Please help me build a knowledge-based character

[Celebrim]

zyzzyr: I figured you wouldn't try to cheat the system like that, but the DM in me wanted to point out to you and anyone listening that not all trades are created equal. Giving up a powerful ability like turn undead is very hard to get back.

If I were your DM, I'd be easier to convince to trade heavy armor proficiency for another feat if you wrote down on your character sheet something like:

"Advantage: Unusual Background - This character's unusual disposition caused him to fail to recieve the unusual training in armor and lacks Heavy Armor proficiency. He forgoes recieving Heavy Armor proficiency as a class feature of any class that has such benifit. However, in exchange he gains the 'Scribe Scroll' feat."

This makes it clear to all parties involved that you won't see heavy armor proficiency unless you spend the feat to get it.

I'd even be happier if you forgo both medium and heavy armor, because I could foresee players forgoing heavy armor with no intention of ever wearing it anyway, but 'Scribe Scroll' doesn't seem like the request of someone trying to munchkin out so I'd probably allow one for one with the understanding that this ruling is on a trial basis only.

 

[Shadowdancer]

If your only problem with the bard is the chance of spell failure caused by wearing armor, and you're starting at 5th level, then don't wear armor -- use magic protection devices instead. At 5th level, you should have some rings, bracers, cloak of protection, something, probably more than one. Use these with some lightweight armor that doesn't give a chance of spell failure, and you're set.

The suggestion of a wand of Mage Armor was a good one, too.

 

[zyzzyr]

Hi again,

Thanks for all the ideas.

Tyberious Funk - yes, that was sort of the idea I was going for. However, the more I look at it, the more I want an Indiana Jones type character, with more focus on knowledge as opposed to brawn, and my chosen method of dissemination is through tales and songs at the inn. So I'd definitely need some skills in Search, Open Lock, Decipher Script, etc. I'd also want him to be adaptable to the civilization - so high points in Diplomacy, Bluff, Gather Information.

Ace kind of hit it on the nose that a smart rogue with educated feat is probably the way to go. I then only have to add a few levels of wizard so that I can get my "I don't want to fight, I want to help others fight" motto. I wish I could trade sneak attack for something, as I don't want a physical character.

I also want to have a quirk: he likes trivial information. The king's daughter's lover - what colour was his hair? The temple of an ancient, no longer worshipped god - what kind of stone was in the entryway, and how was it worked?

To me, I see Bardic Knowledge as encompassing this, as I do not see History and BK or Geography and BK overlapping. BK to me is just the quirky stuff. Things that you would never read in books, while any Knowledge skill is just book-learnin'.

Shadowdancer: I could probably take magical items except for one caveat: it's a low arcane-magic world, and magic items are extremely rare (any item with magic is a named, legendary item).

So I can't do that

I am thinking rogue/transmuter with the Education feat - transmutation means he is adaptable, and can help others. He also likes Abjuration, Divination, and Illusion. Hate Evocation, Conjuration, and Necromancy. He can perform, but prefers not to - instead he likes to write and give the songs away to other bards to sing. A shadow author sort of deal. Why is he an adventurer? The best stories are out there, not in the library. He wants new information because he's pretty much read the library, and has soaked that for all its worth. Plus he doesn't fit in among the book-learners.

There are a few issues left:

1) How to represent his love of quirky knowledge (the GM suggests Knowledge (esoteric), which can be trained). I like BK for this because that's what I feel it represents - quirky knowledge.
2) How to represent his drive to write. The GM suggests Perform over Craft (writer) and I probably agree - plus I would still want to be a singer/tale-teller, just one who doesn't do it all that often.
3) I don't want sneak attack - I don't see this character as learning that sort of technique. Evasion and Uncanny Dodge is cool.

I don't know how much trading of powers I'm going to get to do, though, so rogue/transmuter might be as good as it gets

I am currently writing up a storyline for my background - will post it in Story Hour when I get a chance (or characters, or wherever - will post a link here once its done).

any suggestions on how to resolve those issues above are still welcomed though

thanks!

zyzzyr

 

[zyzzyr]

My backstory

Here's my backstory:

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39990

Thanks for all your advice

 

[the Jester]

The key for you is going to be a high intelligence. Remember that knowledge skills are trained only; that's what makes bardic knowledge so cool- it essentially lets you make untrained knowledge checks with your bard level as your bonus.

I'd recommend you max out your intelligence and take a few ranks in each of lots of different knowledge skills. That way, you can at least try to make checks on almost anything- and given time, you can prolly take 20 (especially with access to a decent library).

I'd also suggest going bard. You shouldn't be in combat much anyhow as a typical bard.

 

[Shadowdancer]

I also encourage you to go bard. Judging from your posts, you want to, you just can't seem to commit because your hung up on the chance of spell failure caused by armor.

Find a way to make the bard work! There are types of armor that don't have any chance of spell failure, or a very low one. A mithril chain-mail shirt, for example -- it's in the DM Guide. Take some feats that improve your AC. If you're starting as a 5th level bard, the Mage Armor spell is certainly viable.

You might consider a Bard/Sorcerer, since they both use the same primary stat -- Charisma. A couple of levels of sorcerer would give you flexibility in your spells -- a better range and more freedom in what you can cast and how often.

Maybe your character doesn't want people to know he is a sorcerer, so he dosen't tell anyone. Lets everyone think that all of his spell casting results from his bardic abilities. So you are free to cast buffing spells on the other party members without everyone wondering why you aren't casting fireballs at the enemy.

 

[zyzzyr]

Hi,

I've really been conflicted over what to take.

I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll have an arcane spell failure chance no matter what (whether I take rogue/transmuter or bard).

But unfortunately, bard just doesn't give me the skill points that I need, and my GM wants to stick with the book for now. I could probably get away with it if bard had 6 + int/level, but with 4 + int, no dice.

Besides which, a lot of the bard seems to be focussed around the idea that "music is magic", which I cannot stand. And I wouldn't be able to exchange Bardic Music for anything.

I am eventually going to take levels in Royal Explorer (from Song and Silence) - but one t hing is definitely off-putting: Disable Device and Open Lock are not class skills! I don't know what kind of exploring you're expected to do if you can't open a locked door. "We've made it through the pits of despair, the flame-breathing chuds, the mummy monk who had been guarding this temple for the past 2000 years. We have only now to open this door, behind which (we presume) is stored the fabulous scriptures of Amon-Ra, the oldest surviving text of that time. Whoops, it's locked. Ok, everyone, let's go home."

Terrible.

 

[Seule]

Having no idea whether your DM will allow it, I have to suggest a Seer, the divination specialist Psion. They get not bad skills and their abilities are dedicated to finding stuff out. It's probably not exactly what you are looking for, but It's worth looking into.

--Seule