Advice or critiques on an Ifrit Skald build


Advice


Hi all!

This time I'm trying a build for an Ifrit Skald. If anyone could give me any pointers or ideas on this, that would be cool. Not for a game or anything like that. Just want to see if I'm on the right track and all that.

Here's the plan for feats that I've got so far:
Level 1; Extra Performance (feat)
Level 3; Skald's Vigour (feat)
Level 3; Lesser Fire Elemental Blood (rage power)
Level 5; Arcane Strike (feat)
Level 6; Fire Elemental Blood (rage power)
Level 7; Scorching Weapons (Ifrit feat)
Level 9; Inner Flame (Ifrit feat)
Level 9; Reckless Abandon (rage power)
Level 11; Greater Skald's Vigour (feat)
Level 12; Greater Fire Elemental Blood (rage power)

Thanks in advance for any advice anyone can give me!


Hi again! Sorry, but I should have put the crunch and numbers and all that in with the post, in case anyone didn't look at this character's profile. Here it is now:

crunch:

Manzuqari
Ifrit Skald, Level 1
Chaotic Neutral, Medium, Outsider (native)
Initiative: +9
Perception: +4

======
DEFENCE
======

AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-Footed 14
HP 9
FORT +3
REF +2
WILL +1

======
OFFENCE
======

SPEED 30 ft.
MELEE:
• Kukri (1d4+3; 18-20/x2)
• Light Mace (1d6+3; x2)
• Scimitar (1d6+3; 18-20/x2)
• Shield Bash (1d3+1; x2)
RANGED:
• Chakram (1d8+3, 30 ft; x2)
• Sling (1d4+3, 50 ft; x2)
SPACE; 5 ft.
REACH; 5 ft.
SPELLS KNOWN: (CL 1, Touch +2, Ranged Touch +2, Concentration +3):
• level 0 (at will): Detect Magic, Mage Hand, Open/Close, Read Magic
• level 1 (2/day): Chord of Shards, Ear-Piercing Scream

======
STATISTICS
======

STR 16 (+3), DEX 14 (+2), CON 13 (+1), INT 12 (+1), WIS 8 (-1), CHA 15 (+2)
BAB +0; CMB +3; CMD 15
Feats: Scribe Scroll, Extra Performance
Traits: Reactionary (combat), Seeker (social)
Skills:
• Acrobatics +5 (1 rank) (Including AC penalty)
• Climb +4 (1 rank) (Including AC penalty)
• Knowledge (local) +6 (1 rank)
• Knowledge (other) +1 (Bardic knowledge)
• Perception +4 (1 rank) (Seeker social trait)
• Perform (oratory) +6 (1 rank)
• Perform (percussion) +6 (1 rank)
Languages: Common, Ignan, Aquan
SQ (Class Features): Bardic Knowledge, Cantrips, Inspire Rage +1, Raging Song, Scribe Scroll
Current Kit (Stuff)
• Light Wooden Shield
• Studded Leather Armour
• Kukri
• Mace, Light
• Scimitar
• Chakram (2)
• Sling
• Sling Bullets (10)
• Explorer's Outfit
• masterwork backpack (+1 STR for encumbrance)
• bedroll
• belt pouch
• common
• flint and steel
• ink
• ink pen
• iron
• journal
• mess kit
• mirror
• musical instrument
• pot
• rope
• soap
• sunrod (2)
• trail rations (5 days)
• waterskin
Total encumbrance of 76 lbs. (light)

======
SPECIAL ABILITIES
======

Traits, class abilities, and feats … in brief
• Wildfire Heart (racial trait): +4 to Initiative
• Efreeti Magic (racial trait): Reduce or Enlarge person, including other Ifrit, once per day.
• Fire in the Blood (racial trait): Fast Healing 2 from fire damage (2 HP/day)
• Darkvision (racial trait): can see 60 feet in the dark
• Reactionary combat trait: +2 trait bonus to Initiative
• Seeker social trait: +1 trait bonus to Perception (and is class skill)
• Bardic Knowledge: +1 to all knowledge rolls, and can make any untrained
• Cantrips: casting level zero spells
• Inspire Rage: STR +2, CON +2, WIL +1, AC -1, no fatigue after
• Raging Song: inspires rage in allies who want it
• Scribe Scroll: bonus class feat
• Extra Performance feat: six extra rage song rounds per day

