Evening, all. :)
I'm getting back into PFS this weekend and I've decided to devote my limited time to a single character. I've settled on an Aasimar Dawnflower Dervish that I began a while back - I like the character because it lets me do a lot of things... she's got quite the list of skills, social and otherwise, she's a very effective melee combatant, a competent ranged threat and has access to a host of useful spells both in combat and out. I'm not trying to break the game or anything, but I do look for her to be kind of the 'second best everything' on the team and to be able to step into pretty much any role in a pinch.
Below is the build I'm planning right now, but I'd be interested in any thoughts anyone might have, or a warning if I'm planning anything that might have become illegal - its so hard keeping track of ALL the ever-changing restrictions...
Aasimar (Musetouched) Dawnflower Dervish
extra skill rank for 1st and 2nd, +1/2 effective level in Inspire Courage thereafter
Attributes:
STR - 13 (+1 @ 12th)
DEX - 16 (+2 racial bonus, +1 @ 4th & 8th)
CON - 14
INT - 10
WIS - 10
CHA - 12 (+2 racial bonus)
Traits:
Unscathed
Reactionary
Feats:
1st - Dervish Dance
1st - Arcane Strike
3rd - Weapon Focus: Scimitar
5th - Power Attack
7th - Improved Initiative
9th - Lunge
11th - Discordant Voice
Skills:
Climb (rank at 1)
Escape Artist (rank at 2)
Perception (ranks at 1-12)
Performance: Comedy (ranks at 1-12, sub for Bluff & Intimidate @ 6th)
Performance: Dance (ranks at 1-12, sub for Acrobatics & Fly at 10th)
Performance: Oration (ranks at 1-12, sub for Diplomacy & Sense Motive @ 2nd)
Stealth (ranks at 1-12)
Gear I'm going to be working towards initially will be a Keen Scimitar and a Mithril Chain Shirt to start (with attendant enhancement bonuses, of course).
Does Discordant Voice work with a Battle Dance? What about spells like Saving Finale or Virtuoso Performance?
Would there be any value in a two-level dip somewhere along the way, like say in MoMS for Crane Style or Snake Style?
Any advice or comments would be welcome.
I would get the Aasimar FCB started on Inspire Courage right from level 1. I would also try to slot in Battle Cry at level 5--it's like a contingent Saving Finale for the entire party ChaMod times/day.
PolydactylPolymath wrote: I would get the Aasimar FCB started on Inspire Courage right from level 1. I would also try to slot in Battle Cry at level 5--it's like a contingent Saving Finale for the entire party ChaMod times/day. I was looking at Battle Cry for that 9th level feat. My Charisma mod isn't that high but for PFS I'm sure I'd still get plenty of use out of it.
If I start the FCB bonus at 1st or at 3rd, I can't get the final iteration until 12th level regardless. In fact, none of them come any sooner if you can believe that. So I figured take a couple of extra skills that'll benefit from being a class skill.
Maybe something like this:
1st - Dervish Dance
1st - Arcane Strike
3rd - Weapon Focus: Scimitar
5th - Battle Cry
7th - Power Attack
9th - Improved Initiative or Lunge
11th - Discordant Voice (if it functions with Battle Dance)
hello I would like to point out that dervish dance has several pre reqs including but not limited to: weapon finesse, perform dance 2 ranks
also you may want to look into the agile enchantment.
countchocula wrote: hello I would like to point out that dervish dance has several pre reqs including but not limited to: weapon finesse, perform dance 2 ranks
also you may want to look into the agile enchantment.
Dawnflower Dervishes get that feat for free at 1st level. It also gives you Dex mod to Both attack AND damage.
So recommendations for you, would be to start your Dex at 15 instead of 16. That would give you an extra 3 points that you could use elsewhere. Pop that into Cha, now you've got a 16! Granted you won't get an 18 in your Dex until 4th, but that can really help with being useful outside of combat. I've got a DD in a WoTR game with only a 16 Dex and when I start stacking on the bonuses with flanking and Battle Dance, you don't even miss that extra +1. Just some food for thought!
