Need help making a Jester

[Nightstorm]

Ok so the most logical thing to do would be start out 1st level Rogue/1st level Bard . The jester I want to use is a fool to the outside world but in reality is VERY smart and well educated. The problem doing it this way is 1. He gets NOTHING at 1st level and dealing with skills because so many of the are the same.
SO than I thought of making a Jester Prestige class but a prestige class for a fool?? At what level ? 4th?At what level would you be allow to become a court clown? Very difficult .

 

[Chun-tzu]

Good concept. There are a few ways you can go, here.

The Bard can be made into a pseudo-Jester. You can take Perform (jesting) or Perform (buffoonery), even if this doesn't make much sense with some Bardic abilities (like Inspire Courage).

Or, maybe your DM would be willing to alter the Bard a bit more, replacing some of the Bardic abilities with more Jester-like ones. The Complete Bard's Handbook from 2E might be a good guide, here.

Or, you could aim for a Jester PrC, like you said. There's one in Path of Magic, which is a pretty good book, for Bards. You have to be sixth level to take your first level as a Jester for this PrC.

There have also been various Taunt feats in a number of books (probably netbooks, too), so you should take that, too.

 

[shilsen]

I'm not sure why you can't achieve what you describe with a single-classed Bard. Max out Bluff and Diplomacy and pick spells which aid in keeping up the appearance of being a fool. Is there any particular reason you think one or more rogue levels would be necessary?

 

[Nightstorm]

yea several.
1.Rogue abilites evasion [ my jester has to be able to dodge that food that is going to be thrown at him in court for those bad jokes]
2. Read Lips something you pick up in court.

 

[ConcreteBuddha]

yea several.
1.Rogue abilites evasion [ my jester has to be able to dodge that food that is going to be thrown at him in court for those bad jokes]
2. Read Lips something you pick up in court.

Okay then, I'll go the other way: I'm not sure why you can't achieve what you describe with a single-classed Rogue. Max out Bluff and Diplomacy and Perform and every other Jester-ish skill. Is there any particular reason you think one or more bard levels would be necessary?

(I can't really see Jesters being good at supernaturally inspiring courage, learning arcane spells, or even having any bardic lore. Though if you wanted bardic lore, I'm sure the DM would let you trade out the traps ability and DD as a class skill to gain bardic lore.)

 

[Chun-tzu]

(I can't really see Jesters being good at supernaturally inspiring courage, learning arcane spells, or even having any bardic lore. Though if you wanted bardic lore, I'm sure the DM would let you trade out the traps ability and DD as a class skill to gain bardic lore.)

Ah, but Bardic Knowledge does fit THIS character well. The fooling around is a mask. And there are a lot of Bardic spells that work well for Jesters: Prestidigitation, Grease, Ventriloquism, Cat's Grace, Magic Mouth, Tasha's Uncontrollable Hideous Laughter...

 

[bret]

I would go Bard for one simple reason: you want Knowledge: Nobility as a class skill.

Read Lips and evasion you can do without. Not knowing that the new guest is related to your leige could be a fatal mistake.
Spend most of your levels in Bard. You may pick up some rogue or other prestige class along the way, but mostly you want the bardic skills and Bardic Knowledge.

 

[the Jester]

I've got a jester prc if you're interested; let me know and I'll post it.

 

[Darklone]

Check the Monte Cook Bard from BoEM2.

 

[Dr_Rictus]

No, don't check out the Monte Cook bard from BoEM2.

I mean, do if you want, but its whole point is to make the bard more stereotypical and music-based, not less. Not what you're looking for if you want to bend the character concept.