I'm redoing my cohort as a healer-esque, but really am trying to make it work as a Bard.
I have a few means of getting plenty of HP healing outside of spells (like Healer's Hands + Signature Skill [Heal]), but for the rougher stuff I would like to have Restoration (or something else that removes negative levels).
So far the only way I've found to get it on the Bard spell list is through the prestige class Pathfinder Savant (was really hoping Voice of the Wild would work, but was very surprised to find that Restoration wasn't on the druid list - as you can probably guess, we don't play druids very often).
I suppose a Heartripper blade would work as well, though it definitely gives an "evil" note even if the item doesn't specifically state it is evil. Considering the party is VERY good aligned, this is a less than ideal option.
Is there another way for Bards to get access to Restoration? I'm not opposed to Pathfinder Savant, but something that maintained the "Bard" feel would be nice.
Also, I would have sworn there was an item that increased bardic performance by X levels (instead of static numerical increases, like with the Dervish Sikke); however, I can't seem to find it. Did I just dream that up, or is there such an item?
Huh. Interesting...
There is the Hymn of Restorative Harmonices... a Masterpiece that can get rid of some conditions, but not negative levels.
An Arcane Healer Bard could take Channeled Rivial around level 13... that gets you Breath of Life, kind of.
Arcane Healer stacked with Geisha, VMC Monk can do some wonderful things absuing the Tea of Transference and the Ki Channel feat... near infinite Bardic Performce, Channel Energy, Ki, and spells of 4th level and lower... be a Gnome, take Bewildering Koan...
Dragon's blood is a means of recovering negative levels, though obviously the supply may be limited.
Improved planar infusion (Nirvana) works but it requires the bard to have spent some time on Nirvana.
Evangelist (Irori) could work but it comes in a bit late and it's only 1/week for restoration.
There is also a ampule of blood, some odd item, I used to know it know by name as a required item on my martials... I'm just too distracted or too high or too lazy to actually put too much efffort into it. Anyways, you give a little when you have some to spare, and it saves your @$$ when you need it most. Cheap, too, if I remember correctly... it was essential, so I didn't care what it costed, I had to have it. Lol.
There is also item mastery... Restoration Mastery, to be exact... not exactly a Bard's wheelhouse, though... weak Fort saves, and all...
Prerequisite(s): Heal 5 ranks, Use Magic Device 5 ranks, base Fortitude saving throw bonus +3.
Benefit(s): You can cause an item that has a conjuration (healing) spell of 2nd level or higher listed in its construction requirements to cast lesser restoration. If you have 9 ranks in both Heal and Use Magic Device, you can instead cause an item that has a conjuration (healing) spell of 3rd level or higher listed in its construction requirements to cast either remove blindness/deafness or remove paralysis. You can use this feat once per day, plus an additional time per day when your base Fortitude save bonus reaches +9 and +12.
Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber
Max out Use Magic Device and invest in a wand of restoration?
Alternately, speaker of the Palatine Eye archetype replaces the bard spell list with the mesmerist spell list, which has restoration.
Dragonchess Player wrote: Max out Use Magic Device and invest in a wand of restoration?
Alternately, speaker of the Palatine Eye archetype replaces the bard spell list with the mesmerist spell list, which has restoration.
Hmm, yes...
I'm pretty sure you can stack Demagogue, and Hatharat Agent, and Speaker of the Palatine Eye. Also pretty sure that combination still has Versatile Performance if you want to pick up Martial Performance/Weapon Focus, or Masterpieces.
It does put you in two separate secret organizations, though. Depending how cool you are with playing both sides...
Dragonchess Player wrote: Max out Use Magic Device and invest in a wand of restoration?
Alternately, speaker of the Palatine Eye archetype replaces the bard spell list with the mesmerist spell list, which has restoration.
I'm not sure how you go about making a wand of restoration, considering it has two different material costs. Presuming you have to use the higher amount, you're talking about a 70k+ gp item. Not impossible at much higher levels, but a huge investment at our current party level of 12th.
The use of the mesmerist list is intriguing. I'd get some castings of restoration, and while not ideal from a stat-bonus option, I could get a couple of spells off other psychic lists by taking Samsaran as my race. (I'd get 2, considering this is a cohort and not a PC).
VoodistMonk wrote: I'm pretty sure you can stack Demagogue, and Hatharat Agent, and Speaker of the Palatine Eye. Also pretty sure that combination still has Versatile Performance if you want to pick up Martial Performance/Weapon Focus, or Masterpieces. The agent looks potentially fun; not so sure about the Demagogue. As for being in two secret societies - I suppose it would depend if we got use out of that in our campaign.
VoodistMonk wrote: There is also item mastery... Restoration Mastery, to be exact... not exactly a Bard's wheelhouse, though... weak Fort saves, and all... Sadly that only grants Lesser Resto, and I can take care of ability score damage much more effectively with Signature Skill: Heal
avr wrote: Improved planar infusion (Nirvana) works but it requires the bard to have spent some time on Nirvana. That's not impossible, considering... it's two feats, but once-per-day would be nice (especially considering at least some of the party is good aligned, meaning no material cost in those situations). The initial Planar Infusion is also useful, so it's not like you're getting a useless feat to get the better one.
Azata-blooded Aasimar would help offset the lost feats (I took some skill focus in my perform skills that I'm using for Versatile Performance). Or go human and have both Lingering and Flagbearer.
That feat list would now be:
Lingering Performance OR Flagbearer (depending if I can arrange for some harmonizing armor)
Signature Skill: Heal
Healer's Hands
Planar Infusion (Nirvana)
Improved Planar Infusion (Nirvana)
That covers a decent amount of necessary healing. The only issue is that the Nirvana infusion doesn't work with physical stats, and that's what we get hit with the most.
Are there any other ways to cure negative levels and ability score drain that I'm missing?
Sadly, I think my best choice is to VMC Bard with a main class in Oracle. I really wanted to make the Bard work, but I'm trying to fill two roles (buffing and healing) and it just isn't working out in favor of the Bard to cover both HP damage AND negative levels/ability drain. As the Oracle with VMC Bard, I can still manage it.
If my main character dies though, definitely going to try my hand at the complete bard with the suggestions above.
Many thanks to everyone here! I've gotten my build figured out, and you guys were awesome :)
Samsaran Chronicler of Worlds Bard
Alternate Racial Feature: Mystic Past Life (Su)
(Gain Barkskin and Anti-Incorporeal Shell for certain, plus one other to be determined)
Take the Planar Infusion and Improved Planar Infusion (Nirvana) feats
Take the Healer's Hands and Signature Skill: Heal feats
Take Lingering Performance
Using a Healer's Satchel (Longterm Care), I can work on the drain that isn't fixed by the Improved Planar Infusion.
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