I want to make sure she looks effective and that I did everything right. She's 8th level.
She was made using some house rules. All characters get one feat per level, races are redone, and alignment is not used. Wealth is 33,000 gold, maximum single item cost half of this.
This is her race:
Humanoid
Medium Size
30 ft movement speed
+1 Skill point per level
Has two favored classes
Low Light Vision
Bonus Feat
This is her:
Str 16
Dex 18
Con 12
Int 12
Wis 14
Cha 16
Hit Points 58
Armor Class 18 (17 without dual wielding)
Flat Footed 13
Touch 14
BAB +7
Base Melee +10/+11 Finesse
Base Ranged +11
Fort +9
Ref +12
Will +13
CMB +10
CMD 24
Two Weapon Fighting penalties -2
Equipment:
Masterwork Studded Leather Armor
Belt of Physical Perfection
2 +2 Long Knives (use Gladius stats)
Masterwork +3 Strength Composite Longbow
20 Arrows
Standard sailor's sea bag
Feats:
Two Weapon Fighting
Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Weapon Finesse
Two Weapon Defense
Double Slice
Quick Draw
Improved Initiative
Nimble Moves
Acrobatic Steps
Skill Ranks:
Stealth 8
Perception 8
Profession: Sailor 8
Swim 8
Knowledge: Local 8
Knowledge: Geography 4
Knowledge: Nature 4
Perform: Sing 4
Perform: Oratory 4
Bard Abilities:
Still Water
Familiar
Sea Legs
World Traveller
Bardic Performance
Cantrips
Sea Shanty
Distraction
Fascinate
Inspire Courage +1
Paladin Abilities:
Channel Positive Energy (Water variant)
Aura of Courage
Divine Health
Shaken Mercy
Divine Grace
Lay On Hands
Aura of Good
Detect Evil
Smite Evil 2/day
Bard Spells Per Day
Level 1 4
Level 2 2
Bard Spells Known
Level 0
Light
Sift
Read Magic
Detect Magic
Prestigitation
Know Direction
Level 1
Feather Step
Feather Fall
Cure Light Wounds
Expeditious Retreat
Level 2
Cure Moderate Wounds
Snapdragon Fireworks
Look good?
Nobody? This is my first try at multiclassing, and I want to get a good critique.
It looks like a very well complimenting set up. Ordinarily I think it would be a little too feat starved to work, but with the house rules it seems to work fine. My only critique is a small one Snapdragon fireworks with the low caster level isn't going to help you very much and since you're already taking a hit on your martial prowess as a paladin from the split leveling I'd grab a buff spell to help make up the difference early on.
Yea, but critiques are very nice. It's cool to show off new characters.
Which buff spell should I grab?
Do the skills look good for a professional sailor? She's intended for a seafaring campaign.
Nice to see it looks viable. I grabbed the Bard levels because I thought the idea of a cheerful, artistic, good humored, fun, and inspirational Paladin would be awesome. Plus, the skill points and class skills were welcome.
Eagle's splendor is great for general use, but I would snag heroism simply due to the duration and your limited spells per day.
Thanks.
Haste is freaking awesome, but with the low caster level and the low number of spells per day she's getting a pleasant eight rounds a day of it assuming she doesn't need to heal. Most DMs I've played with tend to have more than one combat in a day and while it is burst worthy I'd rather have the increased chance to hit, boosted saves, and the slight skill boost for forty minutes or more if necessary particularly considering the low performance skill levels. A slight boost is better than none and this one stacks with her main functions as a bard and as a combative unit. It also gives her the boost in a pinch to give another party member a helping hand for awhile.
I think I'll ditch the Stealth ranks for 4 in Climb and 4 in Acrobatics.
I forgot. I get a familiar. Does anyone have ideas for a familiar that is native to North America and won't die in the snow?
I'm curious, what ability score modifiers does the hybrid race give?
I'm curious, what ability score modifiers does the hybrid race give?
We don't use racial modifiers. Everybody has +2 to a physical stat and +2 to a mental stat, and chooses the stats.
The races in general are very highly similar. Everybody gets a bonus feat and chooses ability modifiers. This is intentional, as the idea was to make the choice of race a backstory/aesthetic/flavor decision and not a mechanical or optimization decision.
I'm curious, what ability score modifiers does the hybrid race give?We don't use racial modifiers. Everybody has +2 to a physical stat and +2 to a mental stat, and chooses the stats.
