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Hi Everyone
I am in the process of building a character for the Skulls and Shackles AP and I set my mind on a Merfolk Bard.
I have ideas on how to build it but I am undecided on which options to commit to nor if there are things about those options I am not considering and I also wanted to hear from the board for anything I might be missing.
First of all I am pretty sure about the Alternate Racial Traits.
Seasinger: +2 on Perform and a +1 save DC of language-dependent spells
Secret Magic: +1 to the DC of any enchantment spells (untyped so it stacks), At will—speak with animals, 1/day fins to feet (self only), hydraulic push.
I intend to be a buff machine, probably getting Master performer and Grand master performer. I am a bit torn on going full Flagbearer-banner of the ancient kings route. For sure since I am going to be a mostly immobile fish with a 5ft. land movement it seems like the ideal role. Give people that can move bonuses while hugging my pole.
my other roles are going to be party face and Enchanter
Charisma is most likely going to be boosted to 20 unless there is a strong argument against it.
So far just from race I have a +1DC on enchantment spells and +1 on language-dependent.
The charming trait to get another +1 seems interesting
Same for Signature Skill on perform sing (which already gets a +2) for +2 on Bluff, Diplomacy, Handle Animal, or Intimidate checks, another +1 on spells with the emotion or language-dependent descriptor, eventually a +1 caster level on the same spells.
When it comes to bard spells that are enchantment and language-dependent the top of the list is suggestion, which is possibly one of my favorite spells anyway, and it sounds like the AP will be full of human pirates, monstrous humanoids, Giants, none of which is particularly immune to suggestion.
Geas sounds like another great Language dependent enchantment for a campaign where you need to rely on having a crew.
for equipment I already mentioned the banner of the ancient kings, but there is a lot of other very juicy stuff.
Lyre of Building sounds absolutely insane.
protects inanimate constructions within 300 feet in a campaign with Naval battles?
Then there is the issue of Archetypes.
Basic Bard? Pretty decent but....
Diva seems pretty amazing and surprisingly Campaign appropriate, at least for what I understand.
Gain bluff and intimidate bonuses on specific settlements? you could almost say specific ports. Reading how the infamy mechanics work and knowing that I am totally going to be the designated storyteller, that sounds perfect.
Prima donna is definitely interesting although not sure how much use it will get
Costume Profiency is covering what I feel is my main issue (being squishy while being able to walk away from enemies only 5ft. at a time without magic assistance) but at the same time I was thinking about dumping STR all the way to 7 so, maybe this needs me to reconsider?
Although at the same time, if my movement is already 5ft. my reduced speed for carrying a heavy load would still be 5ft.
Scathing Tirade seems pretty good in normal circumstances, amazing for the 5ft. fish that doesn't want enemies to get too close and Phenomenal on a ship where running in fear 30 ft. away from the screaming bard (and for 1d4 rounds more) likely means jumping overboard and taking yourself permanently out of combat.
Hell, I could board the enemy ship and start kicking their crew out until it's my ship.
The only downside of this is that it will stay relevant for 6 levels until Frightening tune likely becomes a better option.
Another other option is Dirge Bard
Mind affecting spells usable on undead
Be a super buffer and raise your own buffed minions?
Debuff fear saving throw + Frightening tune?
Gain necromantic spells?
I have to admit... I am totally thinking about building a bone Fishtank with legs and claws as a necrocraft.
The part that hurts is losing Versatile Performance.
Then there is the Sea Singer
Interesting songs for the AP.
The Familiar can be Useful.
Losing Versatile performance still stings.
Losing suggestion and mass suggestion as songs it's not the end of the world, but not great either.
Most of what Sea Legs would give me is already negated by being half fish.
Most of all I have too many options and can't take them all.
It will be difficult to have the banner, and the Lyre, and fully upgrade my defenses and everything else that is needed.
and obviously I can't have all the archetypes as they are incompatible.
Feats are also a concern.
the whole tree for buffs is great but expensive.
Discordant voice is great
Improved initiative is almost mandatory
Extra performance is a prerequisite for the buffs, but with all the good songs, Virtuoso Performance and Shadowbard, should i take multiple extra performances?
Should I go for lingering performance instead?
