What do I do with a bard?

Ultra Marine · 01-11-2006, 09:33 PM

I read so much good stuff about a bard in this board. But mine does nothing much other than shoot arrows, identify stuff, and some mage spells. And he has not got elven chain yet. (just starting dragons eye in Insane). Ok... what have I done wrong?

When the bard has to sing in battle, he can't fight else that would cancel his song. Is there a way to select all characters except the bard?

Sir Degrader · 01-11-2006, 10:11 PM

Besides circling? I haven't tried this, but try SHIFT+CLICK the guys to form groups.

Black Swan Gauntlet · 01-11-2006, 10:49 PM

Do you have Heart of Winter?

If not, your bard's usefulness is effectively halved. In HoW, the extra songs make the bard an essential for any party. That's not to say that a bard isn't good in regular IWD - I always kept one around for Pick Pockets and identifying - but it won't be an excellent character.

Typically, a Heart of Winter bard should just sing. Even when you're not fighting, sing (War Chant of Sith works best - Regeneration means that you don't need those pesky healing spells in your cleric's precious spell slots.) As for a regular bard, my best advice is this. Keep her in the back lines with the best bow you can give her, and let her keep all the enchanted ammunition. Armors you should be looking into include the Mail of Life or Ogien's Scale. If you can get Elven Chainmail, all the better - you'll have a powerful ranged combatant that can do some serious area-effect damage.

Ultra Marine · 01-12-2006, 12:49 AM

I have HoW. But I have not got warchant. Just started dragons eye. It just makes me think about the usefulneess of a bard.

Maybe a bard is suited to be added to a party at higher levels of the game where she can advance real fast. Now, she is just soaking up exp from the rest of the party members.

Well ... This is my first bard [img]smile.gif[/img] ...

Aerich · 01-12-2006, 01:49 AM

War Chant isn't necessary for a bard to have a significant effect. Sing the luck song (Tymora's Melody); it's a good offensive song (increases chance of critical hits) with great saving throw bonuses.

To select all characters except the bard, hit the all-characters button then Cntrl-click the bard.

Don't expect your bard to be a powerhouse character; its effects are more subtle. A bard is the quintessential support character, making all your other characters better and filling in gaps in your party (lore, pickpocket, mage spells).

Edit: oh yeah, and don't get stuck on WCotS when it comes to songs. The fear-immunity song can come in handy, and there's a couple of areas in the game where the song that blocks sound-based attacks saves you a lot of pain.

[ 01-12-2006, 01:52 AM: Message edited by: Aerich ]

Azred · 01-12-2006, 07:17 PM

I keep my bard in the back with either the Light Crossbow of Speed or a normal bow and either potions or spells of Haste. I use either that first song (I forget its name) or the War Chant to enhance combat, along with some buffing spells. The War Chant also means that my cleric don't really need healing spells, except in emergencies, freeing up all their spell slots for defensive/buffing spells. I really like the Siren's Call, too--keeps some of your enemies enthralled, so you focus your attacks on the ones who are still moving.

This, of course, brings me back to the topic often-discussed here: what new bard songs should be created? To have songs at only 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th level is pretty meager, especially since you can get much higher level in HoW. Of course, I'd have to figure out how to add song buttons, etc. [img]graemlins/saywhat.gif[/img]

Ultra Marine · 01-12-2006, 08:12 PM

Some song irritating enough to cause spellcaster to fail in their casting.

Aerich · 01-12-2006, 11:20 PM

A song that causes damage (magic-based?), a song (or songs) providing elemental resistance, a song that increases the average damage caused by spells cast by party members (e.g. a superior luck-type song), a song that causes enemies to go beserk.

Ultra Marine · 01-13-2006, 04:40 AM

A song to cause direct damage and one that charms people. Simply, making the bard an active player rather than a support.

pritchke · 01-13-2006, 11:09 AM

And lets not forget some of the useful instuments that you can find or buy in the game that can be used by a Bard. One horn on particular.

