What to do with this bard?

[Solo]

Hi,

I'm playing DnD in college this semester, a game set in the Forgotten Realms.

We've got a big playgroup this time; seven players altogether and one DM.

The others play a Rogue, Beguiler, Wizard, Cleric, Druid, and Fighter/Dervish. I decided to play a Bard, after seeing all roles filled up several times over.


Here's the build. http://www.thetangledweb.net/forums/profiler/view_char.php?cid=17445

Given that all important roles are filled, I think what I'm going to do is have as much fun out of my bard's abilities as possible.

That means playing Rick Rolls for Inspire Courage, using the Bardic Knack + Improvisation spell to take advantage of my large skill list, etc. (Skill tricks sadly disallowed)

Does anyone have ideas on creative antics a bard with effective skill ranks in every skill equal to his class level can do? Basically, what I'm looking for is the most over the top things imaginable that are still useful to the party. Creative, innovative, amusing, etc, uses of skills.

I realize that this isn't the standard optimization request, but hey, it's not like the party needs more power...

Thanks for your help,

Solo

[Maximiano]

Bard sucks...

Play a Factotum...

Well, i'm pretty sure this wasn't the answer you wanted but hehehe...

[Solo]

Not at all. Your post was extremely useful for many things beyond the intended purpose.

[Eldariel]

Heh, well, you do have those ranks in the all-important "Perform: Pelvic Thrust" you seemed to grow fondness in. Also, it's not like you'd be weak - especially the Dervish, the Rogue, the Druid and the animal companion will all be a billion times stronger thanks to your presence (since Druids aren't good enough otherwise). All in all, I'd completely disagree with Maximiano's assessment - with a party like that, Bard bends Factotum over.


Anyways, with all skills trained, sky is the limit. You have UMD and UPD to an acceptable degree (especially given your Charisma-focus), which means you've got access to effectively all magical effects. Prestidigation someone's shirt red and Bluff them into believing they're the obligatory red shirt fodder, and Diplomacy him to do whatever he wants to do before he dies quick before the red shirt catches on to him.

Use Forgery to generate hilarious commands from whatever master they serve to any dungeon monsters you may encounter. Heck, why not with city guards too? Like, have an order clearly state that they are to moon towards the sun for the first half an hour of the sunrise - a convenient break to enter the city.

Use a combination of Diplomacy, Bluff, Disguise and Appraise to convince some traders that their goods are illegal and to be seized by the authorities (you) immediately.

Roll a Knowledge-check on everything. After all, you are trained in every Knowledge. Also, don't forget to use a different perform skill each time you Inspire Courage (or use any Perform-skill that isn't related to the check result). Perform: Poledancing could be quite the idea, for example. Just carry a 10' pole in Heward's Handy Haversack just for that.


Don't forget all the Craft-skills you've got. You can literally make everything. Like ashtrays and baskets. I'm sure you'll come up with creative uses for those.

Oh yeah, don't forget that you've got all Professions! This includes Gambler, Astrologist, Sailor and many, many more. Don't forget to precede everything you do by saying "I'm a professional!" Also, don't forget to spontaneously start reading peoples' horoscopes once you arrive in a city and taking fees. While gambling.

[Solo]

Perform: Poledancing could be quite the idea, for example. Just carry a 10' pole in Heward's Handy Haversack just for that.

Way ahead of you. If you look closely at my character's inventory, you'll note that he has an 11' foot pole.

[Eldariel]

Heh. Epic. Also, don't forget the obligatory "Perform: Pole drill" after having done the Pole dancing. Like Weapon drill, except with a Pole.

[woodenbandman]

Great bard build. But it needs more SPELLS. If you want more versatility, if you can still add stuff, I'd go divine bard, then into sublime chord for 1 level, then turn straight to Divine Prankster. Be a gnome, of course.

You're small, but you get 9th level spells, which count as divine, and you get inspire courage progression as well as the ever-cool Killing Joke.

Check with your DM to see if he'll let you do this, because Divine Prankster's a really really fun class. If he says no, oh well, you tried, at least you can still take sublime chord.

If you're planning on actually doing the whole bard thing, then I don't know what to say, other than good luck. It gets REALLY boring after a while. At least it did for me. I didn't have Melodic Casting. I want that feat. Is it from complete arcane?

