Bard songs and how to use them?

[Zanniej]

Can someone explain to me what bard song is for what, and when it's best used?

[Steve]

Hahahahaha! The bard that knows not his power!!!

[Zanniej]

Hahahahaha! The bard that knows not his power!!!

I don't have to over optimize everything to have fun!
As a matter of fact, I don't even know how to play this game! lol

[Steve]

Well then Mr. Non-Opto...shall we get technical?

There is Bard Inspirations and Bard Music. Which are you looking to learn about?

[Zanniej]

The inspirations I get . . . but the music?

[Steve]

You use Music to either: a) dominate your foes, b) escape without worry, c) totally help your group dominate the battle field.

And then there is Curse Song. Which just seriously hurts any foes in your bard path.

[Blackman D]

before you go testing them out and ask whats wrong, yes the description on the songs about the DCs is not accurate, some of them are higher than what is listed the DC should come out to be

[Zanniej]

Thanks both of you so far, but I've got more questions!
I get the songs that can help you escape, but which help you dominate? As far as I see most songs end as soon as you take a hostile action. Did I just not reach the greater songs yet?

[Considerate_]

I think what he means by dominate is control.

You can control the battlefield by incapacitating foes, keeping them out of the fight with two of Musics - one is AoE and one is singletarget. The single target one is more effective as I recall.

I can try and go over the songs one by one, but admittedly I don't have a whole lot of experience mechanical-wise with the bard - so bear with me and feel free to offer any suggestions/alterations if you have them

Songs

(Req: 1st level, Perform 3): This song puts a buff on the targeted ally that lasts for 10 rounds or until discharged. Any hostile magic spell that would affect the countersong's target has to make a Spell Resistance check of 10 + levels of bard the singer possesses. Whether the spell is blocked or not, the counter-song is discharged.

This spell is useful as a prebuff against an enemy you know often starts out with a powerful spell. Provided the spell resistance does anything against them at that level! I must confess I've never used it.

(Req: 1st level, Perform 3): Every hostile creature within 90 feet must make a Will save (against a DC of 11 + 1/2 the bard's level + the bard's Charisma modifier). This is an enchantment (compulsion) mind-affecting ability. If the target fails this save, then they are dazed for as long as the song is playing and the bard is within 90 feet of them. If a creature is attacked, or is within 10 feet of a creature being attacked, the effect ends for that creature, though anyone who fails their saving throw will be dazed for at least one round. There is a cool down of 10 rounds before this ability can be used again. Fascinate affects up to one enemy per level of the bard.

This your AoE control song, if surrounded by enemies it might prove a useful distraction - cast it and run away to draw the foes at least 10 feet away from those who failed the save. Then slaughter the 'unlucky' ones that made the save.

(Req: 3rd level, Perform 6): This song renders all enemies who fail a Will save (DC 11 + 1/2 the bard's level + the bard's Charisma modifier) to be unable to attack the bard, unless the bard takes hostile action against them or their allies (for example, attacking or casting a harmful spell). The Fascinate and Cloud Mind songs do not count as hostile actions.

This is a get-out of trouble free card. Use it if you want to make an escape, or need a little extra time to regroup or recover. As I understand it, if you attack with this spell on it will break - regardless of whether the enemies are within 10 feet of each other or not.

Cloud Mind
(Req: 6th level, Perform 9): This is a more potent, single-target version of the Fascinate bard song. The saving throw DC is increased to 14 + 1/2 the bard's level + the bard's Charisma modifier, and enemies being attacked nearby don't break the effect. There is a 5-round cool down before this ability can be used again.

Powerful version of Fascinate, it only works on one target but it's good and gives you a very good control tool.

(Req: 9th level, Perform 12): This song provides damage reduction 5/- to the party for 4 rounds.

Damage reduction is nice, especially if you and your party are getting hit often! With the feat Lingering Song, it works for almost a full minute.

(Req: 12th level, Perform 15): At 12th level a bard gains a song that will break curses and enchantments on allies with a check of the bard's level at DC (11 + caster level of the effect to be dispelled)

Know that annoying feeling when the heavy hitter in your group gets hit by daze? This is for that

Song of Heroism
(Req: 15th level, Perform 18): This song inspires either the bard or a single targeted ally. For 5 rounds, the inspired creature gains +4 dodge bonus to AC and +4 morale bonus to saving throws. Additionally the inspired creature gains +4 temporary hit points per level. There is a cool down of 20 rounds before this ability can be used again.

This one is awesome +4 dodge bonus is the cake in my book, everything else is just topping for the cake... but good topping

(Req: 18th level, Perform 21): This song inspires all allies within 60 feet. The game determines the highest base attack bonus of all allies in the area of effect, and all affected characters now use this as their new base attack. All affected characters get a +4 competence bonus to damage rolls, as well. This ability lasts for 10 rounds. There is a cool down of 5 minutes (game time) before this ability can be used again.

Having the BAB of a fighter is going to make even your wizard slap those poor NPC mobs around. It's good fun and makes you an absolutely awesome buffer

(Req: 1st level, feat):

Hurts stuff.


I hope that was at least a little helpful, feel free to poke in for clarifications on individual songs if you want it




\\Edit: the descriptions I've copy-pasted straight from the NWN2 wikia, so they might not be entirely accurate when it comes to DCs, both due to custom changes and NWN2 being wonky.

[Duster47]

(Req: 1st level, feat):

Hurts stuff.

Just how much you wonder? From my experience, whatever bonus' your Inspire Competence adds (+AB, +Save, etc.), a Curse Song will detract from your affected foes. There is no save versus Curse Song (unless deaf). After a few levels, Curse Song also adds sonic damage.

[Tsidkenu]

Curse song table of penalties/damage is on the nwn2 wiki.

And I'd just like to point out that the DC on the Fascinate song is broken; it is only ever 10+ CHA mod, making it useless against all but the lowest level creatures.

[Blackman D]

yea but it upgrades to heaven song with is utterly broken and the DC is way higher than it should be because it seems to add in your perform skill and full bard level, so instead of 11 + 1/2 bard + cha, being like a DC 36 -if- you had a +10 cha mod, people can easily get DC 40+ on a high level bard

[Zanniej]

Just noticed I haven't thanked you all for your input so:
Thanks a lot! That's really helpfull.

[Storm Munin]

Example:

Gallant Bard blocker:
Aura of despair -2 to all saves within affected area.
(Improved aura of despair -4 to all saves within affected area.)
Cast Mind Fog for -10 to will saves within affected area
hit curse song once enough enemies swarm you.

Hidden casterbuild:
Cast will save spell.

Gallant Bard blocker:
Mop up.

WIN.

[Zanniej]

Nice one, thanks!