Post by the1kobra on May 16, 2009 14:11:44 GMT
With a bard, your duties primarily consist of keeping your party members with active songs and all enemies cursed. I figure after that, most things are 'icing on a cake', spells, healing circles, even the epics in most areas (except malad, nessus, and elys). So I figure that I'd build a dualler dex bard to deal as much damage as he can possibly do while fulfilling things that a bard must do for their party.
Below is a screenshot of Dwaxxa, my Razor-Blade Bard. Note it's an old screenshot. Currently, he's a double demi, using the dexterity arty, also geared in some +14 gear for his STR, CON, DEX, and WIS.
Human Shard
Stats: Str/Dex/Con/Int/Wis/Cha
8/16/12/14/14/12 (Human)
8/20/16/14/14/16 (Shard)
16 Bard, 4 Paladin, 1 Monk, 19 Bard
Feats:
1: Artist
1: Curse song
3: Weapon Finesse
6: Exotic Weapon Proficiency
9: Weapon Focus Katana
12: IMPR crit Katana
15: Ambidexterity
18: Two Weapon Fighting
21: IMPR Two Weapon Fighting
24: Armor Skin
27: Epic Weapon Focus Katana
28*: Epic Skill Focus: Perform
30: Epic Prowess
31*: G-Dex 1
33: Blind Fight
34*: G-Dex 2
36: Toughness
37*: G-Dex 3
39: G-Dex 4
40*: G-Dex 5
Use the Transmutation Tome
42: LWF Katana
45: G-Dex 6
48: G-Dex 7
51: G-Dex 8
54: G-Dex 9
57: G-Dex 10
60: Legendary Artist
Ending stats:
8/50/16/14/14/16
20/62/28/26/26/28
Skills: You'll have enough for 8, I'd Take:
Perform
Discipline
Tumble
Listen
Parry
Craft Weapon
Craft Armor
Use Magic Device
Spells:
1s:
Expeditious Retreat
Mage Armor
Amplify
Joyful Noise
True Strike
Protection From Alignment
2s:
Deafening Clang
Ghostly Visage
Clarity
Iron Grasp
Endure Elements
Silence
3s:
Keen Edge
Greater Magic Weapon
Bestow Curse
Displacement
Treasure Scent
Remove Curse
4s:
War Cry
Improved Invisibility
Shadow Conjuration
Legend Lore
Stone Shatter
Shout
5s:
Ethereal Visage
IMPR Heroism
Wail of Doom
Healing Circle
Gembomb
Lesser Mind Blank
6s:
Ice Storm
Energy Buffer
Shades (To note, mass CC would also be nice, even if only +7, or 10)
Least Spell Mantle
AB: 16+10+15+7+26+20-4+CW=90+CW
Full attack(+2 from CW included): 92/87/82/77/96/92/87
Song Point Allocations (550 Total):
Bard Song 1:
AC: 170 (L60/63/+8)
Skills: 170 (L60/63/+21)
AB: 158 (L58/61/+7)
Damage: 52 (L33/36)
Saves: 1 (L1/4)
Bard Song 2:
AC: 170 (L60/L63/+8)
Skills: 170 (L60/L63/+21)
Damage: 164 (L59/62/)
AB: 45 (L30/L33/+4)
Saves: 1 (L1/4)
Curse Song 1
AC: 170 (L60/63/-8)
Saves: 170 (L60/63/-8,7,7)
AB: 158 (L58/61/-7)
Skills: 52 (L33/36/-11)
Damage: 1 (L1/4)
Q&A:
Q: Why katanas?
A: Well, I know, they're -4 AB for use in the offhand, don't get the monk attack progression you would get from chucks, and cost a feat, but they'll get much better crits, even without the DV crit katana, you should do more against non crit immune enemies, and significantly more with. Also, if you ever need to use a shield, which I can certainly see happening pre-demi, the katana has all the advantages.
Q: No Illusion?
A: Yeah, this one kind of stung as well, however, I found I was able to function well without it. You get a few shots of possums, nice, but hardly necessary. You get a higher conceal on EV, though I think that 4 wisdom, aka 2 AC is better for defense. You also get GV, which I'll admit, there really isn't much of a substitute for, I get by on GS scrolls when I really need them, and I suppose you could equip an item or use a drought to give you SF illusion if you really need a 1 round getaway.
That said, if you want to get illusion, I would drop: Blind fight, Toughness, and the two great-wisdom feats. I don't like dropping blind fight and I think the HP would be a bit low without toughness, but it's a personal call there.
Q: No taunt?
A: No, I didn't take taunt. It's a personal choice, I have a hard time aiming it with my touchpad. If you want to take it, feel free to sub out another skill you feel is less useful. Oh, and be sure to take the appropriate first level spell.
Q: How well does this character handle with only tiny radius UUU.
A: Quite well, I'd say the only runs you really need it are Maladomini, Nessus(need HMR too), and Elysium. Otherwise, you can get through pretty much any area of the mod. I usually only turn it on for combo spawns of dex/str KDers, otherwise, you can get by with PT2. Bear in mind that for a lot of areas, UUU is entirely useless. There's more to barding than just singing, cursing, looting, and sitting around twiddling your thumbs with UUU active.