I know my next bard's going to be awesome. Just out of curiosity, what does everyone think about a build that looks like "However you qualify for fochlucan lyrist"/Ur-Priest1/Sublime Chord1/Fochlucan Lyrist 9? Sounds like a win to me.

[Solo]

Alas, the DM said no to quite a few things, which is why my bard is... bardy.

The character's already submitted, so I can't change anything.

Spells will definitely be an issue, but I plan on taking Versatile Spellcaster to get more spells later on. I figure I'll UMD whatever else I need.

[Solo]

Things accomplished so far:

Went into seedy bar with Dervish and Rogue. Proceed to tune the horribly out of tune harpsichord in the corner, take control of it, and give the people an amazing performance while the Dervish dances and the Rogue tumbles, transporting the bar into some sort of musical, complete with the song "Devil's Dance Floor" by Flogging Molly.

I target a suspiciously well dressed patron with Fascinate and Suggestion, suggesting that, when our Rogue make his way over and ply him for information, he complies.

He does so. He's a Shadow Thief who manages to give us valuable information about some pirates we're trying to track down.

It's a start...

[woodenbandman]

Yay for diplomacy adventures. Those are fun, but I've never had the pleasure because we end up running dungeon crawl 99% of the time.

In fact, that was the whole reason for my obsession with bards when I began. I skipped all the flashy spells and power attacks, and went straight to attempting a diplomancer. I failed, of course, but it was a start. I'll come back with one some day.

Well, the above reasons and a paranoid obsession with being a guitarist. Ever since I could play guitar.

[Solo]

Say, does anyone have advice for how to RP a character who is basically an Eldar Harlequin?

[SorO_Lost]

Is the ToB off limits? You should pick up a level in crusader for the bardic feat that gives swift action inspiring so you can boost your skills on the fly. And of course all those fun maneuvers can be useful too...

I also suggest taking a level in Master of Masks.

Gladiator Mask
[spoiler]This wyvern-hide mask is shaped like the face of a grim warrior. Scars cover its surface, and silver chainmail rings surround its outer edge.

You gain proficiency with all martial and exotic weapons. You also gain a +1 competence bonus on attack rolls and weapon damage rolls. As you advance in the master of masks class, you become more expert in weapon use: This bonus improves to +2 at 4th level, +3 at 7th level, and +4 at 10th level.

Your alignment appears to be neutral while you wear a gladiator mask.

Toss nets, bolas, spears, etc. Play with all those fun/useful weapons no one wants to waste a feat for since there are better deadly weapons out there.[/spoiler]

Edit - Actually, Master of Masks 3 has an interesting ability if your DM allows custom items. It ups the skill bonus provided by any face slot skill booster by 2. You could net a +3 bonus for 100gp per skill to make up those lost bard levels and have the option of spending coin for better bonuses.

Edit 2 - Hmm, depending on how this is read. If you picked up a masterwork tool as a mask and enchanted it so it provides an enchantment bonus for the same skill as the tool you could net a +7 bonus on a skill.
+3 (1 base + 2 mom ability) enchantment & +4 (2 base, + 2 mom ability) circumstantial = +7 total.

[Solo]

The DM may or may not allow Complete Scoundrel and ToB. I know skill tricks aren't allowed.

So far, my role in the party has been to provide buffs, fight a little (fairly effectively once buffed, Displaced, Alter Self'd and Wardancing) and provide skill support/handle obscure skills (autohypnosis ftw!)

I'll think about Crusader, as it won't impair my buffing with the feat Song of the White Raven (though skills will take a hit), but what White Raven maneuvers would be good for a Bard/Crusader?

*sigh*

Warning: Angst
[spoiler]
And once I figure this all out and get it approved, I'll have to get over the fact that my ex has a username of White Raven, and it hurts like a bitch to be reminded of her... Damn you WotC, for your nomenclature...[/spoiler]

[woodenbandman]

I do love master of masks, but it certainly needs to lose fewer caster levels and gain a higher Base Attack Bonus. if it were 3/4 BAB and at least 7/10ths caster... OH.

EDIT: I'm pretty sure that Bardic Knack says that you need to have ranks in the skill in question. did you spend skillpoints at character creation to get all the ones you can't use untrained? It looks kind of like you did.