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Hey all,
I am brewing again and here are my thoughts on a Bard/Rogue build for PFS. She is going to be a support character/face.
Aasimar Bard10/Rogue2
Traits: Maestro of the Society, Reactionary
Favored Class (Bard) alt Choose one bardic performance; treat the bard as +1/2 level higher when determining the effects of that performance. I am choosing (Inspire courage).
Pathfinder Society 20 Point Buy
7 STR (-4)
14 DEX (5)
14 CON (5)
14 INT (5)
14 WIS (2) (+2 Racial)
17 CHA (7) (+2 Racial)
Feats
Brd1 Level 1 - Inspire courage +1, Feat: Improved Initiative
Rog1 Level 2 -
Rog2 Level 3 - Rouge Talent: Trap Spotter, Skill Focus (perception)
Brd2 Level 4 -
Brd3 Level 5 - Spell Focus (Conjuration)
Brd4 Level 6 - Inspire courage +2
Brd5 Level 7 - Greater Spell Focus (Conjuration)
Brd6 Level 8 -
Brd7 Level 9 - Harmonic Spell
Brd8 Level 10 - Inspire courage +3
Brd9 Level 11 - Discordant Voice
Brd10 Level 12 -
Some people may ask, other then inspire courage how are you supporting the party, my response would be spells which would look like this:
Brd1 Level 1 - Grease, Saving Finale
Rog1 Level 2 -
Rog2 Level 3 -
Brd2 Level 4 - Liberating Command
Brd3 Level 5 - Feather Fall
Brd4 Level 6 - Glitterdust, Cacophonous Call
Brd5 Level 7 - ?
Brd6 Level 8 - ?
Brd7 Level 9 - Haste, Confusion
Brd8 Level 10 -
Brd9 Level 11 -
Brd10 Level 12
I need some help on the spells,
Her offensive abilities would consist of a cross bow till 5th level and after that she would be UMD scorching rays or acid arrows.
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Sure,
In PFS, a lot of rogues go after the arch-types to be more combat effective, however they have to sacrifice trapfinding, and trap spotter which are the two most important (IMHO) things a rogue brings to the table to help out the party. They give up a very important ability that helps the entire party versus themselves. To be a great support character I figure I fill a roll that a lot of people abandon.
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You may want to (instead of Rogue) consider a one level dip into Ranger, with both the Trapper and Freebooter archetypes. Trapper gives you trapfinding, and Freebooter gives you another nice party buff you can use...
I would also potentially consider lowering your WIS and INT scores to raise your Strength. Carrying capacity can be a fairly big issue.
You may also want to consider things like the "Flagbearer" feat (Inner Sea World Guide) for more party buffing fun.
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Sure,
In PFS, a lot of rogues go after the arch-types to be more combat effective, however they have to sacrifice trapfinding, and trap spotter which are the two most important (IMHO) things a rogue brings to the table to help out the party. They give up a very important ability that helps the entire party versus themselves. To be a great support character I figure I fill a roll that a lot of people abandon.
Don't worry about other people...you shouldn't be the trap guy and if you are worried about trapped doors just go buy a 30 ft. pole and whack the doors before you walk up to them.
I'd suggest dropping the dip in Rogue all-together and just go staight Bard.
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The Freebooter sounds kewel, however, I would have to give up the rogue trap spotting ability which is too good. I don't think carry capacity will be an issue since the only thing she will wear is a Mithrial shirt and a mithrial buckler...and a lot of wands.
I'd be more concerned with Ability Drain. Strength is one of the top stats that the enemies in PFS will be going after with poisons, disease and drain...the last thing you want is to be hit with a poison (having a lower fort save) and paralyzed in combat.
Its your character to ultimately it is your choice what you do, but I think most of us here will echo the same thing...the Str may become an issue and I think you will regret taking the 2 levels in Rogue...especially since you will more than likely be in the back of the group since you are a caster and a ranged combatant so any time they are openning doors and messing with doors you won't be within 10 ft. or you risk being stuck in the front when combat starts. Not to mention it will hurt your BAB.
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There's the occasional trap and triggering that may have worse consequences than some teeny damage. Particularly in sanctioned modules. Alarms, having to drop cover, teleports, lost victory points, those sorts of things. Were it only damage, a tough melee character would be enough for traps. As it is, however, I'd keep my trapfinding options open. Especially if there's no characters with that kind of bent to them in the local area. It should not be a huge focus for any a character, but maximizing the ability as a side job is not an effort wasted.
2e required a trapfinder. 3e and above basically got rid of that mentality. In 2e and before, a trap was designed to kill. in 3e and later, traps were designed to eat up resources (spells, potions, etc.), not to instantly kill one of the party members, if not all of them.
Tomb of Horrors (for example) is infamous in that way: Most of the traps are designed to kill an ENTIRE party, should they not have an adequate trapfinder.
Is it from players of 2nd edition?
Guilty as charged.
I am starting to be less paranoid now though. 1st and 2nd ed were very trap heavy and the results were always very punishing.
In response to one of my questions earlier this weekend, someone recommened an Azata blooded Aasimar Bard Dawnflower Dervish as a good build. This thread popped up when I searched but I notice that the last comment was 1.5 years old.
Is David's recommendations still valid after this passage of time and the release of new materials? Anyone have some supplemental recommendations from new source materials?
Thanks
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Go straight Bard. If you want to be extra buffy, pick up the Flagbearer feat and then the Banner of Ancient Kings when you can afford it.
Pick up a trait that grants Disable Device.
During your career pick up the cheap +perception and +disable device items.
Most GMs are fine with you Taking 10 on Perception when traversing a dungeon. When you come to a door, just Take 20 on your Perception to check for traps. If it's a mechanical trap, you're johnny-on-the-spot. If it's a magical trap, either your caster can attempt to dispel it (or Summon Monster 1 trigger it) or just send in your highest Saves guy in to simply suffer through it.
The only trap I've seen been fatal in PFS was a spiked pit trap that ALSO had a haunt at the bottom of it. (Talk about bad luck.)
Thats why I asked. Did play in a game yesterday with Flagbearer and had some fun with it. There was a question as to whether the flag, placed on a long spear, could be used as a weapon (or something along those lines). I didnt follow the concept that much as I wasnt familar with the mechanics.
He looked it up on board and there seems to be a pretty large split on the issue.