UMD for scrolls is indeed tough. Much better for wands and other things.
Another way to go might be to look at the Eldritch Heritage line. The bloodlines that stick out for B'yelka would be Maestro or my favorite, Imperious (Human racial). It's a big commitment, but can be worth it.
Mage Armor, Identify, Protection from Evil, and Comprehend Languages might all be nice to have.
I can cast 2-hour Mage Armor on B'yelka. I will prepare the four-hour version for myself every day. Indeed Sleep is useless, if we want to put people to sleep I'll use my DC 19 Slumber Hex.
I didn't even think about wands, might be nice to have one of those, too.
There aren't any wands for sale in Ravengro that you guys didn't already buy if I remember correctly. I listed all the magical items availible some time back.
Even I can cast Sleep at DC 16 and mine's an AoE! :)
@ Janos, is there something in a Sorc dip that you are seeing and I am missing?
Edit: I double checked Eldritch Heritage... no sorc dip needed :) the best I can see in Imperious is Eldritch and Improved Eldritch to boost morale/competence bonuses to the party.
I am seeing this: (at level 11)
Standard Action Wand of Bless! +1 Morale Bonus to Hit
Move Action Inspire Courage! +3 Competence Bonus to Hit
With Eldritch Heritage/Imp EH, the bonuses would jump to +2 and +4 respectively... Anyone want a +6 to hit?
And, if I am reading it right, even a Rage spell would become a +3 to STR and CON and +2 Morale to Will Saves...
Now, is this a worthwhile way to spend two feats?
Not a Sorc dip, just taking the feats Eldritch Heritage and Imp. Eldritch Heritage. You get Bloodline powers, but you still level in Bard, so you continue getting that advancement. Eldritch Heritage gives you the 1st level Bloodline power, while Imp Eldritch Heritage gives you either the 3rd level or 9th level power. The powers are at your level-2.
Maestro:
1st: Daze effect using the sound of your voice with no save. It only affects creatures with HD your level-2 though, so it's not great. Still, B'yelka's voice becomes so powerful as to Daze lesser beings!
9th: Understand and speak all languages. +1 DC to any language-dependant spell. Bards have tons of those.
Imperious:
1st: Gain a bunch of class skills, plus an insight bonus on knowledge skills vs. humans. +5 with your CHA. Minor ability, but you become a huge researcher.
3rd: Whenever you are under the effects of a morale bonus, it increases by 1. At 9th level (11th for you) this now includes Competence bonuses too. And you can share this with allies a few times a day too. Huge, since bards' bread-and-butter are morale and competence bonuses. Might be better for a fighter-bard than a pure support one, but being able to increase Inspire Courage by 1 is nice.
It is a heavy investment though. You need to have Skill Focus in the bloodline skill as a prereq. However, for Maestro, it's any Perform skill, and for Imperious, it's Perform (Oratory). I'm sure you can find use for those along the way. So you're talking 3 feats to get both powers.
I'm so glad I don't have these hard decisions to make :)
@ Janos, It looks like my edit and your reply crossed en route :)
So, three feats... is it worth it? What would I be giving up?
Spell song is *blah* so, not too terrible a loss
Skill Foc UMD gives me the nearly guaranteed access to items/casterisms. Can be a great boon in our party that is non-caster/limited caster based.
Discordant Voice would be sonic damage for all weapons nearby. Like ImpEH, this is a lvl11 minimum feat; put this off to 13th?
New progression:
5th: Skill Focus - UMD
7th: Skill Focus - Perform (Oratory)
9th: EH
11th: ImpEH
Ranks in Oratory will generate a third Perform for Versatile Performance, too... And that will cover me for Bluff, Diplomacy, Disguise, Sense Motive ranks (et al). Also, incidentally, give me skill ranks to retrain... lol
@ Anton yeah, is this why no one likes bards? lol
Almost forgot: By 8th level B'yelka will be doing Scathing Tirades. Run. Run away. :) Different and generally better than Daze... excpet mindless/fearless folks.
I dunno about all this advancement stuff, but I want a "what your character is doing during the month" post from everyone in gameplay so that we can move this on.
1 coach can bear 4 passengers, so we need 2 coaches.
3cp/mile per coach = 6gp for a 100 mile trip
2 inn stays en route (common accomodations) = 5sp/person per night
11 people (Anton, B'yelka, Dantrian, Drosil, Janos, Tibideau, Kendra, 4 drivers) = 11 gp
Total cost of trip from Ravengro to Leipstadt = 17 gp
:P
Well that's a purchase now isn't it?
Hey B'yelka, Dantrian is making you stay in 'common accomodations'.
He only thinks he is... now pony up the green backs ya cheepskate!
Hey. Hey! If I was a cheapskate we'd be staying in the poor accomodations, missy!
Hmmmf. Fix it.
It's not broke! A "Good" room costs FOUR TIMES as much as a common one! FOUR!
It's lawful robbery!
