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Amazing thanks!

A Bard is there any way at all I can use Fake Out to get more than just the +2 bonus for a Crit with Fake Out? Any other feats or items I could possibly get to give me a +3 bonus or +4 to Fake Out? Or would that require being a Fighter?

It seems like there are very few good talismans

What other classes are your party members? It would help narrow down some good choices.

Yes certainly, we have a Magus, a Barbarian, a Warpriest and a Swashbuckler.

I am in the city of Absalom!

I just turned level 12 as a Bard and I took the Talisman Dabbler Archetype. I can now make two talismans with an item level of 6 or lower. Could anyone recommend some good ones to make?

Also it says I must know the formula how do I go about knowing the formula?

Maya Coleman wrote:

The Total Package wrote:

Our Magus identifies sometimes. I don't have Wall of force in my repertoire as level 6 is a very competitive spell level. Should I be carrying perhaps a scroll of it for use?

A scroll for this is never a bad idea unless you already have too much to carry!

The difficulty may come in using the scroll though. It would effectively require two rounds to cast. One round to draw the scroll and all three actions of the next round to cast the wall.

The exception being if you are a Magus character that has a hand available for holding items. Many Magi do not. Starlit Span Magi generally use 1+ hand weapons and would not have a hand available for carrying items. Inexorable Iron Magi use 2 hand weapons. Laughing Shadow Magi generally need to have a hand completely free including free of items.

My Bard is armed with a shortbow. I could carry the scroll in my hand prior to battle if I suspect I could use it I guess, if we enter battle and it isn't required I could most certainly drop it without taking any action penalties.

Our Magus identifies sometimes. I don't have Wall of force in my repertoire as level 6 is a very competitive spell level. Should I be carrying perhaps a scroll of it for use?

Yeah, I think there are a few other "gain an additional reaction" abilities in the game, but they're all pretty high level (especially when considering multiclass).

Additional reactions are powerful, so they're made hard to get.

Edit: I guess one thing to clarify, are you looking for additional kinds of reactions? Or the ability to do more reactions in a round?

Cause normally you can only do 1 reaction a round (even if you have multiple options). So it's important to get yourself a reaction, but having "lots" isn't necessarily worthwhile since you can only do 1 per round.

Personally, if I'm already looking at multiclassing that has a nice reaction, like Rogue's Nimble Dodge (for a defensive reaction) I'll make sure to pick it up. But unless I was already looking to multiclass to rogue, I wouldn't multiclass just to pick it up.

Yes I'm looking to do a second reaction in a round (like a reactive strike) but as it appears it is not possible till very late game. I wonder if there is a talisman or some other type of item that could possibly have this type of effect.

Hi Friends,

Currently playing a Bard in one of the campaign I am in. I wondering what a strong round for a Bard typically looks like who has the Maestro and Warrior muse. His allies are a Barbarian, a Rogue, a Cleric and a Magus. FA rules are in effect and we are currently level 12. I typically cast Inspire Courage + Heroics on the second round of combat combined with One For All (aiding the barbarians strike) and a Strike in hopes to extend the Heroics (with the orchestral brooch). On round 1 I typically move to get into the right position and then cast a strong level 6 spell (sometimes Slow 6, Roaring Applause 6 or Synaptic Pulse 6, if one enemy then probably a Synesthesia) depending on how many enemies etc. On other rounds when Heroics is not active, I may All for One + Inspire Courage + Courageous Assault thus giving our Barbarian a +5 to his Assault reaction and effectively a +7 if he's flanking with someone. What do people normally recommend, should I be doing something else with my first and second rounds?

I am playing as a Barbarian. Is there a way to MC into another class (using Free Archetype rules) to get a second reaction each round? I'm not referring to a Shield Block or anything, I'm looking for a reactive strike of some sort.

This should be the list of all 1 (or 1-to-3) action spells in the Occult list, as long as the link doesn't expire.

Aqueous Blast and Scorching Blast are "fake" 1-action spells, since casting the spell doesn't actually make an attack, it gives you the ability to make their attack for the rest of your turn (effectively turning them into 2-action spells).

Magic Missile Force Barrage is a classic. It's variable-action, so you can choose how much unavoidable damage an enemy (or enemies) takes.

Shield is great if you find yourself a little too close to enemies for comfort.

Guidance is a great cantrip for if there's not much else you can do on your turn, as long as you have an ally within 30 feet you haven't used it on today.

Gravitational Pull could be a good low-commitment repositioning option, but I'd not start using it often until you get more low-level slots.

Timely Tutor is pretty damn good if you want to be the person who's Recalling Knowledge in your party. Hypercognition is in a similar boat, allowing you to use 6 Recall Knowledge actions for 1 action.

Winning Streak is just good value - 1 of your actions to give someone else another action is fine enough if you find your action would be better spent that way, and it can occasionally just start jumping around and getting even better value.

