An Odd Thought I had about Elan

[Mechalobster]

So, in the latest comic released (1178, to be precise), Uncle Squeaky describes Elan as a "certified bardic genius." This got me thinking: we've seen warriors more powerful than other members of the Order, like Tarquin, and heard about wizards more accomplished than Vaarsuvius, like his/her master Aarindarius. But we haven't yet seen anything about other famous bards on the same level.

Which got me wondering: is Elan, in fact, the most powerful bard currently on the face of Planet Stick?

[Morgana]

I think so, considering how bards seem to be rather rare, plus don't really care all that much about levels and power for the most part

[The Pilgrim]

Julio Scoundrel understands dramatics better than him. Yet, Julio is not a bard.

[Squire Doodad]

Like the "is Xykon the most powerful mortal in this world" question, I'm afraid we can't actually know XD
Still though, Elan does seem to be one of the few high level bards out there. He might not be the most powerful Bard, but given that clerics capable of casting True Resurrection are almost mythical, he's probably pretty high up. I mean, if the standard healer class almost never hits Epic, then I doubt there would be many Bards who do either.

[Schroeswald]

Julio Scoundrel understands dramatics better than him. Yet, Julio is not a bard.

Do we actually know Julio’s starting (pre-Dashing Swordsman) class? I mean he probably started as a rogue but he could have started as bard.

[Squire Doodad]

Do we actually know Julio’s starting (pre-Dashing Swordsman) class? I mean he probably started as a rogue but he could have started as bard.

I don't quite recall but I think it was a melee class? That might just be my own inference though.

[Morgana]

I assume swashbuckler

[The Pilgrim]

Do we actually know Julio’s starting (pre-Dashing Swordsman) class? I mean he probably started as a rogue but he could have started as bard.

I have never seen him cast a single spell. Or sign. Or play an instrument.

[Sniccups]

Like the "is Xykon the most powerful mortal in this world" question, I'm afraid we can't actually know XD
Still though, Elan does seem to be one of the few high level bards out there. He might not be the most powerful Bard, but given that clerics capable of casting True Resurrection are almost mythical, he's probably pretty high up. I mean, if the standard healer class almost never hits Epic, then I doubt there would be many Bards who do either.

I agree with this. I'd think Elan is definitely in the top five or so bards in existence.
(I'm the one who posted that question about Xykon)

Do you think Elan could become a huge celebrity or something after the adventure is over?

[Squire Doodad]

I agree with this. I'd think Elan is definitely in the top five or so bards in existence.
(I'm the one who posted that question about Xykon)

Do you think Elan could become a huge celebrity or something after the adventure is over?

Nonsense: Elan is already a huge celebrity! He's the world-famous Bard, the former protector of the great Lord Hinjo, and apprentice to none other than Julio Scoundrel himself! To say nothing of the Western continent.

Okay, he might not be a celebrity, but he has had quite a few adventures that would have led to him probably being a pretty big name for this generation, at least in the Southern and probably Western Continents (Tarquin might have swiftly blotted him out of any newspapers or anything).

[D.One]

I agree with this. I'd think Elan is definitely in the top five or so bards in existence.
(I'm the one who posted that question about Xykon)

Do you think Elan could become a huge celebrity or something after the adventure is over?

Epilogue:

Elan and Haley move to live in Firmament, and Elan forms a band with the two dwarven bards called Tha Rollin' Stones.

[KorvinStarmast]

Elan took X levels in a prestige class: (one? Two? Three? Hard to say) Dashing Swordsman, right?

[Squire Doodad]

Elan took X levels in a prestige class: (one? Two? Three? Hard to say) Dashing Swordsman, right?

Yes, he at least one level in Dashing Swordsman, possibly a second level but I don't recall.
He mostly has levels in Bardism, though he also seems to have a few as a Cleric given Banjo.

[Schroeswald]

Elan took X levels in a prestige class: (one? Two? Three? Hard to say) Dashing Swordsman, right?

1+ levels of it according to C&LG.

[HorizonWalker]

It's entirely plausible that Julio Scoundrel is also a Bard. Let's go back to when we were first introduced to the Dashing Swordsman prestige class.

"Not many know this, but I have only average Strength and Dexterity scores. [...] At any rate, I have only this book to thank for it, not any surplus of physical prowess on my part."

Now, sure, maybe Julio was one of those Rogues who can barely hit the broad side of a barn... but given his frequently-remarked-upon promiscuity and sex appeal, I'm more than willing to bet that yes, he's got a few levels in Bard.

[Squire Doodad]

It's entirely plausible that Julio Scoundrel is also a Bard. Let's go back to when we were first introduced to the Dashing Swordsman prestige class.

"Not many know this, but I have only average Strength and Dexterity scores. [...] At any rate, I have only this book to thank for it, not any surplus of physical prowess on my part."

Now, sure, maybe Julio was one of those Rogues who can barely hit the broad side of a barn... but given his frequently-remarked-upon promiscuity and sex appeal, I'm more than willing to bet that yes, he's got a few levels in Bard.

