| Frank Kyle |
Well it is time to start up my 2nd ever PFS character. My first one was a real success after getting input from the community to help me hammer down the fuzzy parts builds. Starting Level 2.
I am once again calling on the community to help me hammer out the finer details of my Pathfinder Society character. Here is my character:
Name: Unknown (still thinking on it)
Gender: Female (Time to really dig deeper into Role-playing.)
Class: Vanilla Bard (no Archetype)
Str:8 Dex:14 Con:12 Int:12 Wis:10 Cha:19
Traits: Charming for sure!
Eastern Mysteries?? (something that will increase my Saves further?)
Favored Class Bonuses First 2 levels goes into HP. After level 2 I will take the extra Spell.
Feats:
H-Improved Initiative
1-Spell Focus- Enchantment
3-Lingering Performance
5-Greater Spell Focus- Enchantment
7-Heighten Spell (This is the only questionable Feat)
9-Spell Penetration
11-Discordant Voice
Versatile Performances:
2nd Level- Oratory (Diplomacy/Sense Motive)
6th Level- Dance(Fly & Acrobatics)
10th Level- Percussion(Handle Animal & Intimidate)
The Skills are going to be the Difficult Pick. I typically play classes that do not get so many skills. Add in Versatile Performances it starts to get more complicated. Well I saw something Pretty in a post a while back that makes it even more difficult.
Pageant of the Peacock
I have not really looked into the other Masterpieces so I'm open to other suggestions and if one catches my Eye, I might work it in. But For sure I want PotP in my build. I was thinking 5th level.
Now why do I want PotP. Well the Character's Ideal popped into my head. The old saying: Fake it Until you Make it. That is EXACTLY what Pageant of the Peacock does. I fake knowing Stuff. all Knowledge, Linguistic, Spell Craft checks, Profession, Appraise, Craft, and INT checks will be a Bluff check. I will be Maxing Bluff for sure. But that is alot of skills I can now skip and suffer a few of the lower levels in ignorance.
Skill wise this means I need: Bluff, Perception, and UMD MAXED out. I need my first 2 Performances..at least to qualify for PotP. this leaves me 2 more skills a level. What to take? I like the Idea of escape artist for mid to late levels against Black tentacles...Stealth would be good because I don't want to give my party away when being stealthy. Would a point in climb and swim be good at level 1 to help me survive in case I need to do any of those things.
I do not care about Intimidate and will use versatile Performance for it. Typically it is the worst of the social skills. Good if I was doing some sort of Dazzling Display but I have Dirge of Doom at level 8. It has no save and doesn't eat my feats. I also might switch to slow progression at level 8 if I really like this character.
I am starting this Character at Level 2 so Skill suggestion for all 11 levels would be appreciated. But this is What I think might work. I start Picking up Linguistics to help me save on $$ buying magical ways to understand a language. I will still have them for emergencies but Hopefully my reliance for them goes down. I Know I can use a Bluff check to decipher but to actually speak the language I need the skill points.
Level 1: Perform Oratory, Dance, Bluff, Perception, Climb, Swim, Stealth and UMD.
Level 2:Perform Oratory, Dance, Bluff, Perception, Escape Artistx2, Stealth and UMD.
Level 3:Perform Oratory, Dance, Bluff, Perception, Escape Artist, Linguistics (Need a Language) Stealth and UMD.
Level 4: Perform Oratory, Dance, Bluff, Perception, Escape Artist, Linguistics (Need a Language) Stealth and UMD.
Level 5:Perform Oratory, Dance, Bluff, Perception, Escape Artist, Linguistics (Need a Language) Stealth and UMD.
Level 6: Perform Oratory, Dance, Bluff, Perception, Escape Artist, Linguistics (Need a Language) Stealth and UMD.
Level 7: Perform Oratory, Dance, Bluff, Perception, Escape Artist, Linguistics (Need a Language) Stealth and UMD.
Level 8: Perform Oratory, Dance, Percussion , Bluff, Perception, Escape Artist, Stealth and UMD.
Level 9: Perform Oratory, Dance, Percussion , Bluff, Perception, Escape Artist, Stealth and UMD.
Level 10: Perform Oratory, Dance, Percussion , Bluff, Perception, Escape Artist, Stealth and UMD.