The races in general are very highly similar. Everybody gets a bonus feat and chooses ability modifiers. This is intentional, as the idea was to make the choice of race a backstory/aesthetic/flavor decision and not a mechanical or optimization decision.
Very Interesting thanks for the quick reply.
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I want to make sure she looks effective and that I did everything right. She's 8th level.
She was made using some house rules. All characters get one feat per level, races are redone, and alignment is not used. Wealth is 33,000 gold, maximum single item cost half of this.
That character looks like fun! If only you could find someplace to squeeze in the 3.5 feat Devoted Performer. :)
I want to make sure she looks effective and that I did everything right. She's 8th level.
She was made using some house rules. All characters get one feat per level, races are redone, and alignment is not used. Wealth is 33,000 gold, maximum single item cost half of this.
That character looks like fun! If only you could find someplace to squeeze in the 3.5 feat Devoted Performer. :)
Thanks! Not only does she look fun from an RP perspective (I love the idea of mixing Bard and Paladin together), two weapon smite has got to be painful.
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Lower STR and raise CON and INT (and take Combat Expertise); fight with +1/Agile weapons.
Wisdom is overkill; WIS is actually a dump-stat for high CHA paladins
You have Use Magic Device on your class list, and a mountain of CHA -- so use it (i.e, have a pile of cheap wands ad scrolls). Buy a Circlet of Persuasion.
Buy mithral breastplate.
Nimble Moves and Acrobatics Steps do not pull their weight (particularly not for an arcanist with a high Acrobatics score -- you can just jump over difficult terrain, or cast Feather Step, which is a 40min 1st-level bard spell for you). Replace them with Combat Expertise and Improved Disarm (you are a paladin, after all; you shouldn't be trying to kill everything).
Exchange Two Weapon Defense for Dodge.
Lower STR and raise CON and INT (and take Combat Expertise); fight with +1/Agile weapons.
Agile isn't allowed.
Wisdom is overkill; WIS is actually a dump-stat for high CHA paladins
Where should I put the points?
You have Use Magic Device on your class list, and a mountain of CHA -- so use it (i.e, have a pile of cheap wands ad scrolls).
I already have too few skill points. I can't afford another skill. Plus, I don't particularly want to be a UMD user.
Buy a Circlet of Persuasion.
I'm out of money.
Buy mithral breastplate.
I like the way leather looks, and I ran out of money.
Nimble Moves and Acrobatics Steps do not pull their weight (particularly not for an arcanist with a high Acrobatics score -- you can just jump over difficult terrain, or cast Feather Step, which is a 40min 1st-level bard spell for you). Replace them with Combat Expertise and Improved Disarm (you are a paladin, after all; you shouldn't be trying to kill everything).
I don't qualify for Combat Expertise, I'd never use Combat Expertise, and I won't really be fighting much that is worth trying to disarm. Pretty much everything in the planned campaign is something that needs to die.
Exchange Two Weapon Defense for Dodge.
Why? I can just pick that up later and have both.
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Why not?Lower STR and raise CON and INT (and take Combat Expertise); fight with +1/Agile weapons.Agile isn't allowed.
No reason your DEX shouldn't be 20 or even higher at 8th level. And 14 INT.Wisdom is overkill; WIS is actually a dump-stat for high CHA paladinsWhere should I put the points?
You're a bard/paladin/elf/gnome....about the only way to not cast spells is to have to all of your mental scores 10 or less. :-DYou have Use Magic Device on your class list, and a mountain of CHA -- so use it (i.e, have a pile of cheap wands ad scrolls).I already have too few skill points. I can't afford another skill. Plus, I don't particularly want to be a UMD user.
I'm out of money.Ease off on the Belt (get just the DEX); that frees up a ton of cash for the Circlet (which will grant +3 to every social skil check -- all of your performs, your diplo, UMD, Bluff, etc. 5,000gp best bang-for-the-buck item in the book.
Nimble Moves and Acrobatics Steps do not pull their weight (particularly not for an arcanist with a high Acrobatics score -- you can just jump over difficult terrain, or cast Feather Step, which is a 40min 1st-level bard spell for you). Replace them with Combat Expertise and Improved Disarm (you are a paladin, after all; you shouldn't be trying to kill everything).I don't qualify for Combat Expertise, I'd never use Combat Expertise....
In order to get more than a +1 from Two Weapon Defense, you have to fight defensively (which gives a worse attack/AC trade-off than Combat Expertise (this is why I recommended higher INT and Dodge...you also apparently need more skill points).