Could I cast Gravitational Pull on my ally and can he voluntarily Fail the save? This would be nice.

The Total Package wrote:

Deriven Firelion wrote:

I prefer Dirge of Doom because it stacks with everything but other debuffs and helps casters as well as martials and works for the enemy's attacks and their defenses which makes it both great for defense and offense.

Rallying Anthem only helps defense of your PCs.

Yes that's correct. I was thinking of using Rallying Antham with the brooch to get a +3 AC bonus AND +3 saves bonus. And then on that second round while it's active casting Fear 3 on the enemy. I am kind of confused how this isn't better than just Dirge? Dirge is a -1 to everything. Rallying is a +3 AC for the entire party as well as +3 all saves (we can ignore the minimal damage resistance ie. 3 damage reduction at level 12). Can't Frightened be obtained by multiple ways, there aren't many ways you can get a +3 AC and Saves bonus.

Just remember you can't have more that one composition active until you pick up Harmonize. If you cast Rallying Anthem using lingering composition, it will last a few rounds, but it will cancel out if you cast Dirge of Doom if you don't use Harmonize. I learned this the hard way that if you want to have two compositions going at the same time even using Lingering Composition, you must have Harmonize first.

You can't use Fortissimo with Harmonize as they are both Spellshape effects.

It's very, very hard to have two compositions going at once as Harmonize is very action intensive. You usually can't do it easily until level 18 or 20.

Yes that's right I had no intention on having Dirge running at the same time. I am able to extend Rallying Anthems +3 bonus to 2 rounds via Martial Performance.

Hi all, currently we are playing in a high level game. I'm looking for various options for one action spells on the occult list. Currently I'm working with Sure Strike, True Target and Time Beacon. I'm looking for other recommendations. Thanks!

I prefer Dirge of Doom because it stacks with everything but other debuffs and helps casters as well as martials and works for the enemy's attacks and their defenses which makes it both great for defense and offense.

Rallying Anthem only helps defense of your PCs.

Yes that's correct. I was thinking of using Rallying Antham with the brooch to get a +3 AC bonus AND +3 saves bonus. And then on that second round while it's active casting Fear 3 on the enemy. I am kind of confused how this isn't better than just Dirge? Dirge is a -1 to everything. Rallying is a +3 AC for the entire party as well as +3 all saves (we can ignore the minimal damage resistance ie. 3 damage reduction at level 12). Can't Frightened be obtained by multiple ways, there aren't many ways you can get a +3 AC and Saves bonus.

Can I get Raise Symbol and use it with my Shield without having to get Emblazoned Armament?

Related to the question, If I take Splinter Faith at level 1 can I right away take the domain I want along with the Initial Domain Power or do I need to spend a second class feat on Domain Intimate in order to do so?

Interesting good points, however the sentinel dedications main purpose (besides the heavy armor) is to get Mighty Bulwark which Champion won't provide. The champions reaction is good, however if they start targeting me it's virtually useless and the Quick Shield Block/Reactive Block are much better.

Hello Yuri, my old friend. I prefer than WP over the Champion (personal preference) because the ability to cast spells, this spell casting potential will give me added tankability/and crowd control while hitting just as hard as a champion (Warhammer D8). The way I'll keep them near me is via Strike + Spell or sometimes Harm+Castdown+Strike. The archetypes I would be dipping into would be Sentinel and Bastion and later on Rogue for Evasiveness giving me no weak saves.

Lmao your correct I didn't read it correctly. Thanks!

If I am wielding a sword and board, can I use a potion patch to drink a potion of Quickness for example, or am I out of hands? Because I am gripping my sword and holding a shield, I don't know how I would have a hand available to drink the potion without dropping my sword to consume the drink?

Any update on how this turned out Blave? Curious because I am building a Warpriest currently at level 8 and I will be the only tank. The party has a healer already.

When I played my bard in stolen fates (so levels 11-20), Rallying anthem was used so much more than dirge of doom purely because of the much higher range. I had so many 60 ft+ range spells that I was rarely within 30ft of a solo boss, and in a group fight I was usually only within range for like half of them. And due to bad luck, in most of the cases where I was within 30 ft of enemies either I was halfway though a lingering composition because they where too far away at the start of the fight or the enemies happened to be mindless. It just never seemed worth it to spend actions to move that close, not use lingering composition until round 2-3, just to debuff the attack rolls and saves.

Interesting, I am also playing Stolen Fate so perhaps Rallying Anthem is the way to go.

Would Mountain Resilience stack with a shield block? For example let's say my Shields hardness is 12, and my Mountain Resilience is Resistance 5, would it be a total of 17 vs piercing/slashing/bludgeoning?

The Total Package wrote:

Is there any point of getting Deeper Dabbler? I could just buy the extra talisman couldn't I rather than spend a feat to make them myself?

