Hototo "the Poet"'s page

This is a pretty interesting idea. I have no thoughts on the subject though as I've never taken magic item creation feats before :O

Speed Kills: Choose 1 creature within 30ft, they must make a Will save or die, if they fail their save the song ends and the target explodes and everyone in a 10ft radius must make Reflex save or take 5d6 half fire, half piercing damage. If they pass their save you may continue performing and they take 10d6 fire damage and catch fire. Each round after they catch fire the fire damage is reduced by 2d6 (8d6 on the 2nd round, 6d6 on the 3rd, etc), it cannot be reduced past 2d6, they receive a Reflex save each round after the 1st to put out the fire, rolling on the ground provides a +2 to this save and dousing the target with at least 2 gallons of water puts the fire out. 30ft range, Will Partial (see text), LVL: 9

That mans hands are flying tarantulas

Lol well ya of course I need some more character concept and back story, I just needed a reason for being a one armed Half-Elf.

lol ya I had to come up with that on the spot because I hadn't figured out how he lost his arm.

It will make a more interesting build, plus you can RP the whole bonus feat thing,,,,

Bard: "Well there was this wretched, doubled over, old hag sitting next to me at the Rusty Bucket back in Portstown you see and I seemed to mention that I'd give my arm if it'd make me a better fencer... I felt a searing pain in my right shoulder and the next thing you know I was face to face with what looked some sort of she-devil (though not the kind that seduces you to into bed with an impressive bodice, the kind that reeks of death so much you can see it) chewin' on my right arm. After I skewed her a through the eye I left town. Every man I've fought since has said I'm neigh untouchable in a fencing match because I'm missing an arm."

DM: Ugh... All right, you can have a +1 dodge bonus to AC.

I wouldn't worry too much about the 7 wisdom although you'll probably speak your mind quite a bit and not have that much common sense (at least that's how I'm playing my Bard with a 7 wisdom). Matthew Price 809 does make a valid point though, I'd drop strength down to 16 and if you don't care about your wisdom that much you could even put that into dexterity (especially if you're going the Two-Weapon route), constitution, intelligence, or charisma. My bard's a one-armed Half-Elf though :P

Just to clarify I was responding to Mirror, Mirror's post. He had said something about both being at will. I knew you meant only 1st level abilities.

Both at will might begin to get a little iffy because some of the domain powers would be hard to make "at will" abilities. The travel domain comes to mind. Would you be able to teleport as much as you want or would you be able to teleport as a free, swift, and/or immediate action?

Who said I'm not using a shield? (sorry to have answered your rhetorical question). Is it bad that I had almost thought about asking to play the character with only 1 arm though? That's crazy that you said that lol. I might have to ask now and see if he'll give me a feat or something for it.

I think I'm going to give the Vital Strike build I try. I have yet to play a character with it and I've been wanting to try because I enjoy playing Spring Attacking builds. Thanks for your help guys and sorry about the rude comment earlier.

EDIT: And I just noticed you didn't want two weapon fighting. Oh well.

I'm not completely opposed to using 2 weapons, it's just not what I had planned.

I think your main issue is in trying to do too many things at once. The character you want to emulate isn't a D&D character.

You want to be a great and multiuse musician
AND a good damage dealer
AND a dexterity build
AND have high AC
AND not use a bow

The problem is, most of these don't really fit together, especially not all at once.

I initially didn't really care about doing a lot of damage but seeing as how that's what everyone cares about I got sidelined into it. 14 dexterity isn't what I'd call a dexterity build either and also a dexterity build kind of covers a high AC (which I never really said anything about). Not using a bow was somewhat obvious if you look at the character I'm trying to emulate and although he may not be a D&D character I've known quite a few people that try and emulate non D&D characters in D&D. Just saying.

If you are going that way you need to drop the Dex down and incress your Con. From a surviability stand point.

Bluff is coverd by Perform Sing I looked it up. Diplomacy can be coverd by Preform Oratory. Thay both give you Sense Motive. After playing for a long time I can not stress to you how much of a difrence Acrobatics can make. Bards end up needing to move in combat to line up spells heal a frind. Why you move to do this Acrobatics helps you not get attacks of opportunity. Bards don't get level 5 spells till level 13 you can start with a Cha of 14 Pick up one at 12 and 16 and never be short on your highest level spell you can cast.

Str VS Dex bases for combat there are pros and cons. For a bard with songs at level 10. With out using Stat Two Handed BAB 7/2 Bard Song 9/4 Haste 10/10/5 +2 Damage for each hit. Using your starting Str 16 +1 at level 4 and 8 plus songs and haste. Base weapon only 14/14/9 +8 damage per hit. total bouns damage 24 plus 6D6 for weapon. Two Weapon BAB 5/5/0/0 Bard Song 7/7/2/2 Haste 8/8/8/3/3 +2 Damage for each hit. Using my starting Dex 17 +1 at levels 4 and 8 base weapons only plus song and haste. 12/12/12/7/7 + 6 damage per hit. Total Bouns damage 30 Plus 3D6 2D4 for weapon.Haste and Bard songs combind are the most potant force on the feald for the group to use.