Quote: So recommendations for you, would be to start your Dex at 15 instead of 16. That would give you an extra 3 points that you could use elsewhere. Pop that into Cha, now you've got a 16! Granted you won't get an 18 in your Dex until 4th, but that can really help with being useful outside of combat. I've got a DD in a WoTR game with only a 16 Dex and when I start stacking on the bonuses with flanking and Battle Dance, you don't even miss that extra +1. Just some food for thought! I'll definitely consider that. With Versatile Performance impacting so many skills that CHA bonus will certainly be felt.
Will Discordant Voice work with Battle Dance? With such a high Acrobatics score is Lunge a worthwhile consideration?
Llyra Sundancer wrote: Quote: So recommendations for you, would be to start your Dex at 15 instead of 16. That would give you an extra 3 points that you could use elsewhere. Pop that into Cha, now you've got a 16! Granted you won't get an 18 in your Dex until 4th, but that can really help with being useful outside of combat. I've got a DD in a WoTR game with only a 16 Dex and when I start stacking on the bonuses with flanking and Battle Dance, you don't even miss that extra +1. Just some food for thought! I'll definitely consider that. With Versatile Performance impacting so many skills that CHA bonus will certainly be felt.
Will Discordant Voice work with Battle Dance? With such a high Acrobatics score is Lunge a worthwhile consideration?
Exactly. Versatile Performance will allow you take advantage of your lower intelligence. You can use your VP to effect so many different skills that you can concentrate on only a few as opposed to several.
I don't see why Discordant Voice would not work with Battle Dance as it specifically states it is treated as Bardic Performance for feats that affect BP. I would say to expect table variance on that one... Might do a little asking around the forums about that one. Lunge isn't bad, but to be honest I'd probably take Improved Initiative. Until Battle Dance is a Swift Action to activate you'll basically have to waste the first round "buffing" yourself for battle. To be honest though, I've found charging in to make your first attack, then use the 2nd round to activate Battle Dance typically works a little better.
Faelyn wrote: Llyra Sundancer wrote: Quote: So recommendations for you, would be to start your Dex at 15 instead of 16. That would give you an extra 3 points that you could use elsewhere. Pop that into Cha, now you've got a 16! Granted you won't get an 18 in your Dex until 4th, but that can really help with being useful outside of combat. I've got a DD in a WoTR game with only a 16 Dex and when I start stacking on the bonuses with flanking and Battle Dance, you don't even miss that extra +1. Just some food for thought! I'll definitely consider that. With Versatile Performance impacting so many skills that CHA bonus will certainly be felt.
Will Discordant Voice work with Battle Dance? With such a high Acrobatics score is Lunge a worthwhile consideration?
Exactly. Versatile Performance will allow you take advantage of your lower intelligence. You can use your VP to effect so many different skills that you can concentrate on only a few as opposed to several.
I don't see why Discordant Voice would not work with Battle Dance as it specifically states it is treated as Bardic Performance for feats that affect BP. I would say to expect table variance on that one... Might do a little asking around the forums about that one. Lunge isn't bad, but to be honest I'd probably take Improved Initiative. Until Battle Dance is a Swift Action to activate you'll basically have to waste the first round "buffing" yourself for battle. To be honest though, I've found charging in to make your first attack, then use the 2nd round to activate Battle Dance typically works a little better. With Allegro, Cat's Grace, Good Hope, Dance of a Hundred Cuts or whatever, I figure there's always going to be an initial round where I'm 'activating' things... swift for Battle Cry, move for Battle Dance, standard for Spell, etc. I'm also not the tankish sort - better off not being the first one in to absorb the alpha. Figure a high Initiative will get me in the game that much sooner and won't make it seem like I'm 'wasting' a round.
One of the things I'm excited about is that the character will really let me maximize all of my actions - swift actions for Arcane Strike, Battle Cry and eventually Battle Dance, move actions for Battle Dance and Meditative Whirl and so forth.
I suppose my concern about Battle Dance + Discordant Voice is the thematic conflict. Although its called a 'Battle Dance', nowhere in the description is it called out that the Bardic Performance has to be Dance, nor does it suggest that for the abilities function you must use a performance based off of visual rather than auditory effects... which is good, because Discordant Voice specifically requires Oratory or Singing.
