Hipsing bard help

[CommanderKrieg]

Hey everyone,

I'd like to make a bardic hipsing killing machine concept. I know dread pirate works well with bard, so how could I build a hipsing bard that deals a lot of damage with a lot of skill points for disguises and so on?

I'd like to keep requiem idk how feasible that is. So what are my options for hipsing bard? I'd like high damage and high survivability

[CommanderKrieg]

Im thinking 27 bard 3 SD STR based

[chad878262]

Im thinking 27 bard 3 SD STR based

Yep, this is your best bet for full caster level. However, another option is Bard 22/Assassin 8. CL is only 26, but HiPS offers some protection and you gain an extra 4d6 sneak dice as well as a chance to paralyze out of stealth. Another option, if you are ok with less than 30 CL is Bard 21/DP6/SD3 which will get you +1 hit/damage from inspire courage (rally the crew stacks with Inspire Courage), free TWF/ITWF, and free luck of hero's. A PTWF Bard is rather feat starved so Dread Pirate only costs you Caster Level and in exchange you gain 2 feats you will take anyway and a third feat that is always nice to have. CL with this one is only 25 and you lose out on the sneak damage, but you get a little more AB (DP is High BAB progression) and with improved inspiration 1st level spell you'll have +6 hit/damage from inspire courage.

[CommanderKrieg]

Oh wow, that sounds awesome. Are there any of these builds on the NWNdb I can check out? I like to weigh up stats of each against the other.

[chad878262]

What race?

[Flasmix]

Gray Orc.

[CommanderKrieg]

Human or half elf which ever works best

[chad878262]

Human or half elf which ever works best

http://nwn2db.com/build/?262989

Here is a Human version... Once I built it, it became clear that going to DP 6 wasn't as good as it seemed at first. The issue is that you have to take DP to 6 pre-epic in order to get ITWF and open up GTWF. This causes you to lose the ability to take Hymn of Requiem, which is unacceptable!

This way works better as you get 28 CL, Expose Weakness, PTWF, Chorus of Heroism (for when you have a party) and Hymn of Requiem.

Half-elf will have one less pre-epic feat, which does not work as well since you really don't want to lose Curse Song OR Lingering Song and those are really your only options.

You could end your build taking Dread Pirate to 5 for Luck of Hero's, but you lose your bonus epic feat and 2 CL which just isn't worth it.

I didn't complete the skills, you'll put those how you want them anyway, but this should get you started.

[aaron22]

here you go.
http://nwn2db.com/build/?262992

[CommanderKrieg]

*Notices the orc race*

See what you did Flasmix!

[Flasmix]

*Notices the orc race*

See what you did Flasmix!

[Sun Wukong]

Hey everyone,

I'd like to make a bardic hipsing killing machine concept. I know dread pirate works well with bard, so how could I build a hipsing bard that deals a lot of damage with a lot of skill points for disguises and so on?

I'd like to keep requiem idk how feasible that is. So what are my options for hipsing bard? I'd like high damage and high survivability

Bard 27/Shadowdancer 3, ability score requirements: 19 Dexterity and enough in charisma to reach at least 16. Used to be 13, but if you got a spare +4 charisma item, 12 is enough. The rest of your ability points can be spent on Strength. (You could be an orc, or a half-orc.)

At bard level 27, you acquire 'Inspire Competence +8' - an inspiriration that gives you +8 on your skills. It is the same as having +16 Dexterity, so when it comes to sneaking and having that optimal sneaking equipment, you are a 'hipster' with the practical dexterity score of 39~ (Cat's Grace spell included.)

Thus you have no need to spend a feat on Weapon Finesse, and Improvoved/Greater/Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting. You can make do with Power Attack + Improved Power Attack or just Northlander Hewing.

Another option would be sticking with high dexterity and going for a Crossbower, but that takes even more feats than the two-weapon fighting. It works well with a Fighter 4/Bard 26 though!