Hello everyone!
I am excited, next week we start a new campaign, Skull and Shackles! I am playing a sea singer bard who mainly fights using a bow. I have two bards built. One human and one aasimar (one of the other races our DM is allowing). I really can't decide between the two.
I have two different backstories for each that should be fun. I think I like the aasimar's story a little better than the human's story. Both are equally good at being bards (performance, charisma, spells, etc). Both have the exact same stats except strength. Both have all the same skills, spells, and equipment. I used Treantmonk's guide to archer bards to help me (with a little bit of tweaking since I am playing a sea singer).
I just need some help deciding which to play. I tend to be short sighted when it comes to planning characters for later on. I ended up not liking my early choices with my last character so I want to avoid doing that again. Which would be better/more fun? Which would be better to keep playing (at higher levels)? Or maybe I am just over thinking things and should roll percentile dice.
Aasimar advantages: I like my backstory idea for her a little better. She is slightly better than the human with slightly higher stats and a few higher skills. This gives her a 14 strength which will be helpful with future bows and if she gets into melee. She gets skill progression just like the human. So her skills will always be better. Dark vision is a plus.
Aasimar disadvantages: It seems like all of our party is playing exotic races, it might be nice to have a human. She is also lacking that extra feat and always will. So she starts off not as good at fighting and I've lost characters in early levels before due to that. If she dies, the character is gone. Also, our GM RPs things well when "weird" races come to town. Right now the party is made of all kinds of weird races (goblins, half orc, a half elemental, and one PC hasn't said what he's playing yet, and then there is me). I most likely will be the party face and if that's the case, another "weird race" might be a big handicap for us.
Human advantages: Humans are cool (they are my favorite race aside from halflings). They are the best race for making everyone work together and interacting with NPCs in towns and such. Plus I get two feats which gives me point blank shot and precise shot together. She doesn't get darkvision, but with a spell like dancing lights, who cares.
Human disadvantages: She starts off with a lower strength which affects bow use later on and swimming (could be important). It's only one point, but it's a +1 difference for skills and leveling up I am not adding to strength. I am adding to Dex and Charisma. While they are my favorite race to play, I played a human in our last campaign (lasted three years). It might be nice to play something different.
By the way, I considered halfling too. I ended up just not liking it for the seasinger after I built one and tried to come up with a backstory.
Thanks!
