Help with thematic character

[SnowKeeper216]

Hi there! Been planning on joining the server for awhile. I had an idea for a character. A drow trying to find their way back to the good elven gods. Whether they know they are searching for the good elven gods or not I haven't decided yet. I was going to go bard8/fighter3/bladesinger9. I saw Champion of Corellon Larethian and I thought perfect fit thematically and mechanically! But then I saw that Champion of Corellon Larethian can't be drow so bummer there. I thought maybe divine champion or maybe just go the rest in bard. I also wanted to take the feat Combat Insight feat for kicks and giggles mainly. And I was going for a strength of technique thing rather then strength of muscles thing. But going what 20 some levels with 10-12 base str is going to be rough lol. I was going to take the feat snowflake wardance but see you guys don't have that feat. Also bummer. Was really aiming for a music of combat type theme for this character.

I thought about going only going bladesinger 3 as really nothing in this class honestly does anything for me but seems wrong to just go 3 levels into it for a thematic character. Song of Celerity seems cool but I don't know if its actually good. My initial thought was the spell was forever on your weapon like an enchantment. But I think it actually casts the spell when you hit. Which is a lot less cool but more balanced. But I don't think I will have many spell slots to start with so not the best option. Might be good for boss killing though. As a bard the level 10 capstone ability is very useless. Taking another level of bard I think would be better. I don't think I need more then 3 fighter levels. All of course assuming the wiki is correct as I haven't actually even loaded into the server yet.

Any suggestions for feats or classes?

[Hydros]

I'd suggest Bard Fighter Dragonslayer, since you can't take Bladesinger as a drow. One of the requirements is to have a god of the Seldarine selected, and drow cannot select a member of the Seldarine.

[Snarfy]

Heyo!

So, for starters, drow can't mechanically take bladesinger, that class is for elves and Half elves only(drow got Deathsinger as an equivalent). Then there's also the little matter of drow being mechanically unable to choose any gods of the Seldarine upon creation.

Mechanical restrictions notwithstanding, attempting to roleplay a "drow trying to find their way back to the good elven gods" is likely going to be tantamount to trying to ice skate up a mountain side. Not only will your character likely be shunned by most drow, they will also likely receive very little in the way of a warm reception from any worshippers of the Elven pantheon. Basically, you're probably going to have a terrible time finding RP, and a Seldarine worshipping drow doesn't exactly jive with the setting, so you'll also run the risk of causing more than a few awkward/cringey moments for those who encounter your character.

Maybe consider looking into Eilistraee(or however you spell it), as her worshippers are likely less contentious as far as believability goes(or, even easier, just roll up an elf).

[Roofshadow]

Heya, and welcome to the server!

I don't know if you've checked it out yet, but there's a website called nwn2db that might have some interesting jumping off points to consider. If you put "BGTSCC" in the search field, you'll likely narrow it down to (mostly) builds people made for the server. If something looks cool, you can then take it to the BG JEGS server to test it out! I'm sure there's plenty of expert bard-builders about to answer the question properly, but it's a decent place to play around with ideas in the meantime if you're itching to get started.

Sometimes unorthodox builds can be incredibly fun to play, as well. I think I played around with a dex-based bard/fighter/shadowdancer once and it was fun, but I can't seem to find the build I had for it now, and it was quite a while ago.

As for the idea overall, sounds like a fun story, even if a few classes are locked out thematically. I don't play quite as much these days, but feel free to toss me a PM if you ever want to RP with an old wild elf experiencing their own struggles with faith.

[SnowKeeper216]

I did not know certain races were locked out of certain gods. Bummer. I will have to rethink the character. Well thank you for answering. I appreciate it.

[Steve]

Choose Favored Soul of Elistraae.

[DaloLorn]

One thing your OP doesn't consider: We've got 30 levels. You only specified 20 in your build plan.

An Eilistraeen Deathsinger could work (and there seems to be an uptick in Eilistraeen activity right now, so good timing! ), but with a few caveats:

• While Deathsinger is functionally equivalent to Bladesinger, the class is mostly incompatible with bards (you've already noticed one part of this!), and most Bladesinger players I know of have complained of its inadequacy (barring multiclassing into Champion of Corellon, but other posters have already established why that's never going to work for you). Your proposed build may experience difficulties in PvE, and despite my remark about growing Eilistraeen activity, there's still a good chance that you will need to be capable of soloing content with the current UD population. (Then again, I'm European. We tend to get the short end of the stick in online communities. )
• Pure bards are remarkably powerful. They're one of the few classes where I might advise against multiclassing, though the bard-specific PRCs (Dissonant Chord, Stormsinger) can still work without significantly reducing your bardic prowess.
• A fourth fighter level would be eligible for an extra bonus feat. If you choose to go down this route, it might be a worthwhile tradeoff. (Maybe. You'd probably want to sacrifice Deathsinger 9, which puts you down at CL26.)

