Buffmaster flex...A bard's tale

[DreadArtemis]

Was thinking of going bard25/thaumaturge 5
Focusing on using greater planar binding spells and the dearth of buffs, inspirations, and songs.
I know I know...another terrible idea...
Some ideas:
Strength build: Don't want to let the summons have all the fun. End Str at 28 and swing around weapons to fit in with the gang.

Charisma build: Overlord type. Manipulator. Using control magic to alter the battlefield and lead from the rear. I figure I can fight a little bit with this one, but much more support based.


Thinking evil because why not. I know the scrolls will get expensive but I figured this would be a decent all arounder character. I plan on taking able learner and have some decent skills at least. Will be taking chorus of heroism as well as hymn.


Any ideas? I built it in JEGS and was pleased that thaumaturge allows a bard option for spell progression.


Anyone try something like this before? I know I could throw some levels in blackguard in there and go for the EDM if I really wanted to swing it, but just wasn't jiving with me when I was looking at everything.

Thanks again!

[chad878262]

Bard doesn't get Greater Planar Binding on the spell list... You're using scrolls? They'll be at UMD caster level of the scroll (~15) not your Bard's caster level (~30) and thus any time a Dispel Magic or Greater Dispel hits will very likely unsummon the Planar Cohort.

Once Dispelled you are either using another scroll or using contingent summoning which won't summon anything decent (best bard summoning spell = Summon Creature VI...ouch).

I suppose if you never go to locations with dispels you can have fun with your scroll summoned permanent cohort, but in the end I think it would get frustrating.

[DreadArtemis]

Yeah I know they will be rather dispellable.
The charisma version will be primarily a spellcaster, and I intend on finding some evil people to gang up with. Im sure no one will say no to tasty bard songs. I wonder if theres a ton of morally flexible bards out there. If not, I intend to build one

[Planehopper]

I tried it during the last RCR period. It was great conceptually, and I think the RP of it all is pretty cool. Especially if you find a named summon, and RP that you're doing all of this because of them, etc.. its a very bardic thing to do, to dabble where they dont belong.

But it is as Chad says. It is far from optimal and likely only viable because, in the end, you're still a bard 25 and they are pretty darn good. Trying to keep your summons around through dispels or when players decide to banish/dismiss them, quickly exposes the whole idea as shtick.

That all said.. if you are looking for the RP of it, and not the uber-bad-mamajama of it, you will probably be fine because you are a bard and they can pretty much tolerate a 5 level off-dip into whatever and still be good in a party and decent by themselves.

[DreadArtemis]

Thanks for the insight.

Do you think perhaps a strength build would be smarter then for survivability?

If I went charisma build I could nab the feat for +1 to bard songs as my charisma will be high enough at the end, and my control spells will have a better DC as well as more spells.

Also, does the natural leader background trait actually work? +1 to all my allies would be worth the loss in saves.

[Deathgrowl]

Instead of thaumaturge, consider Palemaster. Bard20/Palemaster10 is pretty good, and the palemaster summons are the best long-duration summons you can have on the server apart from the druid companion.

[DreadArtemis]

Bard Palemaster?????

That sounds rather delightful. Does palemaster add to bard caster levels? I suppose I will miss out on some bard feats but man undead are even more fun than outsiders.

Sounds like a dirgesinger to me. I did enjoy playing one on tabletop.

[Tsidkenu]

I will say that a bard's Legionaire's March song can turn even a Summon Creature I into a murderous ball of death.

I was part of a UD DM event and we had about 12 animate dead skeletons summoned. We encountered a large group of orcs. I used Legionaire's March and the skeletons annihilated everything. There is some merit to the idea if you can get your BAB right up (or use scrolls/potions of divine power).

[DreadArtemis]

legionnaires march would solve the low AB issue on the skellies....
I might roll one up now and try it.
I foresee finding friends will be challenging hahahaha

[chad878262]

I'd recommend STR bard for Palemaster. You'll have solid AC and immunity to critical hits so might as well get up close and personal...

[DreadArtemis]

bummer I will miss out on hymn and song of Requiem. That would be rather fun with all the deadites keeping them alive. I suppose the song of regen will help heal them up after fights.

Do any of you know if the natural leader trait works as advertised? Or is it broken?

[Tsidkenu]

Regen inspiration does not heal undead, although Hymn of Requiem most certainly does. Pale Master gets Heal as a class skill and full STR bard means you can carry 60-80 kits around so there's that as a backup option.

Natural Leader is for for OC only and is only an RP feat on BGTSCC.