Best path towards "BladeSinger"?

RigaMortus

Explorer
One of my favorite "kits" from 2E was the Bladesinger. I was just wondering if I could get a few suggestions on the best class-progression to attain this PrC. At first I thought a Bard would make a great Bladesinger, but the earliest they could get the PrC is around level 12. Which means that they could only get 8 level os Bladesinger (not including the ELH rules). The other thing is that our group usually doesn't last much past level 7 or 8. So, any suggestions on how to progress towards the BladeSinger?
 

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It really depends on how much magical ability you want verse combat cabilbility. Bard4/Fighter2 seems to the best way IMO. If you want less spell ability and more combat, you can go Bard2/fighter4.
 


How to be a good bladesinger.

The Race: Sure, it's pretti obvious alright: Elf or Half-Elf. But there are elves and elves. Good choices for Bladesingers are Moon Elves and Sun Elves (High Elves and Gray Elves in non-FR). Half-Elves with Moon or Sun Elf parent may be OK, too, but only if the Half-Elf grew up in an elven community and is no outcast. Wood or Wild Elves are no good bladesingers, because they're to feral and have only weak connections to the People (they prefer to keep to themselves). Sea Elves and Avariel are usually no PC-Races, and Sea Elves have, AFAIK, been magic dead for a long time. Drow are no good bladesingers because that's a surface Elf thing.

Classes: If you want to concentrate on the warrior aspect (which is best because the bladesinger has his own list and would end up with two classes of only moderate spellcasting power if he concentrated on magic and took many wizard levels. Also, the bladesinger abilities only work with bladesinger spells, not with spells from other classes), The best way to the bladesinger is Fighter 5 / Wizard 1. Fighter because you need BAB +5 AND a lot of feats, wizard because you must be able to cast 1st-level arcane spells, and wizard is the favored class of elves (at least Moon and Sun. IF you play a wild elf Bladesinger, you want to take Sorcerer instead). If you play a Half-Elf, you have more liberty concerning multiclassing and you could make it Fighter 5/ Sorcerer 1, or even Fighter 4 / Bard 2.

Feats: You're pretty narrowed-in if you want to qualify ASAP: At 1st-Level, weapon focus (longsword) (assuming you start as a fighter), at 3rd, take Combat Casting and at 6th, Still Spell. As Fighter Bonus feats, take Dodge and Expertise. Now you have a single free Fighter Bonus feat (or a single generic feat if you take weapon focus(longsword) as a fighter bonus feat). I suggest Weapon Specialization (longsword).


Alignment: As you're a champion of the People, you should have their racial alignment: Chaotic Good. This is also the alignment of the leader of the elven Pantheon (called Seldarine), Corellon Larethian, and most other elven gods (and the rest's got CN). Alternately, you can be NG or CN.

Patron Deity: A bladesinger embodies everything the elves stand for. Corellon Larethian does that, too. Perfect match I say (but see below!). Angharradh, Labelas Enoreth, Sehanine Moonbow or Solonor Thelandira are good choices, too. Shevarash is a war deity, too, but he's to taciturn if you ask me, and should only be considered if you play a hate-filled bladesinger (and they should always be level-headed in order to have proper judgement).

Another Way: (this is actually House Rule Stuff)
I've created a new deity for the Forgotten Realms:

Pharaun Veluuthra
The Bladesinger, The Victorious Blade, Protector of the People, The Dancing Swordsman
Elven Demigod
Symbol: Longsword with a crescent moon for crosspiece
Home Plane: Arvandor
Alignment: Chaotic good
Portfolio: Bladesingers, protection of the elves
Worshipers: Bladesingers, fighters, moon elves, warriors
Cleric Alignments: CG, CN, NG
Domains: Chaos, Elf, Good, Protection, Strength.
Favored Weapon: “Veluuthra” (longsword)

Pharaun is an ascended mortal bladesinger. He's the champion of Corellon Larethian (much like Selvatarm is the Champion of Lolth, and you bet that the two are arch-enemies) and the patron of the bladesingers. His clergy consists mainly of bladesingers (many converts from other elven churches, what is even partially encouraged by Corellon in order to establish and strengthen their new fellow Seldarine). Pharaun's speciality Priests are bladesingers. The class is the same, but for his clerics, the prerequisites have changed:

Race: Elf, half-elf
Patron: Pharaun Veluuthra
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Feats: Combat Casting, Dodge, Weapon Focus (longsword)
Skills: Concentration 4+ ranks, Perform 3+ ranks (dance, sing, any 1 other), Tumble 3+ ranks.
Domain: Elf or Strength
Special: Ability to cast greater magic weapon as a divine spell.

