PDA

View Full Version : 3.5 bard/paladin of freedom



heymejack
2010-09-13, 05:42 PM
so i was having a discussion in my head about ability-synergy for classes and how they make multiclassing cool. I've always been a pretty big fan of the wizard/rogue for pretty obvious reasons. but what about the paladin/bard? charisma is a fun stat to max, i know that for sure. i like the idea of a merry warrior for good, riding his mount around the counteryside singing songs about freedom, beauty, truth and love.

again, it's just a thought i had today that interested me, but i put the question to you, playgrounders. from what i can tell, the paladin is popular here. can the paladin/bard (or bard/paladin) work well? doesn't have to be super-ridiculous-optimized, but does this guy have the stuff to be the leader of a mildly-optimized party?

k, gotta stop writing now, just noticed that we have a #746 :smallbiggrin:


*edit* belkar makes me want to play evil. also, i realized i was not specific about what books we use and such. the game i'd most likely be playing this in is core only, so i'd like info from that point of view, but i am still theoretically interested in whatever is available, specifically from the complete/races of series, but not from tome of battle at all. although again, for the theory, i wouldn't hate hearing about the TOB stuff.

gorfnab
2010-09-13, 07:29 PM
Feats:
Devoted Performer - Complete Adventurer
From Smite to Song - Champions of Valor
Initiate of Milil - Champions of Valor

Class ACF
Harmonious Knight - Champions of Valor Web Enhancement (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060327a)

Yorrin
2010-09-13, 07:30 PM
Core-only limits the usefulness of this build somewhat. It bascially turns you into a Bard that's better in melee than normal, but worse at everything else. Having access to both spell lists is nice, but UMD is already a Bard skill.

Out of core you can grab Snowflake Wardance for Cha to-hit, and your spell options are much nicer (huzzah spell compendium!), making you very viable in melee. You'll want to browse through the X to Y stat bonus (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125732) thread for all the Cha bonuses you can find.

Since you mentioned ToB, some levels of Crusader with White Raven (and maybe a little Devoted Spirit tossed in) can improve your abilities as well.

Optimator
2010-09-13, 09:01 PM
gorfnab summed up pretty much all the Bard and Paladin combos you can find.

Core-only is a very cruel environment for Bards as well as Paladins, so even mildly-optimizing a Bard/Paladin will be nigh-impossible IMO, depending on your interpretation of where a character's power level should fall.

Inspire Courage works on your mount's hooves of justice, which is cool.

gorfnab
2010-09-13, 09:02 PM
Since you mentioned ToB, some levels of Crusader with White Raven (and maybe a little Devoted Spirit tossed in) can improve your abilities as well.
Also the Song of the White Raven feat stacks your Bard and Crusader/Warblade levels together to determine your Inspire Courage bonus. The swift action Inspire Courage is nice too.

Optimator
2010-09-13, 09:13 PM
This thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=166414) and this one (http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19870498/The_Bards_Handbook) may have good info for you.