But most importantly? Is there any other option that I am overlooking?
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But most importantly? Is there any other option that I am overlooking?
Have you considered the Ocean's Echo Oracle archetype (that is made for Merfolk)? It has this ability:
Inspiring Song (Ex): The voice of an ocean’s echo provides inspiration to allies. This ability is identical to bardic performance (using Perform [sing] only), allowing her to inspire courage at 1st level, inspire competence at 3rd level, and inspire heroics at 15th level, as a bard of the ocean’s echo’s level. It is usable a total number of rounds per day equal to her level + her Charisma modifier (minimum 1).
This ability replaces the revelations gained at 1st, 3rd, and 15th level.
It's the same as bardic performance (including for prerequisites like Master Performer), although limited to the mentioned songs and 1 less round per level.
I intend to be a buff machine, probably getting Master performer and Grand master performer. I am a bit torn on going full Flagbearer-banner of the ancient kings route. For sure since I am going to be a mostly immobile fish with a 5ft. land movement it seems like the ideal role. Give people that can move bonuses while hugging my pole.
In return you have the full oracle/cleric spell list at your disposal for buff spells, including full-caster progression.
Costume Profiency is covering what I feel is my main issue (being squishy while being able to walk away from enemies only 5ft. at a time without magic assistance) but at the same time I was thinking about dumping STR all the way to 7 so, maybe this needs me to reconsider?
Although at the same time, if my movement is already 5ft. my reduced speed for carrying a heavy load would still be 5ft.
Oracles would have Medium Armor proficiency right out of the gate and they don't have to worry about arcane spell failure.
The archetype sets most bonus spells for the Oracle - Sound burst (4th), shout (8th), song of discord (10th), greater shout (12th), pied piping (14th) - but leaves the bonus 1st-, 3rd-, 8th- and 9th-level spell up to the chosen mystery.
There are a few mysteries that would work well for you, I think:
Intrigue would restore Charm Person & Suggestion to your spell list. The Assumed Form revelation allows you at-will appearance changes as Disguise Self and at 7th level it counts as a polymorph effect, i.e. all your movement issues are resolved as you can just add legs. You wouldn't lose any abilities from polymorph as far as I can tell, since you traded your Merfolk's natural armor & low-light vision away for Secret Magic & Seasinger.
Whimsy is fey-themed, but you get Faerie Fire, Shamefully Overdressed (& Irresistible Dance) back on your spell list. Assumed Form works pretty much the same as the Intrigue's revelation of the same name. Versatile Comedy is a limited form of Versatile Performance. Whimsical Prank gives you strong Dirty Trick combat maneuvers.
Juju might also be interesting, especially Ensnare the Soul for enchanting, Spiritual Defense for chanting a defensive buff, and the powerful Connaissance which gives you CHA mod times per day the effect of the 8th-level spell Moment of Prescience.
And of course there are many curses available.
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My first instinct was "But I am asking for a bard, why would you... oh... wait..."
There is definitely a lot to love there.
I am not going to list the advantages because they are obvious so I will have to think about what I lose
Skills and Versatile performance: Going from 6+int + versatile performance to 4+int and on a smaller list of class skills.
Versatile comedy locks you in a mystery I wouldn't choose (I'd rather go Intrigue) does very little to expand your skills, requires a specific perform I wouldn't normally pick, and cost a rather precious Revelation.
Bardic Performance: loses suggestion, dirge of doom, frightening tune. Frightening tune is a lot to lose considering the potential in naval battle, and the best the oracle can do to obtain the same is Symbol of fear, which is great but its expensive and has a hp total limit.
The uses per day are cut significantly, and there is no access to virtuoso/shadowbard to have multiple songs active at once although, I don't even have a lot of songs to use to begin with.
Bardic Masterpieces: the wording on it makes it clear that you have to be a bard to learn them. Pageant of the peacock, House of the imaginary walls, Symphony of the Elysian Heart, The Sea is now my sky, there is a lot of good stuff in there.
Spells: Trading spells with the Oracle seems like a bonus (and in a sense it is) but it's not that straightforward.
I lose all the finale spells to go with the bardic performance.
Lose the spells that let you maintain multiple bardic songs.
