Where to go with a bard?

[TracerBullet42]

You could try levels in the swashbuckler class from out of the Complete Warrior book.[/QUOTE=TracerBullet42]

As I currently do not have this book can you give me an idea as to what sort of skills, feats and Special abilities such a class has.

Well, they have fighter BAB, Good FORT saves, weapon finesse, bonus to REF saves, INT bonus to damage with light weapons, Dodge bonuses to AC, Acrobatic Charge (through tougher terrains), Improved Flanking, Lucky (rerolls), Slippery Mind, Weakening Critical, Acrobatic Skill Mastery, Wounding Critical...

They have d10 HD and get 4+INT bonus skill points to use on their pretty decent skill list...

Looks like a cool class to me.

 

[Ottergame]

Swashbuckler doesn't have perform as a class skill though.

 

[heimdall]

Flamboyant swordsman? You always have the option of picking up levels of Rogue. Lots of skill points to throw towards tumbling, balance, etc. A lot of the same core skills. Also, you start getting the sneak attack damage when you can flank and the uncanny dodge/imrpoved uncanny dodge to eliminate the same being done to you.

 

[Tessarael]

Unfettered, from Arcana Unearthed by Monte Cook, is the best swashbuckling prestige class I've seen. I prefer it to both Swashbuckler and the Duelist prestige class. (By best, I don't mean unbalanced - I mean allowing light armor and two weapons, or weapon and shield - no limitations that make it terrible for AC.)

Basic progression of Unfettered:

BAB 1/1, HD d8, skill points 4+INT
1st level: parry (+INT bonus to AC vs. one melee opponent)
2nd level: bonus feat
3rd level: -
4th level: sneak attack +1d6
5th level: -
6th level: bonus feat
7th level: parry ranged attack (+INT bonus to AC vs. one ranged opponent)
8th level: sneak attack +2d6
9th level: evasion
10th level: bonus feat
...

That's enough levels for you to scope out your character. Now if you want to advance both combat ability and spellcasting ability, Dragon Disciple is okay - you'll get some more spells and increased STR. Bladesinger, Spellsword, and Eldritch Knight are also options (the first two are in Complete Warrior), but they won't directly improve your combat damage.

Just my thoughts ...

 

[Darklone]

Kingdoms of Kalamar has the Basiran Dancer variant bard class... more a swordsman and martial artist than the normal bard. Stealth & Style is the sourcebook with many background infos and prestigeclasses (and other crunch) for the class.

It's partially in the update sheets on their page if you wanna have a look.

As for houserules: PlaneSailing has a Sneak attack feat somewhere, prerequs BAB +4 or so... similar to Niffts feat up there, but not as strong

 

[Plane Sailing]

Sumi actually plays in my campaign, although this bard character is in another campaign which we are both players in.

Hi Sumi!

(anyone who thinks bards are rubbish just hasn't been on adventures with decent bards - the singing and spells like Good Hope make the bard probably the most potent force-multiplier out there!)


Anyway, to continue with the thread: I've got a copy of Arcana Unearthed if you want to have a look at the Unfettered character class and run it by Guido. Ian Bailey has the Kingdoms of Kalamar and although he's moved away you might be able to borrow his copy for a while to check up the "Basirian Dancer". I found a bit of info on the net which says

The Basiran Dancer is similar to a bard in that they're entertainers with the good old d6 hit dice, limited spell casting ability, and abilities to use their performance ability, in this case dance, to influence those around them. Because of their focus on movement, when they gain bonus feats, they come from a list that encourages movement and even combat. For example, Dodge, Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Improved Unarmed Strike or Quick Draw to name a few. Because of their high fitness level, physical activities like climb, escape artists, jump and tumble are easier for them, gaining bonuses the increase as they raise in level.

 

[qstor]

You might multiclass in fighter or rogue, depending on your race. Or wizard if you're an elf.

Mike

 

[sumi]

Flamboyant swordsman? You always have the option of picking up levels of Rogue. Lots of skill points to throw towards tumbling, balance, etc. A lot of the same core skills. Also, you start getting the sneak attack damage when you can flank and the uncanny dodge/imrpoved uncanny dodge to eliminate the same being done to you.

Flamboyant is the Errol Flynn style of attack. The charcter has the flouncy hat and feather that is nearly always getting singed. He fights with flair and honour. That means that he generally fights 6 opponents at once, so sneak attacks are not his style. This allows the rest of the party to take their time in deciding what to do. The problem is that he would rather one or two were defeated by the end of the 4th round rather than slightly cut. Hence the predicament!

He generally has a Attack bonus of 14 due to weapon finese, Dex 21 (cats grace spell), weapon focus and +1 weapon. Some of the bonus is removed for defence, using the expertise feat. However, it still leaves him doing a 1d6+1 damage, +3 if he is inspiring himself. This means that the poor giant is going to be bored by the time his life is actually threatened. Increased damaged is required, (especially as the CR's are getting higher) just to ensure survival.

 

[diaglo]

i'm currently playing a human bard too. just reached 9th lvl.

i took spellcasting prodigy and dodge for 1st lvl
mobility for 3rd lvl
spring attack for 6th lvl
and combat expertise for 9th lvl.

guess what i'm taking at 12th.

 

[sumi]

i'm currently playing a human bard too. just reached 9th lvl.

i took spellcasting prodigy and dodge for 1st lvl
mobility for 3rd lvl
spring attack for 6th lvl
and combat expertise for 9th lvl.

guess what i'm taking at 12th.

Could you be taking Whirlwind attack by any chance.

My Bard is Elven, but wants to be human. He thinks humans are bold and go-getting. They are much more adventurous than elves who stay at home and sing the same old songs for thousands of years and tell stories about their youth 3,000 years ago when the world was young and not so rebellious---yawn, yawn, yawn.

The problem is that the party he is with is not very good at fighting -anything. The fighters are usually so dumb they get themselves killed and we cannot be bothered to raise people that stupid.
Even with whirlwind attack he can attack 6 gribblies and do 1d6 +1 or +3 dam and that will now take me till 21st level to acquire. Can you picture a 20th level Bard fighting a Pit Fiend doing 1d6+1 dam, +4 inspiration to save his friends from a nasty death. The Pit Fiend will be laughing on his whip.