Bards or Fighter/Mage

[Avatar]

Most of you will have seen my angguish on the ToB release date note,
so I haven't got it so please shed some light:

Which is better: Skald or Fighter dual to Illusionist?

I like the bad song immunities, how good do they get? But I am worried about what spell levels
do they go up to(bards) and how does the skald song improve?

I already have two full mages, a cleric, a druid and a paladin.

[Bristowe]

Since you already have two full mages, you should prolly go with the bard simply for some variety. Skald ain't exactly the best of fighters even though they get bonuses over the basic bard, their kick ass song is their drawcard. And since he is a bard, he gets special abilities that are exclusive to bards, some magic flute with nice abilities. Of course bards can only cast up to 6th lvl spells but you got 2 mages already so magic shouldn't be a problem. Um, not 'really sure about how their song improves though sorry, cos i basically play exclusively rangers and thief kits, assassin and swashbuckler...But i still know what i'm talking about

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Bristowe, Master Assassin
"Everyone dies sooner or later, why not sooner?"

[Paul Atreides]

I've played both so I'll give you my impressions:

1. Don't play the Skald, play the Blade - you get access to the Skald's advantages through a special ability. Bard song special ability - -4 AC, +4 to hit, +4 DMG, imuunity to fear, confusion, and charm.

2. Use any item is a VERY handy ability.

3. The Fighter/Mage is more powerful but less versitile. My Bard never did get 9th level spells.

[Avatar]

1/ So what level spells can bards use in ToB at max??
2/ How do does the skald and other bard's songs bet better in ToB?
3/ What especially good items and abiliteies do they get?

[Bristowe]

Weel
Bards can NEVER go beyond 6th lvl spells, they never meant to be a serious caster. But from lvl 30 onwards they can memorise up to about 4-5 spells every lvl up to 6th.

High lvl Bard ability - Create Magic Flute:
Cast resist fear 1 chrge
globe of invulnerbility 1 charge
Delayed F.ball 3 charge

Bard only items such as gloves that give extra spells (ithink) and a necklace that gives permanent vocalise and extra spells and other nice stuff too...
Although since bard got the use any item ability, they can use ANYTHING they please, Holy avenger? yes please

The thing though, i have never found anywhere that documents how the bard songs get better so i can't help much there, sorry dude

[Avatar]

try the kit description page?
how long does the use any ability thing last?

[Bristowe]

The use any item ability is one of several/many that you choose when you get to & beyond lvl 25, you pick it and click 'Done' or whatever, and from that point on, your Bard (or thief) can use ANYTHING that was otherwise restricted to particular classes etc for the rest of the game, it has no duration, it's permanent. Such as wands, armours, weapons etc Prolly can even use those NPC armour and weapons if you wanted to.

Umm, the kit description doesn't really explain the bard song & what it does sorry man


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Bristowe, Master Assassin
"Everyone dies sooner or later, why not sooner?"

[Avatar]

PERMNANT!!!!!!!!
HOLY *******
Well can thieves do this?

[ScottG]

Acctually I had a bard up to a high level (able to select Advanced abilities status) and the Blade bard was never able to select use any item. Thiefs can though. Could have been a bug.