also leaning towards a fighting bard as the party lacks a real tank. We have an elven archer fighter and a human fighter with a 10 strength (don't ask).

Well - all suggestions welcome and appreciated.

Aopy

Just a second post with suggestions

Why not go with Barbarian1?Fighterx

Put your stats at
Strength 17
Inteligence 14
Wisdom 11
Dextarity 12
Constituion 15
Charisma 10

Than build a heavy armor, heavy weapons pure tank

For Your level up bonus points put 1 into Con, 1 into strength to start

For feats take
Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (Great Sword or Great Axe) and Educated (from FRCS)

With 2 extra point you get each level you can slowly build a deecnt alotment of knowledge skills to add flavor

Later you can add powerblow, cleave, weapon spec, expertise and so on

For amror go with chain or breastplate untuil you get magic plate which will let you keep your accelerated move

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

A long term suggestion: Exploit your spell list.

While the Bard does get many spells choices of his own, you may still use scrolls and wands to good effect.

Example: A 3rd level Bard gets no 2nd level spells. But he can still cast Minor Image or Glitterdust from an arcane scroll with 100% chance of success because his caster level is 3.

A lot of spells such Minor Image, Magic Mouth, Locate Object, and Misdirection, you may not want to take as your own personal spells, but they make fabulous scrolls to be stocked up in case of emergency.

Ditto for wands. They are more expensive. But a Wand of Cure Moderate Wounds or Wand of Haste will get you in the good graces with the most die hard hack and slashers. Even if you have a wizard in the party, especially if you have a wizard in the party, keep you eye out for captured wands that probably are not worth having the wizard use in combat.

The strength of the bard is flexibility. With a good library of scrolls handy, your spellcasting flexibility can rival a wizard. (At high level, Use Magic Device gives you fantastic flexibility.)

Do not underestimate the humble Grease spell against any creature that uses weapons.

 

[LuYangShih]

Well, assuming you're switching to 3.5, you'll be playing a whole new Bard in a few months anyway. But for now, I agree with most of the other posters. It's much better to be an Archer/Support Bard than it is to be a Tank Bard, especially if you don't have a high Constitution.

The Bards best spells are generally his Illusion and Enchantment based. Mirror Image, Displacement, and so on are very good for a combat focused Bard. Haste is a neccessity, unless you plan on Mass Haste later on. Summoning spells are alright, but don't scale that well.

Arcane Archer is a good PrC for the Bard, should you choose to go for a Half-Elf or, preferably, full Elf. A Virtuoso is the best "Bard" PrC right now, but keep in mind Bards can qualify for quite a few PrCs that are not based on Bardic abilities. You can qualify for most of the Rogue PrCs, and quite a few Fighter PrCs as well. You can also qualify for a few spellcasting PrCs, but given the way you are approaching this character, I'd recommend a Fighter PrC.


You should also figure out where you want to place your skills. This depends greatly on what kind of Bard you want to play. You basically only have 3 skillpoints per level because you're almost required to max Perform. Remember that singing and playing musical instruments are not the only kind of Performances, so don't limit your Bard to the stereotype if you don't want to.

If you're going for an Archer Bard, I suggest getting Spot, Hide, and Move Silently, all fantastic skills for Archers. You can hit and run very well, and with your Illusion and Enchantment spells, can sow a lot of confusion in enemy ranks as they try to find you.

If you're really set on a melee Bard, I'd suggest multiclassing. Bards simply aren't made to be tanks, and you'll need the higher hitpoints, and fighting abilities the other classes give you. I suggest little to no armor, you should rely on magical items to increase your AC, as well as your spells to help protect you. An enchanted Mithril Buckler or even Small Shield would probably be a good investment, the Buckler worth it even if you're an Archer.

All in all, there are a lot of ways you can develop a Bard, so I'd suggest writing down a defining personality and history, and then deciding how you want to go.

 

[LuYangShih]

Well, assuming you're switching to 3.5, you'll be playing a whole new Bard in a few months anyway. But for now, I agree with most of the other posters. It's much better to be an Archer/Support Bard than it is to be a Tank Bard, especially if you don't have a high Constitution.

The Bards best spells are generally Illusion and Enchantment based. Mirror Image, Displacement, and so on are very good for a combat focused Bard. Haste is a neccessity, unless you plan on Mass Haste later on. Summoning spells are alright, but don't scale that well.

Arcane Archer is a good PrC for the Bard, should you choose to go for a Half-Elf or, preferably, full Elf. A Virtuoso is the best "Bard" PrC right now, but keep in mind Bards can qualify for quite a few PrCs that are not based on Bardic abilities. You can qualify for most of the Rogue PrCs, and quite a few Fighter PrCs as well. You can also qualify for a few spellcasting PrCs, but given the way you are approaching this character, I'd recommend a Fighter PrC.


You should also figure out where you want to place your skills. This depends greatly on what kind of Bard you want to play. You basically only have 3 skillpoints per level because you're almost required to max Perform. Remember that singing and playing musical instruments are not the only kind of Performances, so don't limit your Bard to the stereotype if you don't want to.

If you're going for an Archer Bard, I suggest getting Spot, Hide, and Move Silently, all fantastic skills for Archers. You can hit and run very well, and with your Illusion and Enchantment spells, can sow a lot of confusion in enemy ranks as they try to find you.

If you're really set on a melee Bard, I'd suggest multiclassing. Bards simply aren't made to be tanks, and you'll need the higher hitpoints, and fighting abilities the other classes give you. I suggest little to no armor, you should rely on magical items to increase your AC, as well as your spells to help protect you. An enchanted Mithril Buckler or even Small Shield would probably be a good investment, the Buckler worth it even if you're an Archer.

All in all, there are a lot of ways you can develop a Bard, so I'd suggest writing down a defining personality and history, and then deciding how you want to go.

 

[Kershek]

Has anyone heard of what changes are coming for the 3.5 Bard, other than more skill points?