2 coaches for up to 8 passengers
3cp/mile per coach = 6gp for a 100 mile trip
2 inn stays en route (common accomodations) = 5sp/person for 9 people per night = 9 gp
2 inn stays en route (good accomodations) = 2gp/person for 2 people per night = 8 gp
Forgot the stabling for the horses last time: 5sp/night = 1 gp
NEW Total cost of trip from Ravengro to Leipstadt = 24 gp
Much better, Mr Almaeus.
Tibideau will be pleased to benefit from any assumptions or anticipations anyone makes about his preferences.
I chuckled. :-)
Happy Halloween All! Isn't it nice that we get an imaginary freakshow, too? :D
Hey all,
Just a head's up that this weekend I'll be heading away with a group of old college friends for our annual camping trip to a mountain cabin. There's no cell signal, phone, or anything else short of a 30 minute drive down the mountain to connect us to the outside world, so I'll be off the grid once I leave the office Friday and I won't be back until late Monday evening.
Hey Dantrian, I didn't realise you played Killian as well in JCs council of thieves game. I'm playing Brandon (who is a very similar build to Dan)
Enjoy the cabin ;)
Sounds like mischief will ensue! Have fun!
Sounds like the perfect place to invest illicit substances unmolested. Have fun!
Nah - none of that. I think the craziest substance we'll have is either going to be the hard cider or cigars.
There will, however, be much playing of Call of Cthulhu, Pathfinder, and various board games! =)
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Also sounds very fun with or without anything else.
Cabin in the woods? How many horror movies start this way?
This is our 9th time going, so we feel pretty confident that if something horror movie-ish was going to happen it would have happened by now. Especially since one year we took turns playing through one continuous game of Silent Hill 3 and last year we played Slender.
I don't think there are any electronic games on the docket this year, but our Call of Cthulhu GM picked the scenario he did because it starts with the group of PCs camping in a remote mountain cabin! I'm half expecting us to gradually realize the module narrating everything that's actually happening in the cabin =\
But yes, lots of fun! It's seriously my favorite weekend of the year.
lol have a good time!
oh, and Dead Snow. Enjoy.
I'm going to be on extended vacation for the next few weeks. I'll still have connectivity, but posting will be sporadic. Please run my character as needed.
Be safe! And at least it's not a swamp!
Hey guys, I'm getting ready to head out shortly. If things progress over the weekend, feel free to have Dantrian wolf-out or throw alchemists fires or whatnot. I have all his attacks and such under a Macro spoiler at the bottom of his profile, so all you'd need to do is just copy/paste.
See you guys on the flip side! (unless I encounter a Great Old One, then I won't see you because I'll either be devoured or lost in time and space =\)
Or just crazy! Have fun and roll some crits!
(does CoC have crits? lol)
I'm going to be leaving to go on vacation this Friday, and will not be back home until Sunday, 11/24.
I will attempt to log in and post each day, but feel free to bot my character as needed to keep things moving.
Seems like half the group is gone right now. That's okay actually since I've been very busy IRL.
As usual, I'll try and update the inventory log with our phat lootz later tonight.
Tibideau, Anton has a wand of lesser restoration with 11 charges, so we're good in that respect.
In other news - the party stores sheet in the inventory is updated!
w00t thanks
Regarding Dantrian-bane daggers: mechanically speaking strictly from the rules as printed, no, it won't effect Dantrian any differently; alchemists/master chymists never gain the shapechanger subtype. If Jelani would like to house-rule that little adjustment in though, I think it'd be *really* fitting considering Dantrian's history. =)
Do you want that potion Dantrian?
Actually, Dantrian has been brainwashed into believing he's a werewolf. In reality Professor Lorrimor's evil doppelganger twin got him addicted to a substance that changes him into a wolfman while claiming it was the cure. The best part is that Dantrian actually believes he is a lyncanthrope, but in reality it's all self inflicted torture, and he's just completely delusional. This is why his transformations are always followed by him drinking a potion and have nothing to do with the moon. It's also the reason silver has no particular affect on him.
(O_O)
/mindblown
next thing, you're going to tell me I'm adopted too, aren't you?
ALL MY LIFE IS A LIE!
Potion's yours if you'd like, Tibideau. It'll pump your DCs whereas for me it'd only add some damage to splash weapons. I think you'd benefit from it more.
You weren't adopted, but your father IS REALLY THE SAME DOPPELGANGER!!!!!!!
(O_____o)
so maybe the dagger does work on you?
^ This is why I look forward to this group ;)
I just realized I said followed by drinking a potion above when I meant caused by. (>_<)*
Followed is better. It leaves casation to be interpreted. Essentially, leaving even your 'factual' statements up for scrutiny. Maybe Mr Almaeus *is* a lycanthrope. We can never know.
:p
Is the Feat "Fast Learner" retroactive? ie, will I get the Favored Class bonuses for previous levels (like raising INT or CON)?
B'Yelka - No.