He might have been a Rogue that had a perfect CHA score and average stats elsewhere, and he just went with Rogue because he planned on smooth talking his way in while his..."associates" stole everything there was. And then a few levels later he found the Dashing Swordsman book and become as unto a medium-sized charismatic god.

He probably has at least one level in Bard given his character (the ladies love a good song and all that), though I don't think he specialized in it as a pre-Dashing Swordsman.

[Schroeswald]

He might have been a Rogue that had a perfect CHA score and average stats elsewhere, and he just went with Rogue because he planned on smooth talking his way in while his..."associates" stole everything there was. And then a few levels later he found the Dashing Swordsman book and become as unto a medium-sized charismatic god.

He probably has at least one level in Bard given his character (the ladies love a good song and all that), though I don't think he specialized in it as a pre-Dashing Swordsman.

We know he took at least four levels of something besides Dashing Swordsman (and probably a bit more), so maybe he took a few of each.

[Squire Doodad]

We know he took at least four levels of something besides Dashing Swordsman (and probably a bit more), so maybe he took a few of each.

I wonder what the additional ranks of Dashing Swordsman get you?
The CHA/STR substitution seems to be on the first level, and I'd imagine that shattered glass immunity is minor enough that it would be the first level as well...

[Schroeswald]

I wonder what the additional ranks of Dashing Swordsman get you?
The CHA/STR substitution seems to be on the first level, and I'd imagine that shattered glass immunity is minor enough that it would be the first level as well...

Maybe some feats? I feel like it might borrow some later-level class features from fighters and Rogues, and then the basic attack bonuses that come with most classes (that would be higher with puns).

[Morgana]

I feel like an ability to taunt the enemy in some way, or some sort of flashy manouver of some kind, maybe an ability that let's you substitute add CHA in some types of DEX checks? Just feels like a big part of the dashing swordsman is jumping and tumbling from place to place, so it would make sense if it had an ability to help with that

[Schroeswald]

I feel like an ability to taunt the enemy in some way, or some sort of flashy manouver of some kind, maybe an ability that let's you substitute add CHA in some types of DEX checks? Just feels like a big part of the dashing swordsman is jumping and tumbling from place to place, so it would make sense if it had an ability to help with that

I’d say a sneak attack where you need to jump through something. I would agree with yours to, maybe you can get rid of/decrease fall damage by making a quip.

[Squire Doodad]

I feel like an ability to taunt the enemy in some way, or some sort of flashy manouver of some kind, maybe an ability that let's you substitute add CHA in some types of DEX checks? Just feels like a big part of the dashing swordsman is jumping and tumbling from place to place, so it would make sense if it had an ability to help with that

You already get to substitute STR for CHA, also being able to substitute DEX for CHA would possibly be overpowered. However, if you mean things like escaping from ropes and the like (a feat frequently achieved by quite a few adventurous dashing gallants), that would make sense thematically.

I'd imagine it would be things such as breaking out from ropes, being able to mitigate the effect of strong winds on you during your climatic rooftop battles, and having the option to roll for CHA to reduce sliding distance from ice and slippery tile.
You know, Hollywood style battle features.

The level 9 version grants you "Spontaneous Baysplosion" as a once-per-extended rest spell

[Schroeswald]

You know I’d love to see if someone wrote up a Dashing Swordsman class

[Squire Doodad]

You know I’d love to see if someone wrote up a Dashing Swordsman class

I think Rich himself did it a few years back, but I can't recall where it was.

[RatElemental]

I don't know if Rich ever did, but The Demented One put in a valiant effort. I'm sure many others have as well.

[Algeh]

Do we actually know Julio’s starting (pre-Dashing Swordsman) class? I mean he probably started as a rogue but he could have started as bard.

How is he not in Class and Level Geekery yet? I feel that there is probably (a) a good reason that (b) I am not going to read through enough threads to find.

[RatElemental]

How is he not in Class and Level Geekery yet? I feel that there is probably (a) a good reason that (b) I am not going to read through enough threads to find.

I'd guess it's to do with him having only 16 appearances, counting bonus strips, in the entire comic. Just not much to go on.

[Schroeswald]

I'd guess it's to do with him having only 16 appearances, counting bonus strips, in the entire comic. Just not much to go on.

The grand total of the information we have about him isn’t much either, I imagine if we had a bit more he’d get in (the OOTS Wiki records everyone’s stats and it has his level at 14+, the fact he has average strength and dexterity, at least 14 charisma and dashing Swordsman class abilities).

[D.One]

How is he not in Class and Level Geekery yet? I feel that there is probably (a) a good reason that (b) I am not going to read through enough threads to find.

We know too little about him. Even the estimates on the Wiki are a bit vague.

[HorizonWalker]

I'd argue that it doesn't feel like he's a Rogue. Sure, he's a pirate. He robs people. But we only hear about it, and what we see of him is a man who loves a good story, both as a spectator and a participant.

But, well, being an intuition and a feeling, it's kinda hard to prove.