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Looking through the forums and found a post on best class to solo or have as a BBEG, and someone said the Bard. I suppose I understand that, as they'd have a huge leadership score overtime. I'm planning on playing a Bard as a DMPC or solo PC sometime in the future, and would like some advice on good archetypes, spells, and traits for evil-ish (like dirge) bards without other party members. I've looked through the bard guides and have a basic understanding of the ability score points, but am very interested in a halfling dirge bard or something of that style. Also, some tips on how to stay in safety when you are such an obvious target, especially as a dirge bard. Dirge bards make you fight every single enemy twice, so I'd need some protection from enemies. Thanks!
The Dervish Dancer archetype from UC is a good solo archetype. Instead of songs that affect others, they have dances that only affect themselves. They get some interesting dances as well.
Dawnflower dervish or archaeologist are probably the best archetypes, since you no longer care if you are buffing the party.
Dawnflower dervish gives you double bonuses on things like inspire courage. Early on, that makes it comparabe to rage, and eventually you get +8 to attack and damage (which basically means you are running around with enough bonuses that you are on par with barbarian in sheer numbers- despite your lower BAB). Note- these bonuses are to both attack and damage, so it works well with TWF or archery (yes- the free dervish dance feat you get is actually the worst way to play it).
Archaeologist replaces performance for luck that goes to attack, damage, and saves. So it would be rather nice, since a single lost save could be the death of you. The bonuses don't get to dawnflower levels...but you can increase it a bit and that would be front loaded (so it would be similar to rage early on as well). Your daily rounds don't increase (a minor annoyance- bards can get a ton of rounds REALLY easily- it isn't hard to have 30+ from the start), but it activates with a swift action from the start, which can be rather good (since again- you are alone- better action economy is important)
Fate's Favored trait is good for archaeologists (any luck bonus you get is increased by +1). Also improves a Jingasa of the Fortunate Soldier, and the half-orc alternate racial trait for great saves.
Sadly, "Halfling Luck"is actually a racial bonus, but they can trade it for a few/day luck bonus to saves, with feats to increase the uses and bonus size.
Just keep in mind your spell DCs probably won't be great, so focus on buffs/utility.
Arcane Duelist is the other melee-competent bard archetype I've heard of. Don't know much else about bards though.
Oh, heroism is a great spell to grab.
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Just keep in mind your spell DCs probably won't be great, so focus on buffs/utility.
Depends upon how the GM handles the solo adventure. If they send most solo baddies at you - I agree entirely.
If they send groups of weaker enemies - who will have proportionally weaker saves - AOE effect spells could be quite handy even with mediocre DCs. Also - Blistering Invective doesn't use DCs for the primary effect.
All good points.
Just keep in mind your spell DCs probably won't be great, so focus on buffs/utility.Depends upon how the GM handles the solo adventure. If they send most solo baddies at you - I agree entirely.
If they send groups of weaker enemies - who will have proportionally weaker saves - AOE effect spells could be quite handy even with mediocre DCs. Also - Blistering Invective doesn't use DCs for the primary effect.
And even with a solo enemy....a nice charm spell just eliminates the need for a fight entirely.
But yes, as a general rule of thumb, for solo, I do believe it should be CR=APL-4...which means just having a 'decent' cha should more than suffice even if you go for SoS spells. I still might avoid them, since they are so all or nothing most of the time, and you are only getting 1 character worth of actions a round.
But what is a bard without charm spells at least?