Couple of questions about the Prestige Classes

[BlackDragon]

Firstly, I rather like Linzi's character, and the idea of having my own personal cronicler in tow is both amusing and ego-boosting, but... pure Bard just isn't all that. I'm considering giving her a couple of levels of Rogue, maybe Knife Fighter, and then turning her into an Arcane Trickster once she has the requisite Sneak Attack. Is that stupid? If so, any other suggestions for turning her into a useful party-member?

Second, are any of the party-members you pick up along the way suited for the 'Sword-Lord' class? Or do you basically have to roll up a main character/custom ally to access it? The requirements for it are... extensive.

[Pink Eye]

Linzi is better off as pure bard. You don't lose anything from keep her as a pure bard.

[Daidre]

Arcane Trickster on bard is beyond bad. Bard does not have range touch spells and his pure damage spells are extremely limited.
AT has a slow BAB (base attack bonus) progression, like pure mages, and her chances to hit anything with weapon a rather poor.
If you want to add some martial power on Linzi then Eldritch Knight is better option for it and requirements is are a lot lower (Martial weapon proficiency and skill ranks). It gets fastest BAB progression and new spells but loses bard song progression.

But she is best as Bard at least until level ~10. Fascinate and Doom songs good enough even with low-ish CHA, and Good Hope spell + Inspire Courage a nice crutch for whole party in AB department.

There pure Knifemaster Rogue with dual-wielding available in the second part of chapter 2 so I do not see a point trying to make a one out of Linzi.

[Balkoth]

Pure bards are gold, but if you don't want to go that way. Try out the Eldritch Knight on her instead. She'll be one of your best tanks. :)

Anyone can become a swordlord fast if they take a level or two into Fighter. They get double the feats in half the time compared to other classes, and there's an archetype which gives them some of the pre-reqs for free.

[Ishan451]

Keeping her as a pure bard gives you access to a lot of healing. Wasting a bunch of levels on making her into an Arcane Trickster isn't worth it, unless you plan of not using her at all and come back in 10+ levels.

Getting +2w6 sneak attack damage is really not all that compared to what she could do if she got those levels in bard via her spells.

If you absolutely have to multiclass her, then i would probably consider Mystic Theurge with Druid, but i really wouldn't multiclass her.

Give her Lingering Performance Feat, and at level 8 you can chain Dirge of Doom (-2 to attack rolls for enemies) and Song of Courage (+2 to attack rolls for your party)... since at that point bardic performance has become a move action you can still attack normally while doing the chaining of songs. And since you haven't multiclassed her... she'll have access to 3rd level spells like Haste at this point, making her quite adept at buffing your group and debuffing the enemy.

With Grease, Hold Person and Haste on top of heal spells she is quite nice when it comes to buffing and debuffing.

[Dorian Gray]

I left her as pure bard. Her buffs were just too good. Delay Poison, Good Hope, Heroism, Song of Discord, Serenity... and then let her sing her heart out...

After that, she can sit and doodle in her book, while rest of party wipes up!

[BlackDragon]

Hmm... maybe I'm underestimating Bards, after all. I'm still in the early levels, and so far she just doesn't seem to have a lot going for her other than her singing. Small number of unspectacular spells, can't hit worth a damn with her crossbow once they run out... but I guess most spellcasters are like that, weak in the early levels. 'Linear Warrior, Quadratic Wizard', and all that.

Guess Sword-Lord isn't as hard to class into as it sound... but that still doesn't answer the question of whether or not any of the default party-members are suitable for it, stat-wise. So far, the only Warrior I've got is Valerie, whose Tower Shield archetype most definitely DOESN'T provide her with any of the requirements. Plus, I'm planning to turn her into a Stalwart eventually...

[Pink Eye]

Originally posted by BlackDragon:

Hmm... maybe I'm underestimating Bards, after all. I'm still in the early levels, and so far she just doesn't seem to have a lot going for her other than her singing. Small number of unspectacular spells, can't hit worth a damn with her crossbow once they run out... but I guess most spellcasters are like that, weak in the early levels. 'Linear Warrior, Quadratic Wizard', and all that.

