Goliath Bard

[ExemplarofAvg]

So back in 3.5 Goliath's had racial ACF's for the Barbarian, Bard and Rogue classes. And they had a Bardic Prestige Class, the Dawncaller.
Now I would like to play a Goliath Bard similar to one I played back in 3.5 Namleth Oo'ial he had two weapons, a Crossbow that doubled as a Harp, and a Horn that doubled as a Hammer. Now how do I achieve this in 4e?

[NecroRebel]

The crossbow that doubles as a harp is easy enough. In Adventurer's Vault 2 and Dragon 390, there are magic items called songbows that are usable as bard implements, and can be crossbows.

The horn-hammer, though, is slightly trickier. The only melee weapliments bards can use are songblades, which are all light or heavy blades, and I don't know of any hammer/blade weapons. Hmm... The only way I can think of to get hammers as implements is to either be a dwarf so you can multiclass Warlock and use a pact hammer, or multiclass divine and use one of the magic hammers that counts as a holy symbol (IIRC the Crusader's Weapon is the lowest level at 9+).

[dariathalon]

First, I couldn't find any ACFs for Goliath bards. Not that 4e has any real translation of ACFs, but I thought I might be able to use it to help match flavor. I found goliath ACFs for Barbarian, Druid and Rogue.

Looking at the PrC, it looks like it revolved a lot around varied uses for the bardic music. This can be modeled well using the Skald Bard from Heroes of the Feywild. (Or use the original bard - probably the valorous type, and take the skald training feat to get the skald's aura and plenty of skald powers to improve the aura.)

You are stuck with a racial bonus to Str, which won't help you much, but you can choose from either Con or Wis as the other stat. Neither are particularly useful for a skald, but both can be good for an original bard. You can take original bard powers too so I suppose this could help you some. I think my preference would be to go with Con.

I think when Paragon Path time comes, I would just take the War Chanter (if going Valorous bard) or Master Skald (if going for the full-fledged skald).

As for the weapons, you'll have to talk to your DM. There are a few weapons out there that double as bard implements and weapons, but I think they are all heavy blades or bows. Either take these as they are or see if you can talk your DM into custom creating the weapons (since they were probably custom made in 3.5 anyway).

[tarlison]

I think u can try to multiclass cleric bard and go for seladrim ...... Not sure but its in the divine handbook which can use bow as an implement

[ExemplarofAvg]

Originally Posted by NecroRebel

The crossbow that doubles as a harp is easy enough. In Adventurer's Vault 2 and Dragon 390, there are magic items called songbows that are usable as bard implements, and can be crossbows.

The horn-hammer, though, is slightly trickier. The only melee weapliments bards can use are songblades, which are all light or heavy blades, and I don't know of any hammer/blade weapons. Hmm... The only way I can think of to get hammers as implements is to either be a dwarf so you can multiclass Warlock and use a pact hammer, or multiclass divine and use one of the magic hammers that counts as a holy symbol (IIRC the Crusader's Weapon is the lowest level at 9+).

I shall look into those, and thank you for the information.

Originally Posted by dariathalon

First, I couldn't find any ACFs for Goliath bards. Not that 4e has any real translation of ACFs, but I thought I might be able to use it to help match flavor. I found goliath ACFs for Barbarian, Druid and Rogue.

Looking at the PrC, it looks like it revolved a lot around varied uses for the bardic music. This can be modeled well using the Skald Bard from Heroes of the Feywild. (Or use the original bard - probably the valorous type, and take the skald training feat to get the skald's aura and plenty of skald powers to improve the aura.)

You are stuck with a racial bonus to Str, which won't help you much, but you can choose from either Con or Wis as the other stat. Neither are particularly useful for a skald, but both can be good for an original bard. You can take original bard powers too so I suppose this could help you some. I think my preference would be to go with Con.

I think when Paragon Path time comes, I would just take the War Chanter (if going Valorous bard) or Master Skald (if going for the full-fledged skald).

