The Singing Dragon (Bard 20/RDD 10/Initiate of Draconic Mysteries 10)
When my first ever character (a halforc Barbarian/Bard/RDD) got the Great Wyrm Gauntlets and discovered they were entirely useless to her I was quite annoyed. This build was designed to achieve 2 things : 1)Allow a Bard/RDD to melee unarmed effectively without taking Monk levels. 2)Allow a RDD to actually become a Dragon, something I always thought would be fun.
Race: Orog Alignment: Any non-Lawful
Abilities: Initial/Final STR 20/38; DEX 12; CON 14/16; INT 14/16; WIS 06; CHA 16/18 All Ability increases go into STR
Level Progression 1: Bard - Power Attack; 4 in Conc, Disc, Jump, Lore, & Tumble, 3 in UMD, 1 in Perform 2: Bard - 2 in Perform, 1 in Conc, Jump, Lore, & Tumble 3: Bard - Cleave; 3 in Perform, 1 in Conc, Jump, & Lore 4: Bard - 2 in Disc & Tumble, 1 in Jump & Lore 5: Bard - 2 in Disc, 1 in Jump, Lore, Tumble & UMD 6: RDD - Alertness; 3 in SC, 1 in Disc 7: RDD - 3 in SC, 1 in Disc 8: RDD - 3 in SC, 1 in Disc 9: RDD - Improved Unarmed Strike; 3 in SC, 1 in Disc 10: IoDM - 5 in Tumble, 1 saved 11: IoDM - 1 in Tumble, 6 saved 12: IoDM - Great Cleave; 1 in Tumble, 11 saved 13: IoDM - 1 in Tumble, 16 saved 14: IoDM - 1 in Tumble, 21 saved 15: IoDM - Improved Critical (Unarmed Strike); 1 in Tumble, 26 saved 16: Bard - 14 in UMD, 7 in Disc & SC, 3 in Perform, 1 in Tumble, 0 saved 17: IoDM - 1 in Tumble, 3 spare, 2 saved 18: Bard - Weapon Focus (Unarmed Strike); 3 in UMD, 2 in Disc & SC, 1 in Tumble, 0 saved 19: IoDM - 1 in Tumble, 1 spare, 4 saved 20: Bard - 3 in Perform, 2 in Disc, SC & UMD, 1 in Tumble, 0 saved 21: IoDM - Overwhelming Critical (Unarmed Strike); 1 in Tumble, 5 spare, 0 saved 22: IoDM - 1 in Tumble, 3 spare, 2 saved 23: RDD - 3 in Disc & SC, 0 saved 24: RDD - Devastating Critical (Unarmed Strike); 1 in Disc & SC, 2 saved 25: RDD - 1 in Disc & SC, 4 saved 26: RDD - 1 in Disc & SC, 6 saved 27: RDD - Armour Skin; 1 in Disc & SC, 8 saved 28: RDD - 1 in Disc & SC, 11 saved 29: Bard - 9 in UMD, 7 in Tumble, 1 in Disc & SC, 0 saved 30: Bard - Curse Song; 1 in Disc, SC, Tumble, & UMD, 3 spare, 0 saved 31: Bard - 2 in Perform, 1 in Disc, SC, Tumble & UMD, 1 spare, 0 saved 32: Bard - 1 in Disc, SC, Tumble & UMD, 3 spare, 0 saved 33: Bard - Epic Prowess; 1 in Disc, SC, Tumble & UMD, 3 saved 34: Bard - 3 in Perform, 1 in Disc, SC, Tumble & UMD, 3 saved 35: Bard - 3 in Perform, 1 in Disc, SC, Tumble & UMD, 3 saved 36: Bard - Epic Weapon Focus (Unarmed Strike); 6 in Perform, 1 in Disc, SC, Tumble & UMD, 0 saved 37: Bard - 1 in Disc, SC, Tumble & UMD, 3 spare, 0 saved 38: Bard - 1 in Disc, SC & UMD, 4 spare, 0 saved 39: Bard - Toughness; 1 in Disc & SC; 5 spare, 0 saved 40: Bard - 1 in Disc, 6 spare
Final Stats (Unbuffed): BAB: 25 AC (No Armour): 27 AB (Unarmed): +43/+38/+33 Damage (Unarmed): 1-6+14 (Crit 19-20/x2) Fortitude: +25 Reflex: +24 Will: +24 SR: 25 HP: 464
Spells 1: Balagarn’s Iron Horn, Grease, Identify, Mage Armour, Protection From Alignment 2: Bull’s Strength, Cat’s Grace, Darkness, See Invisibility, Ultravision 3: Dispel Magic, Greater Magic Weapon, Haste, Keen Edge, Legion’s Curse of Impending Blades 4: Cure Critical Wounds, Dismissal, Hold Monster, Improved Invisibility, War Cry 5: Ethereal Visage, Greater Dispelling, Greater Heroism, Mind Fog, Wall of Greater Dispel Magic 6: Dirge, Energy Buffer, Ice Storm, Summon Creature VI
The spell list is based on her going solo and having no magic items. Due to her low Spell DC I found buffs and those few spells that have no saves (like Legion’s Curse of Impending Blades and Ice Storm) most useful.
Magic Item Wishlist: Robes of the Dark Moon (or Drow Spellchain and Boots of Haste), Great Wyrm Gauntlets or a good pair of Monk gloves, a big nasty 2-hander for fighting Crit Immune and/or high DR creatures, and a STR enhancing item to make those criticals she does manage to land count.
Pros Dragon form at level 22 Devastating Critical at level 24 Good saves with the +9 from Spellcraft Improved Evasion and Fire Immunity With all her buffing spells up and level 16 Bard and Curse Song going she is quite impressive.
Cons Only 3 attacks/round Doesn’t critical very often SR is helpful when she gets it but by level 40 is pretty useless Vulnerable to having her buffs dispelled
Variations Toughness is a pretty optional feat. I also considered Blind Fighting, Extend Spell and Lingering Song. A human version can be made. Losing +6 STR hurts but the extra feat and skills help. If the human took 8 levels of RDD pre-epic and the last 2 at level 21-22 it could take the same feats at the same levels but wouldn’t get Dragon form until level 28. _________________ Teaching men a lesson in combat etiquette.