I've decided to multiclass my half-elf sorcerer into Bard for her second level. This means picking out two 1st level Bard spells. As a Sorcerer, she has Mage Armor and Grease. My question is, what would be the best Bard spells to choose?
I am thinking Feather Fall and Expeditious Retreat. FF wouldn't be used very often, but would be very nice to have when it is needed. Expeditious Retreat would be a fun spell to have, but I'm not sure how much use I'd really be able to get out of it.
Other ideas:
Charm Person? This could be useful, especially for the purpose of gaining allies during a fight. Combined with Improved Initiative, I could get an instant bodyguard.
Cure Light Wounds? This spell could be used a lot. Problem is that it might end up getting used too much, locking the character into a band-aid role and unable to use Feather Fall when needed. I might be better off getting a wand of Cure Light Wounds.
Detect Secret Doors? That could be another fun spell, but probably not useful enough to take up a valuable spells known slot.
Hideous Laughter? I'm looking for spells that would be useful throughout the character's career. (Right now the PCs are 2nd level.) This is an interesting choice because normally it would be a 2nd level spell for a Sorcerer, but as a Bard she could get it at 1st level.
Hypnotism? Being able to fascinate 2d4 HD of creatures might be useful throughout her career.
Silent Image? This would be a very useful spell.
Summon Monster I? It's quite useful to be able to put an ally in a given spot.
Any thoughts on this, other than the fact that I'm probably wasting a level? (I can't argue with that.)
My current thoughts are to concentrate about 2/3rds on the Sorcerer class, while taking occassional levels in other classes. OTOH, in the original Song and Silence supplement, there was a Virtuoso prestige class which I've always figured would work well for a Sorcerer/Bard combination.
If your DM is open to it, that virtuoso class is in the Complete Adventurer, and doesn't require *any* bard levels. You could simply go from sorcerer to virtuoso and essentially *be* a bard/sorcerer.
I'm enjoying Cure Light Wounds and Silent Image.
I'd like to remove Cure Light but its too damn important in a crunch.
Silent image is the quintessential bard spell I think. It's imaginative, adaptable, and reworks reality. I find the spell limitations really severe in the class though.
Sigurd
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I tend to use scrolls of CLW rather than actually taking the spell. I agree with Silent Image - great for scenery while singing/orating or whatever, although this could be another scroll spell because you'll rarely need it quick. I ended up taking Charm Person and Expeditious Retreat because those are two spells I though I might need quick.
If your DM is open to it, that virtuoso class is in the Complete Adventurer, and doesn't require *any* bard levels. You could simply go from sorcerer to virtuoso and essentially *be* a bard/sorcerer.
I was thinking that Virtuoso might be an option in the future. In 3.0 it was difficult to get to Virtuoso without taking a level of Bard, Monk, or some other prestige class. I'd have to convert Virtuoso over to Pathfinder and convince the DM to allow it. But any prestige classes are way in the future, and I want my spells NOW!
Currently, I am torn between Charm Person and Expeditious Retreat. Oh well, there is always random selection.
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My longest-run character (going on 15 years now) is a Bard, so I have opinions (just like everybody). Going through your list I have the following feelings:
Charm Person - Very useful spell at any level. The biggest problem is the save DC. The first few levels it will work spectacularly well, but once you hit opponents with reasonable saves, it starts losing its luster. Also note that if you play in a campaign without a lot of humanoids, it's not as useful.
Cure Light Wounds - Useful throughout your career, though eventually it becomes overshadowed by all the other healing your group may or may not have. As a bandaid though it can work very well and it's nice to have in case of emergency.
Detect Secret Doors - Useful at all levels from 1 to 20 if you play in a delve-heavy campaign. A solid choice for any Bard, especially if your group is rogue light.
Feather Fall - You didn't have this one on your list and I think it's worth noting. Always useful? No. But when you need it, man you'll be glad you have it. It has range too so it can help out allies that are falling, which widens its usefulness. Not required by any means, but when it saves your bacon, you'll be glad you have it.
Hideous Laughter - I'm a huge fan of the spell, but it has some significant drawbacks. First of all, being a level 1 spell is not actually a benefit, since it means your save DCs are lower than a wiz/sorc trying to cast the spell, and with that -4 penalty on different races, losing even a point in a save DC is huge. It's also concentration, meaning once you've cast it, you're not casting (or doing) anything else. I have it, I like it, but it certainly has its drawbacks.
Hypnotism - I automatically dismiss any spell that has a cap as low as 8 HD (with an average of 5 HD). This spell will be completely useless by level 6-7ish. If you're planning on taking lots of levels of bard (and can drop unneeded spells, that's great, but if you're not, do not take this spell).
Silent Image - An immensely useful spell. You can create mirrors of your own party as distractions, hide behind illusionary "walls" when being chased, or make yourself look fully armed or armored (and less like a sorcerer). The concentration requirement is less than perfect, but this spell is so flexible I think it should be seriously considered by any bard.
Summon Monster I - One ally for one round. Summons are great, but again if you're not planning on going heavy in bard, that summon I will eventually (in about 4 levels) be completely outclassed, and with the one-round duration won't be worth the time to cast it (when you can be casting other more useful spells). I can never suggest Summon Monster I.
The other one mentioning is: Grease. This spell is good from level 1 to 20. Since the save DC isn't level based and a penalty applies even if the save is made, it works moderately well even as you get higher in level. Disarm opponents, create area denial, grease up a pig, the sky's the limit.
I think it goes without saying that multi-classing a spellcaster is usually not a good idea, and multi-classing a spellcaster with other spellcasting classes (especially when you only take one level) is really quite harmful from an optimization standpoint (if it makes sense character wise though, go for it!). Just remember that if you're thinking of going 2/3 sorc, that leaves only about 7 levels for other classes, and since you've said you're planning on taking a PrC and "other classes" than Bard, those spells REALLY have to count (which in my mind means ignoring anything with a saving throw that's scaled on spell level, or a duration that's measured in rounds).
My choices (if I were to pick three)?
Minor Image (since the save DC only applies if interacted with)
Grease (since the save DC isn't based on spell level)
Feather Fall (because falling always sucks, and being able to arrest that is always useful)
I guess the first point I will make is that multiclassing Bard and Sorcerer is suboptimal. Not slightly suboptimal either.
Not saying you shouldn't do what you like, but better to do it with your eyes wide open right?
That said, if you are going to multiclass Sorcerer and Bard, your best bet is to take Bard spells that the Sorcerer cannot get or gets at higher level. Therefore I would say that Cure Light Wounds and Hideous Laughter may be good options.
It looks like I'll go for Feather Fall and Expeditious Retreat.
My character already has Dodge, so with Mobility and other feats in the tree, she can be the person who really moves.
And if Expeditious Retreat does not get used, that means that Feather Fall probably will.