[pritchke]

Bards are very good support characters and I never create a party anymore without one. Besides the level 11 song, they have other songs that are very useful as well. One gives your thief that extra motivation he needs to disable that hard trap or open that difficult lock that he could not do otherwise. If your cleric gets scared and hasn't had time to cast resist fear your Bard can be helpful here and sing to take the fear out of your party members and boost morale.

There are also several instruments that are very good that only a bard can use. People have gone through solo using these instruments, and the bards skills. They are expensive but worth it.

While Bards can't learn level 9 spells, and only get a small amount of spells for 7 and 8 they do level up very quickly so are almost as good and useful as having a mage. You actually don't even need a mage if you have a bard, or if you do than feel free to start that mage as a fighter and dual at somepoint, as the bard will back up those missing skills as long as needed anyway.

There main purpose in a party is to sing, or play instruments, and they should be doing this or casting spells rather than fighting.

Thay are also superior picpokets. While not the most useful skill you can get a few rings of Freeaction, and you don't have to waste Theif skillpoints on this skill as was mentioned.

As well there are a few quest that can only be offered by the Bard and having a Bard can only maximize your parties experiance, if only slightly. I think that is it now. Bards will end up with the least kills but they will also make your game way easier in the long run.

So to summarize I feel Bards are the most useful party member to take along.

Now only if they could dance too .

[ 02-07-2005, 11:56 AM: Message edited by: pritchke ]