Hey all,
I am a relatively new posted to the forums, although a long time lurker, and my friends and I are beginning the Kingmaker AP in a week or so. We have all organized our characters backgrounds to work with one another and I think we have a pretty solid party. We have a CG ranger who wishes to be the Kingdom's Marshall, a CG elven rogue, a NG wizard going conjuration spec, and a cleric/swashbuckler of Caiden Cailen (I think that is how it is spelled). Each of my friends have all agreed to let my character a bastard noble, who may or may not have ties to the lost Brevoy crown, become King and then the gaming group will of course rule together.
That being said my character is a Human Bard, we play high powered games using 2d6+6 stat generation and
My stats stand as thus
STR 18
DEX 16
CON 14
INT 18
WIS 14
CHA 20 (+2human)
I was hoping to make him a melee warrior who uses tactics and leadership to win the day. A more care-free version of King Arthur, dedicated to his friends and the principles of freedom and good, yet with a strong scathing wit!
Basically I am hoping the amazing people on these boards may be able to help me optimize my bard we begin at 1st level of course but build beyond would be most helpful. I love the concept of TWF and using my bard spells for battlefield control so any sugg that could help would be greatly appreciated.
And Thank You all for your help in advance.
P.S. I am not sure if this is better in the King Maker Forum as it could be a bard build anywhere it just happens to be in that AP.
My god those stats.
Er, anyways, because all my commentary will literally just be me mimicking from elserwhere, here's the source:
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/extras/community-creations/treatmonks-lab/test2
Did my post here get obliterated? I thought I posted Treantmonk's something or other here first... hm. Darn.
Remember that his guides are purely optimization. His advice on a melee bard is going to be focused around dealing damage and being effective, and he's not going to say much about anything else. I've seen a lot of Treantmonk characters at my table and they're all really well optimized for what they're meant to do (except for the druid with nothing but entangle spells who refused to summon natures ally or prepare cure spells.... in the desert, where he couldn't use entangle) but their stats usually don't convey what the player actually thinks the character is like.
Just take that into consideration. The guide is a guideline, not a bible, so don't confuse it for one.
Ie, in my CotCT game we have a six-four two-hundred pound monster of a half orc cleric, two 20~ year old guys, witch and inquisitor in medium armor that're both big and tough guys that're both pushing six foot, a machismo grappler monk who fights in a mixed-martial arts style, and a treantmonk built beautiful female aasimar oratory bard who's like five-foot-six.
Highest strength score: The beautiful female aasimar bard. She can lift more and break objects better than the rest of the high-testosterone party, which means she's ripped. But of course, the player doesn't imagine her with big biceps, but a 20 strength is like modern day bear bodybuilder...
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I mean, two weapons is generally a weaker bard than the Spear wielder... personally for my melee bards I like holding a spear two-handed and getting lunge. Those stats are amazing... I'd personally "Gnome" yourself and trade Strength for Con and Int for Dex.
So:
14 Str (-2 Gnome)
14 Int
14 Wis
18 Dex
20 Con
20 Chr
Obviously that'll give you tons of hp in the high-powered game (you'll need them). It'll also get you off the front line... sadly bards don't make good front-liners (no matter how you slice it, your AC will suck), you're better off "locking up" the enemy and shooting them from, all the while inspiring your friends with your clever witicisms.
Take 1 - Point Blank /3 - Precise /5 - Rapid /7 - Deadly Aim /9 - MultiShot... lots of attacks, lots of damage. Get Charisma up high and use that Gnome +1 for illusions to good effect; Gnomes are fun in that regard.
If you must front line, the spear user goes Combat Reflexes (AOO every time someone moves to attack you), Power Attack, Lunge (your AC sucks anyway, might as well keep them at "move and AOO" range)... then whatever (I like Spell Focus on various things; you're really good at pumping those sames to munchkin levels).
If you must 2WF, well... you're locked into that line (2WF, Double-Slice, Power Attack, choose at 7, Improved 2WF at 9, etc). I really wouldn't recommend it though, unless you're really doing it for flavor (in which case I whole-heartedly understand). If you want the grinning 2WF the rogue more fits that bill; I prefer the Gishishness of bards as well though, and parties are ALWAYS better off to have one around.
Lolz, I think my post was duplicated one her and one in the Kingmaker forums. Anyway Thanks for the help guys I think that I have some pretty good ideas for this guy and Treantmonk's guide was very useful. Thanks a bunch and I look forward to more from these great boards in the future!
To Ice Titan: I am pretty sure you responded to my Kingmaker forum post first. I didn't think this post went through as it didn't show up until after the other one. So thank you first for being the fastest to help this newb out. ;-)