Banner Skald

[Lune]

So I started posting about this here a while ago. Well, now I am actually going to get to play it.

So far our party make up is this:

Spoiler:

My son is playing a Pokemon Trainer (Preservationist Alchemist) going for summoning and healing focus. He will be getting healing bombs, implant bombs, delayed bombs and be using them to detonate inside people during combat for no action during emergencies. He will also be summoning and handing out summons (via infusion) for people to use his Pokemon. He is actually playing a somewhat delusional kid who thinks that adventuring is just a game. He is also going for the Simulacrum Discoveries so he can "save his game". Funny concept right? ;) Effective too. I think he is going to enjoy it.

Another is going for a Bloodrager build focused on hitting things really hard with a Greatsword. He also is going with a level of Unbreakable Fighter (at first level) and already has Diehard and Fast Healer. He is going for a Spelleater and trying to keep his regen up. He also is going to go for Fire God's Blessing and trying to get his regen up every round with a flaming weapon.

Another character is going with a Ranger/Paladin and likely going into the Celestial Knight PrC. He is going Throwing Axe and Shield and taking Weapon and Shield Combat Style for Ranger. Basically, though, he wants to be an undead and demon slayer.

And that leaves me. I figured we had healing covered pretty well. We needed an arcane caster and someone who brought some casting versatility to the table. It also wouldn't hurt to have a skill monkey and party face. And with the summoning happening it wouldn't hurt to give the party buffs either.

So I decided to play a build I have had sitting around for a while. Please tell me what you think.

The build:

Spoiler:

25pt buy
Half-Orc
Alternate Racial Traits:
Sacred Tatoo
Shaman's Apprentice

Str 15
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 9
Wis 12
Cha 15+2

1st
Hunter 1
Animal Companion, Animal Focus, Nature Training, Orisons, Wild Empathy, Combat Reflexes (1st)
2nd
Skald 1
Bardic Knowledge, Cantrips, Inspired Rage +1 (+2 Str/Con), Raging Song, Extra Performance (bonus)
3rd
Skald 2
Versatile Performance, Well Versed, Flagbearer (3rd)
4th
Skald 3
Rage Power: Superstition, Song of Marching
5th
Skald 4
Inspired Rage +2, Uncanny Dodge, Boon Companion (5th)
6th
Skald 5
Spell Kenning 1/day
7th
Skald 6
Rage Power: Witch Hunter, Song of Strength, Beast Rider (7th)
8th
Skald 7
Lore Master 1/day, Versatile Performance
9th
Skald 8
Improved Uncanny Dodge, Inspired Rage +3 (+4 Str/Con), Amplified Rage (9th)
10th
Skald 9
Rage Power: Eater of Magic, DR 1/-
11th
Skald 10
Dirge of Doom, Power Attack (11th)
12th
Hunter 2
Precise Companion (Outflank), Track

Traits:
Fate's Favored
Blackthorn Rancher

Gear plans:
Circlet of Persuasion / Jingasa of the Fortunate Soldier
Belt of Physical Perfection (Str/Dex)
Ring of Tactical Precision 11k
+1 Glamoured Harmonizing Rallying Jousting Spell Storing Mithral Agile Breastplate
+1 Arrow Catching Arrow Deflection Mithral Buckler
+2 Furious Courageous Mithral Undine Weaponshaft Longspear (Get +1 Furious ASAP, Courageous got nerfed)
Banner of Ancient Kings 18k
Robe of the Resplendent Thespian 75k
Quick Runner's Shirt / Unfettered Shirt
Lenses of Detection
Sandals of Quick Reaction
Gloves of Arrow Snaring / Deliquescent Gloves / Glove of Storing
Headband of Alluring Charisma
Amulet of Natural Armor
Cloak of Fangs / Minor Cloak of Displacement
Longarm Bracers / Arrowmaster's Bracers
Stone of Good Luck
Turquoise Sphere
Pale Green Prism

The Animal Companion is a Triceratops named Dozer.

