Recently started a campaign that's some sort of 3.5/PF mix (DM allows material from both and sort of cherry-picks mechanics he likes best). The character is already started, so I'll give a level 1 snapshot before asking questions.
Bard 1
Azurin Half-Gloura*
CG
AbilitiesSTR 13
DEX 18
CON 18
INT 14
WIS 8
CHA 20
(yes, DM used a very generous rolling system)
*Half-Gloura is a non-LA template my DM created based on the fey creature of the same name. It's a template that add benefits as the character levels up. Important stuff about it (mind you not all this at level 1):
- +2 CHA, +2 DEX, -2 STR, -2 WIS
- Darkvision (forget exactly how much)
- Unearthly grace. Ya I know, waaaay too good, but I warned the DM and he seems up to the challenge of strong PCs.
- DR/cold iron
Feats: Cobalt Inspiration*, Dragontouched, Extra Music
Flaw: Directionless (means I'm always lost, but also gives 1 CON besides the extra feat)
*New custom feat I created.
Cobalt InspirationYou can channel incarnum to enhance your inspire courage ability. When you do so, any instrument used during the performance (or your mouth if singing) gives off a blue glow.
Prerequisites: Con 13, inspire courage class feature
Benefit: Once per day you can invest essentia into this feat. While your inspire courage is active, the bonus it confers is increase by 1 for each point of essentia invested. Once the amount of essentia is chosen, it cannot be altered and remains invested for 24 hours. If an exception modifies the essentia invested in this feat, the benefit of inspire courage is adjusted appropriately, even if it is already active. Each meldshaper level you gain grants you an addition use of inspire courage each day. You gain 1 point of essentia.
Special: This feat replaces the class-based progression inspire courage would normally gain past its initial +1 bonus. Inspire courage may still benefit from other sources that increase its effectiveness.
Future Plans: Next two levels will be totemist to get the totem binds. Then two more bard levels, using the precedent from Eberron to swap out Inspire Competence for Dragonfire Inspiration (DM is cool with this). Heading into my custom PrC, the
Totem Chanter, as soon as I qualify. (Speaking of which, feel free to add thoughts about that PrC if you read it, even though that isn't exactly the point of this thread).
My big question is
what combat role should this guy fill? Right now I'm looking at two options.
1) Ranged: Bind Manticore Belt to totem chakra and go to town, letting dragonfire inspiration make up for the normally low damage of each attack. The strength of this choice is that ranged combat can be more manageable and with an eventual source of flight (pegasus cloak shoulder bind?), becomes a great harrier type. I imagine a good 3rd level feat would be Expand Soulmeld capacity, which would mean 3 attacks at 3rd and 4 when I reach 6th.
The problem with this is the often complained about fact that the belt doesn't indicate that you get a natural attack, which makes it tricky to really enhance attacks. Also the number of attacks is slower in coming that option 2. Would shape soulmeld (Incarnate Avatar Chaotic) be a viable way to help out my ranged attacks, or does that cost me too much?
2) Melee: Bind Landshark boots (or Girallon Arms) to totem and go to town. This time we see 4 attacks at 3rd lvl, but either with a -5 penalty to 3 of them (girallon) or being forced to move and make a DC 20 jump check first (landshark). Either way, I would say Snowflake Wardance becomes a necessity if I go this route. The benefit of this option is that I can get CHA to attack and eventually damage with gauntlets of heartfelt blows, plus its clear I can upgrade my natural weapons with things like the Savage Species necklace. Also additional attacks become possible in melee.
The down sides are that melee can be a bit more restricting depending on the encounter. Plus if I use landshark I have to move and if I use Girallon I have significant penalties early on.
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TL;DR version: For a CHA/DEX/CON focussed Bard/Totemist multiclass, should I be optimizing for ranged with the manticore belt, or melee with landshark boots or girallon arms? Thanks for any help.