Hello Fellow Pathfinders, I'm building a First level human bard, and I'm stuck trying to figure out my second feat (My first Feat is for Heroes Fortune because we are using Hero Points).
Does anyone have a suggestion for a feat, or a feat tree to build to that can be started at 1st level?
Sincerel, Ninja.
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Arcane Strike?
Extra Performance seems like a solid choice to me; Improve Initiative is almost always good too.
What else can you tell us about this Bard? What weapons are you planning to use? What kind of performance do you do? What spells did you pick?
Another consideration: how many levels do you anticipate playing this character for? I am notorious for not thinking about this ahead of time.
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Lingering Performance is your money. Extra performance at third(or 1st if your human) if you still need extra rounds.
I certainly can spectrevk
He will be using a Lute. I will also endeavour to put points in Sing and Dance as well for the Versatile Performance ability.
His motivation, is to find gold through adventuring to give to his overly wealthy family to prove that he actually had done something with his life. And hopefully un-disown him.
I haven't bought equipment yet, (any suggestions here are welcome) But I was thinking a Rapier and a few daggers as back up for weapons, still waiting on Clearance to use Ultimate Equipment.
0th level (Cantrips)
Dancing Lights
Know Direction
Mage Hand
Mending
1st level
Alarm
Charm Person
Lingering Performance is your money. Extra performance at third(or 1st if your human) if you still need extra rounds.
Lingering Performance was certainly something I have considered, beecause if use right effectively triples my Bardic Performance buff rounds.
First, Lingering Performance, unquestionably.
Second, Know Direction and Alarm are terrible wastes of your spells known. Hell, a Survival check duplicates Know Direction, and Alarm is crappy enough that it's barely worth a spellbook class knowing.
Please consider Detect Magic, Ghost Sound, or Prestidigitation over Know Direction, and Cure Light Wounds, Silent Image, Solid Note, Grease, Saving Finale, or Vanish--or frankly almost any other spell ever--instead of Alarm.
Thanks for the Advice, mplindutries (what does that stand for?), Know Direction and Alarm are 2 spells that I picked that seemed to work thematically with the character. but now that you've pointed out the flaw in Know Direction I will gladly swap that for Detect Magic. However, the use for Alarm fit well with the character, aka putting alarm on the door so he would know if the father of the daughter he was sleeping with was approaching.
However, the use for Alarm fit well with the character, aka putting alarm on the door so he would know if the father of the daughter he was sleeping with was approaching.
It won't last the night until you're level 4. It also warns you when anyone walks by, not just fathers/husbands/whatever. If you're banging her in the inn, for example, you're getting an alarm every couple minutes as people/maids/whatever walk by. If you're in someone's house, I hope they don't have a pet.
Plus, I imagine putting points in Perception and then casting Vanish or Sleep or even just Charm Person will be more useful for escaping the wrathful. Maybe Feather Fall to leap from the window.
If you're dead set on it, ok--but keep in mind you only ever get six 1st level spells known, and only four before level 7. Your party might be pretty miffed if, instead of having useful spells that help them at all, you've got a junk spell you only use to inappropriately bang chicks (and that is only moderately helpful for doing that).
However, the use for Alarm fit well with the character, aka putting alarm on the door so he would know if the father of the daughter he was sleeping with was approaching.It won't last the night until you're level 4. It also warns you when anyone walks by, not just fathers/husbands/whatever. If you're banging her in the inn, for example, you're getting an alarm every couple minutes as people/maids/whatever walk by. If you're in someone's house, I hope they don't have a pet.
Plus, I imagine putting points in Perception and then casting Vanish or Sleep or even just Charm Person will be more useful for escaping the wrathful. Maybe Feather Fall to leap from the window.
If you're dead set on it, ok--but keep in mind you only ever get six 1st level spells known, and only four before level 7. Your party might be pretty miffed if, instead of having useful spells that help them at all, you've got a junk spell you only use to inappropriately bang chicks (and that is only moderately helpful for doing that).
I see your reasoning and I accept that, Vanish does sound like a better choice in the long run, However I am planning on taking the Human Favored class bonus several times throughout my career as this character to have access to a slightly more diverse range of spells.
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This is far from my first bard. I love the class it can do so much. Role plaing is done at the table not at character creation.
Lingering Performance is way more important at low level then any other feet a bard can take. It's effect is lessend as you level and get more rounds of performance. Still one of the best 1st level bard feet's.
From the sound of it your making a support/combat bard. Improved Initiative will be a much better choice then Heroes Fortune. As untill your turn there are no buffs going. So if your building a buffing character you will need to try hard at going befor the other party members.
As for spells some of them you might want to look over your list. Here are some of the best bard spells I have come across.
1st level
*Anticipate Peril (Do not start with this spell. After you get to level 3. This spell will pay for it's self fast. Well worth taking. This is the most used spell by my bard.)
*Cure Light Wounds (The only cure spell I take. I will start with this. At low level healing is hard. After a few adventures you can buy a wand to do most of the healing. Have on cure spell on your list can save characters. As you do not have to wast actions to put out the wand.)
