Q about Bards

Xen · 12-20-2002, 01:25 PM

With wich bard(kit) is the best to solo..and what weapons and equipment

Sir Exxon · 12-20-2002, 01:46 PM

I prefer the Blade. Why? Offensive and Defensive Spin.

Make him proficient in Flails and Long Swords. Dual these two weapons. Also, spend a proficiency-point in a Crossbow or some ranged weapon. Becomes very handy. [img]smile.gif[/img]
Look for the Flail of Ages, and good Long Swords, like Daystar, Namarra, etc. Also, search for Elven Chains. Very useful for Bards.

Butterfingers · 12-20-2002, 02:11 PM

Skalds and Jesters are also good for soloing.

Do the stronghold quest ASAP to get a very nice bard only armor that will let you cast spells.

If you go as a Blade, even if you dual wield, I agree, get a slot or two in bows. In an Offensive spin, you maximum possible damage and gain an extra attack. Armed with a Tugian bow (The one you get from the Beast Master during the slaver quest) your Blade becomes a virtual gatling gun. 4 shots a round, each one doing maximum possible damage. It might sound funny, but, a Blade is quite capable of keeping up with an Archer shot for shot damage wise. (Called shot is another issue)

Weapons. Celestial Fury is OK. Flail of Ages is nice. Longswords work well, axes look spiffy when dual wielded in an offensive spin. Stonefire and Frostreaver will turn any mage into mincemeat in seconds. Might sound odd, but, halbreds work well in the hands of the Blade, or, any two hander. Remember, maximum possible damage during offensive spin. Really, you can go with anything probably and be OK. Roleplay it a bit. Drizzt is famous for using scimitars, even though they are not the most damaging or most powerful form of weapon out there. Bards are by their nature flashy daring fighters who go for style over substance. A Blade dual wielding daggers would not only look cool, but, also be highly functional as there are some great daggers out there, with very good effects. Like Pixie Prick. Or the Stilleto of DeMarchess. There is even a +4 dagger for monsters that need highly enchanted weapons to be hit. Just thinking about this makes me want to try out the Firetooth throwing dagger on a Blade. Maybe your Blade does not like bladed weapons and uses things like quarterstaves, clubs, or maces and flails instead. Or axes, as mentioned.

For Skalds, I like the traditional Skaldic weapons from long ago. Polearms. Spears. Axes. Daggers. Slings. Crossbows. For role playing purposes.

For Jesters, personally, I think missle weapons fit the bill. Darts, throwing daggers, slings, etc.

Go with what is fun.

wellard · 12-20-2002, 04:54 PM

Well well well. untill i read butterfingers info and tips (above) the thought of playing a bard has never occured to me, they have always been the source of jokes and abuse. but now i'm intrigued!
once i get my party out of the underdark i might just ditch keldorn (it's to easy with him) and run haer,dalis for a while. I've never used him before soooo.

Thanks butterfingers!
Intrigued of Australia.

Dundee Slaytern · 12-21-2002, 01:06 AM

Blades have always rocked.

They can single-handedly kill an entire city of Mind Flayers without losing HP using the Mislead Exploit. They are also masters of the MMM_Exploit. Stoneskins and Mirror Image ensures their longevity, and a Blade with Tensor's Transformation is exciting. [img]smile.gif[/img]

They are my third class of choice. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 12-21-2002, 01:10 AM: Message edited by: Dundee Slaytern ]

Sever · 12-21-2002, 01:45 AM

I always thought dundee's sig was only meant to be funny. Now i see wisdom hidden within prose.

Mahlennacht · 12-21-2002, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dundee Slaytern:
Blades have always rocked. ... They are also masters of the MMM_Exploit. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Pray tell what exactly would be the MMM_Exploit?]

Butterfingers · 12-21-2002, 02:25 AM

It's not just the Blade, but Bards period. Even Skalds have their place, along with Jesters, soley from a role playing prospective.