As for the weapons, you'll have to talk to your DM. There are a few weapons out there that double as bard implements and weapons, but I think they are all heavy blades or bows. Either take these as they are or see if you can talk your DM into custom creating the weapons (since they were probably custom made in 3.5 anyway).

And yes they were custom made. An extrapolation of the song bow and song blade we made an entire "Instruments of War" series. The Dagger-Flute and Thunder Horn being my favourite.

[Hal]

Originally Posted by NecroRebel

The horn-hammer, though, is slightly trickier. The only melee weapliments bards can use are songblades, which are all light or heavy blades, and I don't know of any hammer/blade weapons.

Originally Posted by dariathalon

As for the weapons, you'll have to talk to your DM. There are a few weapons out there that double as bard implements and weapons, but I think they are all heavy blades or bows. Either take these as they are or see if you can talk your DM into custom creating the weapons (since they were probably custom made in 3.5 anyway).

I'm going to second the "talk to your DM" advice. Unless you're going to do something cheesy with the weapon type, I see no reason why you couldn't just use a Songblade and call it a hammer instead of a blade.

[ExemplarofAvg]

Alright, now, to build this before 2PM. Or to use the Bard I also made..

Spoiler

Bard 6
Male Eladrin
Neutral Good
Languages: Common, Elven

Hit Points: 54
Bonus Per Level: 5
Bloodied: 26
Healing Surges per Day: 7
Surge Value: 13

Initiative: +3
Speed: 30ft (6 Squares)
Sense: Low-Light

Armor: 23
Fortitude: 14
Reflex: 18
Will: 18
+5 vs. Charm, +2 vs. Opportunity to Attacks

Possessions
Scimitar +6 (1d8+1), [Shield Grants +1 AC]
“Silkstring” Great Song-bow +10 (1d12+1)
Equipment: Chainmail, Light Shield
Misc. Song Harp/Greatbow, Green Cloak, Brown/Green Tunic/Trousers
Gold, Yes Please

Feats
Jack of All Trades
Ritual Caster (B)
Superior Weapon Proficiency (Greatbow)
Advantage of Cunning: When you slide an Ally you can slide an enemy.
Arcane Familiar: Falcon

Falcon [Bant]
Speed 2, fly 6 (hover)
Constant Benefits
You gain a +2 bonus to Perception checks.
You gain a +2 bonus to all defenses against opportunity attacks.
Active Benefits:
Hunting Falcon: Once per encounter, you can determine range for your ranged arcane attacks from your falcon until the end of your current turn.

Soaring Spirit: A falcon familiar has a range limit of 40 squares from you.

Abilities and Skills
Strength: 12
Athletics: +6

Constitution: 12
Endurance: +6

Dexterity: 18
Acrobatics: +12
Stealth: +9
Thievery: +9

Intelligence: 18
Arcana: +14
History: +14
Religion: +9

Wisdom: 12
Dungeoneering: +6
Heal: +6
Insight: +6
Nature: +6
Perception: +8

Charisma: 18
Bluff: +12
Diplomacy: +12
Intimidate: +9
Streetwise: +12

Class Features
Virtue of Cunning: Once per round, when an enemy attack misses an ally within a number of squares of you equal to 5 + your Intelligence modifier, you can slide that ally 1 square as a free action.

At-Will
Vicious Mockery:
At-Will*Arcane, Charm, Implement, Psychic
Standard Action/Ranged 10

Target: One creature

Attack: Charisma vs. Will
Hit: 1d6 + Charisma modifier psychic damage, and the target takes a –2 penalty to attack rolls until the end of your next turn.

Jinx Shot:
At-Will*Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action/ Ranged weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. AC
Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage. The first time the target misses with an attack before the end of your next turn, it falls prone.

Encounter
Majestic Word:
Encounter (Special)*Arcane, Healing
Minor Action/Close burst 5
Target: You or one ally in burst
Effect: The target can spend a healing surge and regain additional hit points equal to your Charisma modifier. You also slide the target 1 square.
Special: You can use this power twice per encounter, but only once per round.

