Substitution for 'bardic music' abilities?

[Driddle]

Your feedback, please, on viable alternatives to the bard's musical abilities or some other class adaptation/combination.

I'm looking to develop a character who all about getting to information, whether it's a matter of chatting with people (Gather Info and Knowledge skills), picking up on old legends (ala Bardic Knowledge), and maybe even a divination spell or two (arcane and/or divine magic) although I am reluctant to focus on the magic aspect. Unfortunately, I've got absolutely zero interest in the musical side of the bard's life, and I'm reluctant to wait 10 levels to get to the Loremaster prestige class abilities.

Ideas, anyone?

 

[Driddle]

By the way, my initial idea was to keep the game system elements for the bard class, but to simply ignore the musical special effects and treat them as some other pseudo-performance skill. The Cliff Clavin character from the old "Cheers" TV show comes to mind -- his recitation of esoteric trivia is just as mesmerizing and magical as any bard's song.

 

[Piratecat]

Off to House Rules we go. Vroom!

 

[Klaus]

Trade in the Bardic Music in exchange for the Wizard's bonus spells.

 

[DanMcS]

I'm in the same boat- a scholarly, knowledgeable character appealed to me, but the bard didn't. Here is something I was working on in this forum a couple of days ago, a medieval scholar.

 

[Man-thing]

I believe I heard on the Mongoose Boards that the Quintessential Bard II will have a number of alternate paths/forms of bardic music. Unfortunately its not out for a month yet.

 

[drdevoid]

Would a Rogue/Cloistered Cleric multiclass appeal to you?

 

[TheLe]

How about some Unorthodox Bards? Theres a free demo, which has some free abilities you can use.

Click image for free demo



~Le