Need build ideas: Bard + Varisian Tattoo + Bloatmage Initiate

[Faolan Forgael]

"It's not over 'til the fat lady sings." - Yogi Berra.

Sometimes I see an avatar picture and decide I just have to make a character that uses it. This is one of them.

Obviously she has to sing, so she would probably be a bard. But also she is... um... 'hefty.' So this inspired me to see if I could use the Bloatmage initiate feat as a part of her build. I would probably also use Varisian Tattoo since the two feats stack and Varisian tattoo is otherwise superior.

I know how I would use these two feats if I was building a blaster wizard or sorcerer, or even a flame oracle. Likewise I could make them work with an animate dead necromancer type.

But I am having a hard time envisioning how a bard would benefit much from these feats. For most bard spells I have looked at the caster level only matters for range and duration.

So help me out: what bard spells would this type of build be valuable for? Are there bard spells out there that scale in useful ways by caster level?

Alternatively I could also see building her as a bloodrager. But I end up with the same problem.

Any suggestions?

[Bearserk]

What about a Maestro Bloodline Sorcerer?

Also VMC Bard and any other class?

[Gray Warden]

The classic fat lyric singer who breaks glasses with her high pitch scream? Yes please! Blasting with sonic-based spells then.

Unfortunately sonic spells scaling with levels are not many, so I suggest the Magician archetype to get access also to other blasts from Wizard's spell list.

[ohako]

chelish diva bard archetype? good for making Signora Castafiore, perhaps?

[Peet]

Hey, guys. This is the OP. Don't want to post too often as the new avatar.

I appreciate the thoughts. There are some interesting ideas here. But none of these responses actually attempts to answer the original question:

Fat Lady wrote:

So help me out: what bard spells would this type of build be valuable for? Are there bard spells out there that scale in useful ways by caster level?

The magician bard archetype allows you to add a few arcane spells to your spells known from off the bard list, but which ones would you suggest?

A sonic blaster is an interesting possibility, but aside from ear piercing scream, what sonic spells are there that have damage that scales by level?

[Peet]

*bump*

Anyone?

[Keep Calm and Carrion]

You might like to go with the Thundercaller archetype's mechanics. The typical Wagnerian valkyrie is associated strongly with sturm und drang, after all, and the Thunder Call ability will serve nicely as your default sonic blast. It won't benefit from the Bloatmage ability, but you can still use it to boost other spells. Enchantments, perhaps...Spellsong feat, anyone? I guess those don't scale with caster level much, though, with one amazing exception: Frozen Note. Which is exactly the capstone power you need to be working towards.

And you will definitely need a spear and magic helmet.

("Magic helmet?" "MAGIC HELMET!")

[Keep Calm and Carrion]

Alternately, you could focus on scaling bardic evocations like Ear-Piercing Scream, Discordant Blast, and Sonic Thrust. There aren't many, but one or two per spell level is all you'll want anyway.

[Grandlounge]

Here is a build I have start to play that may work for you. Arcane Healer/Thunder Caller using variant channeling (music/harm) to deal damage and make characters more susceptible to illusions, sonic effects, and language-dependent.

Now you 2 different "sound" blasts with complimentary debuffs with that taken care of, on to spells.

Aphasia
Biting Words
Chord of Shards
Hideous Laughter
Solid Note
Blistering Invective
Cacophonous Call
Shatter
Sound Burst
Suggestion

The bard list is full of sounds and language based spells. The them should be easy enough to put together.

Extra note. Opera singers sing in multiple languages so either of these spells will help make sure language dependent spells hit.

Tongues - more languages
Voluminous Vocabulary - better duration

[Penumbra Bard]

I'm afraid there aren't any really good damage spells on the bard list, and increasing damage is probably the best use for increasing caster level. It's probably best to look for a better spell from another class and get it through an archetype.

Like you said magician gets any wizard spell you want but it does lose inspire courage. Arrowsong Minstrel adds evocation wizard spells, Dirge Bard adds necromancy spells from any arcane class, Flame Dancer adds some damaging fire spells and Voice of the Wild gets spells from the druid/ranger lists.

Good lvl 1 or 2 spells to poach would be: Frostbite, Snowball, Shocking Grasp, Magic Missile, Lightning Lash (from Ranger list, 2d6 touch attack with free trip attempt), Stone Discus, Burning Arc and Scorching Ray.

Also, Sound Striker or Thundercaller archetypes give sonic performances, although they are very obvious options.