Level 11: Perform Oratory, Dance, Percussion , Bluff, Perception, Escape Artist, Stealth and UMD.
I will take advice on Spells. I have some staples that I will be in my build. And some spells I will be skipping in favor of a different spell with the same bonus type. Since I am taking Greater spell Focus Enchantment I typically want 1 enchantment spell of each level. Any more will be overkill I believe. Though I may grab an extra one if it will really be of good use.
My staples: Good Hope, Suggestion, Glitter Dust, Confusion, Dominate Person
Spells I'm skipping: Heroism (Good hope is better with a minor rod of Extend spell.) Sleep (I will use daze early levels but Sleep is just too easy mode for the first 3 levels. Even I want a challenge)
Level 1: 0-Daze, Message, Read Magic, Ghost Sound 1st- Grease, Hidous Laughter
Level 2: 0- Detect Magic 1st-Saving Finale
Level 3: 0-Prestidigitation, Dancing Lights (Free Human spell) 1st- Vanish
Level 4: 0- Sift (free Human Spell) 1st- Feather Fall 2nd-Glitter Dust, Suggestion
Level 5: 1st-Moment of Greatness (Free Human spell) 2nd-PotP no 2nd level spell
Level 6: 1st -??? (Free Human spell) 2nd-Silence
Level 7: 2nd- Mirror Image, Pugwampi's Grace (Free Human spell) 3rd-Good Hope, Confusion
Level 8: 2nd-??? (Free Human spell) 3rd-Dispel Magic
Level 9: 2nd- ??? (Free Human spell) 3rd-Haste
Level 10: 3rd- ??? (Free Human spell) 4th-Dominate Person, ??????
Level 11: 3rd- ??? (Free Human spell) 4th-??????
Gear wise I have a few items I will be seeking out. If you know of some Really good Bard items let me know. Also I am skipping a Weapon.....you heard me right...this means I will have a decent amount of wealth to spend on expendables and core gear. I do not plan to roll attacks but plan to perform, and disrupt the enemies over dealing direct damage. I want to be every sense of the Word a Support style character.
Haversack, Headband of CHA (as high as I can get it), Cloak of Resistance +1 (Or Sihedron Medallion 3,500), Belt of Health +2
Efficiency Quiver: if I understand this right it allows you to draw both wands and Rods as a free action similar to grabbing an arrow. Anyone have the exact ruling on these?
Lesser rods of Extend, Bouncing, Persistent, Quicken
Wands: Divine Grace (+CHA to saves YES), Bless(Flag-bearer is a waste of feat, Use till Good Hope @ 7) , Silent Image, Cure Light Wounds/Infernal Healing,
Combat Gear: Can I use a Mithral Breastplate? I will NEVER use a weapon beyond a cross bow for the first 3-5 levels and even that might not even happen. From what I understand I wouldn't be penalized other then on Attack rolls and if I am not doing that I should get a decent AC. Master work Shield INTO a Ring of Force Shield (if only caster shields where as good in PFS). MW Light Crossbow w/ Cold Iron Arrows (and a few blanches)
| Frank Kyle |
@ Katisha
First I am not going the route of a Courtesan/prostitute with the character's personality or day job. If i'm going to fake it till I make it I am going to aim higher then being a very good prostitute. I was thinking a famous Trader or a Countess of some sort. I am still nailing down exact story and drive....But I was going to avoid sexuality as much as I can because we have to somewhat clean with the children playing as well at the table.
I liked Symphony of the Elysian Heart but sadly those are not performances I will be taking.
I also liked the spells: Pyrotechnics, Blindness/Deafness, and Aura of the Unremarkable. Now I have a few questions. As a Bard how often did you cast Pyrotechnics in PFS? Was blindness/deafness a more worthwhile spell as a 2nd level spell? I kind of want to pick to top contender. I have a will save Blindness effect in Glitterdust so I really don't want to be doubling up ya know?
I didn't see what Versatile performances you took but it seems you took tons of different performances as opposed to 1 verbal, 1 visual, and 1 extra.
Also don't Circlet of Persuasion and Headband of Cha (+6) share the same slot? only headband slot I need is Headband of CHA.
