The ArchBard

[Chaos_Kitten]

I know the same sounds horribly unoptimized already, but hear me out. I've managed to get myself enamored of the idea of playing a bard who becomes an archmage. Sort of in the vein of "I'll show all of you haters and doubters". Human would be the best way to go with the bonus feat and extra skill points. Since this is most likely to be GreyHawk Campaign then she would worship Wee Jas. Here's my bare bones idea for the build so far.

1 Bard (Melodic Casting, Skill Focus: Spellcraft)
2 Bard
3 Bard (Spell Focus: Evocation)
4 Bard
5 Bard
6 Bard (Spell Focus: Enchantment or Necromancy)
7 Bard 6/Lyric Thaumaturge 1
8 Bard 6/ Lyric Thaumaturge 2 (Captivating Melody)
9 Bard 6/Lyric Thaumaturge 4
10 Bard 6/ Lyric Thaumaturge 4
11 Bard 6/ Lyric Thaumaturge 4/ Sublime Chord 1
12 Bard 6/ Lyric Thaumaturge 4/ Sublime Chord 2
13 Bard 6/ Lyric Thaumaturge 5/ Sublime Chord 2
14 Bard 6/ Lyric Thaumaturge 6/ Sublime Chord 2
15 Bard 6/ Lyric Thaumaturge 7/ Sublime Chord 2
16 Bard 6/ Lyric Thaumaturge 8/ Sublime Chord 2
17 Bard 6/ Lyric Thaumaturge 9/ Sublime Chord 2
18 Bard 6/ Lyric Thaumaturge 9/ Sublime Chord 2/ Archmage 1
19 Bard 6/ Lyric Thaumaturge 9/ Sublime Chord 2/ Archmage 2
20 Bard 6/ Lyric Thaumaturge 9/ Sublime Chord 2/ Archmage 3

A build that is a lot more busy than I usually prefer, but I think it gets the job done. Applying the later levels of Lyric Thaumaturge to Sublime Chord works the progression for higher level spells. Lyric Thaumaturge also gives one bonus fifth and one bonus sixth level spell at level nine. So I would just squeak by with five fifth level spells; one from each school of magic.

The feats I have in place are written in stone to get the classes I need. I figure this character could focus on the many bard sonic spells and be a Blaster Jr. Sonic Might helps quite a bit with that?

Suggestions? What do you think? Or perhaps everyone is gouging out their eyes at the sheer horror of it.

 

[Ty]

I don't know as if you can use Lyric Thaumaturge to advance Sublime Chord. LT specifically advances bard caster level. I guess if you read Sublime Chord broadly enough as a "bard caster level", it works but just a potential problem I saw.

 

[satori01]

As TY said it is shaky ground whether it is possible, but not an overwhelming combo. I would not focus on the Bard Evocation spells....it is just not the class' forte.

You also might consider dropping or reducing the Archmage levels for more Sublime Cord Levels. 6 levels of Sublime Cord nets you Song of Timelessness which is a pretty cool power. You will also be able to meet the Archmage 5th level spell requirements by taking Extra Spell at the same time.

 

[Chaos_Kitten]

I don't know as if you can use Lyric Thaumaturge to advance Sublime Chord. LT specifically advances bard caster level. I guess if you read Sublime Chord broadly enough as a "bard caster level", it works but just a potential problem I saw.

The DM said it was fine. He doesn't think it's going to be a problem. He finds the concept interesting also.

 

[Chaos_Kitten]

As TY said it is shaky ground whether it is possible, but not an overwhelming combo. I would not focus on the Bard Evocation spells....it is just not the class' forte.

You also might consider dropping or reducing the Archmage levels for more Sublime Cord Levels. 6 levels of Sublime Cord nets you Song of Timelessness which is a pretty cool power. You will also be able to meet the Archmage 5th level spell requirements by taking Extra Spell at the same time.

The bonus spells I get from Lyric Thaumaturge should push me up to the requirement. Again the DM doesn't mind me applying LT to SC.

 

[satori01]

With the limited # of high level spell slots available to you with this build, I'm not sure 3 levels of Archmage is the way to go. Arcane Fire requires a sacrifice of a 9th level spell which leaves you with a base of 1. Most of the other powers require a sacrifice of a 5th or 7th level spell slot.

For a Sorcerer this would be fine. For a Bard, not so much.
I personally think Song of Timelessness is equivalent to an 8th or 9th level spell. You can use it to keep a friend alive in a dire circumstance, or to remove a baddie from the field of play, especially when fighting a large # of baddies.

Choice is of course yours.

 

[Thaniel]

By any chance will this character's name be Archibald?

 

[Bad Paper]

What the heck is Lyric Thamaturge?

EDIT: aha, Complete Mage cheese, and yes, you are missing a U

 

[Joshua Randall]

By any chance will this character's name be Archibald?

You, sir, are a genius.

Chaos_Kitten, we demand that your character be named Archibald.

 

[Bad Paper]

Suggestions? What do you think? Or perhaps everyone is gouging out their eyes at the sheer horror of it.

I love the work here. So now that you've got your Archmage, what are you going to do with it? Which High Arcana are you going to grab? maybe Spell Power, Arcane Reach, and Arcane Fire? Just guessing here, but I think Arcane Fire is a must.