Hi all, our Iron Gods game is coming off hiatus. I thought I'd try to help the Bard gear up, but I don't know Bards that well - especially their gear.
I think he had to leave at level 8, so he's getting 2 levels and ~20,000gp as we begin book 4. She's a Geisha bard with high CHA amd some DEX. She hasn't put much into combat feats, but has been getting a bit bored of pure support so she recently got some form of Laser Pistol (and picked up proficiency). I think the plan is to pick up some ranged combat feats from here.
The only gear I know she has is a +2 Cloak of Resistance, the afore mentioned Laser Pistol and a bunch of grenades. I know she has some consumables (wands/scrolls/potions/etc) to help buff the party, but I don't think she has much in the way of permanent magic items.
It's also worth noting the Wizard has Scribe Scroll and Craft Wondrous Items, so we can get some things on the cheap-cheap (although we might have to begin play before the crafting is finished).
Does anyone have any good suggestions for magic items and gear?
In case it matters the rest of the party is currently: A battlefield-control focused Ratfolk Wizard, a damage-focused Android Techslinger and my inefficient-tank Half-Orc Bloodrager (I might make another thread asking for help with my Bloodrager's gear later).
The obvious stuff (big six) goes cloak of charisma, belt of dex, amulet of natural armor, ring of protection, mithral buckler, and zero or 5% spell failure armor. A dusty rose ioun stone and a four-leaved clover may just be affordable and practical for her.
Beyond that bard specific gear isn't likely to be that appealing - she's already wearing a cloak, isn't an archer, and probably doesn't want gear which favors support. The big six are the most practical for someone who was built for support but who would like to mix it up in a fight now.
Headband of Cha, not cloak. Was thinking about 3.5, sorry.
All good, I just noticed I switch from "he" to "she" half way through my post =P (male player, female character).
Yeah the Big 6 is definitely a good start. The headband/cloak/amulet also come at half price so there's some great potential there.
There's also a bunch of tech stuff to look at, I might go through it with him when I get the chance and see if any of it piques his interest.
Nothing bard specific that you can think of?
Bard specific stuff - these tend to be expensive for what they do and any with their own save DCs have the terrible, wand-level ones. I don't value a +1 save DC to a bardic performance, or a free round of duration on one very highly though. A lyre of building is fun but doesn't sound like what the player's after. Also I've no idea which actual performance skill(s) the PC has.
Haha, man I've known about the Lyre of Building since forever, but the adventuring application never occured to me till now =P
I think she has 2 perform skills pretty high, but I think Oratory is the one that's super-duper maxed (she's got an absurdly high Diplomacy thanks to Versatile Performance, I'm pretty sure it's Oratory).
I'll see if I can get her character sheet to check, that'l help more.
Thanks avr =)
A 3,000 gp lesser metamagic rod of extend will make Good Hope spells last 20 min each.
ha got ninja'ed.. but yea that. bards don't get as many spell slots and what with haste also being a 3rd level spell youd want to have good hope lasting longer.
other then that id also suggest to get a clawhand shield for extra defense and the ability to cast spells with the shield hand(also nice for when you get grappled etc).
if the wizard can craft it a lucky horseshoeis always great (specially if he had the faith favored trait.)
side note if he need help with feats id take arcane strike if he didn't do that yet and once he get to level 11 (if he has the skill etc ranks) take
Discordant Voice.
...also some tea would be nice...(for the tea ceremony ;)
A 3,000 gp lesser metamagic rod of extend will make Good Hope spells last 20 min each.ha got ninja'ed.. but yea that. bards don't get as many spell slots and what with haste also being a 3rd level spell youd want to have good hope lasting longer.
So this might be me misunderstanding something, but I talked him out of taking Good Hope, and instead just pre-buffing with Heroism. My reasoning is that the Android Techslinger doesn't get any benefit from Morale Bonuses (because Android) and for now at least the Bard and Wizard aren't getting much from the +2 damage. The major combat advantage would go to my Bloodrager, and that doesn't seem like it's worth the 3rd level spell slot just for +2 damage. For out-of-combat scenarios Heroism seems way better just for the duration.
Does my reasoning sit well with everyone or did I lead him astray?
(Having said all that, a lesser rod of Extend is probably still a great idea.)
other then that id also suggest to get a clawhand shield for extra defense and the ability to cast spells with the shield hand(also nice for when you get grappled etc).
