Fascinate: what am I missing?

[Thank Dog]

So I've read and heard from a few people that the bard ability Fascinate is really good. I don't get it. What am I missing about this ability that makes it anything other than situationally ordinary?

In fact, apply that to any aspect of the bard. I actually love the bard class in Pathfinder and am keen to play one, but there seem to be a number of abilities that are very meh. I don't particularly care but it would be good to know of things that they can be used for that I might not have considered, or would otherwise consider normally.

For the record, here's my build: Garesteth Amistil.

[mplindustries]

It's not really good--it's practically a waste of ink. Only Suggestion gives it any use at all, and even that is iffy because it requires multiple saves. Where are people suggesting it's really good? I've never heard anyone praise it.

[Cheapy]

Fascinate is an out of combat ability, that's mostly there to let you strumpet around getting attention while the rogue sneaks away. People who misread it probably think it's really good, because they miss the whole "out of combat" thing.

There are some niche builds that can make good use of it. Namely, the Celebrity bard at level 8 gets an ability that makes it able to be used in combat, so it suddenly becomes a not-horrible thing to do. With the -4 penalty to saves to break the effect (not to avoid it, but eh), it's a bit of a sticky thing.

This, coupled with the fact that freelancers tend to have feats, traits, or items that boost fascinate since it's a bit weak, means that you could theoretically focus on Fascinate to make it viable, even if it's not exceptional.

And then with the Ifrit's Hypnotic ability...yea, it could probably work out.

[stuart haffenden]

You're playing Freddie Mercury?

[Cheapy]

adds a new sheet of paper to the character ideas pile

[Dragonchess Player]

stuart haffenden wrote:

You're playing Freddie Mercury?

Here we are! Born to be kings!

We're the Princes of the Universe!

Cheapy wrote:

adds a new sheet of paper to the character ideas pile

I've paid my dues,

Time after time.
I've done my sentence,
But committed no crime.

And bad mistakes,
I've made a few.
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face,
But I've come through!

/threadjack

[Rerednaw]

Thank Dog wrote:

So I've read and heard from a few people that the bard ability Fascinate is really good. I don't get it. What am I missing about this ability that makes it anything other than situationally ordinary?

In fact, apply that to any aspect of the bard. I actually love the bard class in Pathfinder and am keen to play one, but there seem to be a number of abilities that are very meh. I don't particularly care but it would be good to know of things that they can be used for that I might not have considered, or would otherwise consider normally.

For the record, here's my build: Garesteth Amistil.

I love bards. My issue with bards in *Society* play is that while a bard makes your party better, you are never in a situation where you have to have one. Because a bard is a generalist, by definition anything a bard can do a specialist can do better.

And yes, Fascinate sucks in Society play. It is far more useful in home games where a GM can script a game around more non-combat and social interaction.

Granted all that hasn't stopped me from playing one :)