Good day.
A game is coming up featuring evil outsiders aplenty.
I'm pondering a build for a bard (Argent Voice) who empowers her comrades, and vocally scares the hell out of the evil demons/devils.
We might hit lvl 15, or more, as PCs.
The build towards level 10:
-------------------
Planned class progress
1 Bard
2 Cavalier
3 Cavalier
4-10 Bard
Post lvl 10: Evangelist PrC(bard)? / Argent Dramaturge PrC 5?
25pt buy
TN Tiefling (rakshasa variant, +2 Dex & Cha, -2 Wis) bard (Argent voice) 8/ Standard bearer cavalier 2 [order of te cockatrice]
Post race modifiers
Str 10 Dex 16 Con 14 Int 14 Wis 8 Cha 20 (+1 at lvl 4 and lvl 8)
Traits:
-TBD
-Criminal: +1 to Disable Device, it becomes a class skill for you.
Planned Feats:
Lvl 1: Skill focus [Intimidate]
Lvl 3: Equipment trick (combat) [Cloak: upon successful intimidation, extend duration by 1d4 rounds, requires dazzling display] / Improved initiative?
Lvl 3: Dazzling Display (Cavalier bonus)
Lvl 5: Ancestral Scorn [Upon successful intimidate of an evil outsider, it becomes sickened for 1 round as well. If beat by 5 or more, they become nauseated instead]
Lvl 7: Lingering Performance
Lvl 9: Persuasive (+2 to diplomacy & intimidate, becomes +4 at 10 ranks)
I would probably start with the Cavalier levels... get them out of the way early, and the D10 hit dice/full BAB will make a bigger difference the earlier you take them. So, unless you have some very specific skill rank requirements that makes the level of Bard absolutely necessary at level 1... I would delay Bard until level 3.
You say your other trait is to be determined, but it's not. It is likely going to be Magical Knack to make up the 2 CL you lose with the Cavalier dip.
Going into Argent Dramaturge wouldn't be bad, but probably not great, either... it is 10/10 casting progression, and offers access to Masterpieces without giving up feats or spells... but it drops to 1/2 BAB and doesn't stack with your Bard levels as well as it really should. Since Argent Dramaturge gives you the Song of Silver at level 1, you could probably skip the 8th level of Argent Voice Bard. However, I don't see any language allowing Argent Dramaturge levels to stack with Bard levels to determine the DC's of your Bardic Performances... therefore, your Shattering Crescendo will cease to be effective.
You might consider going single class Argent Voice Bard, and VMC Cavalier for Order of the Cockatrice/Braggart/Dazzliny Display. That, at least, keeps your Bard stuffs at full power, and you get Challenge/Tactician/Greater Tactician out of the deal. Sure, Braggart doesn't show up until level 7, but I don't think that really ruins anything, overall.
I have have a Negotiator Bard VMC Cavalier, with Order of the Cockatrice... uses the Rogue Talent Mien of Despair with Braggart to further debuff enemies by removing any morale bonuses they may be affected by. Also has the Opportunist Advanced Rogue Talent to go with the Steal Glory ability from Order of the Cockatrice. And, obviously, the ever-popular Hurtful/Cornugon Smash combo.
Assuming VMC is allowed, i don't know yet if it is, that gives the dazzling display at character level 7.
Okay, there could be a workaround, i generally want to increase my intimidation as high as possible, while remaining a tiefling.
The only use of the cavalier i was looking for to use, was the Braggart/Dazzling Display. The order is fitting, PC isn't as selfish as the order description suggests, but does want to rise to fame.
Would there be another way to make dazzling display a standard action, i'd ignore the cavalier altogether.
The PC's entirely meant for support, and avoiding the front line.
I'm not going into Prestige Classes, hindsight consideration.
On magical knack, does it only raise the level for level dependant factors, such as duration based on level, or also spells known/per day?
So, VMC
Con: less feats to work with, more cavalier features than i'd use.
Pros: Full bard progression.
Bard 8/Cavalier 2
Con: 2 less bard levels, magical knack required to compensate.
Pros: Extra BaB, saves, hit points, more feat slots to play with.
I very rarely multiclass, so i'm unsure of which to go for. Both have appeal, after all.
Appreciate the feedback.
Blistering invective, bard 2. It's practically dazzling display as a standard-action spell and it sets people on fire too. Highly tiefling-appropriate IMO. If you're not going for more intimidate feats which are based specifically off dazzling display (e.g. disheartening display) then the spell probably suffices. If you are going for such then one non-cavalier way to dazzle fast is to invest in high-prereq feats like violent display. That takes a long time, possibly too long, to come together though. It's possible to do both of course.
Magical knack is for caster level only, not spells known or per day.