Acrobatics is covered by Perform (Dance). With the str vs. dex/two-weapon thing I'm not really that good with numbers and I wasn't really looking to play a two-weapon fighter, not that I'm saying my build is better (because you kind kind of see by looking at what you posted it's not) but I'm just going for more of a 1 weapon build. As far as my Dexterity, Constitution, and Charisma go, I might switch some numbers around for a higher con but I like having more dex and cha as a Bard.

Sounds like a fun character to play Hototo (can't see the link right now). All I would say is don't be afraid of Power Attack because of the name - just use it exactly like Deadly Aim, a lunging strike at just the right spot.

I guess I've never read the fluff for Deadly Aim. I might take Power Attack but I think I should be ok (hopefully) with Arcane Strike and a 16 strength. On an unrelated note, I may change my primary Perform skill to Perform (Dance) because I've always liked having a high Acrobatics check, although it would be slightly more in my favor to put it in a Perform skill with 2 skills I'll use. Why they picked Acrobatics and Fly for dances Versatile Performance I will never understand. Although the only other reasonable skill I can really think of for dance is possibly Escape Artist.

On the "combat expertise can do this" no - it doesn't. Everyone can do combat expertise. I want *1-weapon in 1-handers* to do the Narrow Profile schtick. This MUST go beyond description and hit mechanics if it's to have any validity as a style choice. That doesn't happen by hand-waving Combat Expertise to fit the concept (unlike the turkey leg and Improvised Weapon - it was designed precisesly for that circumstance). Expertise is more broad and about the "defensive minded fighter", not the "hard/dodgy target".

As a matter of fact, I'm thinking about changing the Narrow Profile thing into a feat chain, 4-deep with cumulative effects, HOWEVER, it would...

I meant someone could role-play combat expertise as stepping into a fencing stance or a more narrow stance/profile. People were telling I could role-play power attack as a bard I was using as I'm trying to hit a more vital place and that's why I deal more damage but I take a penalty to hit because I'm trying to hit just the right place. I was just kind of putting that out there.

I just talked about this in another post but, you could add another feat with Quick Draw as a prerequisite that lets you catch people flat-footed when you draw your weapon. I'm pretty sure there's feat (or skill trick) like that in 3.5 but it's great when you're trying to play a Iaijutsu Master rip off :P

2) "and nothing in the other" How about no weapon/shield? I'm thinking of my tankard, but also the idea of the swashbuckler who dances holding the foes off while he gnaws on a turkey leg or something.

Take the improvised weapon feats hit people with the turkey leg? I've honestly played a few characters that don't use a weapon (or eat/drink something) in their offhand while they fight. There aren't many feats you can really give them though, I mean you could honestly use Combat Expertise as "Narrow Profile" and say that you go into defensive fencing stance when you use it. I like the idea of feats for characters with nothing in their offhand but there aren't really a lot of things you can do that haven't already been covered.

I like the idea of feats for people using 1 weapon with nothing in their offhand (I'm actually building a bard like that right now lol). Improved Lunge may need to be written a little better but I'm pretty sure you were paraphrasing so that's not a problem. Also, just a quick question: When you say "also grants the ability to use the climb or swim skills with no penalty for carrying a weapon in one hand, and nothing in the other" in Off-hand Balance do you mean they don't take the -2 (or whatever the penalty is) or that they aren't flatfooted?

Not sure if this will help at all but the Occult Slayer has some ability that allows it to reflect spells back at it's enemies, I think it's a certain number of times/day though.

I wouldn't say Brook is a bard. Some martial class with a maxed Perform(String instruments) should be a better fit.

I you can use 3.5 content, maybe a refluff of the Iajutsu master PrC, based on a rogue (after all, he's a pirate) with some feat to catch opponents flat-footed when using Quick draw.

He plays the piano and sings/hums too :P The reason I wanted to do a Bard though was more for the purpose of playing a "musician" although I guess anyone with ranks in Perform could be a musician of sorts. I think I may go with something like this though:

Half-Elf Bard
Str: 16 (14+2)
Dex: 14
Con: 12
Int: 14
Wis: 7
Cha: 15

1: Arcane Strike, Skill Focus (Perform: Sing)
3: Dodge
5: Mobility
7: Spring Attack
9: Vital Strike
11: Improved Critical
13: Critical Mastery
15: Improved Vital Strike or a critical feat
17: Whatever I don't take at 15th
19: Open, not sure we'll get this far

My skills would be something like this: Bluff or Diplomacy (1 or the other because 1 is covered by Perform Sing), Climb, Escape Artist, Knowledge's (just mixing up some skill points in different knowledge's), Perform (Dance), Perform (Sing), Stealth, and Use Magic Device. I'll probably also drop some ranks into other perform skills as I level up but those are the main skills I'll be using. I'll probably up my Charisma to 16 at 4th level them put my the other bonuses in Strength, maybe a few in Dexterity. I may also move Critical Mastery to 17th and take a critical feat at 19 so I can take Quicken Spell for quick boosts to AC but I'm not really sure, I can always do stuff like that in the 1st round of combat.