======
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
======

Age: 83 years old
Height: 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight: 140 lb (68 kg)
Skin: Swarthy/Bronze
Build: Slim
Hair: Looks like flames
Eyes: Solid yellow, no visible irises or pupils
Special: Small horns that look like silver-streaked copper

Thanks again in advance, to anyone who can give me some pointers!


1. I'd fit power attack in there. It's the best feat for anyone who plans to wade into combat this side of weapon finesse.

2. I'd take lingering performance over extra performance.

3. If you can, perhaps consider replacing Reactionary for Shoanti Spirit Singer as a trait, but that's just a matter of preference.

4. Looks good!


@Secret Wizard:

1. Do you think Power Attack would be better in the long run than Arcane Strike? I was looking at the fact PA has a hit penalty, but AS does not.

2. I was looking at how Skald's Vigour doesn't kick in until at least two consecutive rounds of Raging song.
But since I wouldn't be taking Skald's Vigour until level three anyway I guess Lingering Performance would be a better starting choice.
If I really need lots of healing before level three, I could always take Cure Light Wounds instead of Ear Piercing Scream, and just make a bunch of handy-dandy CLW scrolls to have on hand.

3. That Shoanti Spirit Singer trait looks interesting. I had to look it up. I'll make a note of that one. For the moment, I'll try stacking his initiative as much as I can between the Reactionary combat trait and the Wildfire heart racial trait.

4. Thanks for all that.

-----

I wanted to try to concentrate more on the racial/thematic end of things than totally buffing him up. Which is why I was looking at the feats and rage powers I listed. Having said that, I think he's got potential. Should I ever get a chance to use him, of course.


1. The problem with Arcane Strike is that it takes a Swift Action, so you can't use it alongside Scorching Weapons/Inner Flame, which also use a Swift Action... not to mention all those nice Skald spells that also take swifts/immediates, like Saving Finale. If you don't plan to use those, then Arcane Strike is pretty good, plus it can make you able to use Riving Strike for extra DC for spells.
If, on the other hand, you want to use Inner Flame and the immediate action Skald spells, then yeah, Power Attack is your go to. Take the Furious Focus feat too if you 2H.

2. Skald's Vigour is good, Extra Performance is alright but it's not that awesome... that's why I recommended Lingering instead, since it gives you a ton more uses than Extra if you use it well.

3. No probbo, just putting it out there.


1. I hadn't thought of the time factor with Arcane Strike and all that. Makes sense, though, when put together with the Inner Flame business. It just occurred to me that the strength buff from the Raging Song should offset the to hit penalty for Power Attack anyway. So I guess that's not such a big deal after all.

Hadn't planned on making him a 2H fighter, But the Furious Focus is way cool for that. Got a bloodrager using that; it's very nice for dishing out damage!

2. I have played bards in the past with Lingering Performance. That one works quite well. But you're right, if you do things right, you should be able to make use of Skald's Vigour without getting Extra Performance.

3. I wanted to max out his initiative without using up a feat slot for Improved initiative. I think a +8 Initiative isn't too bad at all for level 1.

————————————————————————————————————————

Here's the revised list with those changes:

Level 1; Lingering Performance (feat)
Level 3; Skald's Vigour (feat)
Level 3; Lesser Fire Elemental Blood (rage power)
Level 5; Power Attack (feat)
Level 6; Fire Elemental Blood (rage power)
Level 7; Scorching Weapons (Ifrit feat)
Level 9; Inner Flame (Ifrit feat)
Level 9; Reckless Abandon (rage power)
Level 11; Greater Skald's Vigour (feat)
Level 12; Greater Fire Elemental Blood (rage power)

————————————————————————————————————————

Now all I need is an opportunity to play him, that's all! :O

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Advice / Advice or critiques on an Ifrit Skald build All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.