Purity Hope (Bard16/RedDragonDisciple10/DwarvenDefender14) 1

 

This is the first character I want to talk about. She is an unusual class combo which is actually impossible in many modules. The full build information is listed below.

Bard(16), Dwarven Defender(14), Red Dragon Disciple(10), Dwarf

STR: 14 (30)

DEX: 14

CON: 16 (21)

WIS: 8

INT: 14 (16)

CHA: 12 (15)

Dwarf: (Darkvision, Defensive Training vs. Giants, Stonecunning, Hardiness vs. Poison, Hardiness vs. Spells, Offensive Training vs. Goblinoids, Offensive Training vs. Orcs, Skill Affinity: Lore)

01: Bard(1): Dodge

02: Bard(2)

03: Bard(3): Curse Song

04: Bard(4): STR+1, (STR=15)

05: Bard(5)

06: Red Dragon Disciple(1): Toughness

07: Red Dragon Disciple(2): (STR=17)

08: Red Dragon Disciple(3): STR+1, (STR=18)

09: Red Dragon Disciple(4): Knockdown, (STR=20)

10: Bard(6)

11: Dwarven Defender(1): {Defensive Stance}, *Alignment Change*

12: Dwarven Defender(2): CON+1, Weapon Focus: Greataxe, {Defensive Awareness I}, (CON=17)

13: Dwarven Defender(3)

14: Dwarven Defender(4)

15: Dwarven Defender(5): Blind Fight

16: Dwarven Defender(6): CON+1, (CON=18)

17: Dwarven Defender(7)

18: Dwarven Defender(8): Extend Spell

19: Dwarven Defender(9)

20: Dwarven Defender(10): CON+1, (CON=19)

21: Red Dragon Disciple(5): Epic Weapon Focus: Greataxe

22: Red Dragon Disciple(6)

23: Red Dragon Disciple(7): (CON=21)

24: Red Dragon Disciple(8): STR+1, Epic Damage Reduction I, (STR=21)

25: Red Dragon Disciple(9): (INT=16)

26: Red Dragon Disciple(10): (STR=25), (CHA=14)

27: Dwarven Defender(11): Epic Damage Reduction II

28: Dwarven Defender(12): STR+1, (STR=26)

29: Dwarven Defender(13)

30: Dwarven Defender(14): Great Strength I, Epic Damage Reduction III, (STR=27)

31: Bard(7): *Alignment Change*

32: Bard(8): STR+1, (STR=28)

33: Bard(9): Epic Energy Resistance: Acid I

34: Bard(10)

35: Bard(11)

36: Bard(12): STR+1, Great Charisma I, (STR=29), (CHA=15)

37: Bard(13)

38: Bard(14)

39: Bard(15): Epic Prowess

40: Bard(16): STR+1, (STR=30)

Hitpoints: 588

Skillpoints: 225

Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 28/25/21

Saving Throw bonuses: Spells: +8, Traps: +1, Poison: +2

BAB: 27

AB (max, naked): 41 (melee), 30 (ranged)

AC (naked/mundane items only): 24/34

Spell Casting: Bard(5)

Alignment Changes: 2

Craft Armor 1(4), Craft Weapon 2(5), Disable Trap 1(4), Discipline 43(53), Lore 8(29), Open Lock 1(3), Perform 28(30), Pick Pocket 1(3), Spellcraft 27(30), Taunt 43(45), Tumble 40(42), UMD 28(30)

01: Disable Trap(1), Lore(4), Open Lock(1), Perform(4), Taunt(4), Tumble(4), UMD(4), 

02: Lore(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(1), Taunt(1), Tumble(1), UMD(1), 

03: Lore(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(1), Taunt(1), Tumble(1), UMD(1), 

04: Lore(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(1), Taunt(1), Tumble(1), UMD(1), 

