Post by atomicsomething on Apr 2, 2007 18:32:41 GMT
Hello all,
I've been playing with one caster bard for a while, and I'd like to bring up a discussion on how to improve them.
Spells :
(i will talk only about spells usuable in combat, buffs are another thing and not an issue IMO)
6th level :
Dirge : The most powerful spell available damage-wise in hells (all class included). The only problem i see with it is the fort save. What i can dirge will likely be imploded, weirded or wailed a few seconds later (some exceptions though, and i can still hit everything on a 20 roll ... which is nice).
Overall It can be very frustrating.
Ice storm : Nice with the harp, but always afraid to use it because of the loot breaking effect.
5th level :
Healing circle : Just great !
4th level :
err ... nothing here that is useful to my knowledge.
3rd level :
Bestow Curse : some uses also, but works only for the SR dropping part.
Nothing else i use.... thought after some experience of hells, a couple of spells would be some strong candidates for my spell-book (and i have already leveled 60
)
2nd level :
Tasha's ... : Well nice spell, but why would i risk a dc check when i have the same effect without any dc ...
1st level :
Amplify : A single target spell with a touched attack, nice effect but hard to beat SR and conceal with it. i usually use it on bosses with some desperate hope to see it works.
What strikes me with my usable spell-book, is the lack of enchantment spells. i mean except for gmw, enchantment is pretty useless.
Among the 3 spell schools i took (Ench, Evo and Trans) enchantment, at the moment, is the one i would get rid off for my next bard. But To me a bard without enchantment spells is like a PM without necro spells ....
I would like to see a couple more of enchantment spells, and if possible, that bards get a DC increase at level 40 and 50 for the enchantment school.
Strong candidates for spells tweaks would be IMO :
Mass haste : it would be nice to have a short effect to boost melee (adding one attack for 2 rounds for example). (Yup i know there are a few non-casters bards and they would abuse of this, may be duration equals to CHA modifier/20
)
Mind fog : The same area of effect and casting style as Dirge, but able to drop concealment of Caster level/10. Will DC still on.
Spell items
Horn of blasting : i like it a lot, sometimes abusing of it at my party expense
.
Still Sound : i don't like it at all .... well it works fine but for this effect i would like to be able to use my spell-book (nearly half of the bard spells is about doing a similar effect !). IMO, it should be removed.
Pipes of .... : Unusable right now. as it must be equipped (this point has been brought in another thread).
Build Viability :
Against other casters, they have less self-buffs, but it's seems to be fair AC wise (no shields or AC raise by spells, but tumble as class skill).
I'm still 6/7 AC points under a well-equipped sorc/wiz but it seems I'm holding as good as them (being 40 bard, helps a lot there).
Bard song
Well, what to say ... it rocks (But then again, it helps a lot there). My concern about this is str bard looking after the curse extra effect. Right now (Epic spells are coming' ...), it's the best asset of a caster bard.
Taunt
took it as skill. I don't regret every single point put into it.
Overall, caster bards is a fun build to play. Very different style than any other builds (I don't think I've killed anything in hells so far
, except may be a wounding whisper incident now and then ).
But IMO it still lacks a couple of spells to make it really playable.
I've been playing with one caster bard for a while, and I'd like to bring up a discussion on how to improve them.
Spells :
(i will talk only about spells usuable in combat, buffs are another thing and not an issue IMO)
6th level :
Dirge : The most powerful spell available damage-wise in hells (all class included). The only problem i see with it is the fort save. What i can dirge will likely be imploded, weirded or wailed a few seconds later (some exceptions though, and i can still hit everything on a 20 roll ... which is nice).
Overall It can be very frustrating.
Ice storm : Nice with the harp, but always afraid to use it because of the loot breaking effect.
5th level :
Healing circle : Just great !
4th level :
err ... nothing here that is useful to my knowledge.
3rd level :
Bestow Curse : some uses also, but works only for the SR dropping part.
Nothing else i use.... thought after some experience of hells, a couple of spells would be some strong candidates for my spell-book (and i have already leveled 60
)2nd level :
Tasha's ... : Well nice spell, but why would i risk a dc check when i have the same effect without any dc ...
1st level :
Amplify : A single target spell with a touched attack, nice effect but hard to beat SR and conceal with it. i usually use it on bosses with some desperate hope to see it works.
What strikes me with my usable spell-book, is the lack of enchantment spells. i mean except for gmw, enchantment is pretty useless.
Among the 3 spell schools i took (Ench, Evo and Trans) enchantment, at the moment, is the one i would get rid off for my next bard. But To me a bard without enchantment spells is like a PM without necro spells ....
I would like to see a couple more of enchantment spells, and if possible, that bards get a DC increase at level 40 and 50 for the enchantment school.
Strong candidates for spells tweaks would be IMO :
Mass haste : it would be nice to have a short effect to boost melee (adding one attack for 2 rounds for example). (Yup i know there are a few non-casters bards and they would abuse of this, may be duration equals to CHA modifier/20
)Mind fog : The same area of effect and casting style as Dirge, but able to drop concealment of Caster level/10. Will DC still on.
Spell items
Horn of blasting : i like it a lot, sometimes abusing of it at my party expense
. Still Sound : i don't like it at all .... well it works fine but for this effect i would like to be able to use my spell-book (nearly half of the bard spells is about doing a similar effect !). IMO, it should be removed.
Pipes of .... : Unusable right now. as it must be equipped (this point has been brought in another thread).
Build Viability :
Against other casters, they have less self-buffs, but it's seems to be fair AC wise (no shields or AC raise by spells, but tumble as class skill).
I'm still 6/7 AC points under a well-equipped sorc/wiz but it seems I'm holding as good as them (being 40 bard, helps a lot there).
Bard song
Well, what to say ... it rocks (But then again, it helps a lot there). My concern about this is str bard looking after the curse extra effect. Right now (Epic spells are coming' ...), it's the best asset of a caster bard.
Taunt
took it as skill. I don't regret every single point put into it.
Overall, caster bards is a fun build to play. Very different style than any other builds (I don't think I've killed anything in hells so far
, except may be a wounding whisper incident now and then ). But IMO it still lacks a couple of spells to make it really playable.