People have a great misunderstanding of Bards in general, thinking them to be weak fighters, or, poor mages, or, hobbled thieves. They are none of these things. They are Bards. They require a different mindset to be played effectively. Think of the TV show "The Pretender" The Bard should be played in a like fashion. "Who do I want to be today?" and then prepare accordingly. Folks talk about various characters attributes... The Mage and the Sorcerer can go nuclear. Fighters rule the front lines. Thieves are sneaky and handy for utility. Clerics heal the team. Druids do much of the same, along with providing meat shields and a little offense. Bards, well, Bards should be doing what they do best. Saving their own skin. They are the masters of survival. A well built and well played Bard can increase the whole parties chances of survival dramatically, not only in PnP games, but, also in CRPGs like Shadows of Amn.

Bards can be insanely powerful. I dare say Bards are the most powerful single class character you can choose. (Notice I said single. Multi or dual class characters change the dynamic considerably.) They level quickly, gain magic abilities quickly, and their potential to do the most damage done per round grows quickly. (Think of spells that take level into account like Skull Traps) They have more hit points then mages. Fewer spells, but, as we all know from playing sorcerers, this is not a bad thing at all. Somebody who knows magic well does not need many spell slots. You memorize exactly what you need to get the job done and forget the rest. Not having to worry about getting grand mastery means that nearly every weapon in your friend, meaning you will almost always have a weapon for every situation.

There is no situation that a Bard can not handle, nothing that they can not kill in some fashion. Where other characters might fall short, the Bard, being good at a little bit of everything, can step in to play the role and shine.

Dundee Slaytern · 12-21-2002, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mahlennacht:
[Pray tell what exactly would be the MMM_Exploit?]

Have an off-hand weapon equipped. Cast Melf's Minute Meteors. Find an enemy and cast Offensive Spin.

Voila! You have a ranged attack, maximum damage, 6 attacks per round, and the off-hand weapon is transformed into a returnable ranged weapon. How does hurling Crom Faeyr across a room sound to you?

A very potent ranged attack.

Blades excel in this because of their ability to dualwield well and cast Offensive Spin.

[ 12-21-2002, 03:13 AM: Message edited by: Dundee Slaytern ]

Mahlennacht · 12-21-2002, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dundee Slaytern:
Have an off-hand weapon equipped. Cast Melf's Minute Meteors. Find an enemy and cast Offensive Spin...

...THE OFF-HAND WEAPON IS TRANSFORMED INTO A RETURNABLE RANGED WEAPON. How does hurling Crom Faeyr across a room sound to you?

YE GODS - I never heard of that one before!!! Very well, you've just convinced me to play a blade for my first solo attempt - it will be perfect as I have yet to complete the bard stronghold as well.

One never stops learning new tricks around here...

12-20-2002, 04:54 PM	#4
wellard Dracolisk Join Date: November 1, 2002 Location: Australia ..... G\'day! Posts: 6,123	Well well well. untill i read butterfingers info and tips (above) the thought of playing a bard has never occured to me, they have always been the source of jokes and abuse. but now i'm intrigued! once i get my party out of the underdark i might just ditch keldorn (it's to easy with him) and run haer,dalis for a while. I've never used him before soooo. Thanks butterfingers! Intrigued of Australia. __________________ fossils - natures way of laughing at creationists for over 3 billion years

12-21-2002, 01:06 AM	#5
Dundee Slaytern Ironworks Moderator Join Date: June 10, 2001 Location: Pasir Ris, Singapore Age: 42 Posts: 11,063	Blades have always rocked. They can single-handedly kill an entire city of Mind Flayers without losing HP using the Mislead Exploit. They are also masters of the MMM_Exploit. Stoneskins and Mirror Image ensures their longevity, and a Blade with Tensor's Transformation is exciting. [img]smile.gif[/img] They are my third class of choice. [img]smile.gif[/img] [ 12-21-2002, 01:10 AM: Message edited by: Dundee Slaytern ] __________________ Click On The Image For BG2 Information Land of the Psycho-moe

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12-20-2002, 01:25 PM	#1
Xen Symbol of Moradin Join Date: June 5, 2002 Location: Slovenia,Ljubljana Age: 37 Posts: 8,554	With wich bard(kit) is the best to solo..and what weapons and equipment

12-20-2002, 01:46 PM	#2
Sir Exxon Zartan Join Date: October 15, 2001 Location: Oslo, Norway Age: 36 Posts: 5,367	I prefer the Blade. Why? Offensive and Defensive Spin. Make him proficient in Flails and Long Swords. Dual these two weapons. Also, spend a proficiency-point in a Crossbow or some ranged weapon. Becomes very handy. [img]smile.gif[/img] Look for the Flail of Ages, and good Long Swords, like Daystar, Namarra, etc. Also, search for Elven Chains. Very useful for Bards.

