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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kahuna Burger" data-source="post: 2501259" data-attributes="member: 8439">I think there are two very good roles a bard can play, but one depends on your DM and the type of game he runs, and the other could be frustrating if the other players don't show appriciation.The first is the investigator. More than just the Face, who gets you a job, the one who finds out a job exists at all. the one who can find anything, or find anything out. High int and cha, and don't skimp on the wisdom. half elf is good, with bonuses to gather info and diplomacy. Max the gather info, sense motive, make sure to investthe 5 ranks in know: local for the bonus to gather info, and Know: history to up your bardic knowlege. Spells such as scry, locate object, clairvoyance are good, but don't neglect charm person and speak with animals. Consider multiclassing with ranger for tracking and spot and listen. And choose human or the most common race as your favored enemy, because those bonuses to sense motive and tracking are just as useful as the combat ones. The problem with this build is that many DMs will simply make it worthless.  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f641.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":(" title="Frown    :("  data-smilie="3"data-shortname=":(" /> the half orc barbarian will get just as much information by saying "I ask around" as your optimised info gathering machine will - enough to point you at the next fight, not enough to let you prepare a strategic advantage. Your bardic knowlege will never tell you anything the DM is saving for later, your tracking skill will always be foiled if it would allow you to be more proactive than the DM wants. You must find out if this is your DM before engaging in thise sort of build, because you will be setting the gaming table on fire by the end of the 5th session if you don't. The second build, which I am toying with, is the ultimate support character. Obviously bardic music is a big part of this, and gives attack and damage bonuses that stack with almost everything. But there's more. Take cure spells, or better yet invest in wands. Use Flare, Fear, Rage, etc. There are some great spells in complete adventurer, one of which is a swift action to improve your insipre courage, and one to give all of your allies additional flanking bonuses and bonus damage when flanking. Take combat expertise, improved trip and improved disarm, and put that whip proficiency to good use. Knock foes down so your allies can hit them when they're prone, and take away their weapons as your followup attack. do it all from 15 feet away. And don't forget dispel magic and break enchantment at higher levels.As for the poncy singing bard, just say no if you don't like it. My current bard uses perform oratory and gives rousing speeches, encouragement and tactical suggestions. Get a drum and pretend to be in the minutemen. do whatever you like.</blockquote>

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