Blunder:
Encounter*Arcane, Charm, Implement
Standard Action/Ranged 5
Target: One creature

Attack: Charisma vs. Will
Hit: 1d6 + Charisma modifier damage, and you slide the target 2 squares. During the slide, you or one of your allies can make a melee basic attack against the target as a free action, with a power bonus to the attack roll equal to 1 + your Intelligence modifier.

Rhyme of the Blood-Seeking Blade:
Encounter*Arcane, Weapon
Immediate Interrupt/Ranged weapon
Trigger: An ally misses with a melee attack
Target: The target of the triggering ally's attack
Attack: Charisma vs. Reflex
Hit: 1 [W] + Charisma modifier damage. The target takes a -4 penalty to all defenses against the triggering ally's attack.

Daily
Stirring Shout:
Daily*Arcane, Healing, Implement, Psychic
Standard Action/Ranged 10

Target: One creature

Attack: Charisma vs. Will
Hit: 2d6 + Charisma modifier psychic damage.

Effect: Until the end of the encounter, whenever an ally hits the target, that ally regains hit points equal to your Charisma modifier.

Song of Discord:
Daily*Arcane, Charm, Implement
Standard Action Ranged 10
Target: One creature

Attack: Charisma vs. Will
Hit: The target is dominated until the end of your next turn.

Effect: The target makes a basic attack against an enemy of
your choice as a free action.

Utility
Words of Friendship:
Encounter*Arcane

Minor Action/Personal

Effect: You gain a +5 power bonus to the next Diplomacy check you make before the end of your next turn.

Fey Step:
Encounter*Teleportation
Move Action/Personal
Teleport up to 5 Squares

Moment of Escape:
Encounter*Arcane

Move Action/Ranged 10
Effect: You slide the target 4 squares.

Revitalizing Incantation:
Encounter*Arcane, Healing

Minor Action/Ranged 5

Target: You or one ally

Effect: The target can spend a healing surge. Additionally, the target gains temporary hit points equal to his or her healing surge value.

And the fluff, because who doesn't love Bunnies in the Background
Bonus points to whoever can find the reference.

Spoiler

“Argetung or Silver-Tongue”
Head-Sure and ****-Strong, alright, maybe that’s not the expression, but I like it better, alright? Good I’m glad, No? then why are you still reading this? Who are you anyways, and why the hell are you reading my journal… Oh, okay, so you want to know about me. Well then, sit back and relax because my absolute favourite topic in the world, beyond women, money and adventure is me.

I’ll be the first to admit that I may be a bit young for an adventuring elf, but it’s mostly my own doing, I used to run round with these guys, not bad guys per se, we just found fun in assisting travellers with the spending of their wealth, most of it ending back in our own pockets sure, but no one was hurt, and it’s not really evil. Anyways, so one day we try my wise on some crafty wizard and he snaps his fingers and I’m dangling by my ankles being led off by this robed guy. Turns out he was some dignitary chosen to find new students for some magic college. He figures I’d be a good addition.

Once we get there I begin to understand things pretty quick, the wise ones become priests, the smart ones wizards, the oh so charismatic ones become bards. There were other sections I know, for those who had natural magic available to them both Arcane, Divine and Primal, but what do I care, I was Bard material baby.

So I went through their system, not top of my class or anything, I was always looking to have a good time rather than be a perfectionist, besides once you bang a bard you never go back, (heck I even got to try out a Dwarf and a Half-Orc while there too, one was a bit tough, the other a little rough but fine beauties all the same… or so I was told, I like the curves more than I like hard lines of them, or the angles of my kin and half-kin, give me humans any day) Other than women, music, magic and me, I enjoy archery and falconry having Silkstring and Bant for each respectively.

So I left and now I travel from place to place, chasing a great mythical beast for me to sing about as well as it’s companion; I’m talking about Love and Happiness, and I just plan on having fun along the way. Me and my Harp shall bring joy to women everywhere, the men can listen if they please, but I’ll always play for the women.