I'd like some input from the board on the future direction of an Archery-focused Bard I've just begun a campaign with (at 3rd level). I have a couple of different things in mind as far as where I'd like the character to go, but I don't have experience playing with any of them and I was hoping to get some input from the boards about the options I'm considering. If it will affect the decision of anyone responding in any way, the party composition is as follows:
2 Bards (1 Core - Me, 1 Detective)
1 Wizard (Void Elementalist)
1 Druid (Core)
1 Paladin (Sacred Shield)
1 Rogue/Inquisitor (Investigator; Sanctified Rogue)
1 Alchemist (Vivisectionist)
The options that I'm thinking of are:
1) Move into a more combat-focused area by multi-classing into Fighter and then prestiging into either Arcane Archer or Eldritch Knight. I suppose Dragon Disciple is there too, but that seems much more melee-oriented. Of the first two, Arcane Archer appeals most to me, as I've been interested in the class since 3.5 and it would allow me to effectively make my own magic arrows as opposed to needing someone else to make them for me. The downside, of course, is that I'd stop any further progression in Bardic Performance and Bardic Knowledge once I left Bard behind, though that wouldn't happen until at least level 6, as I want the second Versatile Performance.
2) Prestige into Pathfinder Chronicler. It would allow me to continue forward with the Bardic Performance and Knowledge, while simultaneously gaining some other special abilities that would diversify the group's capacities. On the downside, I'd lose all spellcasting levels and have to work with just the special abilities of the Chronicler. I'm not sure how much this would hurt the team dynamic, though, since every single member of the group has some degree of spellcasting, even if there are only two full casters in the party.
Both these options seem appealing to me and the honest truth is I'm just not sure which one I want to go with. I'm not sure how long this game is going to go on; but it seems like the GM wants for it to continue for a while. Does anyone have experience with either of these classes that would be willing to offer some opinions or advice on either?
Well, Chroniclers do still advance the bardic music ability, just at -2 levels of core Bard. It seems like the ability of Epic Tales to let you stack bardic music bonuses might actually make that worth it.
Inspire courage is over-rated past +2 and good hope for the (+4/+4) combo. After that time everyone will be so powerful that an extra +1 or +2 at the higher levels will not really be changing fortunes.
I've always liked the Bard/ArcaneArcher/EldritchKnight combo myself.
Inspire courage is over-rated past +2 and good hope for the (+4/+4) combo. After that time everyone will be so powerful that an extra +1 or +2 at the higher levels will not really be changing fortunes.
I've always liked the Bard/ArcaneArcher/EldritchKnight combo myself.
While +1 or +2 might not seem like much at high level, its still a 5-10 percent increase (looking at the D20, not looking at actual increases possible, if you need a 19 to hit a +2 is a 100% buff technically) assuming the AC needing to be hit isn't just roll anything but a 1 even with negative modifiers active. If nothing else it helps the iterative attacks land, increasing the power of the party.
Considering the damage landed in attacks at high level, that 5-10 percent increase in hit rate could reflect a rather large potentially life saving increase in DPR.
WHY multiclass? Bard makes a rocking archer without sprinkling ina dash of anything else. I like Dawnflower Dervish's 2x bonus dance. Imagine that with arcane strike and a nasty magic bow. I'm too lazy to look up if it all stacks, but if it does, I have my next PFS character !
While +1 or +2 might not seem like much at high level, its still a 5-10 percent increase (looking at the D20, not looking at actual increases possible, if you need a 19 to hit a +2 is a 100% buff technically) assuming the AC needing to be hit isn't just roll anything but a 1 even with negative modifiers active. If nothing else it helps the iterative attacks land, increasing the power of the party.
Considering the damage landed in attacks at high level, that 5-10 percent increase in hit rate could reflect a rather large potentially life saving increase in DPR.
I don't disagree with you at all, but the whole 5-10% chance of hit stuff is theory-crafting that I don't base my opinions on. If a fighter has to get a 19-20 to hit at that level then any other class probably doesn't have a chance and it all comes down to spell-casting, which Bard's inspire courage is not helping.
I'd rather my Bard have the ability to launch some magic arrows and fight along the front lines a little bit better.
They both work, but the second seems more fun to play.
WHY multiclass? Bard makes a rocking archer without sprinkling ina dash of anything else. I like Dawnflower Dervish's 2x bonus dance. Imagine that with arcane strike and a nasty magic bow. I'm too lazy to look up if it all stacks, but if it does, I have my next PFS character !
Oh, I know. The Bard does make an excellent archer with no outside assistance. It's just that I've been enamored with the idea of the Arcane Archer since 3.5 and would honestly just like to diversify my character a little. While every character does have some degree of spellcasting ability, we only have one full-BAB class (Paladin). It seems like it couldn't hurt for someone in the group to try and add to the general combat ability of the team.
I don't disagree with you at all, but the whole 5-10% chance of hit stuff is theory-crafting that I don't base my opinions on. If a fighter has to get a 19-20 to hit at that level then any other class probably doesn't have a chance and it all comes down to spell-casting, which Bard's inspire courage is not helping.
I'd rather my Bard have the ability to launch some magic arrows and fight along the front lines a little bit better.
They both work, but the second seems more fun to play.
This is more what I was thinking. I have personally never been one to fret about DPR or whatever in any significant way. The main reason I was thinking of multiclassing into Fighter for a level is for the bonus feat, but if I do that I could just as easily go into Eldritch Knight at that point, which would give me a lot of the benefits of being more combat-effective while simultaneously giving me better casting progression.