Feat for a Lv3 Bard

[Return of Jerry]

Hello again Pathfinder friends!

(First, I just want to thank everyone who responded to my first post about making a bard. I didn't want to necro it just to say thank you, but it's because of all your advice that I was able to make a pretty solid character who's been a decent asset to our campaign so far. I hope that someday, I will be familiar enough with this game to give back to this wonderful community.)

I wanted to ask about feats. We've had several sessions by now, and I've gotten a bit of a feel for how the combat works, and my own preferred play-style (casting and melee). We just hit level three, which means a new feat- and I want to make sure I get this one right. I still wasn't entirely sure about the game's mechanics when I started out, so I took Weapon Finesse as my first feat. Looking back, I definitely could have done better. There is, uh, a reason I want to make extra-sure to pick better this time. Our group is already small, and on top of that, our Druid is... well, unorganized? He was supposed to be our healer and was built for ranged attacks, but most of the time he gets really excited about trying out a spell that sounds cool, but in the end is completely useless. Then he gets his ass handed to him and I have to use 2-3 turns getting to a spot where I can heal him before he dies. And since our GM is being especially tough with the battles in this campaign, anything I can do to give us an advantage is going to make life so much easier for everyone.

So far, I've been at my best when debuffing. Bardic performance is part of it, but also using spells to distract and incapacitate enemies has to be my favorite thing to do. So as I go through the huge lists of feats, if there are any good ones you guys know of that could help this playstyle/our group in general, let me know! Also, if I should shift my focus to something else aside from casting and occasional melee, given the circumstances.

Again, thank you so much for all of your help so far!

Edit: should probably note that we seem to be sticking to the core game for the most part, so I'm not sure if GM would allow feats from other areas.

[Cantriped]

You should look at Harmonic Spell (Inner Sea World Guide 287).

[Return of Jerry]

Cantriped wrote:

You should look at Harmonic Spell (Inner Sea World Guide 287).

Ooh, that one does look good. I'll need to double-check with our GM, since he hasn't been making me keep track of my performance rounds so far, but switching performances as a swift action sounds great on it's own.

[Ciaran Barnes]

I can't say if you should change your build focus or not, because its impossible to say what challenges you will face in the future or if some of the other party members will change.

The bard already has built-in tools to help with out of combat stuff, so there isn't a requirement to focus on that stuff. However, it is possible that a skill focused bard puts his good ability scores in Charisma and Intelligence (not saying you did, but its happens), then doesn't have many spell slots to use during a fight because he has 6 level casting and must heal the druid.

Such a bard might grab a weapon, and on the occasions that he manages to scores a hit end up doing only a few points of damage. You were not foolish to invest in Weapon Finesse. Now you have a decent chance of hitting with both ranged and melee attacks. You can already use bardic performance to improve your attacks, but take a look at the Arcane Strike feat. Its great for a bard with a weapon. Maybe not neccessary at 3rd level, but starts to look better at 5th level. I hope you are using a rapier, either masterwork or +1.

[Return of Jerry]

Ciaran Barnes wrote:

...take a look at the Arcane Strike feat. Its great for a bard with a weapon. Maybe not neccessary at 3rd level, but starts to look better at 5th level. I hope you are using a rapier, either masterwork or +1.

Thanks! I'll definitely write that one down, to take this level or at level 5. I'm using a basic rapier for now (best I could afford with starting money. Once we head back to civilization, I'll most likely have enough to upgrade to something better)

[BjørnEarakson]

The flagbearer/ banner of ancient kings route he worked well for me in the past. It can boost the pluses you give pretty well

[YogoZuno]

I've also found Lingering Performance useful for making bard performance last longer, especially at low levels. It also combines well with the various Finale spells.

[Red Griffyn]

Lingering Performance
Dervish Dance (dex to hit and damage with a scimitar)
Arcane Strike

[Cantriped]

The advantage of Harmonic Spell (in my mind) is that you can take a Cantrip like Lullaby or Ghost Sound and cast it every round to maintain a Bardic Performance forever. My jaw literally dropped when I read the feat it's so good. Lingering Spell is the next best option if your GM restricts you to the Core Line.

Don't sell yourself short, Rapier is a fine weapon choice for a Bard. IIRC, you can take Weapon Focus (Rapier), and Fencing Grace to eventually corner Dex-To-Damage.

[Return of Jerry]

Cantriped wrote:

The advantage of Harmonic Spell (in my mind) is that you can take a Cantrip like Lullaby or Ghost Sound and cast it every round to maintain a Bardic Performance forever.

One question on that- I thought cantrips were considered Level 0 spells? Maybe I just misunderstood something, idk.

[PCScipio]

Harmonic Spell Eratta

[Brother Fen]

Lingering Performance is a must!

[Cantriped]

Thanks for the citation PCScipio!

It is useful to know what the developer's intent was (especially for making a ruling in a home-game). However, the developer's personal posts are no longer considered an official source for rulings. So unless the PDT releases an Errata, FAQ, or Clarification document that supports James Jacob's position, it is merely his personal opinion.

Mark Seifter wrote:

No personal designer posts are official, whether or not they were before the PDT account was created...

-{Link}-

[Cantriped]

Return of Jerry wrote:

Cantriped wrote:

The advantage of Harmonic Spell (in my mind) is that you can take a Cantrip like Lullaby or Ghost Sound and cast it every round to maintain a Bardic Performance forever.

One question on that- I thought cantrips were considered Level 0 spells? Maybe I just misunderstood something, idk.

Yep, Cantrips (arcane), Orisons (divine), and Knacks (psychic) are all 0th level spells which spellcaster's in Pathfinder can use At-Will. The Harmonic Spell feat, as written, makes no exception for the level of the spell. Although obviously in this case the developer's intent was for the feat to only gain it's benefits from 1st level or higher spells. The Inner Sea World Guild is unlikely to ever receive an Errata, which is why Dervish Dance is the only Dex-To-Damage feat which hasn't been nerfed yet. So it would probably be fair for the GM to house-rule in the developer's favor here.

At least for my games however I'm likely to leave it as is, but I'm an unusually permissive GM.

[Ierox]

Are you human, by any chance?