If your campaign allows Traits, check out Threatening Defender.
(Skillpoints: you may be able to substitute some skills via Versatile Performance, if you have not already done so.)
Exchange Two Weapon Defense for Dodge.Why? I can just pick that up later and have both.
Well, then save TWD for last (and you'll probably find Mobility more useful in the interim as well). Dodge works when you don't have your weapons out, stacks with everything, and is a base feat for some good chains.
Agile isn't allowed because the PFS field guide isn't allowed.
20 Dex? Maybe. 14 Int, maybe.
No on UMD. I don't want to be a UMD user. At all.
The only use I'd get out of the circlet is perform. I lose my Paladin class features if I make a bluff check, I can't afford diplomacy (any extra skill points need to go towards perform or acrobatics), I have no intention of being a UMD user, I lose my Paladin class features if I make an intimidate check, and so on.
No traits, and I don't get Versatile Performance.
I don't want to buy into the Dodge chains. Maybe Dodge, but that's it. I want to finish the TWF chain and get into the critical hit feats.
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I lose my Paladin class features if I make a bluff checkA paladin can feint in combat.
I lose my Paladin class features if I make an intimidate check
You don't have to be a bullying a-hole to inanimate. For example, the PCs chase a thief into a nightclub, and are stopped by the doorman (not evil) who wants them to pay a cover-charge; impatient, you shoulder past him while glaring, and say, "We're in a hurry, and you do not want to mess with us!" <make Intimidate check>
Feinting is a good point, but it's one maneuver. I'd rather buff performance and acrobatics with the skill points.
That's threatening violence against someone who hasn't done anything to warrant it. That goes against the code.
That's a tactical use. I don't really use social skills tactically. It's a very poor combat option.
Socially, it goes against what a Paladin believes in. An act of intimidation is a threat to engage in violence. A Paladin should avoid engaging in violence when possible. An intimidate check may prevent violence, but it could also provoke it very easily. That's not something a Paladin would do. There is a reason it isn't a class skill for Paladins.
We'll have to agree to disagree here. I'm not interested in a long debate, but I don't see threats as appropriate for a Paladin.
Allegro is a great spell, even if it works only for a few rounds.
Double slice with such a low STR is not really useful, I would not waste a feat on that. A pity agile weapons are not allowed, it would have been useful. Even with agile not allowed, I'd raise a bit more DEX lowering STR and WIS.
AC 18 at 8th level is suicidal even for a barbarian: paladins can heal themselves with swift actions, but you are only half paladin, you are not going to be in melee for long. If you want to survive you should make your AC a lot higher than that. A +1 chain shirt (mithril if you increase DEX), ring of protection and amulet of nat armor should by on the top of your shopping list. Also, dodge>TWD.
Finally, what are your plans for the next levels? BARD4/PAL4 does seem a bit unfocused, but I've never tried something like this so I can't be sure. I would have went either BARD6/PAL2 (just to grab divine grace) or BARD1/PAL7 (for a few skills). Could it be that you are thinking about going dragon disciple?
AC 18 at 8th level is suicidal even for a barbarian: paladins can heal themselves with swift actions, but you are only half paladin, you are not going to be in melee for long. If you want to survive you should make your AC a lot higher than that. A +1 chain shirt (mithril if you increase DEX), ring of protection and amulet of nat armor should by on the top of your shopping list.
Do you have anything that doesn't look like mail? I don't want to go around wearing a shirt of mail.
Finally, what are your plans for the next levels? BARD4/PAL4 does seem a bit unfocused, but I've never tried something like this so I can't be sure. I would have went either BARD6/PAL2 (just to grab divine grace) or BARD1/PAL7 (for a few skills). Could it be that you are thinking about going dragon disciple?
I don't want to be a dipped character or a prestige class character, I want to split my levels evenly between Bard and Paladin.
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Do you have anything that doesn't look like mail? I don't want to go around wearing a shirt of mail.
Mithral breastplate supports DEX up to 20 (with the Armor Expert trait, armor check penalty goes to zero); if appearance bothers you, get the glamor enhancement.
Definitely chalk +1 rings, amulets and Ioun stones which bump AC as higher priorities than +2 weapons (let along a pair of them).
-- Low AC is the primary reason why I previously recommended Dodge and Combat Expertise: as a front-liner, you will get your head handed to you at Tier 8-10+ if your armor-class is anything less than stellar.