Musical Party


Advice


How would you guys construct a 4-6 character band of 5th level music-themed characters? Specifically, characters who have mechanical advantages to performing music of some sort, such as the Bard or Skald.

Scarab Sages

4 bards. Arcane Duelist, Archaeologist, Thundercaller, Arcane Healer. Everyone is good at everything, you've got healing as needed, AoE nukes/stuns, a potent frontline from the Duelist/Archaeologist combo, and great skill utility out of EVERYONE. If you want a full 6 party, grab a Court Bard and an Urban Skald, so you can nerf enemy attacks and pump up ally defenses simultaneously.


Davor wrote:
4 bards. Arcane Duelist, Archaeologist, Thundercaller, Arcane Healer. Everyone is good at everything, you've got healing as needed, AoE nukes/stuns, a potent frontline from the Duelist/Archaeologist combo, and great skill utility out of EVERYONE. If you want a full 6 party, grab a Court Bard and an Urban Skald, so you can nerf enemy attacks and pump up ally defenses simultaneously.

Maybe throw a Skald or two in? A Spell Warrior maybe?


Thematically, this seems like it would fit Council of Thieves really well, and even work reasonably well mechanically, except for potential problems when facing the REALLY BIG BAD.

This also seems like it would be true for Hell's Rebels as well (at least the thematic fit), although I can't say with as much certainty, since I haven't seen beyond the Player's Guide of this, whereas I have seen a Council of Thieves PbP all the way through (although in modified order).

As for other mechanical options, don't forget the possibility of <something> VMC Bard, and a few archetypes of other things get Bardic Performance (for instance, Evangelist Cleric and Exemplar Brawler).

Also, for a weirder thematic connection to performance (although with no mechanical connection to performance), check out Mesmerist.

Shadow Lodge

I'd use Dawnflower Dervish as the main melee damage-dealer, instead of Arcane Duelist.

I'd also take Songhealer over Arcane Healer - HP is not really your issue with everyone able to throw out Cure spells, but the Heal will be really important at high levels. Good candidate for party archer.

Since we're not actually limiting ourselves just to bards, use Maestro bloodline sorcerer for a bit more magical oomph.

The Maestro will be better at blasting than the Thundercaller, so you can snag the Court Bard as a debuffer and/or Urban Skald for more buffing (new to me, nice), and if your party isn't full yet maybe add the Arcane Duelist as a tankier melee character.

Archaeologist is definitely a good choice for a bard party, but it doesn't actually fit your requirements as it doesn't benefit from performance or even the Perform skill. The Evangelist and Exemplar don't really qualify as musical, either, despite the bardic performance ability. The former uses Oratory, and the latter: "Instead of the Perform skill... activates this ability with impressive flourishes and displays of martial talent."

If you do allow those variants, I'd definitely swap the Songhealer for an Evangelist Cleric and probably include the Exemplar Brawler as a second melee character alongside the Dervish.

Liberty's Edge

Well, I'd go with a Thundercaller (or Sound Striker) caster Bard doing offensive casting, an Arrowsong Minstrel Archery-specialist, a Court Bard or Archivist going melee specialist, and likely a Skald (possibly a Spell Warrior), also doing melee.

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