Guess Sword-Lord isn't as hard to class into as it sound... but that still doesn't answer the question of whether or not any of the default party-members are suitable for it, stat-wise. So far, the only Warrior I've got is Valerie, whose Tower Shield archetype most definitely DOESN'T provide her with any of the requirements. Plus, I'm planning to turn her into a Stalwart eventually...

Get point blank shot.

[haplok]

Originally posted by Pink Eye:

Originally posted by BlackDragon:

Hmm... maybe I'm underestimating Bards, after all. I'm still in the early levels, and so far she just doesn't seem to have a lot going for her other than her singing. Small number of unspectacular spells, can't hit worth a damn with her crossbow once they run out... but I guess most spellcasters are like that, weak in the early levels. 'Linear Warrior, Quadratic Wizard', and all that.

Guess Sword-Lord isn't as hard to class into as it sound... but that still doesn't answer the question of whether or not any of the default party-members are suitable for it, stat-wise. So far, the only Warrior I've got is Valerie, whose Tower Shield archetype most definitely DOESN'T provide her with any of the requirements. Plus, I'm planning to turn her into a Stalwart eventually...

Get point blank shot.

And Precise Shot. And Multishot. And Arcane Strike - remember to reenable it after every song/new map.

[BlackDragon]

Sure, sure, but that IS going to take a while - she's neither human nor a warrior, so the Feats are coming kinda' slow. :P

Anyway, here's a follow-up question... suppose someone were to try to, for some no doubt silly and frivolous reason, compose an entire party out of Prestige-classed adventurers, without dipping into the custom companions. Which of the default party-members would be best suited for each of the Prestige Classes?

I assume Octavia would make a decent Arcane Trickster, considering her starting classes, and Regongar could probably switch to Eldrich Knight with relative ease. Valerie, as previously mentioned, seems a natural Stalwart Defender, and I suppose either of the party's Clerics could switch to Mystic Theurge with relative ease. Dunno 'bout the rest, though...

[Pink Eye]

Originally posted by BlackDragon:

Sure, sure, but that IS going to take a while - she's neither human nor a warrior, so the Feats are coming kinda' slow. :P

Anyway, here's a follow-up question... suppose someone were to try to, for some no doubt silly and inconsequential reason, compose an entire party out of Prestige-classed adventurers, without dipping into the custom companions. Which of the default party-members would be best suited for each of the Prestige Classes?

I assume Octavia would make a decent Arcane Trickster, considering her starting classes, and Regongar could probably switch to Eldrich Knight with relative ease. Valerie, as previously mentioned, seems a natural Stalwart Defender, and I suppose either of the party's Clerics could switch to Mystic Theurge with relative ease. Dunno 'bout the rest, though...

Depends on what difficulty you are playing. You do not want to gimp yourself too hard here.

[BlackDragon]

Originally posted by Pink Eye:

Depends on what difficulty you are playing. You do not want to gimp yourself too hard here.

Normal. I'm not quite silly and frivolous enough to try something like that on anything higher. :P

[Pink Eye]

Originally posted by BlackDragon:

Originally posted by Pink Eye:

Depends on what difficulty you are playing. You do not want to gimp yourself too hard here.

Normal. I'm not quite silly and frivolous enough to try something like that on anything higher. :P

Okay, go ahead and experiment then. Remember, if it doesn't work out, or your having a hard time, you can always respec your characters. However, do note that respecing does cost gold.

[Pink Eye]

See what works and what doesn't work. Have fun!

[BlackDragon]

I suppose that's a good attitude, just... I don't wanna spend a bunch of levels grooming a character for a prestige-class only for someone far-better-suited to show up a little later. >_>

[Daidre]

Regongar is also most natural with Dragon Disciple. Actually 4 levels there is one of the best builds for him.

Best person for Aldori Swordlord is probably Jaethal. With 3 Inquisitor + 2 Aldori Defender fighter archetype she could be even ok. But not a Challeging+ material.

This leaves only Duelist and there is no proper character for it. There is pure rogue in the game but leveling this one on him will only cripple a character. Pretty bad PrC, it is a waste of levels almost on anyone, more or less decent only on Sword Saints.