Heavy Metal BARD!

[jquest716]

Hey everyone, so I am starting Kingmaker in a few days and I thought of an interesting character concept a HEAVY METAL BARD! We are starting at lvl 3 because we have 2 new players and want them to keep up and a 25 point buy. The team is Ranger, Heavens Oracle, Gunslinger and whatever I make. We also can have two traits and that is about it.

So here are my stats for him, any advice or tips would be great!

Half-Orc
Bard 2/Urban Barbarian 1

Str:16
Dex:13
Con:14
Int:13
Wis:12
Cha:16(14 +2)

Feats:
Lingering Performance
Weapon focus which will lead into Dazzling Display

Traits:
Dont have any yet.

Basically I want this guy to be belting out wicked riffs on his guitar and singing, to boost his companions and if he needs to he can go into combat. So any input will be greatly appreciated

[Tinkergoth]

May I recommend checking out the Spellsinger novels. The main character is a slacker musician who gets pulled into a world where his musical talents translate into magic.

While the effects would obviously be different as you're working within the constraints of the Bard class, it could make for some good inspiration.

[Imbicatus]

I would make your Bard a Savage Skald. Also, instead of the Urban Barbarian dip, I'd use Monk of the Empty Hand. Make any actual melee attacks using your guitar as an improvised weapon. If your guitar breaks, then cast summon instrument and you have a new one.

[Lamontius]

Guitar Axe
that is all

[MrSin]

Weapon focus(Axe), and possibly go thundercaller? I've always wanted to play a bard in mithral breastplate(metal), and go thundercaller to lay down sound burst to stun the area. Not sure how it works with linger performance though.

[Son of the Veterinarian]

There's an equipment trait that allows you to use the tools of your trade as improvised weapons. Since you're only talking about using your "axe" it's probably better than taking the Catch off Guard feat.

[jquest716]

Thanks guys, I was thinking about seeing if I could convince my DM to let me have a Guitar Axe, she is cool so I might get away with it. But the monk idea is interesting.

[Torger Miltenberger]

If your DM allows the feat you should take leadership ASAP That way you can have a manager, roadies, groupies etc.

- Torger

[Emmit Svenson]

I would not dip barbarian. Straight bard is your path to greatness.

I suggest Soundstriker for your archetype, but as others have suggested, Thundercaller and Skald are quite appropriate too.

Dazzling Display is outclassed by the 2nd level bard spell Blistering Invective and the the 8th level bard performance Dirge of Doom. Lingering Performance is an excellent choice, though.

Load up your spells known with these hard-rocking, hard-hitting sonic combat spells: Ear-piercing Scream, Distracting Cacophony, Piercing Shriek, Shatter, Sound Burst, Thundering Drums, Discordant Blast, Primal Scream, Shout, Sonic Thrust, Deafening Song Bolt, Song of Discord, Deadly Finale, Pied Piping, and Greater Shout.

Most importantly: get a copy of Double Fine’s truly awesome video game Brutal Legend and play it for inspiration.

[claymade]

Emmit Svenson wrote:

Dazzling Display is outclassed by the 2nd level bard spell Blistering Invective and the the 8th level bard performance Dirge of Doom. Lingering Performance is an excellent choice, though.

It's not technically a complete outclassing, depending on the situation; each have their strengths and weaknesses. Dazzling Display obviously doesn't get the fire damage, but it is not language dependent, whereas Blistering Invective is. And if there are other things you want to use those second-level spell slots and/or spells known for, it saves on that as well.

And while Lingering Performance is indeed quite potent, it's worth at least noting that if you're using it regularly to get the most out of your performance, you're also A) hurting your action economy somewhat since you need to spend a standard action to restart the performance until 7th level, and B) creating blind spots on 2/3rds of the combat rounds where you'll be unable to use any of the Finale spells, which are some seriously awesome spells to have in your back pocket, especially Saving Finale.

Just something to keep in mind. I've personally never had much of a problem with running out of performance rounds (though admittedly we do run our game somewhat combat-lighter than the impression I've gotten from some other games described).

[Reynard_the_fox]

That's funny - we just had a player do a heavy metal Savage Skald bard for Kingmaker. (Though he bravely died in battle, we shall always remember Solzarok, the Ifrit metalhead.) Of course, the Savage Skald archetype is pretty weak on its own, so I changed it so that any time he scored a crit he could start a song that would give everyone +2 attack and damage on melee attacks. We gave him a falchion reskinned as a guitar axe, and he greatly enjoyed smashing things and setting them on fire with Burning Hands (ifrit ability). The character was a lot of fun, and not at all overpowered compared to the others in the party.

Don't bother with Dazzling Display - you'll have plenty of options that do much more as a Bard. Looking at your party and your build, I would strongly suggest putting the half-orc stat bonus into Str instead of Cha, so you'd be 18 Str 14 Cha. With only 4 PCs, including a full caster and a gunslinger, you'll probably end up being a front-line fighter more often than not.

Oh yeah, and know that in Kingmaker, almost every encounter occurs on a different day; you shouldn't worry too much about running out of spells or performance rounds except in the relatively uncommon dungeon crawls.

[strayshift]

Emmit Svenson wrote:

I would not dip barbarian. Straight bard is your path to greatness.

I suggest Soundstriker for your archetype, but as others have suggested, Thundercaller and Skald are quite appropriate too.

Dazzling Display is outclassed by the 2nd level bard spell Blistering Invective and the the 8th level bard performance Dirge of Doom. Lingering Performance is an excellent choice, though.

Load up your spells known with these hard-rocking, hard-hitting sonic combat spells: Ear-piercing Scream, Distracting Cacophony, Piercing Shriek, Shatter, Sound Burst, Thundering Drums, Discordant Blast, Primal Scream, Shout, Sonic Thrust, Deafening Song Bolt, Song of Discord, Deadly Finale, Pied Piping, and Greater Shout.

Most importantly: get a copy of Double Fine’s truly awesome video game Brutal Legend and play it for inspiration.

Also Haste for a truly shredding string solo! Enlarge for security, ghost sound for special effects, haunted fey aspect for death metal bands, dancing lights for a stage show, obscuring mist for the dry ice effect, swift girding for costume changes, moment of greatness for crescendos, youthful appearance for the photo sessions, unnatural lust for... well, let's just leave that one to your imagination.

[DungeonmasterCal]

Dio. If you don't name him Dio it just won't work.

METAL BARD

[Ivan Rûski]

This guy did the metal bard thing in 3.5. Meet Bat Loaf.