Diplomacy and Blackmail Gestalt (3.5e Optimized Character Build)
Introduction
The basic idea for this build is using the non-standard Merchant and Bard classes in a Gestalt fashion. Trade Knowledge and Bardic Knowledge stack meaning by level 20 you'll have a very large mod for your random blackmail findings, and at your diplomacy checks will be so high that no one will be able to question you.
References
SRD:Bard, Merchant(DnD Class), Player's Handbook, and things off this site.
Items
Cloak of Charisma +6, Headband of Intellect +6, Tomb of leadership and Influence +5, Tomb of Clear Thought +5
Progression
Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): Str:10 Dex:13 Con:8 Int:14 Wis:12 Cha:15 Race (Templates): Ikasus
Starting Racial Traits: -2 Str, -2 wis, +2 Int, +2 cha
Scores after Racial Adjustments: Str: 8 Dex: 13 Con: 8 Int: 16 Wis: 10 Cha: 17
The level 4 point goes into Cha, the other 3 go into Int giving you a end result of: Cha 18 and Int: 19
| ECL | Class | Base Attack Bonus |
Saving Throws | Feats | Class Features |
Special | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort | Ref | Will | ||||||
| 1st | Bard(1)/Merchant(1) | +0 | +0 | + 2 | +2 | Skill focus Diplomacy, Obscure Lore | Bardic Music, Bardic Knowledge, Countersong, Fascinate, Inspire Courage +1, Skill Focus, Equipped, Trade Knowledge | Skills: Bluff(4), Diplomacy(4), Knowledge(noble)(4), Sense motive(4) |
| 2nd | Bard(2)/Merchant(2) | +1 | +0 | +3 | +3 | Contacts +1, Bribery, Uncanny Barter +1 | Skills: Bluff(5), Diplomacy(5), Knowledge(noble)(5), Sense motive(5) | |
| 3rd | Bard(3)/Merchant(3) | +2 | +1 | +3 | +3 | SPECIALIST [Diplomacy] | Connoisseur, Inspire Competence | Skills: Bluff(6), Diplomacy(9), Knowledge(noble)(6), Sense motive(6) |
| 4th | Bard(4)/Merchant(4) | +3 | +1 | +4 | +4 | Trade routes | Skills: Bluff(7), Diplomacy(10), Knowledge(noble)(7), Sense motive(7), Cha = 18 | |
| 5th | Bard(5)/Merchant(5) | +3 | +1 | +4 | +4 | Identify item | Skills: Bluff(8), Diplomacy(11), Knowledge(noble)(8), Sense motive(8) | |
| 6th | Bard(6)/Merchant(6) | +4 | +2 | +5 | +5 | Negotiator | Suggestion, Leadership, Uncanny Barter +2 | Bluff(9), Diplomacy(12), Knowledge(noble)(9), Sense motive(9) |
| 7th | Bard(7)/Merchant(7) | +5 | +2 | +5 | +5 | Bluff(10), Diplomacy(13), Knowledge(noble)(10), Sense motive(10) | ||
| 8th | Bard(8)/Merchant(8) | +6/+1 | +2 | +6 | +6 | Inspire Courage +2, Find Treasure | Bluff(11), Diplomacy(14), Knowledge(noble)(11), Sense motive(11), Int = 17 | |
| 9th | Bard(9)/Merchant(9) | +6/+1 | +3 | +6 | +6 | Improved Synergy | Inspire Greatness | Bluff(12), Diplomacy(15), Knowledge(noble)(12), Sense motive(12) |
| 10th | Bard(10)/Merchant(10) | +7/+2 | +3 | +7 | +7 | Bluff(13), Diplomacy(16), Knowledge(noble)(13), Sense motive(13) | ||
| 11th | Bard(11)/Merchant(11) | +8/+3 | +3 | +7 | + 7 | Contacts +2 | Bluff(14), Diplomacy(17), Knowledge(noble)(14), Sense motive(14) | |
| 12th | Bard(12)/Merchant(12) | +9/+4 | +4 | +8 | +8 | Flashes Of Brilliance | Song of Freedom | Bluff(15), Diplomacy(18), Knowledge(noble)(15), Sense motive(15), Int = 17 |
| 13th | Bard(13)/Merchant(13) | +9/+4 | +4 | +8 | +8 | Uncanny Barter +3 | Bluff(16), Diplomacy(19), Knowledge(noble)(16), Sense motive(16) | |
| 14th | Bard(14)/Merchant(14) | +10/+5 | +4 | +9 | +9 | Inspire Courage +3 | Bluff(17), Diplomacy(20), Knowledge(noble)(17), Sense motive(17) | |
| 15th | Bard(15)/Merchant(15) | +11/+6/+1 | +5 | +9 | +9 | Practice Makes Perfect | Inspire Heroics, Trading expertise | Bluff(18), Diplomacy(21), Knowledge(noble)(18), Sense motive(18) |
| 16th | Bard(16)/Merchant(16) | +12/+7/+2 | +5 | +10 | +10 | Bluff(19), Diplomacy(22), Knowledge(noble)(19), Sense motive(19), Int = 18 | ||
| 17th | Bard(17)/Merchant(17) | +12/+7/+2 | +5 | +10 | +10 | Contacts +3 | Bluff(20), Diplomacy(23), Knowledge(noble)(20), Sense motive(20) | |
| 18th | Bard(18)/Merchant(18) | +13/+8/+3 | +6 | +11 | +11 | Skill Mastery | Control trade route, Mass Suggestion | Bluff(21), Diplomacy(24), Knowledge(noble)(21), Sense motive(21) |
| 19th | Bard(19)/Merchant(19) | +14/+9/+4 | +6 | +11 | +11 | Bluff(22), Diplomacy(25), Knowledge(noble)(22), Sense motive(22) | ||
| 20th | Bard(20)/Merchant(20) | +15/+10/+5 | +6 | +12 | +12 | Master trader, Inspire Courage +4 | Bluff(23), Diplomacy(26), Knowledge(noble)(23), Sense motive(23), Int = 19 | |
Other Components
<- anything not covered by the previous sections ->
Highlights
Once you apply the tombs and items your Int is now 30, and your Cha is 29 Giving you mods of 10 and 9 respectivly.
This Build works by giving you an insane bardic knowledge check for blackmailing, and a diplomacy check so high that you can talk your way out even if you get caught.
Your bardic knowledge check (since it stacks with trade knowledge) is now 1d20+53. Even if you roll a 1 you still have enough knowledge to pick up "Extremely obscure" knowledge that could be used for blackmail.
And now thanks to your feats and skills your diplomacy check (since you can take 20 now is) 20+10(int)+9(cha)+26(rank)+15(synergy)+6(skill focus and skill mastery)+2(negotiator)+3(practice makes perfect)+20(flashes of brilliance) this in total gives you a diplomacy check of 111. This is way more than enough to true any hostile person into helpful, even with a -10 rush mod.
Munchkin-Size Me
<- Take it to the next level ->
Side Notes
This is not to be used, it's mostly just for show, if you use it, I'm sure most people in the campaign will want to hurt you.
Limitations
It needs to be able to speak so it won't work on things that can't talk.
DM Counters
Send the tarrasque, undead, or constructs, since they can't talk.
Miscellaneous
This uses things off Dandwiki.
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