01-12-2006, 01:49 AM	#5
Aerich Lord Ao Join Date: May 27, 2004 Location: Canada Age: 43 Posts: 2,061	War Chant isn't necessary for a bard to have a significant effect. Sing the luck song (Tymora's Melody); it's a good offensive song (increases chance of critical hits) with great saving throw bonuses. To select all characters except the bard, hit the all-characters button then Cntrl-click the bard. Don't expect your bard to be a powerhouse character; its effects are more subtle. A bard is the quintessential support character, making all your other characters better and filling in gaps in your party (lore, pickpocket, mage spells). Edit: oh yeah, and don't get stuck on WCotS when it comes to songs. The fear-immunity song can come in handy, and there's a couple of areas in the game where the song that blocks sound-based attacks saves you a lot of pain. [ 01-12-2006, 01:52 AM: Message edited by: Aerich ] __________________ Where there is a great deal of free speech, there is always a certain amount of foolish speech. - Winston S. Churchill

01-12-2006, 07:17 PM	#6
Azred Drow Priestess Join Date: March 13, 2001 Location: a hidden sanctorum high above the metroplex Age: 55 Posts: 4,037	I keep my bard in the back with either the Light Crossbow of Speed or a normal bow and either potions or spells of Haste. I use either that first song (I forget its name) or the War Chant to enhance combat, along with some buffing spells. The War Chant also means that my cleric don't really need healing spells, except in emergencies, freeing up all their spell slots for defensive/buffing spells. I really like the Siren's Call, too--keeps some of your enemies enthralled, so you focus your attacks on the ones who are still moving. This, of course, brings me back to the topic often-discussed here: what new bard songs should be created? To have songs at only 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th level is pretty meager, especially since you can get much higher level in HoW. Of course, I'd have to figure out how to add song buttons, etc. [img]graemlins/saywhat.gif[/img] __________________ Everything may be explained by a conspiracy theory. All conspiracy theories are true. No matter how thinly you slice it, it's still bologna.

01-12-2006, 11:20 PM	#8
Aerich Lord Ao Join Date: May 27, 2004 Location: Canada Age: 43 Posts: 2,061	A song that causes damage (magic-based?), a song (or songs) providing elemental resistance, a song that increases the average damage caused by spells cast by party members (e.g. a superior luck-type song), a song that causes enemies to go beserk. __________________ Where there is a great deal of free speech, there is always a certain amount of foolish speech. - Winston S. Churchill

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01-11-2006, 09:33 PM	#1
Ultra Marine The Magister Join Date: December 27, 2005 Location: Australia Age: 53 Posts: 131	I read so much good stuff about a bard in this board. But mine does nothing much other than shoot arrows, identify stuff, and some mage spells. And he has not got elven chain yet. (just starting dragons eye in Insane). Ok... what have I done wrong? When the bard has to sing in battle, he can't fight else that would cancel his song. Is there a way to select all characters except the bard?

01-11-2006, 10:11 PM	#2
Sir Degrader Thoth - Egyptian God of Wisdom Join Date: November 3, 2001 Location: Canada Age: 64 Posts: 2,871	Besides circling? I haven't tried this, but try SHIFT+CLICK the guys to form groups.

01-11-2006, 10:49 PM	#3
Black Swan Gauntlet The Magister Join Date: August 17, 2005 Location: The Great Forge Age: 36 Posts: 132	Do you have Heart of Winter? If not, your bard's usefulness is effectively halved. In HoW, the extra songs make the bard an essential for any party. That's not to say that a bard isn't good in regular IWD - I always kept one around for Pick Pockets and identifying - but it won't be an excellent character. Typically, a Heart of Winter bard should just sing. Even when you're not fighting, sing (War Chant of Sith works best - Regeneration means that you don't need those pesky healing spells in your cleric's precious spell slots.) As for a regular bard, my best advice is this. Keep her in the back lines with the best bow you can give her, and let her keep all the enchanted ammunition. Armors you should be looking into include the Mail of Life or Ogien's Scale. If you can get Elven Chainmail, all the better - you'll have a powerful ranged combatant that can do some serious area-effect damage.

01-12-2006, 12:49 AM	#4
Ultra Marine The Magister Join Date: December 27, 2005 Location: Australia Age: 53 Posts: 131	I have HoW. But I have not got warchant. Just started dragons eye. It just makes me think about the usefulneess of a bard. Maybe a bard is suited to be added to a party at higher levels of the game where she can advance real fast. Now, she is just soaking up exp from the rest of the party members. Well ... This is my first bard [img]smile.gif[/img] ...

01-12-2006, 08:12 PM	#7
Ultra Marine The Magister Join Date: December 27, 2005 Location: Australia Age: 53 Posts: 131	Some song irritating enough to cause spellcaster to fail in their casting.

01-13-2006, 04:40 AM	#9
Ultra Marine The Magister Join Date: December 27, 2005 Location: Australia Age: 53 Posts: 131	A song to cause direct damage and one that charms people. Simply, making the bard an active player rather than a support.

01-13-2006, 11:09 AM	#10
pritchke Bastet - Egyptian Cat Goddess Join Date: September 5, 2001 Location: Calgary, AB Age: 50 Posts: 3,491	And lets not forget some of the useful instuments that you can find or buy in the game that can be used by a Bard. One horn on particular.

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