This enables clerics of the Bladesinger to qualify for the PrC as Cleric 7.
The list of bonus feats extends as follos: Expertise.


Edit If you want the complete write-up of Pharaun Veluuthra (Faiths & Pantheons style), just ask. I could send it as pdf.
 
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ForceUser said:
Bard is a fine way to go, but I went Fighter 4/Wizard 2.

I went for Fighter 5/ Wizard1: I almost never use the wizard spells, and the fighter has more HP.

Combos of Bard/Fighter are problematic because of multiclass restrictions and XP-Penalties (unless you play a half-elf bladesinger, but who does ;) )
 

KaeYoss said:


I went for Fighter 5/ Wizard1: I almost never use the wizard spells, and the fighter has more HP.

Combos of Bard/Fighter are problematic because of multiclass restrictions and XP-Penalties (unless you play a half-elf bladesinger, but who does ;) )
I've found that the extra 1st-level wizard spell is useful; I have 3 per day, and they are all shield. This frees up my 1st-level bladesinger spells for all true strikes. True strike and Song of Celerity are sweetly synergistic.

My bladesinger is a devotee of Angharradh.
 
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My bladesinger build

well i have been thinking about making a bladesinger so i have been tossing around a couple of builds. i am not a big fan of the bard build due to the limited spell selection. and while the fighter 4/wizard 2 build is nice it does not suit me very well since my specialty is arcane spells and having only 2 levels of wizard does not give me too much to work with. so i put together this build that has a much better selection of spells to work with and you guys can tell me what you think.

CL1 Fighter (weapon focus:long sword. dodge)
CL2 Wizard (scribe Scroll, Summon Familliar)
CL3 Wizard (Combat Casting)
CL4 Wizard +1 to Int
CL5 Wizard
CL6 Fighter (Still Spell, Expertise)
CL7 Spellsword (Channel Spell I)
CL8 Spellsword +1 to Dex (-10% spell failure)
CL9-19 Bladesinger

With this build you'll end up being a Bladesinger able to cast 3rd level wizard spells. i would recomend specializing to get the extra spell slot also, probaly in transmution or abjuration. not lonly do you have a much better spell selection, but the spellswords channel spell abilty words well with the bladesinger concept. let me know what you guys think
 

Re: My bladesinger build

BobDole said:
CL1 Fighter (weapon focus:long sword. dodge)
CL2 Wizard (scribe Scroll, Summon Familliar)
CL3 Wizard (Combat Casting)
CL4 Wizard +1 to Int
CL5 Wizard
CL6 Fighter (Still Spell, Expertise)
CL7 Spellsword (Channel Spell I)
CL8 Spellsword +1 to Dex (-10% spell failure)
CL9-19 Bladesinger

let me know what you guys think
Welcome Bob... if that your real name! ;)

Have you passed the two PrC concept by your DM? I have seen some people with house rules that only one PrC is allowed.

This seems like a god idea at first... but I really think that the bladesinger truely shines with his sword, and buffing with his Bladesinger spells... so, the sooner you can get into the class, the better.

Going up the way you are at 8th level, I would seriously consider staying within the Spellsword PrC instead of changing. The Bladesinger isn't a spellcaster, and shouldn't try to be. You are building a very good fighter/mage, please continue!

These are just my thoughts... YMMV

Mike
 

Since we're all such fans of the class, let's share our characters! Here is mine:

Imjerahd, female elf Fighter4/Wizard2/Bladesinger7: CR 13; Size M (5 ft. tall); HD 4d10+8 + 2d4+4 + 7d8+14; hp 99; Init +8 (+4 Dex, +4 Improved initiative); Spd 60 ft.; AC 28 (+4 Dex, +4 Bladesong, +2 ring of protection, +2 amulet of natural armor, +2 glamered spell resistant chain shirt of stealth); Attack +20/+15/+10 +4 holy chaotic intelligent longsword, or +19/+14/+9 +1 mighty composite shortbow (+1 Str); SQ Spell resistance 17, Acid resistance 5; SV Fort +10, Ref +12, Will +11; AL CG; Str 17, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 8.

Languages Spoken: Aglan, Draconic, Elven, Sylvan.

Skill points: I really don't know how these deconstruct anymore. The character had a 15 Int at 1st level, then raised it to 16 at 4th. At 10th level, she commisioned a +2 circlet of intellect. So her Int has grown twice, and I don't honestly remember what skill point went where at what level anymore.
Skills and feats: Concentration +10, Bladesong (perform) +2, Dance the blade (tumble) +22, Find the center (balance) +15, Jump +25, Spellcraft +6, Knowledge (arcana) +6, Knowledge (dragons) +10, Knowledge (elven lore) +14, Listen +4, Move silently +14, Spot +4; [Bladesong], Combat casting, Dodge, Expertise, [Greater spellsong], Improved initative, [Lesser spellsong], Mobility, [Scribe scroll], [Song of celerity], Spring attack, Still spell, Weapon focus (longsword), Weapon specialization (longsword), Whirlwind attack.

Possessions of note: Volkator, Slayer of Ryl, an artifact weapon from elven legend. While the full extent of his powers are unknown (he refuses to allow anyone to cast divinations on him), he is at least a +4 holy chaotic longsword and can cast fly at least once per day; +2 glamered spell resistant chain shirt of stealth, +1 mighty composite shortbow (+1 Str), 40 +1 arrows, +2 ring of protection, a Lanelome ring, a gift from the elves to each party member (a ring of minor acid resistance); +2 circlet of intellect, +4 belt of giant strength, +2 vest of endurance, +2 gauntlets of dexterity, +2 amulet of natural armor, +2 cloak of resistance, boots of striding and springing, Heward's handy haversack, wand of cat's grace (3 charges left), various potions and scrolls, 7,585 sp (a silver piece in the campaign world is equivalent to a D&D gold piece), 471 gp (equivalent to platinum.)

Wizard Spells Known (4/3): 0th -- Arcane Mark, Dancing Lights, Daze, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Disrupt Undead, Flare, Ghost Sound, Light, Mage Hand, Mending, Open/Close, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost, Read Magic, Resistance. 1st -- Acidic Curse, Comprehend Languages, Expeditious Retreat, Identify, Jump, Shield, Tenser's Floating Disk.

Bladesinger Spells Known (5/4/3/2): 1st -- Expeditious Retreat, Shield, True Strike. 2nd -- Blur, Bull's Strength, Mirror Image, Protection From Normal Arrows. 3rd -- Displacement, Haste, Keen Edge. 4th -- Dimension Door, Fire Shield, Improved Invisibility, Stoneskin.

The character came into the campaign at 7th level (Fighter 4/Wizard 2/Bladesinger 1), and I've been playing her weekly for about a year now. In the campaign world, the elven empire of Falaniel is besieged by the machinations of powerful green dragons and their cohorts, allies, and minions. The elves have had to organize in a more lawful-than-desired manner for survival, though they are still inherently chaotic good as a race. Bladesingers and arcane archers form the elite troops in the war against the dragons, and Imjerahd (an elven nickname meaning "little rose") is now a ranking member of the Shel'hjakar - the bladesingers. Her party hook is that she was sent abroad to find powerful adventurers to aid the elven empire, which is losing the war. In the game-year she's been with the party, they have attacked and killed two green dragons on behalf of the elves, but Imjerahd has learned of other things that threaten not just her people, but all peoples, and thus she aids the party in these broader-reaching quests for the greater good (a decidedly lawful goal, sigh). Her sword, Volkator, recently awoke from an ages-long slumber in the bowels of the bladesinger guildhouse and demanded to be wielded against the rising threats. Of course, being a chauvanist, the sword also demanded a cute and skilled female to wield him. Enter Imjerahd. Her Cha may be an 8, but that's because she's an ice queen, not because she isn't striking.

The campaign has a lot of history and a lot of events in motion now, and it's a ton of fun to play Imjerahd in it. The DM just dumped several very powerful magic items on the party (one of which being Volkator) as we approach high level play, so we've begun to worry ;)
 
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ForceUser said:
I've found that the extra 1st-level wizard spell is useful; I have 3 per day, and they are all shield. This frees up my 1st-level bladesinger spells for all true strikes. True strike and Song of Celerity are sweetly synergistic.

My bladesinger is a devotee of Angharradh.

Mine's also a divine champion of Corellon Larethian now (as a sort of fill in until I'm Epic and can continue my career).

Problem with the wizard spells are that they're only cast at 1st (or 2nd) level and therefore have short durations. Also, they don't benefit from any bladesinger bonus (no arcane spell failure in light armor - quite handy with an elven chain - and no spellsong) - so you have to cast them in advance (but not to early, since their duration's over to soon then).
 

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