Guardian Angel Bard(25), Champion of Torm(10), Harper Scout(5) Human Female PvM
Main aims:
- Primarily, to create a unique class mix, at least in this guild at any rate! The only other builds in the guild with both a Bard and Harper Scout combination were the following:
Surpising how few there are to be honest. But still, my first aim was successful at least.
- To combine the Bard and Harper Classes whilst still acheiving a decent individual melee presence - Taking Lasting Inspiration at earliest point (33rd level), whilst maintaining highest possible AB and without sacrificing pre-epic feats (hence 4 HS levels taken) - 3 Main Skill types were required to have a higher focus, Discipline, Taunt, Perform. - Heavy Armor was a must, as was the ability to use any weapon type, hence Exotic Weapon Proficiency - Respectable saving throws, with a better than average Will Save
Heavy Armor Can use any weapon Lasting Inspiration Taunt DC (Unbuffed 56, Buffed DC 89) Discipline DC (Unbuffed 62, Buffed DC 82) Decent Will & Reflex save Divine Wrath 1x day (minimum duration 3 rounds, max 9 rounds) Smite Evil 1x day Stilled and Extended casting Good overall Skillset spread High Bard/ Curse Song Stackable Cats Grace Stackable Eagles Splendour Tymora's Smile (Uni Imp Saves by +6 for 5 turns 1x/ day) from the bug from combining CoT and HS classes - should usually be +2 6th level Bard Spells
WEAKNESSES
Poor Concentration ranks Wasting 2 feats - Armor Prof and Weapon Prof (some may say it is a waste) Can not reach max Bard Song without items/ buffs - need to boost Perform ranks by 20 points
25th Bard Song AB +2 Damage +3 Fort +2 Will +3 Reflex +2 HP +38 AC +6 Skills +14
25th Curse Song AB -2 Damage -3 Fort -2 Will -3 Reflex -2 HP -38 AC -6 Skills -13
Generally she is an aid to any party, her maxed combined Bard & Curse Song is a much needed edge to those more pressing encounters. In addition is her ability to cast Mass Haste on her allies and other buffs (if required).
She has a variety of AoE spells: Dirge, Ice Storm, Mind Fog, Slow, Gust of Wind, Sound Burst, Darkness, Grease, Cloud of Bewilderment and Sleep to inconvenience most foe. Her Spell Penetration is pretty reasonable so these can be effective, particularly against larger parties of enemies.
Individually, she is formidable, her Taunt has the potential to further reduce an enemies AB almost at Will. Self buffing and able to create potions of Cats Grace and Eagles Splendour for other party members daily. If hit, she deals 1d6+25 hp damage thanks to Wounding Whispers. Able to use any weapon, she also can count on the benefit of the Keen Spell to augment her Katana's critical threat still further.
She has been thoroughly tested in the Novice to Epic Mod, with good results generally. She comes into her own in PWs and can be very simple to rp, if that is your wish.
Any comments, feedback, suggestions, improvements are always welcome.
Nice build. Few changes I'd make:
Go with Scimitar for greater crit range and an extra feat, and take 9 levels of cot pre-epic instead of 8. Might help fort a bit. And maybe if you go with just 5 cot pre-epic you could fit in armour skin, but not really sure if it's worth the ab and the fact that at least 1/3 of your saves will suffer.
I'm a bit bored of pvp so I might try some rp, how would you rp something like cot/bard/hs? iirc Torm and his followers are lawful and follow strict moral codes and rules, etc... bard and cot seem like a bit of a contradiction to me, but I'm not exactly the most expierenced rp'er (most of it's from the Baulders Gate series which I haven't played in a long time), so if you could clear it up for me a bit that would be good.
Quote: Posted 04/18/06 13:01:01 (GMT) -- D O'Brien123
iirc Torm and his followers are lawful and follow strict moral codes and rules, etc... bard and cot seem like a bit of a contradiction to me
Champion of Torm is a misnomer. A more fitting title is Divine Champion, or Champion of <insert God> _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
Thanks D O'Brien123 for the points. Thing is she haas 10 CoT levels not 8! 2 are taken in Epic levels, the rest are pre-epic to increase your saves, AB and the feats needed (KD, IKD, IC, Blind Fight, etc).
The trouble with CoTs is that they need a focus in a melee weapon to qualify, hence taking Weapon Focus prior to her first CoT level. They do, however, have Martial Weapon Proficiency, but if you have to waste a feat already then why not take Exotic and then you can use all weapon types. You could of course take Scimitar, but this has a lower damage output than a Katana, and with the lack of WS/ EWS you could do with it to be honest. Is this making sense?
CoTs also don't have Heavy Armor Proficiency, which is just plain annoying, particularly in a build of this type, where you don't get it for free from another class type.
Armor Skin is not essential in this build, particularly when you benefit from a +6 AC bonus from your Bard Song and your enemies a -2 to AB through Curse Song. If there were enough feats free then I'd take it, but you can't have it all.
As Grizz says it is a misnomer and I agree. For me the class type of CoT can be used to replace A.N.Other God type, For instance Champion of Moradin for Dwarves, Corellon for Elves, as examples. I find it far too restricting to be limited to one God type, although of course you would need to be a non-evil deity.
In this case you could play it so that the character is an angel/ messenger sent to protect someone/ thing, etc.; or a natural Harper that received some kind of divine intervention during their lives. PWs and people's imaginations being what they are there are plenty of opportunities to develop your own story.
You have a very nice mix here, and for almost any world I would say that the RP potential is great. I am curious how you go about casting all of your bard spells while wearing plate armor. I figure the only reason for the heavy armor feat is to wear plate. The cats grace although stackable will not raise the AC beyond the one point allowed. I like the concept very much don't take it wrong, and would like to find a way around these if it is possible. _________________ Thoughts too deep for words. Words too deep for tears.
He's got Still Spell to cast in armor and stackable Cat's Graces basically grant the 12 DEX for a net +2 AC, beyond 12 you still benefit from a higher Reflex save anyhow.
Cheers, Kail _________________ Looking for a realm of adventure? Check out World of Greyhawk, you won't regret it.
Plate Armor is a must in this build to get your AC up to some sort of respectable position.
As Kail points out the stackable Cats Grace improves your Reflex save further.
Nice build. Few changes I'd make: