I had this idea of making a bard that essentially cast her spells by speaking maddening words of the Great old ones or announcing doom to the enemies causing them to flee in fear or tremble in their places or give up almost entirely.
My question is, which type of bard would fit ? and which spells should be picked?
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Born under the watch of something from the furthest corners of the far realms.... It knows all.... it sees all... and it asks: "What is it that you want to see?"... and my answer is... ALL"
If you want to do that mechanically that's a matter of having the right spell, like Mass Suggestion.
If you want a Bard who can convince anyone of anything (not literally anything, there are always limits), that is the Eloquence Bard hands down, no contest. If you build it right, at Level 3 you will never roll below a 17 on Persuasion and Deception checks. At level 5 you will never roll below a 20.
If you're just trying to build flavor and roleplay, there are a lot of ways to skin that cat. Look at class or racial abilities that give you telepathy; for example. But the thing is, it will take the help of magic if you want the enemies to actually flee from you (circumventing a combat encounter). Or many depending on the situation, a really high intimidation roll and an accommodating DM.
If you want to do that mechanically that's a matter of having the right spell, like Mass Suggestion.
If you want a Bard who can convince anyone of anything (not literally anything, there are always limits), that is the Eloquence Bard hands down, no contest. If you build it right, at Level 3 you will never roll below a 17 on Persuasion and Deception checks. At level 5 you will never roll below a 20.
If you're just trying to build flavor and roleplay, there are a lot of ways to skin that cat. Look at class or racial abilities that give you telepathy; for example. But the thing is, it will take the help of magic if you want the enemies to actually flee from you (circumventing a combat encounter). Or many depending on the situation, a really high intimidation roll and an accommodating DM.
Actually i was thinking of both RP and mechanics, I am imagining her to be a Doomsayer that kinda less predicts and more like announces the enemies Doom during combat causing them to fear in combat or i guess damage them as well (i guess physic damage).
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Born under the watch of something from the furthest corners of the far realms.... It knows all.... it sees all... and it asks: "What is it that you want to see?"... and my answer is... ALL"
If you want to do that mechanically that's a matter of having the right spell, like Mass Suggestion.
If you want a Bard who can convince anyone of anything (not literally anything, there are always limits), that is the Eloquence Bard hands down, no contest. If you build it right, at Level 3 you will never roll below a 17 on Persuasion and Deception checks. At level 5 you will never roll below a 20.
If you're just trying to build flavor and roleplay, there are a lot of ways to skin that cat. Look at class or racial abilities that give you telepathy; for example. But the thing is, it will take the help of magic if you want the enemies to actually flee from you (circumventing a combat encounter). Or many depending on the situation, a really high intimidation roll and an accommodating DM.
Actually i was thinking of both RP and mechanics, I am imagining her to be a Doomsayer that kinda less predicts and more like announces the enemies Doom during combat causing them to fear in combat or i guess damage them as well (i guess physic damage).
This isn't a Bard, but it seems to be exactly what you're looking for.
I love that video! So if the question remains how to port this concept over to bard what are some on theme choices?
Subclass: College of Whispers - Psychic Blades is your weapon channeling the madness of the Great Old One and Words of Terror is literally perfect for this build. It's not your words, it's the voice of the Great Old One. Just like Treantmonk does in the video.
Feats: Eldritch Adept. I would take mask of many faces, but this is a nice way to infuse some eldritch flavor into the actual mechanics of the build no matter what you take.
Spell Choices:
Cantrip: Vicious Mockery, Message
1: Bane (flavor inspired by vicious mockery, verbally cursing at the targets in the voice of the old one, leaving them weak-willed and vulnerable), Dissonant Whispers, Tasha's Hideous Laughter (driven to madness by the voice of the old one)
2: Crown of Madness, Enthrall, Hold Person, Suggestion (all of these are similar to Hideous Laughter, driven to madness or otherwise subdued by the madness of the old one)
3. Bestow Curse (see bane), Enemies Abound, Fear, Tongues (so you can talk gibberish in any language)
4. Compulsion, Confusion
5. Dominate, Geas (These are real evolutions of the GOO voice's ability to compel rather than sow fear or confusion), Hold Monster, Synaptic Static (exploding brains with too much GOO)
And so on. Illusion magic will add an entirely new dimension to your abilities to sow fear and madness and I would absolutely sprinkle them in as well. I wanted to keep the list to spells that had clear ports to flavoring as the voice of the GOO though so I didn't list them.
Nice! Lore is a really good option. Mechanically stronger bard too if you care about that sort of thing. Those sixth level magical secrets are a hell of a drug.
Thank you guys for your suggestions! Will see if i can get a campaign out try it out.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Born under the watch of something from the furthest corners of the far realms.... It knows all.... it sees all... and it asks: "What is it that you want to see?"... and my answer is... ALL"
Vicious mockery is a must for it, but any psionic build would be ideal. Go full Lovecraft-ian and commit to a bard that charms their way through life by bending minds to their will.
If it isn't too late then the idea of the college of spirits I find could really speak to the idea of speaking to ancients spirits and the Doomsayer type bard.
Not too late my friend, i am still gathering ideas. Though College of Spirits is interesting but i prefer using official stuff. Perhaps the subclass will show in an upcoming book.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Born under the watch of something from the furthest corners of the far realms.... It knows all.... it sees all... and it asks: "What is it that you want to see?"... and my answer is... ALL"
I forgot about this. Such a fun concept. If you decide to go Lore Bard, I'd like to recommend making a spirit guardians build. All you need to do is make sure your concentration checks are rock solid. You can flavor those spirits however you like.
I'm thinking something like the gibbering mouther. I love the idea of swarming enemies with spirits resembling these guys. They could pour out of your mouth as you utter arcane nonsense. And you get the joy of basing the build around one of the best spells in the game. I'm a big fan of weaving excellent concepts with strong mechanics
if you are still building for this i would recommend spirit bard or bard of whispers. Whispers subclass abilities are vary warlock like and bard of spirits can vary easily seam vary eldritch like.
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I had this idea of making a bard that essentially cast her spells by speaking maddening words of the Great old ones or announcing doom to the enemies causing them to flee in fear or tremble in their places or give up almost entirely.
My question is, which type of bard would fit ? and which spells should be picked?
Born under the watch of something from the furthest corners of the far realms.... It knows all.... it sees all... and it asks: "What is it that you want to see?"... and my answer is... ALL"
If you want to do that mechanically that's a matter of having the right spell, like Mass Suggestion.
If you want a Bard who can convince anyone of anything (not literally anything, there are always limits), that is the Eloquence Bard hands down, no contest. If you build it right, at Level 3 you will never roll below a 17 on Persuasion and Deception checks. At level 5 you will never roll below a 20.
If you're just trying to build flavor and roleplay, there are a lot of ways to skin that cat. Look at class or racial abilities that give you telepathy; for example. But the thing is, it will take the help of magic if you want the enemies to actually flee from you (circumventing a combat encounter). Or many depending on the situation, a really high intimidation roll and an accommodating DM.
Actually i was thinking of both RP and mechanics, I am imagining her to be a Doomsayer that kinda less predicts and more like announces the enemies Doom during combat causing them to fear in combat or i guess damage them as well (i guess physic damage).
Born under the watch of something from the furthest corners of the far realms.... It knows all.... it sees all... and it asks: "What is it that you want to see?"... and my answer is... ALL"
This isn't a Bard, but it seems to be exactly what you're looking for.
I love that video! So if the question remains how to port this concept over to bard what are some on theme choices?
Subclass: College of Whispers - Psychic Blades is your weapon channeling the madness of the Great Old One and Words of Terror is literally perfect for this build. It's not your words, it's the voice of the Great Old One. Just like Treantmonk does in the video.
Feats: Eldritch Adept. I would take mask of many faces, but this is a nice way to infuse some eldritch flavor into the actual mechanics of the build no matter what you take.
Spell Choices:
Cantrip: Vicious Mockery, Message
1: Bane (flavor inspired by vicious mockery, verbally cursing at the targets in the voice of the old one, leaving them weak-willed and vulnerable), Dissonant Whispers, Tasha's Hideous Laughter (driven to madness by the voice of the old one)
2: Crown of Madness, Enthrall, Hold Person, Suggestion (all of these are similar to Hideous Laughter, driven to madness or otherwise subdued by the madness of the old one)
3. Bestow Curse (see bane), Enemies Abound, Fear, Tongues (so you can talk gibberish in any language)
4. Compulsion, Confusion
5. Dominate, Geas (These are real evolutions of the GOO voice's ability to compel rather than sow fear or confusion), Hold Monster, Synaptic Static (exploding brains with too much GOO)
And so on. Illusion magic will add an entirely new dimension to your abilities to sow fear and madness and I would absolutely sprinkle them in as well. I wanted to keep the list to spells that had clear ports to flavoring as the voice of the GOO though so I didn't list them.
I think this would be a very fun build to play.
Whispers looks creepier but lore demonstrates ancient knowledge better. I would go lore.
These spells seem thematically what you want:
If it were me I would probably plan it like this as a starting concept:
That should give some thoughts on building the theme, have fun toys with which to play, and have useful options.
Nice! Lore is a really good option. Mechanically stronger bard too if you care about that sort of thing. Those sixth level magical secrets are a hell of a drug.
Thank you guys for your suggestions! Will see if i can get a campaign out try it out.
Born under the watch of something from the furthest corners of the far realms.... It knows all.... it sees all... and it asks: "What is it that you want to see?"... and my answer is... ALL"
I really enjoy this concept.
Vicious mockery is a must for it, but any psionic build would be ideal. Go full Lovecraft-ian and commit to a bard that charms their way through life by bending minds to their will.
"No pity, no remorse, no fear!"
If it isn't too late then the idea of the college of spirits I find could really speak to the idea of speaking to ancients spirits and the Doomsayer type bard.
Not too late my friend, i am still gathering ideas. Though College of Spirits is interesting but i prefer using official stuff. Perhaps the subclass will show in an upcoming book.
Born under the watch of something from the furthest corners of the far realms.... It knows all.... it sees all... and it asks: "What is it that you want to see?"... and my answer is... ALL"
I forgot about this. Such a fun concept. If you decide to go Lore Bard, I'd like to recommend making a spirit guardians build. All you need to do is make sure your concentration checks are rock solid. You can flavor those spirits however you like.
I'm thinking something like the gibbering mouther. I love the idea of swarming enemies with spirits resembling these guys. They could pour out of your mouth as you utter arcane nonsense. And you get the joy of basing the build around one of the best spells in the game. I'm a big fan of weaving excellent concepts with strong mechanics
if you are still building for this i would recommend spirit bard or bard of whispers. Whispers subclass abilities are vary warlock like and bard of spirits can vary easily seam vary eldritch like.