Animal Companion gear: Armor, belt (saddle), chest, eyes, headband, neck, shoulders, wrist
Minotaur Belt
Cloak of Resistance

Animal Companion Feats:
Toughness (1st)
Light Armor Proficiency (1st)
Extra Item Slot: Ring (5th)
Improved Natural Attack (7th)

What do you think? Boon Companion and Beast Rider get the AC up to 7th level for his advancement. I only planned the build out until 12th level as it was originally meant for PFS play. It will probably work better here. I don't much care for Skald after 10th level. I probably would go back to Hunter and continue leveling that so the AC wouldn't continue to fall behind.

Also, the DM has agreed to allow me to use fractional BAB so I keep 3/4 BAB through the whole career. He also agreed to allow me to still take Extra Performance rather than Scribe Scroll. This is mostly because he is using an alternate system for magic item creation where basically everyone has Master Craftsmen. Its in a book I haven't read but it sounded interesting so I'm willing to give it a try. We are also using an alternate alignment system where we pick aspects of our character's nature rather than alignments.

I wanted to work in Battle Cry as well for the bonus reroll on saves but Eater of Magic does that pretty well. Flagbearer + Banner of Ancient Kings is pretty core to the concept. Amplified Rage will be great with the mount too. It is too bad that they nerfed Courageous. :(

[Lune]

Nothing?

[blackbloodtroll]

Considered Spirit Totem?

Everybody basically gets a free attack, and it doesn't matter how good/bad their PC is.

Everybody loved it, with my Skald.

[Lune]

I did and it is a good one. However, what I had originally wanted to go for was Eater of Magic + Battlecry to give everyone 3 chances to save. And with bonuses from Superstitious it should make those saves easy to make. Our party has healing pretty well covered and are fairly resilient so it shouldn't be a problem often to have Superstitious up during combat.

[Pounce]

Battle Cry has been errata'd to only function on saving throws versus fear effects, so unless you are particularly paranoid about those... let's just say that it might not be as useful as it used to be.

[Lune]

G~+**%n stealth nerfs! Well guess I'm glad I didn't take it yet.

[Lune]

Ah. Well, there is always Saving Finale to use for a 3rd save to be given. I wonder if it will work in conjunction with Exquisite Accompaniment.

I am a bit ashamed to say that I have never played a Bard. Prior to Pathfinder I have always been of the opinion that Bards are wusses. Not only do I like the Pathfinder Bard but I like the Skald concept even more. He is so... METAL! ;) That being said, I think I am going to be looking mostly at buff spells and coming online to be effective in combat ASAP. Any suggestions along those lines?

Exquisite Accompaniment seems like a great option as it allows me to cast another buff spell the next turn. But on further contemplation it seems like a trap as I would have to start performance first turn, cast Exquisite Accompaniment second turn and then cast whatever my second buff was going to be third turn. The combat is likely mostly over by then. It gets better when I can start a performance as a move action. But then again... I could be doing something else with that standard action than to cast Exquisite Accompaniment.

I dunno what to think other than I already know that my hangups here are going to be based around action economy, buff duration and decisions based on trying to remedy those.

[blackbloodtroll]

Have you considered Lingering Performance?

[Lune]

I have. I want it. I just want my other feats more. :( Plus, there is always the Harmonizing armor. Its expensive but it is a solution I can throw money at to fix. I also considered Community Minded trait but same problem there, I wanted the other traits more.

I am hoping that my GM might allow me to enchant some magic instruments with Exquisite Accompaniment or something.

[Gaming Ranger]

Here is my 2 coppers; Drop the hunter dip your animal companion will be really weak even with the boon companion feat plus it sets your BAB back. If you must have an animal companion look at the barbarian archetype Mad dog Link.. There is better synergy with the skald in my opinion. But in general I am not a fan of dipping.

As far as stats go drop charisma and add to strength. Most of your spells are buffing so you don't need high save DC's. As long as your Cha is 16 by level 8 you should be fine.

[Cavall]

Celestial totem means your group will enjoy healing bombs and lay on hands a lot more. Your level added to heals would basically make them awesome by even level 5.

[Lune]

Gaming Ranger: It does not set my BAB back. Read my first post where I said, "Also, the DM has agreed to allow me to use fractional BAB so I keep 3/4 BAB through the whole career."

