I am in the midst of writing up a level 10 bard/paladin for a new campaign and was considering having his back-story include that he was a foundling that was adopted by a fey. As I was looking through the likely fey that this might work for, nymph seemed like a good alternative given its alignment as well as the tie-in to its inspiration supernatural ability. That being said, the token of a nymph is quite a boon for a bard.
What sort of handicaps would be appropriate to allow the character to have such a token from his adopted mother while not affecting the balance of the party? I was thinking of having it cost against my 62000 wealth, but I could not easily put a price on the token. Does 20000 seem like a reasonable penalty to have such an object?
Why a paladin?
|
I'd be inclined to have it cost a Feat. It's much better than a Feat, of course, but it can also be taken away, and it doesn't seem the sort of thing one should be able to purchase with money or hand off to other PCs.
Talk with your GM in any case. It's really up to him what swomething like that costs. Heck, with an impressive enough backstory he might even give it to you for free.
I chose paladin partly for the synergy with the abilities. Right now I am looking at using the Dervish Dancer archetype for the bard to make me more effective in melee. Two levels of paladin gave me access to divine grace plus some swift healing through lay on hands. Plus the BAB and saves for two levels of paladin aren't bad either.
I considered having it as a feat, but it seemed to mirror an item more than anything else. It can me taken or destroyed, unlike a feat or any class ability. But getting a +4 on will saves (insight, so stacks well), craft checks (meh), and perform checks (nice), plus gain 7 additional rounds of bardic performance (very nice) seems very powerful. The other option would be to simply have him start at level 9 instead of 10 like the rest of the party.
I was hoping to keep the token but to have some sort of penalty for having it. However, I like the idea that it was stolen from me at some time in the past. It would allow for the GM to work it into a plot line and be a nice treasure at some point.
I am actually less concerned about the GM (he'd be pretty fair) and more about other players' feelings on the matter. Though the idea of having an overpowered bard does seem oxymoronic.
|
|
I considered having it as a feat, but it seemed to mirror an item more than anything else. It can me taken or destroyed, unlike a feat or any class ability. But getting a +4 on will saves (insight, so stacks well), craft checks (meh), and perform checks (nice), plus gain 7 additional rounds of bardic performance (very nice) seems very powerful. The other option would be to simply have him start at level 9 instead of 10 like the rest of the party.
But, presumably, all you need to do is go back to her to get it replaced, since she loves you as a son. It's having her favor that's the Feat, not the item itself, which is worthless in the hands of anyone but the person she favors.
And it's totally not worth a level. If you don't go with GP or a Feat just go with an explanation like ShadowcatX suggests and do without.
I was hoping to keep the token but to have some sort of penalty for having it. However, I like the idea that it was stolen from me at some time in the past. It would allow for the GM to work it into a plot line and be a nice treasure at some point.
Well, earning the Nymph's favor is how that sort of thing is usually granted, so regaining it as a quest definitely seems fair and workable if you can't work out a way to start with it (or just prefer it that way).
I am actually less concerned about the GM (he'd be pretty fair) and more about other players' feelings on the matter. Though the idea of having an overpowered bard does seem oxymoronic.
Haven't played a lot of Pathfinder Bards, have you? The last GM I played with was frequently complaining about my Bard's brokenness. Though he did also b**~$ about the Antipaladin with the Conductive Weapon almost as much.
Of course, a Dervish dancer won't be quite as bad, just due to not giving everyone else such ridiculous bonuses.