You also trade arcane spells for divine ones. Sure the oracle is a superior caster. bigger spell selection, goes all the way to 9th level spells, casts more spells per day than a bard.
None of those spells are Haste tho, or slow, or glitterdust. Which leads me to the next issue...
We already have a Druid as a full divine caster in the party.
Granted, the druid itself has a different spell list from oracle and everything, but there would be definitely some overlap.
When it comes to the bard spell list, as little or low level as it might be, it would bring to the party spells the party simply has no access to.
It is a great suggestion and I am really torn. But ultimately, in a party that already have a divine caster and has no skillmonkey, I think Bard is probably still the right choice.
Bardic Performance: loses suggestion, dirge of doom, frightening tune. Frightening tune is a lot to lose considering the potential in naval battle, and the best the oracle can do to obtain the same is Symbol of fear, which is great but its expensive and has a hp total limit.
The uses per day are cut significantly, and there is no access to virtuoso/shadowbard to have multiple songs active at once although, I don't even have a lot of songs to use to begin with.I lose all the finale spells to go with the bardic performance.
Lose the spells that let you maintain multiple bardic songs.
Are you sure you aren't overestimating how many bardic performance rounds a bard has? If your adventuring day has less then 3 encounters, it should be fine, but maintaining multiple performances and doing masterpieces... the Virtuoso Performance spell eats 3 rounds of performance per round +2 for starting the second performance.
And the spells themselves are limited too: Virtuoso Performance can be cast 1 time at 10th level; Shadowbard can be cast 1 time at 13th level, and Virtuoso 3 times. Either Haste/Slow can be cast once at 7th level, twice at level 8.
I'm sure some of that can work out, but you're unlikely to do all of these things: master bard, buff machine, enchanter, debuffer, skill monkey, party face.
Depending on what you give up (e.g. party face), you might even consider a Witch instead; they don't run out of hexes, have high INT for many skills, sing ("cackle") to buff/debuff, and have arcane spells aplenty. Or give up skill monkey and be a Seducer Witch ("Siren").
As for the Oracle, divine casters can get 2 wizard spells daily via Dreamed Secrets. And the Merfolk's Song-Bound Curse adds (Mass) Command & (Mass) Suggestion as well as oracle-levels in Countersong bardic performance rounds. That should cover the spells, leaving you with other mysteries like Heavens (fascinate debuff champion, Moonlight Bridge), Lunar (animal companion, Moonlight Bridge, CHA to AC/Reflex), or Nature (mount companion, CHA to AC/CMD, CHA to saves for animals, Undo Artifice).
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Are you sure you aren't overestimating how many bardic performance rounds a bard has? If your adventuring day has less then 3 encounters, it should be fine, but maintaining multiple performances and doing masterpieces... the Virtuoso Performance spell eats 3 rounds of performance per round +2 for starting the second performance.
True, at the same time no all encounters require that kind of firepower.
You generally get one encounter per rest that requires going all out, and that is what you do on that encounter.The difference between bard and oracle in terms of performances is bard gets twice the level.
so by let's say level 13, when Shadowbard gets online you have 13 less uses. it's definitely significant.
And the spells themselves are limited too: Virtuoso Performance can be cast 1 time at 10th level; Shadowbard can be cast 1 time at 13th level, and Virtuoso 3 times. Either Haste/Slow can be cast once at 7th level, twice at level 8.
Well, you are not factoring in charisma bonuses or runestone of power.
also, really the Virtuoso and shadowbard are really useful when you get inspire Heroics at level 15, before that, I don't think it will get a whole lot of use.There is some space for Inspire Courage + Scathing Tirade, but if it is an encounter with one big target instead of one small one, Scathing Tirade alone seems like a better idea, if it is a whole bunch of people Scathing Tirade is probably not going to be that effective anyway
I'm sure some of that can work out, but you're unlikely to do all of these things: master bard, buff machine, enchanter, debuffer, skill monkey, party face.
True. the thing is, I think Enchanter/Debuffer is the part that I should rather have in the backseat.
We don't have another face, we don't have another buffer, we don't have another skill monkey. it's just, the Enchantments and debuffs already come in the bard package without having to invest in feats or other resources so... why not?
