Magus 4 to Bard 1?

[TheDoctor]

Should I take a level of bard or just "Extra Traits" feat? My party is currently without a face or a skill monkey. My "how many points of damage did he just do" 4th level Magus is about to take 5th. Because the PC has both the highest charisma and intelligence in the group (in-game), RP and social interaction has been falling heavier and heavier on the PC's shoulder.

If I took "extra traits" feat, I was thinking of something that added diplomacy as a class skill, but unsure of the next best trait.

Any ideas or words of advice?

[meatrace]

What's the class make-up? Magus is a pretty bad class to multi-class with. I'm wondering if someone else is better able to shoulder the burden.

Also, look into Cosmopolitan. Choose, say, Diplomacy and Sense Motive to become class skills for you.

[Sean FitzSimon]

Meatrace has the short of it- multiclassing a magus is a sticky task because most classes don't offer enough to make it worth it. That's not to say "don't do it!" but instead that there might be stronger choices for you.

Extra Traits: If there are two traits that you have your eye on, go for it. Most traits will give you a +4 to diplomacy (class skill, +1 trait bonus), which is pretty good for your level. If you don't mind a bit of a delayed payoff you could instead opt for Skill Focus (Diplomacy), which is only +3 but doubles when you hit 10th level.

Circlet of Persuasion: +3 to all your charisma skills isn't a bad deal. It's 4.5k, but that's well within your budget in the next few levels.

Familiar: At 6th level you can pick up a familiar with your Magus Arcana. Both the pig & thrush give a +3 to diplomacy checks.

Just a few thoughts.

[Helaman]

Cosmopolitan as a feat is well worth it. It won't slow down your class progression any and it wont hurt that much to lose a feat.

I did a level 1 dip as a samurai before going magus so I could get resolve and Katana proficiency (sick of scimitar Magi) as well as good social skills so I could act as a face if need be, and along with a trait that gave me perception, I think the dip is worth it in these circumstances.

If you are gonna dip I'd recommend Cavalier over bard - you don't want to lose BAB. Bard does have the advantage of inspiring performance and access to some other spells that can be beneficial - arcane duelist comes to mind - but again, that loss of BAB really hurts you as a Magus... on top of that, to get the best out of your bard performances there is other feats you need to invest in - which pulls your character in two different directions.

That said I think its worth a chat with your fellow players. Expecting you to do all the heavy lifting and investment in social skills isn't fair. Other players should be sinking some points into Diplomacy and Bluff so at the very least they can use aid another to boost your result.

[GâtFromKI]

If you have a high charisma and no wisdom, you should instead add sense motive as a class skill. Sense motive is also a necessity for a face.

Any way, additional trait isn't a very good choice if you're only looking to being a face. Putting ranks in diplomacy and sense motive should be enough. If you're interested in an other trait, additional trait can be good (reactionary and a +4 to sense motive makes a solid feat choice).

[LazarX]

TheDoctor wrote:

Should I take a level of bard or just "Extra Traits" feat? My party is currently without a face or a skill monkey. My "how many points of damage did he just do" 4th level Magus is about to take 5th. Because the PC has both the highest charisma and intelligence in the group (in-game), RP and social interaction has been falling heavier and heavier on the PC's shoulder.

If I took "extra traits" feat, I was thinking of something that added diplomacy as a class skill, but unsure of the next best trait.

Any ideas or words of advice?

You don't NEED a face or neccessarily a skill monkey either. Bard is not a particurlarly good synergy with your Magus levels and will delay your class progression. I'd also be wary of enabling your fellow players to become lazy in social interactions, let them take up their share in the load.

Interacting with others is more than what modifiers you can stack on a Diplomacy roll.

[Jiggy]

There's definitely been some good advice already in this thread.

I strongly agree with meatrace about the Cosmopolitan feat. If you'd be using AddTr to pick up a pair of class skills (and if they'd both be INT/WIS/CHA based), then the difference between AddTr and Cosmo is a +1 trait bonus on those two skills or learning two new languages. You'll have to make that choice yourself, but I recommend Cosmo as I can't imagine that little +1 being worth more than a couple of languages. Also, remember that you can't have multiple traits from the same list, so AddTr for class skills might cut you off from future possibilities, while Cosmo won't.

Of course, none of that applies if one of the traits you'd pick would be more unique, like one of the +2 initiative or +1 to a save or whatever.

[TheDoctor]

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the great advice. I had forgoten the Cosmpolitan feat. It is pretty much a toss up between that and extra traits, specifically Princess and Prostitute traits. That is the a +1 to Diplomacy and Intimidate and a +1 to Sense Motive and Gather Information function of Diplomacy, adding Diplomacy and Sense Motive to class skills. But, I'll talk it over with the DM.

I do plan on taking a single level dip into Divination Wizard (forsight)at 6th level. I'd take it now, but Magus gets such a power boost at 5th level, I can't pass it up. That should really help with making the obscure knowledge skills and social checks, too.