How useful would a Bard be if he focused on Knowledge Skills from 1st level? I did a quick right up using the 20 point buy, but I'm not sure if the character could be truly helpful to a party.
Human Bard Lv1
Str 8
Dex 14
Con 9
Int 20(18+2)
Wis 8
Cha 13
Knowledge(Dungeoneering): 10=5+1+3+1
Knowledge(Engineering): 10=5+1+3+1
Knowledge(Geography): 10=5+1+3+1
Knowledge(History): 10=5+1+3+1
Knowledge(Local): 10=5+1+3+1
Knowledge(Nature): 10=5+1+3+1
Knowledge(Nobility): 10=5+1+3+1
Knowledge(Planes): 10=5+1+3+1
Knowledge(Religion): 10=5+1+3+1
Perception: 3= -1+1+3
Perform(Oratory): 5=1+1+3
Point Blank Shot
Combat Expertise
Lv0: Dancing Lights, Prestidigitation, Detect Magic, Read Magic
Lv1 Grease, Sleep
Thoughts, opinions, criticism?
A total waste of a bard :( sry man .
Take 2-3 Knowledge skill. Bards add their lvls for knowledge checks and at 10 level if i remember right the can use any skill untrained .
take 4 perform skills, and some stealth and use magic device. That way your should be a Library and helpfull to your party
An awesome idea, but the Bard has a lot of special abilities that allow you to be a master of knowledge WITHOUT having to invest in myriad knowledge skills. Going into Loremaster or Pathfinder Chronicler later seems natural.
EDIT: Thinking about it more, I think going into Chronicler especially would be best for this kind of character, especially since you want him to have Perform (Oratory).
Consider the following:
Str 14
Dex 14
Con 12
Int 18 (16+2)
Wis 7
Cha 12
You'll have enough skill points in general and enough of a bonus to still really make those knowledge checks you want to make.
With the Dex and Str at 14 you can either be a switch hitter bard leading into dragon disciple (unlikely) or you can be a dedicated ranged bard still.
I would recommend point blank and precise shot at first level, then rapid, with arcane strike at fifth level, multi shot at 7th and deadly aim at 9th.
Put 1 point into each and then focus on a couple you really like. The take 20 ability will make you as good as, if not better than, a focused character rolling average.
lvl+3+10 for most people vs lvl+4+20 for you.
Perform (Oratory).
I choose Perform(Oratory) so he could lecture people. The faster they win the fight(a flavor excuse for the Inspire Courage bonus), the faster he ends the lecture! XD
The Pathfinder Chronicler did cross my mind, but I thought Loremaster would be just as good until I looked them over again to check your reasoning.
Put 1 point into each and then focus on a couple you really like. The take 20 ability will make you as good as, if not better than, a focused character rolling average.
lvl+3+10 for most people vs lvl+4+20 for you.
Taking 20 1~3 times a day is good, but what happens when you run out? The take 10 part of lore master is nice enough to compensate of course, but both parts make me think of somebody who flipped through a book and read a random page.
It certainly looks possible your Ideas with Abraham's progression and stat block. I'll probably go back and re-write the Bard soon, using the ideas presented so far.
Any spell suggestions to help the little librarian outside his 'booked' home?
I'm not sorry for that pun.
You need to try the Factotum from Dungeonscape.
He is good for a "Know Everything" PC, and even more so if you combine him with the Exemplar Prestige Class from Complete adventurer.
Of course if you want a "Do Anything" PC, use the Chameleon Prestige Class from Races of Destiny.
You need to try the Factotum from Dungeonscape.
He is good for a "Know Everything" PC, and even more so if you combine him with the Exemplar Prestige Class from Complete adventurer.
Of course if you want a "Do Anything" PC, use the Chameleon Prestige Class from Races of Destiny.
I have looked at the Factotum, and I admit to not understanding it well at all. The Chameleon and Exemplar are good, but not what I'm looking for. Thanks for the suggestions though, I appreciate them.
Legend lore would be obvious. I really like the cantrips that do detection for figuring stuff out. Good Hope helps with skill checks and Haste is always popular in a party. Slow gives you more time to study. Mirror Image is fantastic, and Glitterdust/see invisibility are no brainers generally.
|
Taking 20 1~3 times a day is good, but what happens when you run out? The take 10 part of lore master is nice enough to compensate of course, but both parts make me think of somebody who flipped through a book and read a random page.
You won't run out, usually. Generally, you're good enough to pull non-critical knowledge checks by taking 10. Throwing a single point in all the knowledge skills eventually puts you at 4+int mod+1/2 level. Once that's done, focus in a few at a time. You do NOT need to pace knowledge with your level. Pick one to specialize in. Put a point in that every level until you have a +15 mod without the bardic knowledge boost. You're rarely going to need Knowledge checks over 35 even at level 20, and if you've got +15 and then bardic knowledge you can take 10 and get a 35. Pick six or so to be decent at. Set them into groups of three and put a point into them every other level. Then, finally, put points into the last three every 3rd level on a rotation. (Your last one should be nobility or geography, dependant on campaign. It's incredibly rare to check those in my experience.)
That's 5 skill points into knowledges each level. If you've got an 18 int starting this leaves you with 5 skill points per level, or if you're smart, 6 with your favored class bonus. That's plenty to dump into 2-3 perform skills and a couple other skills you want to pick up. Don't put skills in things your perform check can do for you.
From there, build the feats out as you want for combat.
I've looked at the Oracle, and it can fit the concept, but I still feel that Bard is better for this.
So let's see what the Bard looks like at 5th level with the suggestions made so far.
Human Bard, Lv5
Str 14
Dex 14
Con 12
Int 18 (16+2)
Wis 7
Cha 13(12+1)
Knowledge(Arcana): 12=4+3+3+2
Knowledge(Dungeoneering): 12=4+3+3+2
Knowledge(Engineering): 11=4+2+3+2
Knowledge(Geography): 11=4+2+3+2
Knowledge(History): 11=4+2+3+2
Knowledge(Local): 11=4+2+3+2
Knowledge(Nature): 12=4+3+3+2
Knowledge(Nobility): 11=4+2+3+2
Knowledge(Planes): 12=4+3+3+2
Knowledge(Religion): 12=4+3+3+2
Perception: 6=-2+5+3
Perform(Oratory): 9=1+5+3
Perform(Percussion): 9=1+5+3
Perform(Act): 9=1+5+3
Acrobatics: 8=2+3+3
Appraise: 11=4+4+3
Stealth: 9=2+4+3
Spellcraft: 11=4+4+3
Use Magic Device: 8=1+4+3
Linquistics: 11=4+4+3
Point Blank Shot
Precise Shot
Rapid Shot
Arcane Strike
This gives him damage potential and a decent variety of non-Knowledge skills. He lowest check with his Lore Master class feature is 21, he knows 9 languages, can usually tell you what spells are being cast, how much money something is worth, and can use a wide variety of magic items. And thats all without spells!
I think it should work fine. The nice thing about arcane strike is it will work with any weapon -- so if you face a wind wall or something don't be afraid to pull out a long spear and attack over the fighter's back. With your bardic music you'll still be looking at (with a masterwork long spear) +8 to hit and 1d8+7 damage a hit. Not bad for someone that is not a melee type at all.
Don't forget that you are still a good face too with the sense motive and diplomacy coming off of your perform(oratory) bonus.