Character concept how to best make it work.

[archangel.arcanis]

I'm bored at work for now and have had a character idea floating around in my head so i figured i would come here and work on it with you guys.

Bard who is a seeker of all knowledge. I was thinking NE Bard who worships Vecna and truly wants to know everything. Probably would end up becoming some kind of undead to have the time to learn it all. I know Wizard is probably better at it but that seems a bit cliche and Bardic knowledge has its perks too.

Here are some of the key concepts:
1) Ability to make obscenely difficult checks pertaining to knowledge. Skills and Bardic Knowledge in case the DM is claiming it doesn't fall under one, this kind of stuff happens a lot to me (DM will decide i had no way of knowing some information despite abilities to the contrary).
2) Some form of immortality so they have time to "learn" everything.
3) Ways to find out information not revealed by knowledge checks.
4) Still having some use in combat, Knowledge devotion seems obvious here.

So let the brainstorming of how to pull this off begin.

[PhaedrusXY]

Bardic Knack + Jack of All Trades = effectively having half ranks in all skills. The Collector of Stories skill trick gives you a +5 on knowledge checks to identify creatures. There are some items that boost all knowledge skills, but I forget where and what they are now. Obtain Familiar can give you two rolls on all skill checks, since the familiar has your ranks. Knowledge (History) gives a +2 synergy bonus to bardic knowledge, and I know there are a few items hidden away that also add to it.

Other than that, you're going to have to rely on divination magic, I think. Contact Other Plane is crazy powerful, and if you can get a +5 int bonus, you can take 10 on the intelligence check and so never risk failing it. Scrolls should let you use that to divine what your mundane knowledge abilities can't.

Now not going with an Int based caster causes you to lose out a bit on synergy here, but I guess you could make int your prime stat, and cha your secondary.

Oh yeah, you're going to want access to the cleric spells Guidance of the Avatar and Divine Insight. Between those, you can get a +35 to a skill check. The second relies on caster level though, so if you're getting it from a magic item you likely won't get the full bonus (or you'll pay through the nose for it). A cleric cohort is the easiest way to get these, though...

Edit: Or Ur-Priest... yeah, that could work nicely.

[KellKheraptis]

I'm bored at work for now and have had a character idea floating around in my head so i figured i would come here and work on it with you guys.

Bard who is a seeker of all knowledge. I was thinking NE Bard who worships Vecna and truly wants to know everything. Probably would end up becoming some kind of undead to have the time to learn it all. I know Wizard is probably better at it but that seems a bit cliche and Bardic knowledge has its perks too.

Here are some of the key concepts:
1) Ability to make obscenely difficult checks pertaining to knowledge. Skills and Bardic Knowledge in case the DM is claiming it doesn't fall under one, this kind of stuff happens a lot to me (DM will decide i had no way of knowing some information despite abilities to the contrary).
2) Some form of immortality so they have time to "learn" everything.
3) Ways to find out information not revealed by knowledge checks.
4) Still having some use in combat, Knowledge devotion seems obvious here.

So let the brainstorming of how to pull this off begin.

I was just contemplating a similar build actually.  Begins as a bard, picks up Ur-Priest and Sublime Chord, and tops with Foc. Lyrist.  You'll want some of the Bardic damage boosters, like Dragonfire Inspiration, and maybe Slippers of Battledancing, to add Cha to damage.  Tainted Scholar seems a good fit too, especially if you become an outsider or undead (since other than just immortality, it gives you taint immunity).

[Prime32]

Psion (seer) and a psionic adaptation of loremaster?

Make sure you take hypercognition and object reading.

[PhaedrusXY]

Psion (seer) and a psionic adaptation of loremaster?

Make sure you take hypercognition and object reading.

That's a good idea. The gloves of object reading are about as good as actually having the power, though. I thought about suggesting a psion, but he said he wanted a bard.

[Prime32]

I thought about suggesting a psion, but he said he wanted a bard.

For bardic knowledge. Loremaster works the same way.