Tho I was tossing the idea of Hat of disguise Verses Jingasa of the Fortunate Soldier. If I took the spell Alter self I probably wouldn't need the Hat....but the Hat would be nice for Faking it till I make it.
| Ughbash |
If you are starting at level 2. don't waste points on bluff.
Instead max out Perform Sing or Comedy or Acting (I would do comedy and then at 6 take Perform Oratory.
Use the heck out of Versatiel Performace.
I would also recommend the human racial feature Focuse Study.
Use your level 1 Skill focus for Perform Comedy, your level 8 one for Perfrom Oratory. Sadly in PFS you will not get ot use the levle 16 one.
Also consider the racial feat Silver tounged.
Consider the trait Prodigy as oneo fyor utwo starting traits.
Katisha
|
sorry, the real world interrupted...
I'll try to answer your questions in line...
@ Katisha
First I am not going the route of a Courtesan/prostitute with the character's personality or day job. If i'm going to fake it till I make it I am going to aim higher then being a very good prostitute. I was thinking a famous Trader or a Countess of some sort. I am still nailing down exact story and drive....But I was going to avoid sexuality as much as I can because we have to somewhat clean with the children playing as well at the table.
Katisha is very much PG, but she is my highest level Bard in PFS (my others are 6th SoundStriker/Detective and 2nd Street Performer), and I figured you might get something from her. The sexual overtones are played for the group I often play in - but not when younger players are around. She is often compared to the Paracountess...
Don't underestimate Courtesans. "aim higher" ...lol - I was thinking of
Empress Theodora when I was putting Katisha together. And perhaps a bit of Josephine (of Nepoleon and Josephine). How much higher than the Empress (perhaps co-regent) of the strongest empire of its time?
I liked Symphony of the Elysian Heart but sadly those are not performances I will be taking.
Triple Time is the most used of my Masterpieces, the others are often situational. Though I do like The Dance of Kindled Desires & At the Heart of it All as information gathering tools. Symphony I picked up, but have never actually used... (having the spell FoM).
I also liked the spells: Pyrotechnics, Blindness/Deafness, and Aura of the Unremarkable. Now I have a few questions. As a Bard how often did you cast Pyrotechnics in PFS? Was blindness/deafness a more worthwhile spell as a 2nd level spell? I kind of want to pick to top contender. I have a will save Blindness effect in Glitterdust so I really don't want to be doubling up ya know?
Pyrotechnics has been used (twice) to put fires out actually - and once to creat a smoke cloud. Not (so far) for the blinding effects... the spell was originally picked because it can be used for several things.
Deafness has been cast on friends more than Blindness on bad guys (Harpies etc.). I've used it as an attack spell with other PCs... (but something to understand about Katisha, she has no damaging spells. She actually has never done a HP of damage to anything other than herself... so perhaps there may be better attack spells I have overlooked)
Message is used every game, often for the entire game. "Combat Coordinator" is a role I often fill...
I didn't see what Versatile performances you took but it seems you took tons of different performances as opposed to 1 verbal, 1 visual, and 1 extra.
My selection of performances were ... not well thought out? The first was percussion, then sing I think, and ... strings maybe?
Also don't Circlet of Persuasion and Headband of Cha (+6) share the same slot? only headband slot I need is Headband of CHA.
Head and Headband are two different magic item slots...
but early I used a Hat of Disguise and later switched to the Circlet.Tho I was tossing the idea of Hat of disguise Verses Jingasa of the Fortunate Soldier. If I took the spell Alter self I probably wouldn't need the Hat....but the Hat would be nice for Faking it till I make it.
Hat of Disguise is good because you can change it every round. It has so many uses...some examples: Use it to get exact discriptions of what people you are looking for look like. Like a Police Sketch artist - only more so. Then, during the adventure, hand it to another PC so that the Wizard looks armored, or the Tank looks squishy, or the Tiefling looks like an Aasimar (or Demon), etc.
Hope this helps!
| Frank Kyle |
@ Ughbash
I had Sing, Dance, Percussion as my original draft. The thing is I want both Diplomacy and Bluff. When I added PotP into my build I had to decide which to take skill points in and which to use versatile performance with.
Instead max out Perform Sing or Comedy or Acting (I would do comedy and then at 6 take Perform Oratory.