*Saving Finale (Not one I will suggest starting with. It is a very good spell for later on when you have more performance rounds to use.)
2nd level
*Gallant Inspiration (The bane of DM's every where. After the figher fails to hit you cast this and he hits. What more do you want for a support character?)
*Tactical Acumen (Extra bonus for when you go to be the flanking buddy. I don't see any thing wrong with this spell. This is the second most used spell by my bard.)
3rd level (MY curent bard can not cast 3rd level spells yet.)
Good Hope, and Haste are my go to level 3 spells for bards.
Lingering is a "must-have" feat in my book. I picked it up for my bard in Jade Regent, and as a result, we have NEVER had a combat where I have been unable to buff.
It is just too good to miss. And the sooner you get it, the better.
Ah, the dashing bard, stealing girl's hearts all across the land, and staying one step ahead of jealous boyfriends and upset fathers. So, let's see what would best support the concept.
Stat-wise, charisma is going to be your best stat, obviously. He'll likely have a lowish wisdom and/or intelligence. (Going after other people's girlfriends is neither wise nor smart.) Probably good dex, okay strength and con.
For spells, I'd choose for 0th level prestidigitation (for cleaning up and keeping your clothes presentable), mending (for fixing said clothes), mage hand (a third hand in bed can be fun), and message (for whispering sweet nothings that only she can hear from across the room). For 1st level, I would actually avoid charm person and the like, you don't want to force the girls to like you after all. Cure light wounds, on the other hand, can be used both for meeting girls and for fixing yourself up if a boyfriend does catch you. Your other spell should be something that will help you get away. Sleep, for example, or expeditious retreat, or perhaps solid note.
For feats, definitely lingering performance should be your first choice. You can fascinate someone, then you get two rounds to get away while they stay fascinated. For the other feat, if you are going to be a high dex, moderate strength rapier wielding type, then sadly weapon finesse is going to be required. If your strength is equal to or higher than your dexterity, then you can use your other feat for something more interesting.
Does your group use traits?
*Anticipate Peril (Do not start with this spell. After you get to level 3. This spell will pay for it's self fast. Well worth taking. This is the most used spell by my bard.)
I see this recommended a lot, but I don't like it, personally. I don't have nearly enough 1st level spells to blow one of them on Initiative every fight. Plus, the duration is too short for anything but a dungeon-type scenario.
*Saving Finale (Not one I will suggest starting with. It is a very good spell for later on when you have more performance rounds to use.)
I disagree about not taking this right away. With Lingering Performance, you can use Saving Finale without fear. My first four spells as a Bard are almost always Charm Person, Grease, Saving Finale, and Silent Image. After that, I have a special fondness for Solid Note, and I'll squeeze in Feather Fall and Vanish if I can.
Also noteworthy is the Triple Time Masterpiece.
*Gallant Inspiration (The bane of DM's every where. After the figher fails to hit you cast this and he hits. What more do you want for a support character?)
This spell is not as good as it looks. It gives a competence bonus, which is the same type of bonus you grant with Inspire Courage. Unless you're not helping your ally already (which you should be), this spell will add a smaller number to their total than you actually roll. I'm not saying it's bad--far from it--but it's not as amazing as it looks.
*Tactical Acumen (Extra bonus for when you go to be the flanking buddy. I don't see any thing wrong with this spell. This is the second most used spell by my bard.)
Yeah, it's ok. I think the main thing working against it in my eyes is that it's not Glitterdust, Invisibility, Mirror Image, or Silence. I don't think I could play a Bard without Glitterdust--that's easily one of the best spells in the game (same with Grease, by the way). But then, I play support/caster Bards, mostly, so I can see a low Charisma "fighty" bard taking just buffs.
3rd level (MY curent bard can not cast 3rd level spells yet.)
Good Hope, and Haste are my go to level 3 spells for bards.
Haste unquestionably, but I think Good Hope is overrated. You can grant an "all the time" +1 morale bonus from the Flagbearer feat (and a +2 if you get a Banner of the Ancient Kings). Yeah, Good Hope is +2 without a magic item, and it adds to skills, too, but as a support/caster bard, I'd much prefer spending my feats to spending spells known.
I also happen to love Confusion, personally, and Slow is almost as good as Haste. Symphony of the Elysian Heart is probably the very best Bardic Masterpiece--well worth a 3rd level slot.
While lingering performance is good you may want a combat feat early to give you some extra survivability. If you have a decent DEX and your STR is low Weapon Finesse is good. Also helps you look dashing and impresses the chicks.
Use the human favored class bonus every level to get extra spells. Even so you only have limited numbers so chose wisely. Almost any spell will help with banging chicks if used with imiginagion.
Vanish (Sneaking into their rooms without getting caught)
Ghost Sound (Creating a distraction)
Silent Image (Use for mood creating a romantic atmosphere, and great for covering both of you being naked)
Disguise self (Hide your identity)
Also if you want an alarm to warn you about her a known person Magic Mouth works much better.