[3.P] Bardic Knowledge without Bard levels?

[Viktyr Gehrig]

I want Bardic Knowledge. From level 1.

Are there any classes or feats or ACFs that grant this, outside of Bard and Cloistered Cleric?

[Ernir]

Draconic Knowledge from the Draconomicon works kind of like it, but it's a bit hard to get. Kobold cheese should be able to get you there, though.

[ericgrau]

Loremaster. It's based off of PrC level + int rather than bard level + int. That may seem way worse but you have to remember a wizard's int is far higher than a bard's. Compared to wizard levels it's not a bad PrC either and it's easy to get into.

[Thurbane]

From the lists of stuff (http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19871954/Lists_of_Stuff):

Bardic Knowledge
Bard 1
Troubadour of Stars 1, ECL 9, Book of Exalted Deeds
Loredelver 1, ecl 8, Races of Destiny
Rogue 3, Rilkan racial substitution level, Magic of Incarnum
Harper Mage ?, Magic of Faerun
Harper Priest ?, Magic of Faerun


stacks with bard levels
Moonstar Agent, ecl 6, City of Splendors: Waterdeep (FR) - stacks with anything that functions like bardic knowledge
Sublime Chord, ecl 11, Complete Arcane
Fochlucan Lyrist, ecl 11, Complete Adventurer
Ollam, ecl 8, Complete Adventurer
Troubadour of Stars 1, ECL 9, Book of Exalted Deeds
Loredelver 1, ecl 8, Races of Destiny
Ardent Dilettante 1, ecl 6, Planar Handbook
Merchant Prince 1, ecl 6, Power of Faerun


functionally the same as "bardic knowledge", but called something else
Loremaster 2, ecl 9
Ollam 1, ecl 8, Complete Adventurer
Cloistered Cleric, variant class, Unearthed Arcana
Ardent Dilettante 1, ecl 6, Planar Handbook
Tainted Scholar 3, ecl 8, Heroes of Horror
Dragon Descendant 2, ecl 7, Dragon Magic, "Ancentral Lore", see text
Primal Scholar 1, ecl 8, Eberron: Secrets of Xen'drik, "Xed'Drik Lore"
Psion 1 (Seer), Mind's Eye expanded class (link), "psionic knowledge"
Merchant Prince 1, ecl 6, Power of Faerun, "mercantile knowledge"
Court Herald 1, ecl 8, Power of Faerun, "Lore"
Paragnostic Apostle, ecl 3?, Complete Champion, "Lore"
Celestial Mystic 5, ecl?, Book of Exalted Deeds, see text
Prophet of Erathaol 1, ecl 8, Book of Exalted Deeds, see text
Beast Heart Adept 2, ecl 7, Dungeonscape, "Monster Lore", see text

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Thank you. It would appear that my best option-- assuming I can't get approval for my custom archetype-- is to just go with Bard.