I'm not so hot on the Mad Dog. It doesn't seem like it brings anything more than the Hunter does.

Also, while you may not like the idea of having an animal companion for a build like this I do. And it is my build and I am here asking for advice on it. Please do not move my goal posts and give advice on something other than what I am shooting for. It is a bit of a pet peeve of mine.

That being said, you may have a point on the Charisma. *nod*

[Lune]

Cavall: I was thinking of nabbing Poet's cloak to get Lesser Celestial Totem and only wear it out of combat when healing is done.

[Pounce]

Lesser Celestial Totem + Path of Glory is rather bonkers.

How does fractional BAB work when multiclassing then? Would there actually be a way for you to get up to the magical 16 BAB with that progression, provided smart dipping?

[Cavall]

Can I ask something?

Would that poets cloak even work with lesser celestial to affect the group?

It's quite clear that it replaces your rage powers and grants you another.

However, that would mean it's a rage power "from another source " and NOT a source granted by class.

If feats (apparently for some stupid reason) don't count for rage powers for the whole group, would a magic item?

Regardless we have a skald in my current game and an alchemist with bombs that heal. He also took path of glory. It's been... hard to keep them down, and far surpasses the usefulness of spirit totem in my opinion. If you take the full spirit totem tree then it's damn great but for just the basic power? Standing there and healing the group 8 points a turn for 7 turns is amazing.

[Lune]

Pounce: Basically if you take 2 classes that have the same BAB you keep that BAB all the way through. So, yes if I took a single level in a full BAB class.

Cavall: Hm... you know I don't actually know. It had been suggested to me by someone else in another thread actually.

I dunno, though. I think if I wanted to focus on in combat healing then I would just go with Skald's Vigor type build.

[Cavall]

Well. They work well together. It doesn't boost fast healing but if you're just doing a "regen" for the path of glory, may as well add 2 4 or 6 more points to that!

[Java Man]

So I just played a similiar build in a short lvl 10 scenario, was prd only, so no flagbearer or banner, but conceptually similiar. Greater spirit totem, greater skalds vigor, intimidating performance, and discordant voice. So move action in round one, enemies shaken, all allies + 4 str and con, fast heal 4, neg energy damage popping all over, and I have not yet cast a spell or attacked yet, very mean.

[Lune]

Yeah, I actually do want to get in on the action. I would probably benefit from advice on how to get buffs up quick and get into the action ASAP.

[Java Man]

Well I looked at using a few long duration buffs before the action started, heroism, good hope, umd w scrolls of bear end and bull str. Then I tried to get multiple addons to my performance, used greater skalds vigor, intimidating performance and discordant voice. So move action to start singing in round one, my choices for standards at this point are haste, slow, or bust heads with my hammer.

[Markov Spiked Chain]

You need to use a standard to intimidate with Intimidating Performance, right?

Bladed Dash is also a good option to have during your opener, so you can close and attack (with +Cha to the attack roll) in one standard. And you get your lesser spirit totem attack, so it's kind of a mini-pounce.

[Lune]

Markov Spiked Chain: Well, I was going to tell you that you were silly because I am going with a mounted build. However... I think you may have stumbled upon brilliance. I can make my Triceratops mount the target of my Bladed Dash. lol

Oh wait, no I can't. Its not on the Hunter list and that is the list I have to use as that is the class that grants me the Animal Companion. Piss. Ah well. At least the mount will still be able to deliver me to melee.

Were you asking about Dirge of Doom? It is just like any other performance. It uses whatever action they do determined by your level. Standard to start, Move Action at 7th, Swift at 13th.

[Markov Spiked Chain]

I was talking about Java Man's plan to use Intimidating Preformance.

I for got you were trying a mounted build, Blade Dash isn't doing a lot there, no. Although I should look at using Blade Dash with my familiar (familiar's Share Spells is a little different than the Animal Companion version.) Getting a move+Attack+Full attack(+Spirit Totem) from the (earth elemental) familiar could have some use.

[Java Man]

Okay, bad advice on my part, apparently there is a serious error or houserule going on with intimidating performance at my table, forget I mentioned it, rereading it, Markov is right, standard to intimidate one opponent, not worth it for this build type I would say.