Yes. You can skip Deeper Dabbler if you want, or if you can't fit it into your feat list for the build. It will cost you more coin to have those extra talismans every day though.

The same thing can be said of Talisman Dabbler entirely. Same with Thaumaturge Talisman Esoterica. Or even the entire Alchemist class. You can just replace those with an unbounded amount of wealth spent on items.

Not quite, I need to take Talisman Dabbler dedication (for Talismanic Sage) to be able to put two talisman on one piece of equipment, no amount of gold will let me do that correct?

Is there any point of getting Deeper Dabbler? I could just buy the extra talisman couldn't I rather than spend a feat to make them myself?

So the limit is two? :( I can't affix even one more to my bow?

I currently have armor that is affixed with two talismen, due to talismanic sage. Can I also affix more talisman to any other areas besides my armor so I can use more per combat? So could I have two on my bow, and two on my armor?

Hmm interesting, I read in a popular guide the following for Rallying Anthem "Against multiple weaker opponents (or just when you’re outnumbered), Inspire Defense is superior to Inspire Courage because the damage resistance will apply many times."

I also read this for Dirge of Doom "Dirge of Doom is better and times when Inspire Courage is better. If your party is doing more attack actions, stick with Inspire Courage. If the enemy is doing more attacking, use Dirge of Doom."

Ohh, I was thinking with Fortissimo and Rallying Anthem you could extend it for an additional round with a strike, on that second round I can now cast Fear (3), which would be a lot stronger than just Dirge, no?

I am having a difficult time deciding which feat to grab between Dirge of Doom and Rallying Anthem. I am a maestro/warrior Bard I also have Fortissimo Composition. On paper it appears Dirge is better than Rallying Anthem. However, the fact that I have Fortissimo IMO puts Anthem quite a bit ahead of Dirge of Doom especially when you bring into play the orchestral brooch. What are people's take on this situation? Which ones better for this particular situation, I would imagine both would be used when your party is outnumbered on the battlefield, meanwhile courageous anthem would be used when your party outnumbers the enemy.

Oh, ya neither one of those does anything. So I guess it's kind of useless. At level 20 if I took Wit and Derring-Do could I use panache for Bon Mot and roll twice and take the better result? Also if you MC into Swashbuckler and go Wit do you get Bon Mot for free?

He's ranged yes, yes a high performance, he also has a high diplomacy. The rest of the party is mostly melee with one other ranged archer. Now when you say Battle dancers Perform, is Perform different from Performance? Oh and I don't demoralize at all.

Ohh so just merely attempting the bon Mot I gain panache? Also which style would you recommend for my kind of Bard.

I'm playing a Bard planning to MC into swashbuckler. I'm a ranged support Bard and I'm just wondering which style would be ideal. I am currently thinking Wit. So how does it work, whenever I use the Bon Mot ability I gain panache?

In terms of loading my gauntlet bow, can I load it before battle? Or do I have to spend an action in combat to load it?

Let's say I cast phantom Orchestra first round, on the second round I want to sustain it. So the second round comes around and I want to do a couple actions before, finally for my third action I sustain the spell. Is this allowed? Is there anything that says sustaining a spell must be done at the start of your turn or anything like that?

Can I cast Courageous Anthem + Fortissimo and then second action Courageous Assault?

So I could take level 3 Fear but drop the level 1 Fear correct?

If I am Grabbed or even worse swallowed whole, can I use this ability to swap places with a willing ally even if I cannot see them but they are within 30ft?

https://2e.aonprd.com/Spells.aspx?ID=1024

My Muse spell is Fear, does this spell just stay at level 1 or does it automatically become a signature spell?

Very helpful all thanks so much.

Can I wield a Gauntlet Bow and a short bow on the same arm?

And also if Inspire courage was active would that give me a bonus to the attack roll to aid?

Could I use Courageous Onslaught on the first round of combat also?

Thanks all!

Let's say I have Eternal Composition, can I on the first round of combat Fortissimo, then cast a spell and then stride.or am I not allowed to Fortissimo with eternal Composition on the first round of combat or even second round of combat?

I'm looking for a reaction that will let me fire off my bow each round, something similar to this?

https://2e.aonprd.com/Feats.aspx?ID=6363

Anyone have any good recommendations?

This is interesting, so your saying I could take Spell Trickster dedication, toppling tentacles as a Bard even if I don't have it in my repertoire. I could then cast three action spell as long as the scroll is already in hand?

Thanks Blave! Also is the DC of the scroll the same as my normal spell DC?

And what if it's a spell that is on the Occult list (Bard) but not in my spell repertoire? Would it still only take 3 actions to cast or would I not be able to since I would need to trick magic item?

I don't understand, you can have four talisman affixed to one piece of armor say? But in combat however you could only use one correct? Or could you use all four? I thought only Talismanic Sage could let you affix a second talisman and be able to use it in combat.