05: Lore(1), Perform(1), Pick Pocket(1), Taunt(1), Tumble(1), UMD(1), 

06: Craft Armor(1), Craft Weapon(2), Spellcraft(1), 

07: Save(4), 

08: Save(8), 

09: Save(12), 

10: Perform(3), Taunt(5), Tumble(5), UMD(5), 

11: Discipline(4), 

12: Discipline(4), 

13: Discipline(4), 

14: Discipline(2), Save(2), 

15: Discipline(1), Save(5), 

16: Discipline(1), Save(8), 

17: Discipline(1), Save(11), 

18: Discipline(1), Save(14), 

19: Discipline(1), Save(17), 

20: Discipline(1), Save(20), 

21: Discipline(1), Spellcraft(13), Save(10), 

22: Discipline(1), Save(13), 

23: Discipline(1), Save(16), 

24: Discipline(1), Save(19), 

25: Discipline(1), Save(22), 

26: Discipline(1), Save(26), 

27: Discipline(1), Save(30), 

28: Discipline(1), Save(34), 

29: Discipline(1), Save(38), 

30: Discipline(1), Save(42), 

31: Discipline(1), Taunt(21), Tumble(17), UMD(10), 

32: Perform(2), Tumble(5), 

33: Discipline(2), UMD(5), 

34: Discipline(1), Spellcraft(3), Taunt(3), 

35: Discipline(1), Perform(3), Spellcraft(2), Taunt(1), 

36: Discipline(1), Spellcraft(5), Taunt(1), 

37: Discipline(1), Taunt(1), Tumble(5), 

38: Discipline(3), Perform(3), Taunt(1), 

39: Discipline(2), Perform(4), Taunt(1), 

40: Discipline(1), Perform(5), Taunt(1), 

This build has several key features:

1. Level 16 Bard Curse Song: This gives nearby enemies -2 attack -3 damage (on their attacks) -5 armor class (so they are easier to hit) 20 sonic damage (dealt to them instantly) and penalties to saving throws and skills. Since Zarala will provide constant Bard Song uptime, we can use all bard song charges on Curse Song.

2. 10 levels of Red Dragon Disciple: There are lots of incredible bonuses that this prestige class gives, which make any melee build stronger. Many fighter/ranger/paladin/etc builds feature a few bard levels and 10 levels of red dragon disciple to enhance combat prowess significantly.

3. 18/- damage reduction: 14 levels of dwarven defender give 9/- damage reduction (up to 9 damage automatically subtracted from any physical damage that would be applied in a hit against this character) , which stacks with an additional 9/- damage reduction from Epic Damage Reduction. Thus, any hit against this character deals up to 18 less physical damage.

4. Defensive Awareness: Dexterity bonus to AC is never lost and this character cannot be flanked

5. High Discipline, Taunt, Tumble, Spellcraft, Use Magic Device (admittedly, I would have liked even more skill points but alas...)

One feature of this build that needs to be mentioned is that there are two mandatory alignment changes. One from neutral to lawful at level 10 and another from lawful to neutral at level 30. Thankfully, Swordflight includes many opportunities for alignment shifting so, with some mindfulness, it should not be hard to accomplish these shifts.

In any case, all those features will be great when we get to use them but for now (at level 5 in Kadath's camp in Chapter One of Swordflight), the main abilities and items I use are:

1) Spells - Protection from Alignment, Charm Person, Mage Armor, Magic Weapon, Bull's Strength, Cat's Grace, Fox's Intellect

2) Curse Song - effective in weakening enemy groups

3) Taunt - lowers enemy armor class

4) Against non-undead, I use the Tainted Morningstar (in order to equip, need to wear Gloves of Magic Handling) with Magic Weapon cast on it. Against undead, I use the Vampire Impaler (which also has two charges of level 5 Searing Light per day) or the Desert Sun Sickle

Through playing this character, I have found that the bard class is really not that bad at all. I thought I would struggle early on but the bard feats, spells and skills really come in handy.

A few final notes about the build:

1. I'm not sure if I will focus on Greataxe. That focus may end up being some other weapon.

2. The epic feat that gives resistance to acid may change to something else or it may not. RogueKnight333 gave lots of enemies acid damage abilities at high levels (Mestil's Acid Sheath, for example, and lots of drow wielding acid weapons) so it may help to have some natural resistance to acid.

3. Some people may wonder why I raise Charisma to 15. It's to use fifth-level spell slots on extended War Cry and fourth-level spell slots on extended Wounding Whispers.

The build is always subject to change. If I decide to change anything, I will, even to the point of using Leto to correct mistakes during previous level-ups, because I prefer doing that instead of having to start over from level 1. Swordflight is a very long adventure!

Edit (4/26/2026): I realized that undead are not immune to negative damage dealt by weapons. Therefore, the Tainted Morningstar (a morningstar with -1 physical damage but +1d4 negative energy damage) is very effective against undead, especially when Magic Weapon is cast on it. Zarala is using the Desert Sun Sickle and I only use the Vampire Impaler for the two Searing Light charges now. Sidenote: Taunt is effective against wraith spiders and the "old and battered helmed horror." Cap of Eloquence gives +2 Taunt.

Edit (4/27/2026): I just started Chapter 2 and was excited about the prospects of using Charm Person to improve Appraise rolls! (That was the whole point of choosing that spell during level-up...) But not only do store owners have high Will saves making it very difficult to accomplish, you also get a -3 evil alignment shift for daring an "attempt to manipulate an innocent being with magic." Sheesh. Another update: I found a merchant who could be "manipulated" but his prices didn't seem to improve much compared to what they normally are. So I looked at the ReadMe file that came with chapter 2. It seems that Charm Person can help with Persuade/Bluff/Intimidate checks but I don't think it affects Appraise rolls.