|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
So I'm making this bard in a game who is going to be using the Arcane Duelist alternate class options presented in the APG. He is starting at the half way point between level 6 and 7 (house rule for having a character die at or over that experience amount). And his bonded weapon is Torra the darkwood heavy crossbow. Now I know what you're thinking, "You fool, one attack every 2 rounds is terri-bad!" and you would be right, except he is getting crossbow mastery. As for spells, every spell level available to the bard that has a damaging sonic spell, he is getting. Hmm, Yoda I type like yes, REE HEE HEE HEE HEE! Also if any of you have played the game Dragon Age 2, just think of Verric, that kick-ass'enist little dwarf dude that made things work for the better, and you have Anders. But, my question is this, should I or shouldn't I go for the spell penetration and greater spell penetration feats when his primary modes of attack will be Torra, and when he gains access to it, a spell called Deafening Song Bolt which doesn't allow for a save, bypasses spell resistance and is 3 ranged touch attacks at 3d10 sonic damage each. Mind you it is a 5th level bard spell, so that's not until he reaches 13th level. Yes, that was long winded for asking about 2 feats but you take what you can get.
I'd take Soundstriker archetype instead of waiting for that spell. 13 levels is a long time.
Also, do remember that you need to hold on to your bonded weapon whenever you want to cast a spell. Not just in combat.
Don't go for Spell Penetration unless you plan on being a caster bard. Which since you're an Arcane Duelist, I can't recommend that :)
|
|
I was thinking of taking the feats Weapon Focus with my heavy crossbow and either Iron Skin for added AC (that +1 can mean the difference between you have just been swallowed by a behir, and you have deftly dodged the behir's bite) or Improved Critical with my heavy crossbow. You know, instead of the spell feats.
Steel Soul is great. It's basically +4 to all saves vs spells.
|
|
I already have that on my list of feats that I am getting. I even have the trait that increases the hardy racial by an additional +1. So once he has Steel Soul which I think is at level 11 he will have a +5 to his saves vs. spells, spell-like, and poisons. So far these are the feats I have him taking.
[1] Point Blank Shot
[3] Rapid Reload
[5] Precise Shot
[7] Rapid Shot
[9] Crossbow Mastery (thought here would be good because his BAB is 6)
[11] Steel Soul
[13] Deepsight (120 ft. darkvision baby)
[15] Weapon Focus
[17] Improved Critical
[19] Iron Skin
As I stated prior, he is starting at level 6 so he has his first through fifth level feats already. The three "dwarf" feats, namely Deepsight, Steel Soul, and Iron Skin are both for flavor and for tactics. Some times I just don't want to be within 30 feet of something so having the full range of the heavy crossbow as my darkvision is a bonus. Steel Soul because dur, better saves. And, Iron Skin because who doesn't like more AC. So with all that now plain as day, what do you think?
|
|
I'd take Soundstriker archetype instead of waiting for that spell. 13 levels is a long time.
Also, do remember that you need to hold on to your bonded weapon whenever you want to cast a spell. Not just in combat.
That thing about needing to hold on to my weapon when I'm always casting is wrong actually. As it is written in the Core Rulebook, the bonded item (in this case a heavy crossbow) can either be weld or worn when casting a spell. As for using the once per day spell from the bonded weapon, I believe then it must be in his hands.
If the object is an amulet or ring, it must be worn to have effect, while staves, wands, and weapons must be wielded.
So nope, you need to wield the weapon to cast any spell.
You can't wear weapons anyways. They can be on your person, but they don't count as worn for the purposes of rules. Unless there's text somewhere that says weapons on your body count as worn.
Feat-wise, it looks good. Arcane Strike will be your friend :)
|
|
This is all subject to criticism and I am very open too it. As for +1 attack so late and +1 AC so late, ya kind of redundant. And as for needing to hold on to my weapon to cast a spell, whoop dee freaking doo, all his spells will look like they are shot out of a heavy crossbow then. Which in my opinion, is probably one of the cooler things this character will do. So a new feat list after the jump.
I'd definitely not take spell penetration for a bard that isnt solely focused on debuffs and charms. If your primary focus is singing/crossbowing, take your feats there. Weapon focus is great. as a 3/4 BAB class, any tohit bonus is helpful.
I'd stay away from AC bonii though. At higher levels, you're more often gonna depend on being in the back as a ranged combatant, and spell defenses, as you're simply not going to be able to boost your AC to a level reasonable enough to save you unless you invest in it heavily. Mirror image is a much better choice.
So I'd take a different feat, though I don't personally have one to recommend. Improved critical would be fine.
edit: I'd definitely try to work in weapon focus in earlier. At 11 earliest or even at 8 with a 1 level dip in fighter (8 because you get the move action bard song at 7th)
|
|
Alright, I moved Steel Soul to 15th level and took the feat Discordant Voice at 11th. What that feat does is grants all your allies being affected by basically, all your combat related bardic performances, the ability to deal an extra 1d6 sonic damage. Why level 11 you ask? Because it needs Perform (oratory or sing) 10. And why Leadership you ask? Who doesn't want to have a pet meat shield that doesn't take a portion of the experience total and levels with you?
[1] Point Blank Shot
[3] Rapid Reload
[5] Precise Shot
[7] Rapid Shot
[9] Crossbow Mastery
[11] Discordant Voice
[13] Deepsight
[15] Steel Soul
[17] Improved Critical
[19] Leadership
Just making sure you knew of it :) It makes casting Charm Person at the royal ball a bit...odd.
I really like the idea of a crossbow using dwarf. Such cool imagery. I've been playing with the idea of a repeating crossbow using inquisitor. Use the judgements, self buff spells, and bane to keep the damage up.
|
|
Like I said, I ripped off the idea for this character from Dragon Age II and I am not at the very least abashed to say it. "Little" dwarf dude running around, ridiculously good looking for a dwarf, charming up to a point, and can turn the dragon into a pin cushion in a matter of moments. I think he will be fun to play. Now if only there was a version of the arcane duelist that added the trap finding ability of a rogue, then he would literally be Verric from Dragon Age II.
Looks like an Infiltrator Inquisitor would fit the idea too. Not sure how to fit the trapfinding in.
|
|
The first level you take is as a rogue, that's only if you desperately need a character in the party to fill that slot. Wish mine did at the time because this character is replacing one that was killed by an Air Elemental Guardian trap, them things hit really hard. Even more so when half of the character's levels, who is tanking, are wizard.