PFS Bard for all occasions (and creatures)

[TGMaxMaxer]

Ok, building a PFS Bard. Just finished my third game, and looking to make sure I have my plan right while I still have the rebuild.

Races to consider, Human for the feat/skillpoints and the spells known favored class bonus. Aasimar Musetouched for the stats/abilities and the xtra bard levels of performances.

Options I am taking:

Lingering Performance as 1st level feat.

Level dip crossblooded sorcerer, looking between the Undead(mind affecting work if they were humanoid); Fey +2 compulsion DCs; Infernal +2 charm DCs; Serpentine (mind affecting work on all beasts, magical beasts, monstrous humanoid). I get two.

Spells: disrupt undead, acid splash, one more cantrip, bards don't get them and they're useful; Shield spell or open to other suggestions.

Bard Archetype: Sound Striker, just to be able to do damage for the party.

Also considering the Dirge Bard, mind affecting work on undead but not if it requires humanoid, this would also remove one choice for sorc dip. If I do this, I will need to have a little higher int, since I lose versatile perform.

Any advice from anyone who has either: done something similar, or just has a high level PFS bard and can hit me some pointers as to what was or wasn't useful in the end.

[TGMaxMaxer]

My other thought is kickin in a level of Oracle with Lore, taking Cha to ac/ref and extra revelation to get cha to knowledges, this guy is intended to buff/debuff not be combat effective.

[Jiggy]

If you're not looking to be "combat effective", why were you talking about taking an archetype (sound striker) specifically for the goal of dealing damage?

[Rameth the Delver]

I don't find lingering performance necessary unless you are a combat type that has a lower cha. Vital for the archeologist, and perhaps arcane duelist or savage scald.

[Lab_Rat]

Jiggy wrote:

If you're not looking to be "combat effective", why were you talking about taking an archetype (sound striker) specifically for the goal of dealing damage?

I don't see sound striker as being a combat effective choice. After saves AND DR it does ok damage. What I see the sound striker having is a little bit more utility because he can sunder objects quite easily. No attack roll, no save, just pure damage. Love it.

[calagnar]

Over all the bard can do many things. It can not do them all at the same time.

Race : Human, and Aasimar are two of the best races for different reasons.

Lingering Performance as 1st level feat. If your a buffing bard this should be a given. At lower levels I used this all the time. Now that my bard is level 6. It still gets used but not as much.

Level dip for almost any thing is not worth it for a bard. delaying key ability's and there increases. Is unlikely to be more effective then what you get for the dip.

Bard Archetype : Most archetypes are not as good at being a buffer/skill monkey as the base bard. Most of the knowledge, and other skill come up more often then I though at first in PFSP.

My PFSP bard level 1 he is now level 6. The bards unofficial title is cheat mode for PFSP.
Human Bard
Str 14 Dex 17(15+2) Con 14 Int 12 Wis 7 Cha 14
Made some choices to make him better at combat. In the process his Wis and will save where lowered. It is a choice I have not regretted yet.

Feet: Weapon Finesse, Lingering Performance

Traits : Vagabond Child (urban): Disable Device as class skill. Never regretted that one.
Freedom Fighter: This one never gets used got it for flavor and just never use it.

Spells : Saving Finale : Good spell just dose not get used much.
Cure Light Wounds : This is the only cure spell I plan on taking. This is for when there is not time to get out the wand.

Now at level 6 what I wold have done different.
Taken Improved Initiative at level 1, and weapon finesse at level 3.

Feet's :
level3: Improved Initiative.
level5: Quick Draw.

Spells : Touch of Gracelessness : Have not used this spell much. When it goes off it can change the out come of the fight fast.
Anticipate Peril : The #1 most used spell by my bard. This spell rocks. Bladed Dash : This so far has not worked out as well as I was hoping for.
Gallant Inspiration : This spell rocks when used at the right time.
Tactical Acumen : Not one of the best spells. I still like it, and it works like a champ. If you cast it then move to flanking for your rouge buddy.

[TGMaxMaxer]

@ Jiggy: Suggestion is nearly useless in PFS, either you're in combat and it won't work, or you're in a situation where it won't matter for anything. In a home game, i'd be more worried about giving it up, but in PFS it's a free switch to an ability that can do (some) damage with sound striker.

@Rameth: with Spellsong used to maintain concentration on multiple spells, Sound striker in the mix to use perform rounds for damage, and the normal uses for inspire, I just thought 3 for 1 is good. Especially for the maintain another concentration spell.

@Calagnar: thx for the examples.

In my first level, I have used Lullaby and Sleep to completely wipe 3 encounters, and pretty much made the rogue guaranteed to sneak thru with the -5 to perception and a 15 willsave on a cantrip. The Sorc dip brings those up to 17 for the cantrip, and 20 for the sleep save if they fail. Its a cantrip, so I can cast it several times, and Spellsong (feat) lets me maintain 2 of them to get a wider area for the rogue.

Most of the bards spells are buff, or debuff. 90% of the debuff are mind affecting compulsions. Fey bloodline gives +2 DC on those, equiv to 2 feats (sp foc/gr sp foc charm). Undead are immune, Undead bloodline makes them count if they were humanoid undead, and how many aren't? Dirge bard archetype just makes them count for mind affecting period, but not as humanoids for target humanoid spells(ex. charm person) Dirge Bard, Crossblooded Sorc Fey/Serpentine would give pretty much all creature types are affected by mind affecting compulsions, and DCs of 17+spell level for this char.

I guess i'm really asking if a controller like this is viable. No creature type immune to his enchantments, bard music, buffs, and as a human, will have 3 extra spells/level known to choose from.

[calagnar]

TGMaxMaxer wrote:

I guess i'm really asking if a controller like this is viable. No creature type immune to his enchantments, bard music, buffs, and as a human, will have 3 extra spells/level known to choose from.

Yes and No. In a home game where you know who you will be playing with they are killer. But with PFSP you have no idea who is going to be at the table. I have played in 2 scenarios where my bard was the only melee character. So unless you have a back up plan on what to do if this happens. Controller focus can get you in trouble more then it helps.