the bard's broken ... in a good way

[darkbard]

Actually,

I was planning on something very similar with my next character - getting 1 level of Bard and taking the Feat from Song and Silence that adds 4 additional bardic uses per day......

Also, perform is a class skill for rogues.

ah! i had forgotten about that. good point. so your bard 1/cleric 8 [i goofed on the minimum level for skill rank 12 earlier] could essentially inspire greatness 5 times a day (though still only on one ally at a time).

 

[Epametheus]

Perform isn't class-exclusive; it's just cross-class for everyone but bards, rogues, monks, and some prestige classes.

Being able to advance bardic music without taking bardic levels doesn't make much a difference. If you take just a single level of bard and then take another class, you basically just wasted a level. A straight cleric with Prayer, Aid, and Bless can pretty much cover (if not top) anything a bard could do with bardic mysic. Getting a 5-round duration 1/day ability isn't worth setting back your casting progression.

Fascinate/Suggestion would be the only thing the cleric probably wouldn't be able to do, but all it takes to counter that is for the target to close its eyes...

 

[Christian]

The perform skill is not exclusive, merely cross-class for anyone but Bards, monks, and rogues. That means advancing it is pretty darned expensive.

Hmmm ... pondering the monk/bard ...

Ex-Bards: A bard who becomes lawful in alignment cannot progress in levels as a bard, though he retains all his bard abilities.

I think I have another character with which to annoy my DM!

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

Hmmm ... pondering the monk/bard ...



I think I have another character with which to annoy my DM!

My friend played a monk/bard once. His performances were all recitations of philosophical musings from the ancient masters. He *really* irritated the necromancer.

 

[Utrecht]

Getting a 5-round duration 1/day ability isn't worth setting back your casting progression.

I agree wholeheartedly with this - if your other class is anything that has a progression associated with it, it is just not worth it. However, if your other class is rogue or monk, it might be work it.

doing the Bard1/RogueX has a couple of advantages to it - especially if you are creating a Charisma based rogue (like I am)

1) It opens up the Bards spell list - making use magic device a little less "urgent"

2) It improves both the Reflex and willpower saves

3) Gives Bardic Music - being able to help your friends is always a good thing.

Now granted you are giving up progression in To Hit and sneak attack - but I am willing to sacrifice.

 

[Henry]

My friend played a monk/bard once. His performances were all recitations of philosophical musings from the ancient masters. He *really* irritated the necromancer.

Another great idea stolen for use in another future D&D campaign. Thanks, Meepo!

As for Bards in general, I've also been dying to try one as a sort of "mystical diplomat." Y'know, the guy who can speak EVERYONE'S language, can convince eskimos to move to the sahara, who can actually TALK wounds into closing shut, who can inspire all friends and demoralize all foes with just a word or two - but who can't pick up a weapon effectively to save his life. The bard is perfect for this, because he technically doesn't need music to cast his spells and use his abilities - all he needs is the power of his own voice.

 

[Tom Cashel]

One thing that never gets mentioned in these "You only need the first level of Ranger/Bard/etc. to get all the cool powers" threads is the fact that committing a PC to a certain multiclass option severely limits advancement in anything else, unless you want to invoke the x.p. penalty. Even humans will hit the wall eventually, as a PC in my group (Rgr/Rog/Clr) found out.

 

[Pazu]

Bards rock!

Ironically, the first character I tried to put together for 3e was also a monk/bard. Seems like the combination has a certain appeal.

Another fun "thought experiment" is to see what various arcane prestige classes look like when a bard takes them, especially if they're obviously geared towards wizards or sorcerors. Bardic fatespinners, bardic alienists, mmm...

Of course, I was left wondering whether the bard gains any benefit from the first hit die increase (d6) gained by becoming a dragon disciple. Anyone know?

Playing mix-and-match with campaign settings is amusing, too, if your DM lets you*. Imagine a bard (with his maxed-out Charisma, naturally) taking ranks in Iaijutsu Focus and Ki Shout/Great Ki Shout as feats. And a bardic witch hunter could be pretty darn cool.

Anyway, enough rambling.

-- Pazu

* I once suggested to a DM, during another "Bards are weak" discussion, that since bards were meant to be these great travelers and wanderers, he should allow them to pick skills and feats from other campaign settings that wouldn't normally be allowed to other types of characters (except maybe rangers). He seemed to think it could make for some interesting effects.

 

[Mistwell]

Another great idea stolen for use in another future D&D campaign. Thanks, Meepo!

As for Bards in general, I've also been dying to try one as a sort of "mystical diplomat." Y'know, the guy who can speak EVERYONE'S language, can convince eskimos to move to the sahara, who can actually TALK wounds into closing shut, who can inspire all friends and demoralize all foes with just a word or two - but who can't pick up a weapon effectively to save his life. The bard is perfect for this, because he technically doesn't need music to cast his spells and use his abilities - all he needs is the power of his own voice.

You may want to check out the Diplomancer prestige class from Book of Eldritch Might II, written by our very own D&D 3e PHB writer Monte Cook. It's right up your alley.

 

[garyh]

One character I DMed was a Half-Elf Rogue/Bard. He was very effective, mixing support magic and song with sneak attacks and dealing with traps and locks. I definitely think Rog/Brd is a good mix.