Right, honestly I am quite new to Pathfinder, but did read nearly all the How-toos and whatnots of being a Bard.
Didn't find any tips on equipment though.
Am a Ranged Bard. And currently own a shortbow +1 and a normal Studded leather armour. (also some stuff)
Any tips on how to buff up my att or more importantly AC in the following levels via items. Any items you would advise me to Hint the DM I want by searching various bazaars for them?
Cha stay boosting is good
Dex belt would be good
Mithril chain shirt is good
Cloak or resist is good
Being a bard is good
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Circlet of persuasion. Belt of dex, headband of cha, magic bow, handy haversack, , lesser rod of extend spell. Wand of gravity bow, + 1 mithral chain shirt, bracers of falcon aim, lots of scrolls and useful level 1 wands. Pages of spell knowledge 1 &2. Ring of evasion, ring of protection +1. Swarm bane necklace and a natural armor necklace. A potion of gaseous form(oh s!%$ im grappled button)
One thing I want to ask first since I didn't fully get it from the rules. Lets say I would find a +1 composite bow (str +2) does the damage from the str and magic stack?
Also I would like Gloves of Arcane strike...or does anyone have any better Glove ideas? (didn't look through all so far)
Circlet of persuasion. Belt of dex, headband of cha, magic bow, handy haversack, lesser rod of extend spell. Wand of gravity bow, + 1 mithral chain shirt, bracers of falcon aim, lots of scrolls and useful level 1 wands. Pages of spell knowledge 1 &2. Ring of evasion, ring of protection +1. Swarm bane necklace and a natural armor necklace. A potion of gaseous form(oh s*&~ im grappled button)
About the Handy Haversack, can I put a bag of holding inside it? Not clear on those rules.
And wont braces of falcon aim's competence bonus clash with inspire courage? (also I forgot to mention my shortbow +1 is keen..not that it helped any of my rolls so far P:)Bracers of the Glib Entertainer are amazing for increasing versatile performance. Downside for archers, is it competes with Bracers of Falcon's Aim, which is amazing for archers.
Also grab the Dance of 23 Steps masterpiece. As an archer, you can ignore the melee attack penalty. And since you're only a 6th level caster, your concentration checks quickly outpace the DC.
I wish I had seen masterpieces before. Also the lvl 2 spell known or feat is a big blow. There are many very useful lvl 2 bard spells will be very hard to decide which one to abandon. Also breaking my other bardic performance is a painful act. Any tips on how to counter that? ...but a free action? Can I use it when it's not my turn?
If not the GM did allow me to take Windy Escape to replace an obsolete lvl 1 spell later on, as I did teabag our Dexterity Fighter Slyph for being the first of us to fall below 0 HP and fall unconcious. Apperantly some of his slyphy magic must have transferred to me in his dying braeths. Not sure if it is as good though....
Being a bard is good
Yes XD Yes it is!
The best investment I made early was a glove of storing and a metamagic rod of quicken spell. Being able to begin a performance, cast Haste AND Good Hope when the BBEG rears his ugly head is like turning your party into instant supermen.
You're talking about boosting AC, but you're an archer bard. You should be finding ways to avoid having to rely on your AC anyway. Simple positioning and avoidance will yield far more return than investment into AC. You have mirror image for gods sake, which is worth more than +5 plate under most circumstances. I'd advise against investing in armor.
The best investment I made early was a glove of storing and a metamagic rod of quicken spell. Being able to begin a performance, cast Haste AND Good Hope when the BBEG rears his ugly head is like turning your party into instant supermen.
You're talking about boosting AC, but you're an archer bard. You should be finding ways to avoid having to rely on your AC anyway. Simple positioning and avoidance will yield far more return than investment into AC. You have mirror image for gods sake, which is worth more than +5 plate under most circumstances. I'd advise against investing in armor.
If I use a Metamagic rod, does it also make me use a spell slot higher?
As for the AC, thing is only I have currently only 17 AC the lowest in the party and could use a light boost. With clever positioning did manage to get hit only twice, but did get hit pretty easily.
What would you say to Windy Escape, the GM allows it but calls it a crappy spell.
It sounds like you're pretty new, so instead of explaining why AC is a losing battle I'll just recommend you spend a lot of time reading the forums about bard optimization and using the search feature. Read the guides and spend some time figuring things out for yourself. It's nearly impossible to screw up a bard, and they're a ton of fun.
What would you say to Windy Escape, the GM allows it but calls it a crappy spell.
Windy Escape is an amazing spell. As you continue to gain levels, it will be a spell that you will continue to use, even as other 1st level spells start falling by the wayside. The ability to avoid poison and crits becomes massively useful as you get along in levels. The difference between taking a hit from, say, a frost giant for an average of 23.5 and getting crit by a frost giant for an average of 70.5 is huge. And that's not even counting in power attack. Similarly, as you level, poison gets really nasty.