The way your telling me here I would not have Diplomacy until Level 6. That is crippling in my honest opinion as Diplomacy is THE best social skill. I down grade intimidate to favor Bluff. If I go my route I'm looking at having Diplomacy, Sense motive, and Bluff as social skills. You way is giving me Bluff and Intimidate....not gaining sense motive and diplomacy till 6.
Also fly kicks in around level 6 and I will be in the air a lot and don't feel like taking Ranks in it...Acrobatics will be nice for avoiding AoO against later Huge reach enemies. So Versatile Dance will be a good investment @ 6.
Consider the trait Prodigy as oneo fyor utwo starting traits.
Prodigy is a feat....I had given thought to it over heighten spell but the problem with Bards is typically the DCs of the spell. Making suggestion a 4th level spell could defiantly make a difference in the Long run.
Skill focus through Focused study could be good I will defiantly contemplate it. If I can figure out what feat would be worth to drop...Perhaps Improved Initiative...but I typically want to be first to get my Performance going quicker and be ready to disrupt the field. It will take some careful consideration.
| Ughbash |
@ Ughbash
I had Sing, Dance, Percussion as my original draft. The thing is I want both Diplomacy and Bluff. When I added PotP into my build I had to decide which to take skill points in and which to use versatile performance with.
Ughbash wrote:Instead max out Perform Sing or Comedy or Acting (I would do comedy and then at 6 take Perform Oratory.The way your telling me here I would not have Diplomacy until Level 6. That is crippling in my honest opinion as Diplomacy is THE best social skill. I down grade intimidate to favor Bluff. If I go my route I'm looking at having Diplomacy, Sense motive, and Bluff as social skills. You way is giving me Bluff and Intimidate....not gaining sense motive and diplomacy till 6.
Well Peacock does not really come online til level 5... I was basing this all on bluff.
You could choose Perform Oratory at 2 and perform comedy at 6. Though this would mean delaying your fly/acrobatics til 10.
That would help you more on the Diplomacy side.
As for Prodigy... whoops I ment Savant.
| Frank Kyle |
@ Katisha
Thanks for your Input and Info on what you have used.
Triple Time is the most used of my Masterpieces, the others are often situational. Though I do like The Dance of Kindled Desires & At the Heart of it All as information gathering tools. Symphony I picked up, but have never actually used... (having the spell FoM).
This is good Information. I was planing on using a wand of Longstrider but I honestly think late game I could probably fit it in my build If I move some things around. Defiantly might be worth it as I can see giving everyone better movement to be a very good buff. I planed on taking percussion as my 3rd Versatile performance and I planned to get a few ranks in it.
My selection of performances were ... not well thought out? The first was percussion, then sing I think, and ... strings maybe?
Yeah this is what I am trying to prevent. I do not want skill overlap with versatile performance. I also want every skill point to matter and not be a 1 of kind of thing. Since I have well versed I can make knowledge checks untrained.....But sadly looking over my build I forgot to take 1 skill point in spellcraft. I can not use it untrained but 1 point allows me to use it and then substitute the Bluff Check. Luckily I do not need to take appraise like that and can make them untrained. After thinking things over today I believe I am nailing down the skills section.
Besides haste what other spells seemed to be your more go to spells? The ones you casted the most I should say.
(but something to understand about Katisha, she has no damaging spells. She actually has never done a HP of damage to anything other than herself... so perhaps there may be better attack spells I have overlooked)
I plan the same thing no attacking or taking damaging spells. Sure Discordant Voice hurts but hey....Its coming from my allies while I am just buffing. I plan to skip the cost of a weapon all together.
Also any Items you seemed to use a lot of? Or have gotten a lot of use out of. Anything to improve my characters day to day adventuring career?
@Ughbash
Well Peacock does not really come online til level 5... I was basing this all on bluff.
Oh yes I am aware. I want to use bluff before then. More like right out the gate. Sure it is limited till PotP come online but Having it as a skill My trait Charming works with bluff but not Versatile performance. This is partially the reasoning for the skill ranks in bluff and leaving my versatile performance to pick up Diplomacy and sense motive. I'm actually not interested in Intimidate/handle animal (percussion) Versatile at all but it is the only other Versatile that does not overlap skills.
