Trolling the Bard... literally...

[TheRipper]

Hi,
I was wondering if it would be feasible to play a rather unusual (and evil) Bard: A Troll Bard.
Start-Level would be 12 (CR + Bard Level). My current favorite is the Ice Troll (CR 4). A normal Troll (CR 5) or Moss Troll (CR 3) might also be possible. The Rock Troll's sunlight petrification seems too problematic for a PC.

As we are playing without the "get an additional level for every 3 levels" part of the Monsters as PC rules, I would start as an 8th level Ice Troll Bard.
Attributes are fixed, the elite array: 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8.
I don't want to make him a "stupid" melee fighter, but quite manipulative. My first take at the attributes would be:

STR 12+8 -> 20
DEX 8+8 -> 16
CON 13+6 -> 19
INT 14-2 -> 12
WIS 10+0 -> 10
CHA 15-4 -> 11 (+3 Level Ups) -> 14

Important skills: knowledges (not maxed), perform (for bluff, sense motive, etc.), use magic device.

Feats: Maybe Arcane Strike for my natural weapons?
Traits: Magical Knack and one other.

Due to the Ice Troll's fire vulnerability a Ring of Fire Resistance (10 or 20) seems useful.

Any other suggestions? I'm looking for all kinds of ideas for this rather unusual project.

Edit: Just noticed that the Ice Troll is the only Troll without "Scent" ability. Is this a typo or intentional?

[Chaos_Scion]

I love the idea and have been trying to get my Dm to let me play it sense 3rd edition(I want to do a good troll bard who wants to make friends with everyone but everyone runs away when he tries to preform...if you want to be cunning wisdom is as important in my opinion as int. For preform skill i wouldn't focus on singing or the like rather simple instruments or even better dance(because it would be hilarious). Feat wise if you keep the strength at 20 Id get power attack you still a combat monster and can easily take advantage of that(unless that is to much the dumb fighter track for you). Might want to go skill focus preform because your preform skill will be pretty low otherwise (same goes for bluff if you really want to manipulate people). The use magical device trait is a good choice to up your score because of low charisma.

Over all could be a really interesting character to play and your back story will be awesome(I hope).

[Mergy]

The rules for monsters with PC levels is different from getting the elite array.

You get stat increases to the monster's base stats as follows: +4/+4/+2/+2/+0/-2 any way you like.

Go with an even numbered CR monster, because the level buy-out happens a number of times equal to half the monster's CR rounded down. The ice troll is probably best for your purposes, although at bard 8 he's only going to have a charisma of 14 before items. I guess that's okay though.

[Vestrial]

Mergy wrote:

The rules for monsters with PC levels is different from getting the elite array.

You get stat increases to the monster's base stats as follows: +4/+4/+2/+2/+0/-2 any way you like.

Where do you find this info?

[Mergy]

Bestiary page 297.

[TheRipper]

Mergy wrote:

The rules for monsters with PC levels is different from getting the elite array.

You get stat increases to the monster's base stats as follows: +4/+4/+2/+2/+0/-2 any way you like.

Go with an even numbered CR monster, because the level buy-out happens a number of times equal to half the monster's CR rounded down. The ice troll is probably best for your purposes, although at bard 8 he's only going to have a charisma of 14 before items. I guess that's okay though.

I think you are combining two things here. The stat boni are for "Monsters with Class Levels (p. 297)" and the CR buy-off is from "Monsters as PCs (p. 313)". We are using the latter, though probably without the buy-off, but I'm okay with that.

First I have to figure out the ability adjustments of my race (Ice Troll). These are: STR +8, DEX +8, CON +6, INT -2, CHA -4.
Then I simply add them to my set of character stats, which in our case are based on the elite array (instead of rolled/bought).

@Chaos_Scion: Power Attack is a good one and I will probably take it. What I meant with "not wanting to play a stupid fighter" was that his first approach to a problem should not be "smash it!!!". He would try to manipulate the involved parties and take advantage. On the other hand he should and will be a very good combatant, it's just not his favored solution.

My current state of progress is:
Str 26 (+6 belt), Dex 16, Con 19, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 14

Skills: Bluff +19*, Climb +12, Diplomacy +19*, Disguise +19*, Knowledge (All) +9, Perception +17, Perform (Oratory) +19, Perform (Act) +19, Perform (Dance) +6, Perform (Percussion) +6, Sense Motive +19*, Spellcraft +12, Survival +7, Swim +9, Use Magic Device +19

Bluff, Diplomacy, Disguise, and Sense Motive are tied to Versatile Performance (Oratory, Act) and he's learning to dance and play his first instrument, too. Those seemed appropriate for his manipulative and "play dumb" style. My 14 HD (@level 12) make up a bit for my low charisma and I think a +19 bonus without any items/feats should be enough for level 12. If not there is always glibness (for bluffs). My UMD skill is also high enough to use any Wand/Staff I want without failure.

I will probably use most of the feats for combat and his spells for protection/deception purposes. Though I still haven't figured out which ones are a "must have" for my little troll.

Regarding items I'm pretty much lost. The most expensive ones would be a strength belt (+6) and a cloak of resistance (+5). Though I'm more interested in finding "cool" and cheap ones. Sources allowed are all that are included in the PRD.

BTW: If any one is interested, the other characters in my group are a Doppelganger Rogue/Assassin, a Serpentfolk Assassin, and a Drow Sorcerer (with a focus on "trading" with devils/demons). Not too much optimization in this group, but rather focused on having fun with our characters.