Gold I have a couple of questions for you! So My Spider Priestess although cool to RP might be a touch redundant with the amount of Clerics we have knocking around the party. I think we lack Scouting/thief sneakiness, I could just reroll another Nell but I like my characters to have a bit of well....character about them! So I have sat down like a good nerd for a few hours and written out a background for this charter, She will be awesome. I initially thought a Dwarven Bard would be awesome, So I looked through the complete book of bards and have found a conflict. Under Demi humans as bards it states that Dwarves are non magical and are not allowed to cast spells. Instead when learning spells they become highly
resistant to the effects of that spell in question. So can in effect roll his chance to learn spells roll to thwart the spells effects. However, The kind of Dwarven Bard I am interested in is a Skald! They are basically Warrior Poets, I majored in poetry so could get a lot out of playing this character and could produce some fun journals. The only problem is this: A Skald is the only kind of Dwarven bard that can cast spells! The Skald needs to have been in contact with a spell casting race in order to do this and be level 2. I figure she has heard about the adventures in Portlandio and Trovald's deeds and wants to immortalize them in poems and song. So my questions are these: 1. Will I start with any spells? As this dwarf would have been traveling around to get to Portlandio so would have been in contact with spell casting races. (would be happy to do this in RP!) Though it seems to clash with the Demi-bards no spells rule, seems a bit over powered to learn a spell and gain the resistance mechanic to dispel it AND have the ability to cast the spell as normal. I can't find a rule that clarifies this one! 2. I have only really played Thieves / rogues and notice the bards get all the rubbish thief skills! Climb walls, pick pockets, detect noise and read languages. (Note a Skald cannot read as they come from a verbal culture and has to be taught in game by someone). To fill a more roguish role could I swap out the climb walls (dosn't seem to suit a dwarf, climbing a wall!) for move silently and pick pockets (way to dishonorable!) for detect traps and swap detect noise for hide in shadows? This would suit the character concept I have in mind and is not really over powered but not essential. I like the idea of chanting and singing as we go adventuring, also dwarven beer for all! Let me know what you think! I'll link the Skald spell casting rule and the clashing Demi-bard rule for you to look at. Clashing rules!: If a halfling or dwarf is able to find a spell and learn it ( i.e., succeed with their "chance to learn spells" roll), they become highly
resistant to the effects of that spell. Of course, these two races can learn to resist
only spells of the same level as bards are typically able to cast. Thus, a
2nd-level dwarf or halfling demi-bard can learn how to resist the effects of all
1st-level spells that he has learned (as per Table 6 : Spell Progression). Of course, the demi-bard is still limited to the number
of spells he can learn to counter. This limit is set by his "Maximum # of
Spells per level" (an aspect of Intelligence).
When a dwarf or halfling demi-bard is subjected to a learned spell's effects,
he can roll his "chance to learn spells" in an attempt to thwart the spell's
effects. This roll is in addition to all other saving throws normally allowed.
This does not cancel the spell; it simply prevents it from having any effect upon
the dwarf or halfling demi-bard. Skalds do not gain the use any written magical item ability at 10th level.
Spells are also nearly unknown in the Skald's society, and they are viewed
with suspicion in any event. Thus, Skalds cannot learn any spells until they
encounter a spellcasting culture. Once contact has been made, the Skald can begin
casting spells when he gains his next level. At this time he is considered a
2nd-level spellcaster (providing he is at least 3rd level by this time). His
spellcasting level increases by 1 every time he gains a level thereafter. Concept idea, yes she will have a beard like all good dwarven females!!!
