Based on the Arthurian Tales and old Celtic lore (the “fighting bard”), this character is a melee specialist, a solid melee character, built to perform under pressure. When a musician goes off to Knight School, it begs the question: is the song more powerful than the sword? The Curse Blade is neutral, preferably, but may be of any non-lawful alignment. The blade, for example, is indiscriminate, but a cold piece of steel; it is a tool that may be used for the forces of “good” or “evil,” or “neutrality,” only as directed by its wielder; when wielded by the Curse Blade, it is sheer poetic mastery. Music, in a sense, is also neutral: it is an art form, and stirs emotions in the minds and hearts of the audience, without regard to their alignment.
This build is an improvement over my very first character here in the guild, the Hex Blade (being completely re-tweaked for much improved playability, while retaining both versatility and utility (via UMD/scrolls). While saves may at first glance seem rather problematic, they should be “savable” as a result of his UMD/scroll access, which also gives him some rather nice access to other damage types, while enabling him to self-buff to cap. In addition to having this arcane touch, he is able to use those exciting bard toys, thus providing your Curse Blade with utility, versatility, and fun. His most impressive attribute, however, would appear to be his very high AB, and also the crit factor; as a high level weapon master with the strength to put out some serious damage, he can and should be able to make quick work of the enemy, even if the enemy should manage to make their save vs. dev.crit.
(Please Note: this is one of three builds in the “Fighting Bard” series; whereas the second build, entitled: “Blade,” has had its bard assets curtailed in exchange for even more combat prowess and dev. crit power (and thus a PG-Build), the Curse Blade represents more of a balance, in accordance with my philosophy if you will, between bard abilities (including song, spells, and early UMD/scroll access), and strong combat prowess/dev. crit. (melee) power. The third and final character in the series, to be entitled: Song Blade, will be more bard-centered, with better spell access and including a better bard song/curse song, in exchange for the power of dev. crit. For everyone who shares my philosophy re: combat bards, and/or took the time to comment on my builds, then these Fighting Bards are for you!)
And now, without further adieu, I am pleased to present the Curse Blade (Sword Version).
Curse Blade (Sword Version): Overview-- Fighter(12), Bard(3), Weapon Master(25), Race: Human / Alignment: Neutral Good Hitpoints: 502
NOTE: Fully skilled in the use of magical devices (UMD), and thus can self-buff all stats, including his saves, AB/damage, and AC, too (for some ideas, see below).
* BAB: 29, AB +50/45/40/35 (NO Buffs) +1 Magic Weapon (Bard Spell) +1 Bard Song -- +52/47/42/37 -- +6 Taunt (i.e., reduces enemy AC (-6), thus boosting your AB in turn) -- Total (AB): +58
Cap (AB): (i.e., assuming +12 STR and +20 Weaponry (or UMD/items) +76/71/66/61 -- +6 Taunt (as explained, above) -- Total (AB): +82
* Damage (Mundane Greataxe, illustrative): 1-12 + 22 (17-20/x’s 4) +2 Bard Song +1 Magic Weapon -- (26-37); Damage on a Crit: x’s 4 (or, 148)
Can also cast “expeditious retreat” for a 150-percent movement bonus or, better yet, give him UMD/haste (extra attack = double damage).
Weapon Note: might also consider the greatsword with its wider crit range; alternatively, might pick up the scythe, with a xs 5 multiplier, for the delivery of even more crit. damage.
* SPELL CASTING: Bard(1) Cantrips (Knows 5 Spells, Can cast 3) Level 1 (Knows 3 Spells, Can cast 1) Also fully skilled in the use of meta-magic (UMD)/Spellcraft (allowing access to some great buffs (STR, AB & damage, AC, Saves, and also other damage types); in addition to giving you lots of “insurance” in the event of an emergency, UMD skills give you lots of versatility, and just plain fun (for scroll ideas, see below). Oh, and don’t forget about those Bard Toys!
*THEME OPTION: If take Theme Feat (i.e. Curse Song or Lingering Song), would result in -40 HPs (or, 468 total HPs), but enable you with curse song for example to lower your enemy’s AB (-1), Damage (-2), and Saves (-1) Fort, Will).
**WANT even more? One alternative, for +1 AB (i.e., BAB 29, AB +51 (No Buffs) / Cap AB +77)), +3 Damage and another dev.crit point [i.e., DC 42 (or, DC 48 (assuming +12 STR)], but at a cost of bard spells and some fort, is to drop your starting CHA to 8, and raise your STR to 17 (taking another Great STR instead of Epic Fort); ALSO, start this character off with the FTR, bringing in the bard instead at level 3 (and again at level 21 and 40, for skill dumps), otherwise maintaining the same combination/level split.