So I guess the question becomes, could the Bardic Performance used to initiate a Battle Dance be Oratory or Singing, RAW?
I do not see why not. As you said, there is nowhere the rules that specify that; however, yes thematically I always envisioned it to be a dance. Granted there are plenty if people who can sing and dance at the same time. Therefore you could say that your PC is also singing while under the effects of Battle Dance. The way I play my DD's Battle Dance is almost trancelike.
I believe the main area where you will run into table variance is due to Battle Dance only affecting you, as opposed to everyone in the party. I can see some GMs saying Discordant Voice would only affect you, because you are the only one being affected by Battle Dance. Just something to consider. You might ask around to the different GMs that you play with as you level your PC to get a general consensus of whether a majority would or would not allow it, then make your decision off that outcome.
Faelyn wrote: I do not see why not. As you said, there is nowhere the rules that specify that; however, yes thematically I always envisioned it to be a dance. Granted there are plenty if people who can sing and dance at the same time. Therefore you could say that your PC is also singing while under the effects of Battle Dance. The way I play my DD's Battle Dance is almost trancelike.
I believe the main area where you will run into table variance is due to Battle Dance only affecting you, as opposed to everyone in the party. I can see some GMs saying Discordant Voice would only affect you, because you are the only one being affected by Battle Dance. Just something to consider. You might ask around to the different GMs that you play with as you level your PC to get a general consensus of whether a majority would or would not allow it, then make your decision off that outcome.
If not, any thoughts for a good replacement for that 11th level slot?
Llyra Sundancer wrote: Faelyn wrote: I do not see why not. As you said, there is nowhere the rules that specify that; however, yes thematically I always envisioned it to be a dance. Granted there are plenty if people who can sing and dance at the same time. Therefore you could say that your PC is also singing while under the effects of Battle Dance. The way I play my DD's Battle Dance is almost trancelike.
I believe the main area where you will run into table variance is due to Battle Dance only affecting you, as opposed to everyone in the party. I can see some GMs saying Discordant Voice would only affect you, because you are the only one being affected by Battle Dance. Just something to consider. You might ask around to the different GMs that you play with as you level your PC to get a general consensus of whether a majority would or would not allow it, then make your decision off that outcome.
If not, any thoughts for a good replacement for that 11th level slot? You might look at Improved Critical. With the scimitar you threaten on a roll of 15 or higher, and that's nothing to sneeze at! Especially when you start stacking on the damage bonuses from Battle Dance, Power Attack, Arcane Strike... etc. The thing to remember with DD is that you'll only have two attacks at 12th level while the martials will be getting three. You really want to try and maximize the damage you get with your attack.
Faelyn wrote: Llyra Sundancer wrote: Faelyn wrote: I do not see why not. As you said, there is nowhere the rules that specify that; however, yes thematically I always envisioned it to be a dance. Granted there are plenty if people who can sing and dance at the same time. Therefore you could say that your PC is also singing while under the effects of Battle Dance. The way I play my DD's Battle Dance is almost trancelike.
I believe the main area where you will run into table variance is due to Battle Dance only affecting you, as opposed to everyone in the party. I can see some GMs saying Discordant Voice would only affect you, because you are the only one being affected by Battle Dance. Just something to consider. You might ask around to the different GMs that you play with as you level your PC to get a general consensus of whether a majority would or would not allow it, then make your decision off that outcome.
If not, any thoughts for a good replacement for that 11th level slot? You might look at Improved Critical. With the scimitar you threaten on a roll of 15 or higher, and that's nothing to sneeze at! Especially when you start stacking on the damage bonuses from Battle Dance, Power Attack, Arcane Strike... etc. The thing to remember with DD is that you'll only have two attacks at 12th level while the martials will be getting three. You really want to try and maximize the damage you get with your attack. Yeah, I'm hoping to make up for that with a very high attack bonus and as many static damage bonuses as possible. Plus stuff like Allegro and Dance of a Hundred Cuts helps a lot.
I expect to acquire a keen scimitar long before reaching 11th level. Any other suggestions? Maybe with the feats at 9th and 11th I should consider Dazzling Display and Violent Display if its legal...
|