Fantastic, I'll keep that one in mind.
if the wizard can craft it a lucky horseshoeis always great (specially if he had the faith favored trait.)
We can deefinitely get that made, though she doesn't have Fate's Favoured (my Bloodrager does, but he already has the Half Orc Sacred Tattoo alternate racial trait).
side note if he need help with feats id take arcane strike if he didn't do that yet and once he get to level 11 (if he has the skill etc ranks) take
Discordant Voice....also some tea would be nice...(for the tea ceremony ;)
Yeah I think he already knows about Discordant voice and is planning that, but I'll check.
Oh I should check nethys for magical tea, that'd be a great thing to add (In Rustwall in book 2 we made our own gang called the "Grey Earls", because we're all about the tea!)
Dervish Sikke:
This cylindrical felt hat grants its wearer a +2 competence bonus on one Knowledge or Perform skill, chosen when the dervish sikke is created.
Most dervish sikkes grant bonuses on Knowledge (religion) or Perform (dance) checks.
If the wearer is a bard, he is considered 5 class levels higher for purposes of determining the effects of his bardic knowledge class feature. In addition, the bonuses granted by a bard’s inspire courage and inspire competence class features are increased by 1. Finally, a bard wearing a dervish sikke can take 10 on any Perform skill check he has ranks in.
......................................
Banner of the Scarlet Rose.
This flag bears an image of a red rose on a silvery field. Made for the Scarlet Rose’s standard-bearers, these flags offer protection to the wielder and inspiration to her allies.
To grant any benefit, a banner of the Scarlet Rose must be held firmly in one hand by a woman. While held, it grants the bearer a +2 shield bonus to AC and a +4 luck bonus to her CMD. A banner of the Scarlet Rose counts as a heavy shield for the purpose of any feat or class feature that requires the user to be wielding a shield (such as Sisterhood Style or Shield Wall).
Whenever the banner’s bearer uses a class ability that grants a competence bonus (such as the bard’s inspire courage ability or the cavalier’s lion’s call order ability), the competence bonus granted to allies increases by 1. This benefit does not apply to spells that grant competence bonuses, nor does it stack with other item effects that increase competence bonuses. Finally, allies within 30 feet (including the banner’s bearer) gain a +2 resistance bonus on saving throws against mind-affecting effects.
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I think there's a way for androids to benefit from morale bonuses (a feat perhaps?).
EDIT: The feat is Empathy. It does require 13 charisma.
<STUFF>
Oh good call I'd forgotten the Dervish Sikke. Crafting it for 5k is a steal.
I think there's a way for androids to benefit from morale bonuses (a feat perhaps?).
EDIT: The feat is Empathy. It does require 13 charisma.
Yeah Empathy would be perfectly balanced as an alternate racial trait, but as a feat it's pretty garbage. I'm sure there are some Android characters who would love it, but a Gunslinger really doesn't need that boost to accuracy. Swapping Heroism for Good Hope AND a feat from the Gunslinger seems like a bad trade.
well while the banner says it doesn't stack with other magical items.
this tea doesn't say so ,so it might stack with the dervish hat.
it's also geared toward the geisha and as alchemical item can be made with craft alchemy at 1/3 the cost (or less depending on further abilities)
well while the banner says it doesn't stack with other magical items.
this tea doesn't say so ,so it might stack with the dervish hat.
it's also geared toward the geisha and as alchemical item can be made with craft alchemy at 1/3 the cost (or less depending on further abilities)
That is amazing! I couldn't think of anything more perfect for this character ^_^
(RAW it should stack with the hat, RAI I'm not sure - how does the hat make the tea better?)
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well while the banner says it doesn't stack with other magical items.
this tea doesn't say so ,so it might stack with the dervish hat.
it's also geared toward the geisha and as alchemical item can be made with craft alchemy at 1/3 the cost (or less depending on further abilities)That is amazing! I couldn't think of anything more perfect for this character ^_^
(RAW it should stack with the hat, RAI I'm not sure - how does the hat make the tea better?)
now see, found in ancient tomes of tea ceremony was mentioned the following:
"...then steep thy tea leaves in yon pot with thy hat o\in..."-there was a huge debate if the last word is on or in.
Campaign specific: Dumping some enchants on your laser pistol would be good. Might as well enchant it with additional fire damage. Also bane: construct is an obvious choice. Especially on an EMP gun.
