One of my favorite hobbies, actual hobbies that aren't just other forms of work, is pencil and paper RPG gaming. I have met a group of friends in college, and since then we have very occasionally played. Its always fun when we can get a chance to do it, which is rarely since we are all adults now, working hard, most of us have wives and many have a kid or more.
I had actually come to accept the demise of our Hell's Rebels campaign, original 2 year old post here until recently we started discussing a reboot and having a few sessions. Its a very cool campaign idea of rebelling against an outside dictator in a once-noble city in a medieval/feudal type country.
Rebooting without Spheres of Might
I am rerolling my character because of these spheres. Spheres of Might is an awesome book. And when our GM first suggested it, I spent days digging through it and coming up with awesome character ideas to take advantage of the subtle and complex nuances of spheres of might battling.
There was just one problem. No one else at the table was enjoying it.
To begin with, they didn't read the book! I get that, they are busy, and so now we have gone back to good ol' pathfinder, so that they can play without reading any new books. I could be angry with them, but I am also very busy and attempt to do too many things, so I will just enjoy that they came back to play at all.
My character is Clintok Aulorian. He belongs to one of the noble houses of Kintargo, although now at level 1 he is basically a nobody. Some third son of a 2nd rate family council member I am sure. And yes, he is a bard.
Bard Life
Bards are awesome. I mean I know they are a meme/joke to many, but barding is not just playing musical instruments. Clintok Aulorian is a Gladiator Trainer. That's right, he animates and motivates slaves to kill each other, and get better at doing it. That sure seems weird to say, but that's the family tradition of his Kintargan Noble House.
Combat-wise, I have built this new version of Clintok to motivate and buff his team (commonly known as the party) using knowledge and oratory (speaking). We get to this with the Archivist Bard Archetype, who's main power at level one is 'Naturalist', which replaces Inspire Courage. Now Inspire Courage is one of the Bard's best performances at first level, giving:
Each affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
Let's take a look at Naturalist and its differences:
So Clintok, as a Gladiator and Fighter Trainer, will be using his superior knowledge and study to first complete a knowledge check against the enemies (which is a free action) then with a perform action, to impart bonuses to his allies (servants) through instruction. With the Lingering Performance feat, this bonus will last 3 rounds while only using up 1 bardic performance round and requiring no free actions to sustain, much like a 'coaches quick tip' might give a bonus in a real life wrestling match.
This bonus is superior somewhat superior to inspire courage, adding +1 AC and giving the saving throw bonus to all spells and abilities and applying to similar creatures, although it is lacking the universality and the +1 to damage. Another catch: You must have the knowledge.
As seen above, there are 6 knowledge skills needed to cover all types of enemies. This is a heavy skill load, luckily the bard is right at home. While the class' 6 skill points isn't the rogue's 8, we are playing with Background Skill rules that allow an addition two points to knowledge type skills per level. Adding relevant bonuses, Clintok will be trained in Knowledge(Arcana, Dungeoneering, Local, Nature, Planes, Religion), Diplomacy, Disguise, Perform(Oratory), Perception, Slight of Hand and Use Magic Device (UMD) at first level. Training a class skill gives an additional +3 bonus.
But for knowledge, Clintok doesn't stop there. His semesters of study at the Alabaster Academy roleplay the additional bonus provided by the bard class:
Add to this a +2 from intelligence, and Clintok will start at +7 for most combat knowledge checks. But wait, there's more!
As part of the roleplay, several of this character's feats/traits will fit right in. One campaign trait, Child of Kintargo, allows access to the Noble Scion feat, which represents Clintok, and gives +1 to Knowledge(Nobility). Noble Scion itself gives another +2 to Knowledge(Nobility), as well as an optional selection of bonuses, from which we have chosen Scion of Lore.
Another +1 to our combat identification Knowledges, for a total of +8 at level 1. The irony is despite all the bonuses, Clintok will have to wait for level two to sneak in training in Knowledge(Nobility).
And this is the main function! But that's not all. We get the Bardic Spells! Apart from some general use and roleplaying use Cantrips, Clintok will gain knowledge of Cure Light Wounds and Grease (DC 14), with an ability to cast 2 times per day. Hopefully before too long we can get our hands on a wand or two.
Notice all of these abilities are available from the sidelines of a battle
Clintok, though likely to be involved in combat during this campaign, will naturally find his home on the side lines, away from danger, while prodding his allies and sabotaging his enemies if possible.
Yes he will have a buckler. And a whip. And probably a rapier. But no weapon finesse (to use dexterity bonus) until at least level 3. Likely he will look to boost more of what he is good at, maybe taking dodge.
To add to roleplay possibilities, Clintok's second trait will surely come into play later in the campaign, Family Resemblance:
In conclusion, Clintok Aulorian is my attempt at a noble, 'get other people to get your hands dirty for you' type manager, who should be quite effective at giving bonuses to his allies and underlings, while hopefully being somewhat effective at not getting hit by anyone ever. Incredibly squishy, I did manage to get him a 12 dex for a +1 bonus to Armor Class, and the classic 11 constitution, to give him that 1 extra round in case of suffocation.
All feedback is welcome! All references are to 1st edition Pathfinder by Paizo.