You could choose Perform Oratory at 2 and perform comedy at 6. Though this would mean delaying your fly/acrobatics til 10.
I think I'm going to go Oratory>Dance>Percussion after a few hours of consideration and a few Wacky Tobacco Cigarettes. Mostly the reason Above my Charming Trait will boost the Bluff my core social skill. But it wont when using versatile performance. Using that progression also gets me the Skills in a very good order to have tons of skills by level 6. Like I said I might switch to slow progression @ 8 to really enjoy this character.
Savant seems nice but I was hoping for something to help with my casting abilities. I believe the skills will be good enough with all the right buffs and items. Thank you for the suggestion and if I change my mind I will let you know when I post up the final Build. =)
| Frank Kyle |
Here is my updated character. Still taking suggestion and advice:
Name: Unknown (still thinking on it)
Gender: Female (Time to really dig deeper into Role-playing.)
Race: Human
Str:8 Dex:14 Con:12 Int:12 Wis:10 Cha:19
Traits: Charming
Eastern Mysteries
Favored Class Bonuses First 3 levels goes into HP. After level 3 I will take the extra Spells every level.
Feats:
H-Improved Initiative
1-Spell Focus- Enchantment
3-Lingering Performance
5-Greater Spell Focus- Enchantment
7-Heighten Spell
9-Spell Penetration
11-Discordant Voice
Versatile Performances:
2nd Level- Oratory (Diplomacy/Sense Motive)
6th Level- Dance (Fly & Acrobatics)
10th Level- Percussion (Handle Animal & Intimidate)
Level 1: Perform Oratory, Dance, Bluff, Perception, Climb, Swim, Stealth, and UMD.
Level 2:Perform Oratory, Dance, Bluff, Perception, Escape Artist, Spellcraft, Stealth, and UMD.
Level 3:Perform Oratory, Dance, Bluff, Perception, Escape Artist x2, Stealth, and UMD.
Level 4: Perform Oratory, Dance, Bluff, Perception, Escape Artist, Linguistics (Need a Popular Language), Stealth, and UMD.
Level 5:Perform Oratory, Dance, Percussion , Bluff, Perception, Escape Artist, Stealth, and UMD.
Level 6: Perform Oratory, Dance, Percussion , Bluff, Perception, Escape Artist, Stealth, and UMD.
Level 7: Perform Oratory, Dance, Percussion , Bluff, Perception, Escape Artist, Stealth, and UMD.
Level 8: Perform Oratory, Dance, Percussion , Bluff, Perception, Escape Artist, Stealth, and UMD.
Level 9: Perform Oratory, Dance, Percussion , Bluff, Perception, Escape Artist, Stealth, and UMD.
Level 10: Perform Oratory, Dance, Percussion , Bluff, Perception, Escape Artist, Stealth, and UMD.
Level 11: Perform Oratory, Dance, Percussion , Bluff, Perception, Escape Artist, Stealth, and UMD.
@ level 2 I will have roughly 12 skills plus all untrained Knows. with well versed. @ 5 I can make ALL Int based skill checks as bluff checks thus MAXING them all basically.
Level 1: 0-Daze, Message, Read Magic, Ghost Sound 1st- Grease, Hidous Laughter
Level 2: 0- Detect Magic 1st-Saving Finale
Level 3: 0-Dancing Lights 1st- Vanish
Level 4: 0- Sift (free Human Spell) 1st- Feather Fall 2nd-Glitter Dust, Suggestion
Level 5: 1st-Moment of Greatness (Free Human spell) 2nd-PotP Trade no 2nd level spell
Level 6: 1st -Tap Inner Beauty (Free Human spell) 2nd-Silence
Level 7: 2nd- Mirror Image, Tongues(Free Human spell) 3rd-Good Hope, Confusion
Level 8: 1st Lvl Free Human Spell Trade for Triple Time Masterpiece 3rd-Dispel Magic
Level 9: 2nd- Pugwampi's Grace (Free Human spell) 3rd-Haste
Level 10: 3rd- Aura of the Unremarkable- (Free Human spell) 4th-Dominate Person, Summon Monster 4
Level 11: 3rd- Control Summoned Creature (Free Human spell) 4th-Dimension Door
Headband of CHA (as high as I can get it), Circlet of Persuasion, Sihedron Medallion, Cloak of the Hedge Wizard- Abjuration, Belt of Health +2, +1 Mithral Breastplate, Ring of Force Shield, Ring of Protection +1,
Haversack, Efficiency Quiver (Filled with Wands and Rods)
Lesser rods of Extend, Bouncing, Persistent, Quicken (if I can afford late game)
Wands: Divine Grace (+CHA to saves YES), Bless(Flag-bearer is a waste of feat, Use till Good Hope @ 7) , Silent Image, Cure Light Wounds (Replaced with Infernal Healing after depleted), Longstrider (replaced @ 7 with Triple Time), Wand of Lesser restoration (I find cheap ones on Chronicle list with under 10 charges.)
