The diplomunchkin?

[casper]

Hi everyone!

My friend decided to DM in a game not focused on combats. So I want to play chaotic neutral half-elf bard focused on charisma-based skills. Can't tell my stats yet, we will probably roll them. Starting level wasn't announced either. The adventure will take place in Faerun, Calimshan region.

What can help me to get bonuses to charisma-based checks espesially Diplomacy) and Sense Motive besides synergy bonuses, Skill Focuses, Negotiator and Harem Trained (Races of Faerun) feats?
Of course,there could be huge curcumstance bonuses and penalties on Diplomacy checks for roleplay, but good base modifier surely wouldn't be out of place.

Thanks for any help.

[Zom B]

Well, you didn't name magic items, so let me offer Cloak of Charisma and Circlet of Persuasion. The latter costs 4.5k and gives you a +3 competence bonus on Cha-based checks. Considering that Perform is one such check, that would be well worth your while.

[Lysander]

Several bard spells can help boost your charisma or skill checks. Before important conversations buff yourself with Eagle's Splendor, Heroism/Good Hope, and Glibness.

[AmberVael]

If you're going for bard, I'm not sure you'd be interested, but the Half-Elf racial paragon class can be pretty helpful in terms of upping your charisma checks. It increases your racial diplomacy and gather information checks bye one, but more importantly it adds +2 to all other charisma skills.

On top of that, you gain a bonus feat (get some of those skill focus and similar feats quicker), and at 3rd level you gain +2 to any one ability score.

If you were crazy, you could also then multi-class into Human paragon and pick up another bonus feat and another +2 to any ability score. That might not be worth it though. Then again, Half-Elf paragon might not be worth it either. It all depends on what you're going for.

[Lysander]

The spell Friendly Face should also appeal to you. Bard level 1, grants +5 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy and Charisma checks for 10 minutes/level.

[BenTheJester]

Fred the Diplomancer

+94 at level 6. Hell yeah.

[Critical]

+366 to Diplomacy at level 15. Through a Jump!

[Douglas]

+366 to Diplomacy at level 15. Through a Jump!

Meh, I prefer using Disguise. ISTR a hypothetical conversation, I think from that thread, that went something like this:
Person A: Did you notice how Bob-like Bob is today?
Person B: Yes! He's so like himself it's incredible!
Person A: WE MUST FOLLOW HIM!

Now, I think there's a restriction on the nature of the "performance" used in place of Diplomacy that renders this scenario invalid, but it's still amusing to think about.

[Nich_Critic]

Already kind of covered under the links above, but a 1 level marshal dip, picking motivate charisma for the aura, will give you skill focus and your cha mod again to diplomacy, as well as your cha mod again to the rest of your cha skills.

I would also take a level of binder and bind Naberius. He'll give you Command every 1d4 rounds, as well as the ability to take 10 on diplomacy when threatened, and make rushed diplomacy checks as a standard action with no penalty.

[Draz74]

Yeah, optimized Diplomancy pretty much requires a level in Binder, a level in Marshal, and a level in either Warlock or Dragonfire Adept. Incarnum has some big social skill-boosters, too (Silvertongue Mask).

1 level of Telepath is good too: pick up a Psicrystal with the personality that boosts your Diplomacy skill, and get a couple of powers that work with social combat as well. (Attraction is fun. Mindlink too.)

Bard's got its own perks, though (Improvisation spell!). So it's probably a good class to stick to after you've done your important 1-level dips.

There are a couple other feats that boost Diplomacy (the one I can think of is Sacred Vow), but you probably have better things to do with feats than a +2 skill bonus, even if you're really trying to focus on the skill in question.

[LichPrinceAlim]

I found that, at least in Gestalt, the combo is as follows:

Race: Lesser Aasamir Saint (+2 LA)
Class: Bard 20//Merchant 15/Evangelist 5
Feats: Persuasive, Skill Focus: Bluff, Diplomacy, Sense Motive, Intimidate, and Gather Info, Leadership

[Closak]

Oh boy, the wonders that a insane diplomacy check can cause.

Angry dragon: I am going to eat you!
PC: ...Don't you want to have some fun instead? *Rolls diplomacy, get's a 352*
Dragon: Okay!

[CENSORED FOR DRAGON ON HUMAN]

Everyone else: *Weeps*


"We do not think that is a plausible situation"
"No it isn't, thing is that such a ridiculous roll has the ability to defy all logic and do things that make no freaking sense"
"This situation does not compute"

[Kobold-Bard]

Fred the Diplomancer

+94 at level 6. Hell yeah.

+366 to Diplomacy at level 15. Through a Jump!

eh...huh...wuh..

What silliness this is. How awesome.

[Greenish]

There are a couple other feats that boost Diplomacy (the one I can think of is Sacred Vow), but you probably have better things to do with feats than a +2 skill bonus, even if you're really trying to focus on the skill in question.

Nymph's Kiss: bonus to all cha-based skills and extra skill points. Pretty nifty if you want to, say, intimidate or bluff occasionally too.