I decided to take a break from my two main characters (Ranger and Mystic Warrior), to try something I've never given a full go: a complete bard roleplay.

I would start the game as I usually do (gather some base gear and gold to be sold in Riverwood), then make my way to Whiterun. Here, however, I would take a cart to Solitude to hit up the Bard's College. After becoming a full fledged bard, I would start my adventures being based out of the College in Solitude.

Eventually I would become Thane of Haafingar and reside in Proudspire Manor. Here are some of the "restrictions" I would give myself.

1. Use mods Frostfall and Basic needs to create a survival aspect.

2. Wear only a set of close and plain boots (not armor, but the clothing variety). This may change as the game progresses, but very little armor would be utilized.

3. Always carry a lute, drum, and flute (obvious reasons)

4. Carry a quill, inkwell and either ruined book or scroll of paper to "record" my adventures and put them into stories and song.

5. NO CRAFTING. Use ONLY found/bought items

6. Likely to have two companions: 1 Dog (probably Vigilance or Meeko), and 1 person. My question here is this: Are there any female bard companions in the game? If not, which character would best fit this description? I have Interesting NPCs mod, so if you have any suggestions from that, please tell.

7. No spellcraft other than using found/bought scrolls and staves

I finally have Hearthfire, so I guess I can do some things with that.

Essentially, this character will be a skald that seeks adventure and "glory" for the good of the art. I probably won't do any of the Guild quests, other than maybe the first few quests of some just to gain access to them (like entering Saarthal) and whatnot.

I haven't really thought of a name or race, yet, but the character will most likely be a male human of some sort.

Any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions?

I recommend this mod to you, you are not a bard without it!

http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/9375/?

I recommend you make your game hard as ass. SkyRE on Master should do the trick. If you are going to play a simple character, keep the game hard so it won't be just another dungeon purge playthrough.

As for a female follower, you could just make one of the bards into a follower, you can google for instructions, it's really easy.

Yes its just a console command. But better if you can travel from town to town, playing music and earning tips for that. I would play a bard that way. And with the mod I posted above, you can.

i will check out that mod, thanks. seems to add a great deal.

My bard says that Become A Bard is a great mod, and that sweet girl Vilja really really wants to become a bard too

You′re welcome. I used it since one of my firts playtroughts and it always worked well. It was the first thing that came to my mind when I readed "bard playtrough"