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I've put a lot of GM credit on this PFS character. She is now level 6, but my actual play of her is far less time than her level would indicate. I'd like some input, especially with the lack of guides on martial bards.
Here's the build
Marasella,Sound Striker Dawnflower Dervish 6
CG Muse-touched Aasimar
Init+5, Senses Darkvision, Perception+11
Defense
AC 19, 15, 14
HP 52
Fort 4, Ref 10, Will 5
Immune Person Spells, Resist Acid, Cold, Electricity 5
Offense
Speed 30 ft
+1 Scimitar +10 1d6+6
Battle Dance +1 Scimitar Arcane Strike +14 1d6+12
Shortbow Battle Dance +13 1d6+6
Bardic Performance 20/day
Pageant of the Peacock Masterpiece
Versatile Performance (Strings/Dance)
Spells CL 6th
2nd(4/day)~Allegro, Bladed Dash, Heroism
1st(5/day)~Liberating Command, Vanish, Moment of Greatness, Saving Finale
0~Message, Detect Magic, Light, Prestidigitation, Read Magic, Mending, Message
SLA's CL 6th
Glitterdust (1/day)
Stats~
Str 10,Dex 21,Con 14,Int 10,Wis 10,Cha 16
Base Atk~4, CMB~4, CMD 19
Feats~Dervish Dance(Bonus), Toughness, Skill Focus: Perform(Strings), Arcane Strike
Traits~Lillend's Harp, Maestro of the Society
Skills Knowledge (Arcana, Planes, Religion, Nature, Local, Dungeoneering) +4, Linguistics+9, Perception+11, Perform (String)+25, Perform (Dance)+16, Spellcraft+4, UMD+12
Languages Common, Celestial, Thassilonian, Tien, Abyssal, Ancient Osiriani, Aklo, Undercommon
SQ Wordstrike, Versatile Performance, Well Versed, Spinning Spellcaster, Weird Words
Gear Circlet of Persuasion, +1 Scimitar, Shortbow+Arrows, Alchemist Fire, Tanglefoot Bag, Rope, Chain Shirt, Powder, CLW Wand 48/50, Shield Wand 44/50, Jade Wayfinder, Spring Loaded Wrist Sheathex2, 13525 in gold
I've been having trouble dealing with swarms and hardness/dr in particular. Suggestions?
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well first I would like to ask if this is intended to be a front liner I do notice a few weaknesses from the bat (also I am not too familiar with bards so take my advice with a heap of salt)
1.AC is abysmally low most things will be auto hitting you but at lvl 6 that can be assumed lol
2. damage considering the restrictions place on it by being focused on one weapon it is normally assumed that targets with dr can give you a problem
3. is sound striker and DD computable I think they both alter or change bardic performance?
a quick suggestion is up dex at the cost of CHA (but unless you are going for a control bard is it really needed?) more maybe drop skill focus feat for another
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Well, first off, your AC is abysmal. So there's that.
That's easily fixed, of course. A Mithral Chain Shirt +1 is very affordable, and adds at least +1. Or better yet, a Mithral Kikko +1 for at least +2 and cheaper enhancement down the road. Not having a Belt of Dexterity is also a terrible thing, and will add another +1. As would a Ring of Protection +1.
In terms of offense, a Swarmbane Clasp may be what you're looking for in terms of Swarm. A selection of Scimitars in various materials (and upgrading your main weapon to Adamantine) will potentially aid in DR and definitely in hardness...but really, I'd just grab the Adamantine one, a Wand of Bless Weapon (only 750 gp!) and Versatile Weapon as your fourth 2nd level spell known. That ought to cover it. Grab an oil or two of align Weapon for situations those don't cover and you're good to go.
Oh, and you lack a Potion of CLW. You should always have one of those on you so people can pour it down your throat and stabilize you while you lie dying. It's a very good precaution.
You can even afford most of this, given your listed money.
Mirror Image is generally helpful for not getting stomped on...
Unfortunately its kind of hard to re-specialize in being a truly dangerous melee combatant this far down the line, when things like Power Attack to help try to crunch through DR and do more damage generally aren't possible.
If you're Lawful, there's always the option of retraining for the Dodge feat and picking up a level or two of Master of Many Styles Monk to grab the Crane Style chain, so that by 8 or 9 you're looking at a whole different level of melee ability than before. If you're Chaotic there's always the option of taking a level or two of Urban Barbarian and some Extra Rage so that you've got better ab, ac and damage for a while each day when you really want it.
Unplanned multiclassing seems kind of drastic and you can't retrain for Magical Knack, but losing a level or two of spellcasting on a Bard who's trying to fight on the front line isn't the end of the world.
Yes, it is. I was talking more generally about improving melee ability since his question wasn't just about overcoming DR, it was about input on melee bard.
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Well, first off, your AC is abysmal. So there's that.
That's easily fixed, of course. A Mithral Chain Shirt +1 is very affordable, and adds at least +1. Or better yet, a Mithral Kikko +1 for at least +2 and cheaper enhancement down the road. Not having a Belt of Dexterity is also a terrible thing, and will add another +1. As would a Ring of Protection +1.
In terms of offense, a Swarmbane Clasp may be what you're looking for in terms of Swarm. A selection of Scimitars in various materials (and upgrading your main weapon to Adamantine) will potentially aid in DR and definitely in hardness...but really, I'd just grab the Adamantine one, a Wand of Bless Weapon (only 750 gp!) and Versatile Weapon as your fourth 2nd level spell known. That ought to cover it. Grab an oil or two of align Weapon for situations those don't cover and you're good to go.
Oh, and you lack a Potion of CLW. You should always have one of those on you so people can pour it down your throat and stabilize you while you lie dying. It's a very good precaution.
You can even afford most of this, given your listed money.
I'm aware that my gear isn't great at the moment. This is a character with 4th level gear that suddenly gained a bunch of xp and I hadn't planned out purchases yet. I do have a Belt of Dex actually, I took out the break down. That's how I bought 16/14/14, then +2s to dex/cha bumps me to 18/16/14, with a +1 from level 4 and a Belt of Dex+2. I've been thinking about Swarmbane Clasp, and Adamantine is the best way to resolve my hardness problems, although I hoped a decent spell existed.
I actually didn't know about Versatile Weapon so that's cool. I have random potions I didn't make note of, one of which is CMW.
AS I understand it for bard specifically they work if they don't replace the same performances.