Also I believe I will be going with Eastern Mysteries as my 2nd trait. This locks me into Qadira Faction. Anyone have any insight to the faction? I've been playing PFS for a few months and Have hardly seen anything special about this faction. Is there any certain Adventures I should look for? I also heard a rumor there is a Scenario/adventure that gives a boon of +1 to a stat. I was wondering if anyone could confirm as this would be the time to plan out to look for it.
calagnar
|
Feats:
H-Improved Initiative
1-Spell Focus- Enchantment
3-Lingering Performance
5-Greater Spell Focus- Enchantment
7-Heighten Spell
9-Spell Penetration
11-Discordant Voice
Don't take Heighten. As your only a 3/4 caster. That's trying to do the job of a full caster. You are far behind on spells as it is. You might want to look in to taking Persistent Spell if you want a metamagic feet to help with save DC. The other thing I will recommend you do is start with Lingering Performance. Then take Spell Focus at 3rd level.
Versatile Performances:
2nd Level- Oratory (Diplomacy/Sense Motive)
6th Level- Dance (Fly & Acrobatics)
10th Level- Percussion (Handle Animal & Intimidate)
I recommend going with Oratory, Act, and Percussion. Yes until level 6 you will have a lower bluff. However it will still be much higher then the average character. Due to the fact your focusing on Cha. It is well worth using the skill points some where else.
I will suggest you think twice about these spells. Moment of Greatness, Tap Inner Beauty, Mirror Image, Tongues, Dispel Magic, Pugwampi's Grace, Aura of the Unremarkable, Summon Monster 4, Control Summoned Creature.
Most of the ones that are good you can get on a wand, or scroll for cheep. If you really want to cast it. For example Tap Inner Beauty, Aura of the Unremarkable, Summon Monster 4. Can all be wand, or scroll and you will use it as much as if you had the spell on your list you can cast from. I say this because as a Base Bard I run out of castings per day all the time. You are much better off with fewer spells as long as there the most effective ones for your character. As you get so few castings per day.
| Frank Kyle |
Don't take Heighten. As your only a 3/4 caster. That's trying to do the job of a full caster. You are far behind on spells as it is. You might want to look in to taking Persistent Spell if you want a metamagic feet to help with save DC. The other thing I will recommend you do is start with Lingering Performance. Then take Spell Focus at 3rd level.
First I Plan to have a lesser rod of Extend and Persistent spell as it says in the equipment section.
2ndly tho I am just a 3/4 caster in PFS it wont be too bad. I WANT to focus on DCs. Just going off basic gear + feats and traits I could Heighten a Suggestion to a DC 26 against the right targets. AT the same time Dirge of Dooming them to a -2 save. Doesn't seem that bad to me in a system that is not set for optimal characters. That is typically the DC of a full caster's 6th level spells of the same level.But I was on the fence about heighten spell but really can't find much to put there that would not be better on a Rod.
I recommend going with Oratory, Act, and Percussion. Yes until level 6 you will have a lower bluff. However it will still be much higher then the average character. Due to the fact your focusing on Cha. It is well worth using the skill points some where else.
I just covered this thought. I want to have MAXED bluff and Diplomacy out the gate. I do not want to wait 12 sessions without a bluff. Not to mention Disguise from Act is not a good skill @ 6 when you have access to magics to do it for you. Did you miss the part about Pageant of the Peacock coming online at 5 as well? I need a MAXED bluff skill. Now why I am taking skill points in it as opposed to Versatile performance it is: My trait Charming does not work with Performance. It works with the Skill it is associated with.
