Thoughts on Fochlucan lyrist?

[GwydapLlew]

I'm considering starting a Bard PC who has the goal to become a Fochlucan lyrist (Comp Adv), but I was wondering what the general consensus was on the boards about the PrC.

It looks interesting - full BAB, full caster levels for both bard and druid, and full bonus for the bardic music and bardic knowledge class abilities. It does require quite a bit of multiclassing (Bard/Rogue/Druid being the most common route), but that doesn't cause my knees to tremble in fear.

The PC will start at 1st level, and is playing in the AoW AP, and my big fear would be to hit the higher levels and find out that the build is completely useless. Any thoughts?

 

[the Jester]

I really like the looks of this one- it's essentiall the 1e bard with a 3e twist. I love love love it. Haven't played one yet, but I dm far more than I play anyhow, so that isn't too surprising. I imagine the levels leading up to FL might be a little frustrating at times- after all, you'll be increasingly behind on spell power until you start getting the full advancement in both- but I think it would be worth it in the end.

I would play one in an instant, especially from 1st level on up.

 

[GwydapLlew]

I really like the looks of this one- it's essentiall the 1e bard with a 3e twist. I love love love it. Haven't played one yet, but I dm far more than I play anyhow, so that isn't too surprising. I imagine the levels leading up to FL might be a little frustrating at times- after all, you'll be increasingly behind on spell power until you start getting the full advancement in both- but I think it would be worth it in the end.

My thoughts exactly. I'm really liking the build - the only problem I foresee is that the first few levels are going to be slow going: I'm playing an aasimar, so keeping all three classes in balance are going to be tricky.

I'm the only real source of healing in the party, so I'm thinking of keeping the Druid levels a bit higher than the other two at the low levels, with the eventual build looking like this: Bard 4/Druid 3/Rogue 3/Fochlucan lyrist 10.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Unless you're really wedded to the aasimar race for some reason, I think gnome, human or half-elf would work better mechanically and, not coincidentally, flavor-wise, for a standard lyrist.

 

[qstor]

Fl

Unless you're really wedded to the aasimar race for some reason, I think gnome, human or half-elf would work better mechanically and, not coincidentally, flavor-wise, for a standard lyrist.

I have a lyrist in the RPGA Living Greyhawk campaign. I'm human Bard 7/Druid 1/Rog. 2/FL 4. I could see keeping your druid level's higher or taking the Natural Bond feat depending on what you want to do with your PC.

Mike

 

[GwydapLlew]

Unless you're really wedded to the aasimar race for some reason, I think gnome, human or half-elf would work better mechanically and, not coincidentally, flavor-wise, for a standard lyrist.

From a mechanical point of view, I agree. The general flavor is very human/half-elf friendly, and the gnome's favored class would assist as well. While I could drop the aasimar, the race itself is part of the PC's backstory, so while it would make it easier on me to have him be a more standard race, I'd end up with a different character. =)

 

[Jubilee]

I am also quite fond of this class and would like to play it someday; however, it looks very painful on paper from first level until you actually get a few levels in the class, so I'm hesitant to play it in a game where we start at first. I'm hoping to use it in another high level game someday.

I once plotted out such a character with maximized spellcasting in mind. Since you can't enter Fochlucan Lyricst until after 10th (13 ranks in perform: string), I decided to use the Green Whisperer Prestige class from Dragon 311. Also, I had been planning to use a human or a half elf, but with this build, you'd need something that has either rogue or no favored class not to get hit by experience penalties (or a nice GM who doesn't care about experience penalties).

The Green Whisperer requires any neutral alignment, knowledge (nature) 8 ranks, perform (any): 8 ranks, and survival of 5 ranks. I think the skill points can be worked out without having to cross class too many skills. The Green Whisperer, btw, advances druid & bard spellcasting, and is a 5 level class. It also gives you some bardic music, including a few new song abilities, and bardic knowledge. It has Cleric attack progression, and both fort & will are good saves.

Rogue 3/Druid 1/ Bard 1/ Green Whisperer 5/ Fochulan Lyricist 10

Good luck!

/ali

 

[Bront]

I had trouble coming to terms with the concept with what I was looking to do (I ended up creating a PrC, it's in the House Rules), but it is an interesting class if you're not looking to stick too religiously to Bard. Low levels, it seems painfully weak and unenjoyable.

Green Whisperer would work for boosted casting, and make the lower levels a little more playable.

 

[wmasters]

I always think it looks fun although I've never played the class. I'd concur that it looks a little weak at lower levels, and getting the prerequisites is a pain.

When I've looked at it I've looked at a slightly different route to get there, since I could never make the justification for Rogue levels instead of Bard (what I wanted to do with the Rogue levels was always carry on being a bard).

So as a slightly different build to get there, you can consider Bard 7/Druid 1/Master Thrower 2 (Master Thrower is from Complete Warrior).

For me the Master Thrower adds a bit of flavour that I don't see in the Rogue levels.

 

[Sandain]

I believe Master Thrower has class skills that are needed to qualify for (1st Ed) Bard. Rogues only have them as cross class so make it hard to get the ranks in perform that are needed.

Have you looked at Green Whisperer and/or Arcane Hierophant?