Bard Multiclassing

[kilo23]

OK, so i know i want to have an arcane cannon mixed with some bard song buffs (mostly just for me), but at what level should i take sorc? i'm starting out as a customized bard y'know, normal beginning buffs and the beginning crowd control spells and songs. I was thinking making it a 2bard/18sorc. Would that work? or should i change something in this?

[blitzschlag]

(even if people say "never do this you stupid fkn idiot!" i will still do it, and just go 2/18.)

so what is this thread good for if
you say that even if ppl post advise (useful or not) you won't listen and do what you planned anyway?

[Kriogen]

Bards get 1 song per class level. So your bard2/sorc18 gets 2 songs per rest.

Some bards songs get more powerfull with more Bard levels. Bards also get new songs with different effects with more levels.

[kilo23]

ahh, but there are enhancements that i get use to get me more songs per rest.

[Kriogen]

ahh, but there are enhancements that i get use to get me more songs per rest.

One song. 1 (one).

[unbongwah]

So lemme get this straight: you're willing to water down your sorcerer spellcasting (inc. sacrificing the capstone) for 2 or 3 weaksauce bard buff / CC songs per rest - and you're gonna ignore anyone who tells you NOT to do it?

Then **** the torpedoes and full speed ahead!

[You'll be soooorryyyyyyy...]

[kelemvelor]

I'm curious, what bard song buffs at bard level 2 would help an arcane canon? The possible songs as that level are:

Inspire Courage --> More for melees
Fascinate --> Possible a very high DC crowd control but a sorcerer already has access to CC at higher levels which doesn't require him to be right in the center of the action.

Do note that the low levels of bard means that it is unlikely any of the bard's CC spells are effective (low SR, low DCs with no chance in heightening) and that most of the bard's spell buffs at the level can be obtained as a sorcerer.

With 2 levels in bard, your sorcerer loses
(1) two level 9 spells and one level 8 spell
(2) 2 in check when defeating SR
(3) Sorcerer capstone

[Shishizaru]

I'm curious, what bard song buffs at bard level 2 would help an arcane canon? The possible songs as that level are:

Inspire Courage --> More for melees
Fascinate --> Possible a very high DC crowd control but a sorcerer already has access to CC at higher levels which doesn't require him to be right in the center of the action.

Do note that the low levels of bard means that it is unlikely any of the bard's CC spells are effective (low SR, low DCs with no chance in heightening) and that most of the bard's spell buffs at the level can be obtained as a sorcerer.

With 2 levels in bard, your sorcerer loses
(1) two level 9 spells and one level 8 spell
(2) 2 in check when defeating SR
(3) Sorcerer capstone

Fascinate's DC is: Perform +1d20. It does not factor in any bonuses to skills/perform, only the base ranks taken. So it's highly doubtful that it'll be high DC on a Sorcerer.

[Aashrym]

Fascinate's DC is: Perform +1d20. It does not factor in any bonuses to skills/perform, only the base ranks taken. So it's highly doubtful that it'll be high DC on a Sorcerer.

Fascinate is the perform check. It does add all the pretty bonuses, not just base ranks. Getting new songs is based on the number of ranks, not the perform check.

Just thought I'd clear that up

[Shishizaru]

Fascinate is the perform check. It does add all the pretty bonuses, not just base ranks. Getting new songs is based on the number of ranks, not the perform check.

Just thought I'd clear that up

And there I thought I was being thorough by checking the wiki. You are indeed correct. XD
Misreading ftw...

[sigtrent]

Fascinate is the perform check. It does add all the pretty bonuses, not just base ranks. Getting new songs is based on the number of ranks, not the perform check.

Just thought I'd clear that up

I think we need to clear up your clear up.

"Getting" new songs is really based on bard level, being able to use them is based on ranks in perform. The DC to save against them is based on a perform check.

I can't think of a good reason to splash 2 bard on a sorcerer. 1 bard... I suppose if you just want UMD without as much mana hit as 1 rogue would be. The songs are not worth while beyond the early levels for this kind of character.

Its not that you would suck, 18 sorc is still pretty beefy, but you would not be getting much for the splash that you will find as useful as more mana, better damage and spell penetration being a full sorcerer. Trading the capstone for full UMD is a valid way to go but thats just one level of a full UMD class.