You may find it worthwhile to pursue something more along the lines of Steve's Deathsinger/Shadowdancer, here: viewtopic.php?p=925688#p925688. It uses HiPS for the dual purpose of flatfooting enemies and breaking enemy targeting for a moment (most notably used to block every second spell an enemy tries to cast at you), and takes advantage of bardic music to bolster yourself and your party (including Hymn of Requiem, which simultaneously heals you and your allies and deals sonic damage to your enemies). Combat Insight is taken for a lot more than "kicks and giggles", in that context, since Steve seems to build for a base INT score of 22.

You'd lose a fair few feats, and you'd probably only have enough CHA to cast your spells, but your survivability and lethality would both shoot up compared to your proposed build, and you'd get closer to the "dance of death" theme you're aiming for.

You can ask Steve to give you the details, or I can try to reconstruct it from the information in his post if necessary. The timing on your posts suggests we won't see much of each other down there, but I'll keep an eye out for bladesinging Eilistraeens running around Rockrun.

[Deathgrowl]

Eilistraeen Deathsinger

I know it is possible in the rules. But it is a jarring word combination.

As far as builds go, I made a wizard10/ek10/bladesinger10 (which is effectively the same as death singer) when I was QC in 2019, and soloed the Serpent Hills with it, so it's relatively easy to build. This was strength based, in my case. In the build linked, "Resist Cold Energy" is Northlander hewing, which is pretty good for this.

Unfortunately, the steep requirements for bladesinger doesn't leave a lot of wiggleroom.

[DaloLorn]

Eilistraeen Deathsinger

I know it is possible in the rules. But it is a jarring word combination.

I mean, deathsingers aren't even a thing in PnP...

[SnowKeeper216]

Gonna be honest since everyone told me my character is impossible I have lost all motivation to try to make it work. Her worshiping the good elven gods was the core of what I wanted them to be so I am just going to drop the idea. I am just going to think of a different character. But thank you everyone for responding!

[Deathgrowl]

Gonna be honest since everyone told me my character is impossible I have lost all motivation to try to make it work. Her worshiping the good elven gods was the core of what I wanted them to be so I am just going to drop the idea. I am just going to think of a different character. But thank you everyone for responding!

It's not impossible to play a drow that worships the Seldarine! But bladesong is a rather sacred art among the elves, and not taught to drow. But if you want, I am happy to work with you to find some kind of build that fits your view, and lets be a drow that worships the Seldarine.

[SnowKeeper216]

Yeah in my head I would find the one bladesinger that would be willing to teach a drow. One that would be willing to trust the character and see that they are not evil like their kin. Then use that to become a Champion of Corellon Larethian. Most likely causing quite a stir. Thereby reconnecting with their elven ancestors and becoming, in their own mind, a purified elf. No longer attached to Lolth or the mistakes of the past.

And the reason they chased after bladesingers is because they kept hearing this song whenever they heard combat. This music when it came to fighting. That none of the drow could "play" this music. So they go wander off to find this music aka Bladesinger. I was going to have that "song" be an influence of the good elven gods as a way to return the character back to the light and away from Lolth.

So the fact that I can't do any of that with a drow is a real bummer. But it is what it is. I'll just think of another character.

[Moridin]

That concept sounds almost identical to Eilistraeeans. Eilistraee eventually even gets welcomed back into Arvandor. That happens 13 years from the server date, 12 after the Time of Troubles. A major part about her is song and bladedancing, and reclaiming ones rightful place on the surface. She is the only Dark Seldarine deity that has many allies in the Seldarine and has a large amount of her followers as surface elves.

[DM Dreamer]

Don't give up on your character concept! There are many lore nerds here, some of them you already met, that get their kicks out of helping people with creating a character that works in our setting. Furthermore, if you're in doubt know that DM team is always willing to help with character's biography - feel free to contact us via forum PM and someone will get back to you.

[Steve]

Deathsinger mechanical reqs:

Requirements[edit]
Race: Drow or Half-drow
Alignment: Any evil (or any good if worshiper of Eilistraee).

So get your goodly Drow fix on!