Okay folks, I have a 3rd level gnome bard who is heavily themed as a British colonial jungle explorer/anthropologist.
He is not optimized, unless you consider absurd skill-monkeying optimized (which you probably don't). He has totally dumped strength (he is a tiny old man) so melee capability enters into my decision not at all. I'm making a character who has the neat, silly powers that I always wanted (deep pockets!) and leaving the monster-whacking to the other party members (as enhanced by my bardness).
As for his party role, I am basically the skill-monkey and part-time battlefield controller. The other party members are a melee-capable gun-tank fighter, a dragon disciple, and a full-on cleric's cleric of Cayden. So a bit more of a controller role would be welcome.
Here's the catch. I want to prestige class into Pathfinder Chronicler. It's an irrational decision I would like to do in the most rational way possible. Good synergies are the fact that the 1st level Deep Pockets power overcomes my piddly strength problems with carrying capacity, and that as a gnome bard I have stacked the UMD and scroll-based bonuses as much as I possibly can.
I figure the best I can do here is a UMD build. In the distant future, I will have a PC who can pull any scroll up to 4th level out of his bag as a full-round action, and who has an efficient quiver full of wands, rods and staves (free action!).
I'm asking for advice trying to determine when to switch. I'm on track to pick up my first PFC level at 6th... but I am feeling the 2 level setback on bardic performance and the loss of 3rd level spells, and I'm wondering if it's worth waiting till bard 7th.
I'm finding it complicated because so much of PFC overlaps with bard. Is there some obvious factor I'm missing here?
Here is the statblock.
Here is a breakdown of the different class benefits for bard and pfc.
No Serpent's Skull spoilers please.
Anything with a "GM" superscript is a broken rule that my GM signed off on. (Oratory usable on countersong? How is that not kosher?!)
If possible, hold off until Bard 7 or preferably Bard 8. good hope is awesome and the third level bard spells are pretty important to at least have on your "spell trigger item" list.
For spell trigger items, doesn't it just have to be on your class list?
I thought you could cast from a wand even if you hadn't yet attained the wand's level?
Ugh, yeah, I always forget that part of the spell trigger item rules as it doesn't make a heck of a lot of sense to me. PFC doesn't do anything for your Bard CL though, so I'd still recommend your Bard 7 build.
Spell trigger items can be used by anyone whose class can cast the corresponding spell. This is the case even for a character who can't actually cast spells, such as a 3rd-level paladin.
So delaying for spell trigger access is out of the reckoning (and you may want to have a look at your own PCs wand options!)
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I'm not sure, honestly. As you're not going for optimal I'd say take it whenever you feel it appropriate. With that backstory it sounds like he already qualifies (by fluff)
I think I would wait just because 3rd lvl spells seems like it would be very useful.
As a side note, you are my hero. Every time I try to present a Chronicler concept on here there is a resounding "you will suck" from everyone. You have bucked the trend and given me hope that I will also, one day, have deep pockets. :)
I tell my wife that she has that ability and has somehow figured out how to apply it to the fridge.
Another major factor in my reckoning is the deep pockets ability when used with scrolls and a maxed-out scroll UMD.
Here's the scroll pricing.
The highest level CLR/DRD/WIZ scroll a PFC can pull is thus:
Spell Level -> PFC
1st -> PFC1
2nd -> PFC2
3rd -> PRC4
4th -> PFC7
As a side note, you are my hero. Every time I try to present a Chronicler concept on here there is a resounding "you will suck" from everyone. You have bucked the trend and given me hope that I will also, one day, have deep pockets. :)
*fistbump*
This character is meant to be a sort of optimizer's foil. I have rolled profession SO MANY TIMES. I've rolled profession (midwife)! If you've got a GM who will roll with it, skillmonkeys can be fantastic.
The other players don't mind because I help them win all the glory in melee, and we are never caught without skills in this survival-heavy campaign.
Oh, and thanks, guys. Discussion helps!
You want those third level bard spells. Switch after bard 7.
I'm not sure, honestly. As you're not going for optimal I'd say take it whenever you feel it appropriate. With that backstory it sounds like he already qualifies (by fluff)
I think I would wait just because 3rd lvl spells seems like it would be very useful.
As a side note, you are my hero. Every time I try to present a Chronicler concept on here there is a resounding "you will suck" from everyone. You have bucked the trend and given me hope that I will also, one day, have deep pockets. :)
i am currently playing a cavalier 5 (inspiring commander archetype) chronicler 4. the two synergize ridiculously well (my aid another bonus is a +9)
My feeling on multi-classing / prestige classing a Bard is to always wait till 7. Being able to start your inspire courage as a move action is extremely valuable.
Hey, didn't someone write a guide about that?
I actually recommend getting into Chronicler as soon as possible, you will still get performance as a move action at level 9. When you start Inspiring action, your group will love you.
How many levels are you planning on taking?