That said, you aren't useless as a second bard either in malad or Nessus, though ely is really rough on this character, and not just because of the alignment issue. You should still be able to deal decent damage, as well as engage in more aggressive cursing tactics.
P.S. Post 1000!
Below is a screenshot of Dwaxxa, my Razor-Blade Bard. Note it's an old screenshot. Currently, he's a double demi, using the dexterity arty, also geared in some +14 gear for his STR, CON, DEX, and WIS.
Human Shard
Stats: Str/Dex/Con/Int/Wis/Cha
8/16/12/14/14/12 (Human)
8/20/16/14/14/16 (Shard)
16 Bard, 4 Paladin, 1 Monk, 19 Bard
Feats:
1: Artist
1: Curse song
3: Weapon Finesse
6: Exotic Weapon Proficiency
9: Weapon Focus Katana
12: IMPR crit Katana
15: Ambidexterity
18: Two Weapon Fighting
21: IMPR Two Weapon Fighting
24: Armor Skin
27: Epic Weapon Focus Katana
28*: Epic Skill Focus: Perform
30: Epic Prowess
31*: G-Dex 1
33: Blind Fight
34*: G-Dex 2
36: Toughness
37*: G-Dex 3
39: G-Dex 4
40*: G-Dex 5
Use the Transmutation Tome
42: LWF Katana
45: G-Dex 6
48: G-Dex 7
51: G-Dex 8
54: G-Dex 9
57: G-Dex 10
60: Legendary Artist
Ending stats:
8/50/16/14/14/16
20/62/28/26/26/28
Skills: You'll have enough for 8, I'd Take:
Perform
Discipline
Tumble
Listen
Parry
Craft Weapon
Craft Armor
Use Magic Device
Spells:
1s:
Expeditious Retreat
Mage Armor
Amplify
Joyful Noise
True Strike
Protection From Alignment
2s:
Deafening Clang
Ghostly Visage
Clarity
Iron Grasp
Endure Elements
Silence
3s:
Keen Edge
Greater Magic Weapon
Bestow Curse
Displacement
Treasure Scent
Remove Curse
4s:
War Cry
Improved Invisibility
Shadow Conjuration
Legend Lore
Stone Shatter
Shout
5s:
Ethereal Visage
IMPR Heroism
Wail of Doom
Healing Circle
Gembomb
Lesser Mind Blank
6s:
Ice Storm
Energy Buffer
Shades (To note, mass CC would also be nice, even if only +7, or 10)
Least Spell Mantle
AB: 16+10+15+7+26+20-4+CW=90+CW
Full attack(+2 from CW included): 92/87/82/77/96/92/87
Song Point Allocations (550 Total):
Bard Song 1:
AC: 170 (L60/63/+8)
Skills: 170 (L60/63/+21)
AB: 158 (L58/61/+7)
Damage: 52 (L33/36)
Saves: 1 (L1/4)
Bard Song 2:
AC: 170 (L60/L63/+8)
Skills: 170 (L60/L63/+21)
Damage: 164 (L59/62/)
AB: 45 (L30/L33/+4)
Saves: 1 (L1/4)
Curse Song 1
AC: 170 (L60/63/-8)
Saves: 170 (L60/63/-8,7,7)
AB: 158 (L58/61/-7)
Skills: 52 (L33/36/-11)
Damage: 1 (L1/4)
Q&A:
Q: Why katanas?
A: Well, I know, they're -4 AB for use in the offhand, don't get the monk attack progression you would get from chucks, and cost a feat, but they'll get much better crits, even without the DV crit katana, you should do more against non crit immune enemies, and significantly more with. Also, if you ever need to use a shield, which I can certainly see happening pre-demi, the katana has all the advantages.
Q: No Illusion?
A: Yeah, this one kind of stung as well, however, I found I was able to function well without it. You get a few shots of possums, nice, but hardly necessary. You get a higher conceal on EV, though I think that 4 wisdom, aka 2 AC is better for defense. You also get GV, which I'll admit, there really isn't much of a substitute for, I get by on GS scrolls when I really need them, and I suppose you could equip an item or use a drought to give you SF illusion if you really need a 1 round getaway.
That said, if you want to get illusion, I would drop: Blind fight, Toughness, and the two great-wisdom feats. I don't like dropping blind fight and I think the HP would be a bit low without toughness, but it's a personal call there.
Q: No taunt?
A: No, I didn't take taunt. It's a personal choice, I have a hard time aiming it with my touchpad. If you want to take it, feel free to sub out another skill you feel is less useful. Oh, and be sure to take the appropriate first level spell.
Q: How well does this character handle with only tiny radius UUU.
A: Quite well, I'd say the only runs you really need it are Maladomini, Nessus(need HMR too), and Elysium. Otherwise, you can get through pretty much any area of the mod. I usually only turn it on for combo spawns of dex/str KDers, otherwise, you can get by with PT2. Bear in mind that for a lot of areas, UUU is entirely useless. There's more to barding than just singing, cursing, looting, and sitting around twiddling your thumbs with UUU active.
That said, you aren't useless as a second bard either in malad or Nessus, though ely is really rough on this character, and not just because of the alignment issue. You should still be able to deal decent damage, as well as engage in more aggressive cursing tactics.
P.S. Post 1000!