Rogue/Bard Prc?

[Herzog]

Ok, after sifting through every 3.5 book I own (and several friends of me own) I have ended my search for PrC with.... Arcane trickster from the DMG....

There's only one thing missing from that PrC that I would prefer over continued spellcasting: continued Bardic Music.

So, my question to the combined rules knowledge of this board is, do you know of a prestige class that improves sneak attack AND bardic music? (continued spellcasting is nice, but optional....)

Herzog

 

[Kat']

Nothing comes to my mind right now...

There's a very strong PrC for bards that "requires" you to take a few levels of Rogue or Monk (or any class granting Evasion), the Fochlucan Lyrist. Easiest access is Rogue 2 (or Monk 2)/Bard x/Druid y with x+y=8, depending on the orientation you want your char to take. It's a full BAB, full arcane AND divine casting PrC with 6 Skill Points that increases Bardic Music. Very potent, but with harsh prerequisites.

 

[Darklone]

My favorite entrance to the Fochlucan lyrist if your DM allows Dragon feats:

Start with 1 level of scout and the Swift Avenger feat... add 4 levels druid and one level bard and finish with Bladesinger for evasion and IIRC two levels of Green whisperer...Green whisperer and the swift feat can be found at crystalkeep.

This gives level 17 druid spellcasting... good bardic music, access to improved skirmish and a good BAB with lotsa skillpoints.

 

[Kat']

Yeah, well, he'd have to allow Dragon prestige classes too, and Green Whisperer has incredibly easy prereqs (only skills! no spellcasting or class abilities required!), so easy it is nearly unbalanced. BTW, Swift Avenger has ridiculous prereqs too... all other Swift feats require 3 levels of scout (Skirmish +1d6/+1AC), and I believe a feat that advances Wild Shape should at least have Wild Shape 1/day as a prerequisite, but that's just me...

May I point out that you can't take Swift Avenger as a first level feat, 'cause it requires at least one level of druid and one of scout? And that you do not have enough feat slots by level 6 to meet the prerequisites for Bladesinger? Not even by level 9? Plus I believe you got your math wrong, you'd get only 16 druid caster levels (4 druid + 2GW + 10 Fochlucan).

 

[moritheil]

Arcane Hierophant is something to consider if going with Fochluchan Lyrist. It isn't too bad at filling in spare levels.

Oh, have you looked at Daggerspell Mage? It advances casting and sneak attack, but not music.

Also, consider being a Lillend or Tulani, or some race that advances music based on total HD.

 

[Ruslanchik]

Fochlucan Lyricist is commonly suggested as a PrC on these boards. In fact, when I saw the title of this thread I though, "Fochlucan Lyricist!" However, it has such ridiculous prereqs that it extremely impractical to make one. Has anyone ever played one? It seems like the perfect class for a solo campaign or for a small party of similarly multi-talented characters. I would love to hear anyone's experiences playing one.

Sorry for the highjack. @ OP: is Bardic Music progression more or less important than Sneak Attack or spellcasting?

 

[Herzog]

ok, some replies:

FL is a nice upgrade/specialization from MT, just as AH is.
However, both require you to take levels in a divine spellcasting class, and are focussed on increasing spellcasting.

I'm not looking for that.

What I am looking for is a way to multiclass my (existing)Bard with Rogue (or maybe other class that gives sneak attack or sudden strike, as long as it is applicable to ranged attacks) and then pick up a prestige class that advances both.

My current choice is AT, as mentioned in the first post.

However, AT increases sneak attack and spellcasting.

What I am actually looking for is a PrC that advances sneak attack and bardic music.

so, in order of importance:

1. Sneak attack progression.
2. Bardic Music Progression
3. Spellcasting progression.

I've allready looked at PrC's like the cloaked dancer, and although it fits with the idea I'm having, I think the sudden strike of that class is too limited to be applicable in 'normal' combat.

 

[Darklone]

Yeah, well, he'd have to allow Dragon prestige classes too, and Green Whisperer has incredibly easy prereqs (only skills! no spellcasting or class abilities required!), so easy it is nearly unbalanced. BTW, Swift Avenger has ridiculous prereqs too... all other Swift feats require 3 levels of scout (Skirmish +1d6/+1AC), and I believe a feat that advances Wild Shape should at least have Wild Shape 1/day as a prerequisite, but that's just me...

May I point out that you can't take Swift Avenger as a first level feat, 'cause it requires at least one level of druid and one of scout? And that you do not have enough feat slots by level 6 to meet the prerequisites for Bladesinger? Not even by level 9? Plus I believe you got your math wrong, you'd get only 16 druid caster levels (4 druid + 2GW + 10 Fochlucan).

You´re right, these Dragon feats and prestige classes are mostly very poorly balanced and Swift Avenger is a shining example... though it´s still considerably weaker than Swift Hunter IMHO

The Bladesinger class can be used though to advance divine spellcasting too, that´s where the last druid spellcasting level comes from Though it´s close to houserules too since that class is FR and nearly 3.0.

Now back on topic:
A class that advances bardic music and sneak attack...

Just checked crystalkeep... you can try again but I didn´t see a class in the bards list that´s in the rogues list too... except for the ones who don´t increase either sneak attack or bardic music.