**JUST Power? OK, IF you are totally uninterested in Bard Theme feats and Bard Spells, but instead want POWER (i.e., +1 BAB/+2 AB (or, BAB 30, AB +52), including the extra dev. crit DC point-power (or, DC: 42 (DC 48, capped)), then you’d be seeking Blade, who is the second (of three) characters in the Fighting Bard Series. Inspired by Sir Kail and Sir Grim, please: Click Here
Edited By TyrTemplar on 07/10/06 05:51
TYR’S RECIPE for Buffs, Extra VERSATILITY, & FUN – SCROLLs:
Aid Aura of Vitality Battletide Bull’s Strength Greater Magic Weapon Haste Mage Armor True Strike
Combat (AB) Enhancements: +5 UMD/Greater Magic Weapon +2 UMD/Aura of Vitality +2 UMD/Battletide +1 UMD/Aid + UMD/True Strike -- AB: 76/71/66/61 (*the “Cap” – from here, you may only effectively increase your combat AB by effectively lowering your opponents AC, such as by using your TAUNT skills, as an example.
Recommended scrolls? lol, you miss lots of good ones, (True Strike's duration sucks, use other AB buffs), and I would recommend mostly long-term buffs like Darkfire or Flame Weapon, but anyway, no one recommends Tenser's Transformation now or what? it's awesomely strong and normally a problem to spellcasting, but you don't have a good spellcasting (to) begin with, so excellency goes in.
Edited By TyrTemplar on 07/10/06 05:40
Author’s Note: Why am I reposting this character, you ask? Decided that I should, since the original post started off a wee bit confusing (well, terribly confusing actually, as revealed by the following:
* Comment I:
Quote: Posted 07/07/06 06:13:42 (GMT) -- avado K please don't take this wrong, but the way you choose to post all the umd things makes for a very confusing post… All in all, it pains me to see such a beautiful build being presented in such a way! The build in itself, without the trimings is GREAT! The umd stuff is totally unnecessary. The taunt stuff is unnecessary. Anytime you take high str and 25 wm lvls WITH bard you cannot go wrong!
All I'm tryin to say is, … I'm just a "natural" guy
peace
* Comment II:
Quote: Posted 07/08/06 02:49:43 (GMT) -- Grimnir77 …I have to agree with Av here that all those buffs from scrolls/UMD should not be listed in the build. Add a line that states: and in addition, you got UMD, Taunt to lower opponents AC etc... We want stats from what YOUR character can do, where does he get hand of those scrolls? You are welcome to post the UMD AB farther down in the build if you like, but again I agree, you shame your great build by putting them in with the main stats.
Great build otherwise, though not exactly inventing the gunpowder here. Rock on.
Grim
Yep: loud and clear everyone. And so, I did: I separated him out from all the UMD stuff, later on in the thread, with the comments on this character then being (i.e., no longer bogged down in UMD stuff, thus more inviting & not so difficult or so time-consuming to read):
Now that's more like it, UMD is ok separated like that IMO.
* Comment II:
Quote: Posted 07/07/06 10:41:11 (GMT) -- Kail Pendragon Nice meleer, I'd actually go for a more standard FTR 11/Bard 1/WM 28, Bard only for a final skill dump. Otherwise I'd give up some skillpoints and start with CHA 8, STR 17 and change Epic Fortitude to another Great STR probably keeping Bard only in epic for a net +2 AB and +1 to Dev Crit DC.
Solid straight meleer, not really much more to say. UMD adds a lot of versatility.
Cheers, Kail
THANKS, everyone. And so, a lesson was learned, about the way in which to post: Don't Confuse! Seriously, most happy to repost the Curse Blade, in the manner in which I should have posted him in the first place: this, to ensure that there’s no lingering confusion, and to spare future readers the need to scroll down through the original thread in order to get to this one!). As always, I appreciate everyone’s comments, critiques, praises and patience on the Curse Blade, which is the first in what will be three characters in my latest series, entitled: The Fighting Bard.
Enjoy! And Stay tuned! ~ Tyr
Edited By TyrTemplar on 07/10/06 05:46
Ok, nice reposting, I'll go lock the other thread since the build is the same. This one will make it to the index and search engine, no need for a double there either
Original Curse Blade (FTR(12)/Bard(3)/WM(25) can be found here.
Cheers, Kail _________________ To hear the sound of Freedom, many gave their lives They fought for you and me Those memories will always live inside us, and now it's our time to be free
Thanks, Kail. I appreciate that. Yeah, in the words of all you wondrous critics, in the first post, I was "shaming my great build" with the scroll stuff; that everyone took the time notwithstanding to review it, I do appreciate. Nice praise accompanied with some knuckle-wrapping - Oh, me knuckles deserved it all right
Most happy to repost nice and clean. This way, especially our newest members, can readily and quickly see what's goin' on in the build, without having to read through copious amounts of stuff, and without confusion. Thanks so much again, Sir Kail (thanks also for not knuckle-wrappin' me
Seriously, most happy to repost the Curse Blade, in the manner in which I should have posted him in the first place: this, to ensure that there’s no lingering confusion, and to spare future readers the need to scroll down through the original thread in order to get to this one!). As always, I appreciate everyone’s comments, critiques, praises and patience on the Curse Blade, which is the first in what will be three characters in my latest series, entitled: The Fighting Bard. 