We have a Construct-Bane EMP gun, but the Gunslinger is wielding it for RP reasons (Techslinger/Cleric of Brigh, the gun was a gift from another Cleric if Brigh I think).
A Scatterlight Suit with an enchantment. Something like a +2 Red Scatterlight Suit would cost (4k + 1400gp) 5,400gp.
This does leave the question on what the bonus such a suit would give to AC and Touch AC. Normally it would be +1 AC, and and +6 vs Rays and Beam Weapons. Adding a +2 Enchantment... I'd apply it to both defenses since the armor does both. But if you wanted to be strict maybe just the normal AC. Then again, at the end of the campaign our group allowed the scatterlight suit to be worn with other armor because it was kind of worthless otherwise.
Yeah we've decided we can wear Scatterlight suits over armour. I think that's RAW (you can wear 2 suits of armour but usually you don't get any benefit). If that is wrong let me know so I can update my group, but I think that's how we're playing it.
Either way the GM ruled that enhancement bonuses do add to the Touch AC coz otherwise upgrading them is worthless.
Also Wirejack Tendons are a consideration. I can't remember if the party has access to a cyberlab at 10th level. If they do, being able to get a dex bonus and keep your belt slot open is nice...but maybe not double the price nice.
We found some Wirejack Tendons and the Techslinger had them implanted. The rest of us probably won't worry about tech-stat-items as the Wizard has Craft Wondrous Items - 8,000gp for +2 Wirejack Tendons vs 2,000gp for a +2 Belt is a no-brainer.
A skill slot might be good. Depends on what chips the party has found.
Yeah good choice. Honestly I think we should all get these.
Hi guys, just thought I should give an update now that we've played our first game back. I ended up leveling up the character and buying gear for her because the player was on placement and didn't have time to look everything up (and he's new to PF).
I got the Dervish Sikke, the tea, a headband of INT, a belt of DEX and made her Arc-Pistol into a +1 Construct-Bane Arc Pistol (also it was an Arc-Pistol not a Laser Pistol, my bad).
I also got the Mnemonic Vestments and bought every 1st level bard scroll (I was super busy and I didn't have time to pick, so I just bought every 1st level scroll so we have options).
He's had heaps of fun playing her again, and loved some of these items (having a decent damage option for constructs has been great). We had one combat encounter without the bard and it was almost a TPK, so clearly she's pulling her weight.
Just wanna say thanks for all the suggestions, this was really helpful and the player is really enjoying it.
(Also I forgot the extend rod. It's definitely on the list for our next shopping trip though.)
The advantage of wirejack tendons (and other implants) is that they do not take up magic item slots.
All spontaneous casters love Runestones of Power 2,000 gp (1st), 8,000 gp (2nd), 18,000 gp (3rd), 32,000 gp (4th), 50,000 gp (5th), 72,000 gp (6th), 98,000 gp (7th), 128,000 gp (8th), 162,000 gp (9th)
More spells = more fun.
Can't forget the Pages of Spell Knowledge 1,000 gp (1st), 4,000 gp (2nd), 9,000 gp (3rd), 16,000 gp (4th), 25,000 gp (5th), 36,000 gp (6th), 49,000 gp (7th), 64,000 gp (8th), 81,000 gp (9th)
Extra choices = more fun
A later acquisition for any CHA character: Karyukai Tea Set 38,160 gp
Diplomacy check determines the effects of the tea on those who drink it.
... 10 or less: No effect.
... 11–15: The drinker gains a +4 morale bonus on saving throws against poison and fear effects for 12 hours.
... 16–20: As above, and the drinker receives the benefits of neutralize poison and remove disease.
... 21–25: As above, and the drinker receives the benefits of heroism.
... 26 or more: As above, but the drinker receives the benefits of greater heroism instead of heroism.
Avoid component issues with a Robe of Components 5,000 gp
Get a Clockwork Songbird 3,250 gp
Pick one of three abilities:
... Airy Aria: Allies within 60': +10-foot bonus to its base speed or a +1 dodge bonus to AC and a +1 bonus on Reflex saves (recipient’s choice)
... Gentle Lullaby: Foes within 30': DC 11 Will save or become drowsy or if already drowsy, fall asleep
... Inspiring Anthem: Allies within 60': +1 morale bonus on attack and damage rolls.
I also hear that there is a lot of fire damage in Iron Gods, so get a Ring of Fire Resistance 12,000 gp (minor), 28,000 gp (major), 44,000 gp (greater)
/cevah