Quote:
Originally posted by Jaradu:
Ok, so he's a decent-stats Blade. You've got two options:
a) Use him as a pretty good fighter (If given nice weapons)
b) Have him hang around the back singing songs to increase the stats of the other guys.
Which is the better choice? And what does the bard song actually do figure-wise (ie. which stats increase and by how much)?
|
I'd add to that:
c) Use him as a decent rear-rank artillery mage and missle support (dart/dagger plus shortbow/crossbow if you have him learn them).
Haer'Dalis has two subtle benefits over pureclass mages that actually make him a bit better as a back-line caster/archer in some respects:
- Rogue XP table means that at any given time his level will be higher than a mage with the same amount of XP.
- Rogue THACO table means that he's more accurate with missle weapons when not casting spells.
The former means that for spells that grow in power with level like Skull Trap and Flame Arrow, he is actually more effective at casting them than a Mage. He is usually the first party member to be able to cast a Skeleton Warrior with Animate Dead also. The latter means that when he's not bothering with spells, his darts, daggers, etc, are more accurate. Both advantages work together to make him the ideal Melf's Minute Meteors caster: better THACO and he makes lots of them.
Also, when you factor in his XP advantage for being a Rogue, his spell slots aren't that far behind a pureclass mage and just about equal to or a bit better than a multiclass mage like Aerie.
I usually use him as a combination of a) and c) depending on the party and situation, and occasionally b) if the encounter is minor enough that it's not worth expending spells or ammo.
*Minor item spoilers*
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I've been gaining a newfound appreciation for Arbane's Sword (grants stun immunity) with him, though his ideal offensive off-hand weapon is Kundane for the extra attack and an easy 4APR combined with his offensive spin.
[ 12-15-2003, 04:17 PM: Message edited by: Klutz ]