12-20-2002, 02:11 PM	#3
Butterfingers Drizzt Do'Urden Join Date: November 30, 2002 Location: Five Flagons Inn Posts: 633	Skalds and Jesters are also good for soloing. Do the stronghold quest ASAP to get a very nice bard only armor that will let you cast spells. If you go as a Blade, even if you dual wield, I agree, get a slot or two in bows. In an Offensive spin, you maximum possible damage and gain an extra attack. Armed with a Tugian bow (The one you get from the Beast Master during the slaver quest) your Blade becomes a virtual gatling gun. 4 shots a round, each one doing maximum possible damage. It might sound funny, but, a Blade is quite capable of keeping up with an Archer shot for shot damage wise. (Called shot is another issue) Weapons. Celestial Fury is OK. Flail of Ages is nice. Longswords work well, axes look spiffy when dual wielded in an offensive spin. Stonefire and Frostreaver will turn any mage into mincemeat in seconds. Might sound odd, but, halbreds work well in the hands of the Blade, or, any two hander. Remember, maximum possible damage during offensive spin. Really, you can go with anything probably and be OK. Roleplay it a bit. Drizzt is famous for using scimitars, even though they are not the most damaging or most powerful form of weapon out there. Bards are by their nature flashy daring fighters who go for style over substance. A Blade dual wielding daggers would not only look cool, but, also be highly functional as there are some great daggers out there, with very good effects. Like Pixie Prick. Or the Stilleto of DeMarchess. There is even a +4 dagger for monsters that need highly enchanted weapons to be hit. Just thinking about this makes me want to try out the Firetooth throwing dagger on a Blade. Maybe your Blade does not like bladed weapons and uses things like quarterstaves, clubs, or maces and flails instead. Or axes, as mentioned. For Skalds, I like the traditional Skaldic weapons from long ago. Polearms. Spears. Axes. Daggers. Slings. Crossbows. For role playing purposes. For Jesters, personally, I think missle weapons fit the bill. Darts, throwing daggers, slings, etc. Go with what is fun.

12-21-2002, 01:45 AM	#6
Sever Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: October 31, 2002 Location: Western Australia Age: 44 Posts: 3,293	I always thought dundee's sig was only meant to be funny. Now i see wisdom hidden within prose.

12-21-2002, 02:25 AM	#8
Butterfingers Drizzt Do'Urden Join Date: November 30, 2002 Location: Five Flagons Inn Posts: 633	It's not just the Blade, but Bards period. Even Skalds have their place, along with Jesters, soley from a role playing prospective. People have a great misunderstanding of Bards in general, thinking them to be weak fighters, or, poor mages, or, hobbled thieves. They are none of these things. They are Bards. They require a different mindset to be played effectively. Think of the TV show "The Pretender" The Bard should be played in a like fashion. "Who do I want to be today?" and then prepare accordingly. Folks talk about various characters attributes... The Mage and the Sorcerer can go nuclear. Fighters rule the front lines. Thieves are sneaky and handy for utility. Clerics heal the team. Druids do much of the same, along with providing meat shields and a little offense. Bards, well, Bards should be doing what they do best. Saving their own skin. They are the masters of survival. A well built and well played Bard can increase the whole parties chances of survival dramatically, not only in PnP games, but, also in CRPGs like Shadows of Amn. Bards can be insanely powerful. I dare say Bards are the most powerful single class character you can choose. (Notice I said single. Multi or dual class characters change the dynamic considerably.) They level quickly, gain magic abilities quickly, and their potential to do the most damage done per round grows quickly. (Think of spells that take level into account like Skull Traps) They have more hit points then mages. Fewer spells, but, as we all know from playing sorcerers, this is not a bad thing at all. Somebody who knows magic well does not need many spell slots. You memorize exactly what you need to get the job done and forget the rest. Not having to worry about getting grand mastery means that nearly every weapon in your friend, meaning you will almost always have a weapon for every situation. There is no situation that a Bard can not handle, nothing that they can not kill in some fashion. Where other characters might fall short, the Bard, being good at a little bit of everything, can step in to play the role and shine.

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