I will suggest you think twice about these spells. Moment of Greatness, Tap Inner Beauty, Mirror Image, Tongues, Dispel Magic, Pugwampi's Grace, Aura of the Unremarkable, Summon Monster 4, Control Summoned Creature
Wands of Level 3-4 are typically too expensive to be just buying up. However level 2 wands are not too bad. I could do with a wand of tap inner beauty.
I don't think I will give up Dispel Magic as it is a spell that requires a good CL and a wand does not provide that.
Pugwampi's Grace, Aura of the Unremarkable, Summon Monster 4, Control Summoned Creature are really filler spells I can not for the life of me figure out what would be better in those slots.
I do like that Control summoned Creature is an enchantment spell..and I can hardly see a Summoner making a spellcraft check to beat my Bluff Check to control the creature. Also in PFS I do see lots of summoned things.
I chose summon monster 4 because of the extra spells the summoned creatures can bring. Dropping a hound Archon in to provide Circle of Protection from Evil doesn't seem too terribly bad.
So what spells do YOU recommend? I saw plenty gutting the spell list but no suggestions besides put them on wands $$$$$$$ wasted.
| Silas Hawkwinter |
Might not be the direction you wanted to go, but if you took Perform Comedy for your versatile performance instead of Oratory you'd have sky high intimidate and bluff skills.
The intimidate would make blistering invective a very attractive level 2 spell (the aoe shaken is strong, especially if you later want to land some other spell).
Another great level 2 spell is Cacophonous Call. A good level 1 spell for a wand is Cultural Adaptation.
| Frank Kyle |
Might not be the direction you wanted to go, but if you took Perform Comedy for your versatile performance instead of Oratory you'd have sky high intimidate and bluff skills.The intimidate would make blistering invective a very attractive level 2 spell (the aoe shaken is strong, especially if you later want to land some other spell).
I do not want to rely on Intimidate. Not when I have Dirge of Doom coming. I actually rank Intimidate low as a skill. People respond better to Bluffs and Diplomacy then they do to being Intimidated. I'm fine never having the skill and is why I am taking Percussion as my last Versatile Performance. I doubt I'll even use the skill. But man will I be bluffing about EVERYTHING.
Another great level 2 spell is Cacophonous Call.
Nice spell I like it. I don't know if I would use it more the suggestion but I will highly think about it.
| TGMaxMaxer |
I have to preface this with taking a single level dip into crossblooded Sorc, Fey/Serpentine for +2 to DC of compulsions (most bard spells) and the ability to use them on beasts, magical beasts, and monstrous humanoids (removing the need for the "X monster" spells, the "X person" work fine for your limited spells known) as if they were humanoid and shared a language. This has made my bard the master of control spells, although I also took Dirge Bard archetype, which makes undead also affected, but gives up versatile performance and loremaster. With PotP, that doesn't really matter in the end though.
Pages of Spell Knowledge give you an extra spell known, 1st-1k, 2nd-4k, same as pearls of power. Highly worth it, and can be shared with a sorcerer.
1st: Hideous Laughter, Charm Person, Saving Finale
2nd: Cacophonous Call, Oppressive Boredom, Glitterdust, Blindness, Blistering Invective, Gallant Inspiration, Ghostbane Dirge
3rd: Good Hope, Haste, Arcane Concordance +1 DC, some free metamagics, Jester's Jaunt 30ft teleport
Masterpieces:
Triple Time 1st-5th level, before haste this is AWESOME for med/heavy armor wearing allies.
Rheumy Refrain 4th+, Creature has to make a concentration check or be staggered (limited to move or attack, NOTE NOT STANDARD ACTION, specifically move or melee attack), not mind affecting, I used it on a Tendriculos last game. If they don't have caster levels, it effectively shuts them down since they probably won't make the roll on just a d20 with no level or stat to add.
Rondeau of the Heavenly Order 4th+, Enemy can only move in a straight line, so positioning can be insanely useful.
Lullaby of Ember the Ancient 7th+, deep slumber that works on a single target of your choice.
Quickening Pulse 7th+, AoE bleed damage (which bypasses DR by the way) each round.