[Vinom]

... this is a min max forum, what's the most cost effective way to be able to eat someone's brain for what they know, mindflayer style?

[Agita]

... this is a min max forum, what's the most cost effective way to be able to eat someone's brain for what they know, mindflayer style?

Absorb Mind (BoVD) is a 3rd level spell that lets you eat part of someone's brain to acquire roughly 1/4th of their knowledge. Anyone who prepares spells can use it, but takes 2d6 Wis damage for doing so.

[Vinom]

... this is a min max forum, what's the most cost effective way to be able to eat someone's brain for what they know, mindflayer style?

Absorb Mind (BoVD) is a 3rd level spell that lets you eat part of someone's brain to acquire roughly 1/4th of their knowledge. Anyone who prepares spells can use it, but takes 2d6 Wis damage for doing so.

and how do we minimalize the wisdom damage?

[PhaedrusXY]

... this is a min max forum, what's the most cost effective way to be able to eat someone's brain for what they know, mindflayer style?

Absorb Mind (BoVD) is a 3rd level spell that lets you eat part of someone's brain to acquire roughly 1/4th of their knowledge. Anyone who prepares spells can use it, but takes 2d6 Wis damage for doing so.

and how do we minimalize the wisdom damage?

Bind Naberius.

[Agita]

... this is a min max forum, what's the most cost effective way to be able to eat someone's brain for what they know, mindflayer style?

Absorb Mind (BoVD) is a 3rd level spell that lets you eat part of someone's brain to acquire roughly 1/4th of their knowledge. Anyone who prepares spells can use it, but takes 2d6 Wis damage for doing so.

and how do we minimalize the wisdom damage?

Bind Naberius.

Bind Dahlver-Nar for immunity.

[archangel.arcanis]

... this is a min max forum, what's the most cost effective way to be able to eat someone's brain for what they know, mindflayer style?

Find some way to qualify for Illithid savant without that pesky LA.

Like i said this is a fun conceptual build. I went with bard for a couple of reasons, one of which is I never see evil bards. In replacing Bardic Knowledge Loremaster does a fine job but also has some annoying pre-requisites, really what is a knowledge based character going to do with meta or item creation feats.

[Prime32]

In replacing Bardic Knowledge Loremaster does a fine job but also has some annoying pre-requisites, really what is a knowledge based character going to do with meta or item creation feats.

Crafting items to boost his Knowledge checks, of course.

[InnaBinder]

In replacing Bardic Knowledge Loremaster does a fine job but also has some annoying pre-requisites, really what is a knowledge based character going to do with meta or item creation feats.

Start as an Illumian and you can get a similar effect from Loredelver, with much less annoying prerequisites.

[archangel.arcanis]

I like that and Lore delver has some nice features to go with it too. Perhaps going with the power word for dexterity to be more SAD. though a good int would still be useful.

edit:
Nevermind the power single it only affects bonus spells per day.

[bearsarebrown]

There is a gnome feat out there that lets you roll twice on each Knowledge check. Might be useful. Races of Stone I thiiiiink.

[Bloody Initiate]

Do you really prefer bard? Because Cloistered Cleric seems almost more fitting. You get the Knowledge Domain, all knowledges, 6 skill points a level, and a +1 to caster level in the divination school. So you can:


Roll any knowledge check
Roll bardic knowledge
Use divination spells when the previous two fail

As for hefty boosts to just your knowledge skills, Dragonfire Adept 1 and Marshal 1 can both put a serious chunk of awesome on a knowledgable character.

Also if you went cloistered cleric you could grab Knowledge Devotion in place of another domain, saving yourself a feat. Finally, you'll also have an excuse to worship someone. I admittedly don't understand anyone's fascination with bards though, so my suggestions are biased. I think generally the class is kinda dumb (I don't care what anyone can make it do, the concept is what I don't like. A bard is an NPC, not a PC class)

[Chemus]

DFA 1 dip (or with a nice DM, warlock 1 dip) for Draconic Knowledge Invocation (+6 to all knowledges + Spellcraft, May use untrained)