I'm currently playing a bard around 12th level in the Shattered Star AP, and Windy Escape (which I learned from research) is one of my favorite spells.
Lestoth: Yes I actually am actually pretty new. My first real go at it. Will really try to learn more as I do want to GM someday *-* Sadly only our GM has the rulebooks bought so far. So we usually borrow from him or whats on d20pfsrd.
Windy Escape is an amazing spell. As you continue to gain levels, it will be a spell that you will continue to use, even as other 1st level spells start falling by the wayside. The ability to avoid poison and crits becomes massively useful as you get along in levels. The difference between taking a hit from, say, a frost giant for an average of 23.5 and getting crit by a frost giant for an average of 70.5 is huge. And that's not even counting in power attack. Similarly, as you level, poison gets really nasty.I'm currently playing a bard around 12th level in the Shattered Star AP, and Windy Escape (which I learned from research) is one of my favorite spells.
Sounds like a keeper.
May I ask you what do you have on your 1st and 2nd lvl spell lists? I have some trouble narrowing down my wishes there. And I doupt I will just get pages of spell knowledge dropped in my lap...though we are going through Thay soon..hmm.
Sounds like a keeper.
May I ask you what do you have on your 1st and 2nd lvl spell lists? I have some trouble narrowing down my wishes there. And I doupt I will just get pages of spell knowledge dropped in my lap...though we are going through Thay soon..hmm.
Let me see here...
1st:
Vanish (used a few times, not so much recently)
Grease (Still gets used now and then vs Golems and Giants, who have hilariously bad Reflex saves)
Unseen Servant (used whenever i need a greater mage hand)
Timely Inspiration (never used)
Cure Light Wounds (for emergency stabilizations)
Silent Image (Rarely used)
Windy Escape
2nd:
Mirror Images (Primary line of Defence. Miss Chance>AC)
Animal Messenger (Mostly for RP purposes. I write home to my parents after every adventure)
Calm Emotions (also known as remove confusion)
Heroism (Set it and forget it buff, cast it before every dungeon and it should last you all the way through)
Pilfering Hand (Another Favorite Spell. Great to use against casters to steal spell component pouches, divine foci, and bonded items)
Silence (Have yet to use)
Glitterdust (Used to reveal invisible thing to the party)
Shatter (Just picked up, have yet to use)
I'm missing a few of the "Bardic Standbys" that work with performance like Allegro and the Finale spells, since I'm an Archaeologist, and they don't play very friendly with my Luck.
*-* Hmm never thought of Pilfering hand in that way. Do tell me more about how you use that precisely. (Relatively new so my spell imagination is still a bit limited)
With my lvl 1
Grease (more or less the only spell I used so far in nearly every combat)
Hideous laughter (used once, super fun)
Moment of Greatness (once I get good hope should be good)
Timely Inspiration (not used yet)
now the ones I dont have yet but dabble in the thought of having
Windy Escape (as it seems nice now that I may have)
Saving finale (our fighter gets into a lot of trouble all the time)
Expedious Retreat (only ranged class in our party could use to get into position quickly)
Clarion call (maybe the GM would let me extend performance ranges or on other sonic effects.
Silent image (seemed fun)
Toilsome Chant (but then again none in my party uses skill checks but more chargest into battle)
Chort of Shards (maybe)
Ear piercing scream (also maybe)
My lvl 2 list so far would have been
Blur (our Rouge could use this)
Galant inspiration
Mirror image
Heroism
Acute senses
Alter self
Gliterdust
Cacophonus call (people say nausiating is good)
Actually will be looking into Calm emotions a bit more from now on
The rest is still a blur.
Lvl 3 ive been thinking
Good hope
Arcane concordance (we have a sorcerer as well)
Sculpt sound
Exquisit accompainment
Jesters jaunt
Haste
But not sure...also has anyone had any experience with Mad monkeys or Raging rubble or any sort of swarm monster summon?
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One thing I want to ask first since I didn't fully get it from the rules. Lets say I would find a +1 composite bow (str +2) does the damage from the str and magic stack?
Also I would like Gloves of Arcane strike...or does anyone have any better Glove ideas? (didn't look through all so far)
Circlet of persuasion. Belt of dex, headband of cha, magic bow, handy haversack, lesser rod of extend spell. Wand of gravity bow, + 1 mithral chain shirt, bracers of falcon aim, lots of scrolls and useful level 1 wands. Pages of spell knowledge 1 &2. Ring of evasion, ring of protection +1. Swarm bane necklace and a natural armor necklace. A potion of gaseous form(oh s*&~ im grappled button)About the Handy Haversack, can I put a bag of holding inside it? Not clear on those rules.
And wont braces of falcon aim's competence bonus clash with inspire courage? (also I forgot to mention my shortbow +1 is keen..not that it helped any of my rolls so far P:)Bracers of the Glib Entertainer are amazing for increasing versatile performance. Downside for archers, is it competes with Bracers of Falcon's Aim, which is amazing for archers.