EDIT: On a side note there is a feat (or maybe a skill trick) in 3.5 that lets you catch people flat-footed when you draw a weapon that would be really cool for an Iaijutsu Master.

Ya Brook is supposed to be some sort of fencer, so I'm not sure why they call his weapon a shikomizue. I guess Two-Weapon Fighting could make up for my lack of strength but wouldn't I technically have to sheath a weapon every time I wanted to cast a spell? I don't really think my DM would make me but I guess if he did, I'm only using a dagger in my offhand so I could just drop it and grab another (assuming it's not magical or anything).

Also, if you want to be the guy who "floats through the battlefield," I recommend taking Dodge & Mobility, and investing heavily in acrobatics (or perform: dance) to easily maneuver between enemies. Spring Attack is a good choice for this route, and whirlwind attack is groovy as all get-out.

I had thought about the Spring Attack tree and Vital Strike for slightly more damage when I get to the point where I have a higher BAB. I guess that might be my best bet. I may switch my dex and str for Arcane Strike instead of Weapon Finesse, I guess it's just not really what I had in mind. Maybe I should just take Catch-Off Guard and Arcane Strike and attack people with magically infused instruments :P

I think I'm just thinking too hard about this. I just don't envision him as some guy power attacking or having a high strength. I imagine more as the guy floating through a battle field.

I actually asked how to make a character similar to Brook from One Piece not how to deal the most damage as a Bard. I didn't mean to come off snarky so I'm sorry about that I was just kind of disappointed that no one gave me any insight on what I actually wanted to do.

This isn't at all what I wanted. Did anybody look at the link? He's not really strong, he's light on his feat and in reality the only reason he kills the thing in 1 hit is because he knows they die if they eat salt.

Any other ideas for feats other than to not take Weapon Finesse? Which, no offense to Kolokotroni or Madcap Storm King, I'll probably take anyway because I plan on being more agile than strong.

I realize that you didnt want to use a bow, I was just explaining why the rapier didnt have the same damage output as the shortbow. You can still use a rapier, just used strength instead of dex as your higher score. Saves you a feat anyway, which can go towards arcane strike, or something of that sort.

That's true, I had considered using a Long Sword with a higher strength before the Rapier though, my critical multiplier goes down but I get like a .5 more damage on average and I do slashing damage :P

But I don't wanna use a bow lol. I suppose I could use a Long Sword and change my str and dex around although I'd like to be dexterous it would probably help me out in the end, well with damage anyway.

There is a reason for that. If you go weapon finese with dex as a primary stat you might as well not use the rapier, you arent likely to do any considerable damage.

It has the same damage output as a short bow, although I guess a short bow can get off 1 more attack than a rapier if the person has rapid shot.

It's pretty interesting. I would say you could probably get away with letting them add their full level to Acrobatics checks because they'll need it, otherwise you'll have a lot of Acrobat/Monks

Give this a read treantmonk's guide to bards It will be more helpful then anything i could suggest.

I've actually looked through that but he doesn't seem to have anything for the finesse bard (or at least not in the original post).

So being a musician I've always enjoyed playing Bards but I always have trouble figuring out how to play them. Lately though I've been watching One Piece and I just got to the part when Brook joins the crew and I've been inspired to play a Bard in a similar fashion. If you don't know already, here's Brook. At the moment I plan on playing a Half-Elf (as I doubt my DM will let me play a skeleton or some other sort of undead) and using Perform (Sing) as my main performance art. As the Half-Elf I'll put my skill focus in Perform (Sing) and technically get skill focus for 3 skills (I think Perform: Sing gives me Diplomacy or Bluff and Sense Motive with Versatile Performance). As far as my ability scores go, we're using the 20 point buy and I have them arranged like this at the moment - Str: 13, Dex: 15, Con: 12, Int: 14, Wis: 7, Cha: 15 (I'm still debating on whether I want the +2 from Half-Elf in Dex or Cha).

My biggest problem right now though is figuring out what feats I want to take. I'll be using a "shikomizue" (well a rapier that I say is a cane sword because I kind of doubt my DM will know what a shikomizue is and he's open to customizing weapons) so I will probably take Weapon Finesse at 1st level but from there I'm not really sure what I want. I thought the Spring Attack tree and Vital Strike would be kind of fun but then I thought Arcane Strike would be nice and Combat Casting would be good to have. Any suggestions?