Also grab the Dance of 23 Steps masterpiece. As an archer, you can ignore the melee attack penalty. And since you're only a 6th level caster, your concentration checks quickly outpace the DC.
I wish I had seen masterpieces before. Also the lvl 2 spell known or feat is a big blow. There are many very useful lvl 2 bard spells will be very hard to decide which one to abandon. Also breaking my other bardic performance is a painful act. Any tips on how to counter that? ...but a free action? Can I use it when it's not my turn?
If not the GM did allow me to take Windy Escape to replace an obsolete lvl 1 spell later on, as I did teabag our Dexterity Fighter Slyph for being the first of us to fall below 0 HP and fall unconcious. Apperantly some of his slyphy magic must have transferred to me in his dying braeths. Not...
You can't apply Keen to bows. Silly.
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No you can not put a bag of holding inside a haversack. You would cause bad things to happen.
Brackets of falcon aim gives you improved critical for a bow. Costs 4k but in comparison to a +1 Keen bow it is cheap. The comp bonus would not stack but its all about the 19-20 critical.
You should post your current gear. I saw you had a +1 keen short bow. You should be using a +1 Adaptive longbow and save for holy enchant. Paired with a wand of gravity bow your shooting greatsword as arrows.
Ninja edited!! For catching no keen on bow.
*-* Hmm never thought of Pilfering hand in that way. Do tell me more about how you use that precisely. (Relatively new so my spell imagination is still a bit limited)
Basically, the first time an opponent casts a spell, ask the GM if you can see them using Material Components, or if they seem to be focusing on any particular object. The GM will probably ask you to make a Spellcraft check. If they are using something, then Pilfering Hand will allow you to make a Disarm or Steal maneuver at range. Disarm vs things they are holding in their hands (holy symbols, bonded wands or staves, etc) and Steal vs things they are wearing (Component pouches, bonded rings or amulets, etc). Losing a bonded object is debilitation for a wizard:
If a wizard attempts to cast a spell without his bonded object worn or in hand, he must make a concentration check or lose the spell. The DC for this check is equal to 20 + the spell's level.
Divine Foci and Spell Component pouches are roughly equivalent for wizards and clerics. While not all spells require material components or a focus, many of the best ones do.
You can also use it to strip opposing casters of meta magic rods or anything else that they are using to enhance spells. I used it on a sorcerer who had a necklace that was allowing him to quicken low level spells for example, severely hampering his offense.
I mostly focus on using it on Casters because they typically have lower CMD's, making it easier to steal their stuff.
You can't apply Keen to bows. Silly.
It's not me who did, it's the DM who did, and his responce was "Deal with it"
No you can not put a bag of holding inside a haversack. You would cause bad things to happen.
I found this
"Extradimensional Spaces
A number of spells and magic items utilize extradimensional spaces, such as rope trick, a bag of holding, a handy haversack, and a portable hole. These spells and magic items create a tiny pocket space that does not exist in any dimension. Such items do not function, however, inside another extradimensional space. If placed inside such a space, they cease to function until removed from the extradimensional space. For example, if a bag of holding is brought into a rope trick, the contents of the bag of holding become inaccessible until the bag of holding is taken outside the rope trick. The only exception to this is when a bag of holding and a portable hole interact, forming a rift to the Astral Plane, as noted in their descriptions."
And from here I'm not sure it's not fully clear. In a way it seems like puting a BH into the HHH just makes it impossible to open. Then again I could be wrong. :I
Basically, the first time an opponent casts a spell, ask the GM if you can see them using Material Components, or if they seem to be focusing on any particular object. The GM will probably ask you to make a Spellcraft check. If they are using something, then Pilfering Hand will allow you to make a Disarm or Steal maneuver at range. Disarm vs things they are holding in their hands (holy symbols, bonded wands or staves, etc) and Steal vs things they are wearing (Component pouches, bonded rings or amulets, etc). Losing a bonded object is debilitation for a wizard:Divine Foci and Spell Component pouches are roughly equivalent for wizards and clerics. While not all spells require material components or a focus, many of the best ones do.
You can also use it to strip opposing casters of meta magic rods or anything else that they are using to enhance spells. I used it on a sorcerer who had a necklace that was allowing him to quicken low level spells for example, severely hampering his offense.
I mostly focus on using it on Casters because they typically have lower CMD's, making it easier to steal their stuff.
I thought CMD only works against hiting/taking it out of their hand and for sealing that I'd need to work against their Perception. But did read the spell again and..this makes the spell far more awesome *-* Shall be put in my list of fun fun junk.
As for later I did plan on Sculpt sound for various reasons (including shuting up our sorceress from time to time as our alighnments clash all the time) How many Wizard and Sorcerer spells don't use Verbal components? How useful is this against grumpy wizards that roam the lands?
EDIT: I know I could simply search for them, but sadly I didn't find any page that lets me filter spells by the components in use.
PS also fixed one of my many typos.