Is this a good bard build?

[RmmBR]

After several attempts, this is what I came up with:
http://nwn2db.com/build/?263826

I know it's hard to screw up a 'pure' (you know what I mean, kinda pure) bard, but I wanted this one to do well on solo play. AB isn't high as I wanted it to be and I couldn't find a way of improving it. Leadership replaced Practiced Spellcaster for the IC bonus to remedy the aforementioned issue.

Also (and correct me if I'm wrong), is it worth taking 10 points in Open Lock + 12 (Inspire Competence and Greater Heroism) for the locks in the server?

Anyway, do you guys have any thoughts or suggestions to improve this?

[Sun Wukong]

After several attempts, this is what I came up with:
http://nwn2db.com/build/?263826

I know it's hard to screw up a 'pure' (you know what I mean, kinda pure) bard, but I wanted this one to do well on solo play. AB isn't high as I wanted it to be and I couldn't find a way of improving it. Leadership replaced Practiced Spellcaster for the IC bonus to remedy the aforementioned issue.

It is fine, I would switch that leadership for Northlander Hewing... which I would take little earlier. As you said, your AB is bit on the low side and Northlander Hewing improves the damage you deal whenever you score a hit. You'll fall in love with it.

Also (and correct me if I'm wrong), is it worth taking 10 points in Open Lock + 12 (Inspire Competence and Greater Heroism) for the locks in the server?

Yes. Heck even a single point of open lock is worth it. There are some locks you cannot open, but most will.

[chad878262]

Your AB is fine... 29 + 4 (EB) + 4 (Greater Heroism) + 2 (Bulls STR) + 5 (Inspire Competence) = 44

In a party Legionaire march sets the party BAB to whoever has the highest so that will help as well. I might take a point out of STR and switch one of the Great STR feats for chorus of heroism.

Northern Hewing is not a bad pick, but I might drop leadership and one other feat to get Toughness and Steadfast... Between Superior Resistance and Greater Heroism you'll have solid saves, sucks to roll a 1 when solo, unless you have Steadfast. If you can get DEX to 14 you can drop medium armor and drop battle caster. Mithral Chainmail is only 1 AC less than Mithral Fullplate, and now you can buy a +4 version (only useable by elf, but you have UMD). This means you don't have to use a level 4 slot for Mage Armor.

Finally, realize that a lot of what StormSinger does is better for CHA bards, so you may be disappointed in that class. DC isn't a bad pick, but bonus Epic Feats for truly pure Bard are generally better when going STR Bard. Bard 26/WD (or Rogue, but XP penalty) will get you Evasion/EW, but it really isn't needed with a Bard. It's such a strong class you can afford to build for flavor and you'll still do fine soloing the majority of content.

[RmmBR]

It is fine, I would switch that leadership for Northlander Hewing... which I would take little earlier. As you said, your AB is bit on the low side and Northlander Hewing improves the damage you deal whenever you score a hit. You'll fall in love with it.

I wasn't very familiar with the server-exclusive feats. This one seems amazing!

Northern Hewing is not a bad pick, but I might drop leadership and one other feat to get Toughness and Steadfast... Between Superior Resistance and Greater Heroism you'll have solid saves, sucks to roll a 1 when solo, unless you have Steadfast. If you can get DEX to 14 you can drop medium armor and drop battle caster. Mithral Chainmail is only 1 AC less than Mithral Fullplate, and now you can buy a +4 version (only useable by elf, but you have UMD). This means you don't have to use a level 4 slot for Mage Armor.

This leads me to another question: how high should my UMD be?

Finally, realize that a lot of what StormSinger does is better for CHA bards, so you may be disappointed in that class. DC isn't a bad pick, but bonus Epic Feats for truly pure Bard are generally better when going STR Bard. Bard 26/WD (or Rogue, but XP penalty) will get you Evasion/EW, but it really isn't needed with a Bard. It's such a strong class you can afford to build for flavor and you'll still do fine soloing the majority of content.

Really? I was counting on a decent output for abilities such as Storm of Vengeance and the Greater Call Lightning effects. Well, this takes things to another level, I suppose.
I made a DC variant here: http://nwn2db.com/build/?263837 what do you think?

Are there any recommended weapon types I should focus on? RP-wise, does DC require me to focus on my deity's chosen weapon?

Also (and again, correct me if I'm wrong), if I take 4 DC levels that would make me 30 CL considering Practiced Spellcaster, right? In that case, am I allowed to take Weapon Mastery (melee) as a bonus feat even though I don't have Fighter levels?

[chad878262]

DC 4 in epics will net you another epic feat...even if the list to pick from is smaller. Notice the custom requirement for Divine Champion on this server which requires lore:religion - 3. You can find custom changes here: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=49041

We don't have sacred vow as far as I'm aware. Custom Feats are here: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=49036

DC Bard needs high CHA to increase the DC of Bard Songs, including Stormsinger songs. A DC Bard example:

http://nwn2db.com/build/?239491

It's less than optimized, though I did adjust the stats and you can adjust them further for Aasimar. Your songs from Bard and StormSinger are based on Charisma so if you go STR bard you should only plan around the effects that occur when the enemy makes their saves. So for instance Storm of Vengeance would only give a bonus 3d6 Acid damage per round, which is fine, but won't really help you. The 6d6 Electrical damage is much more beneficial, but the biggest win is the stun effect which you won't get often unless you have a decent DC, meaning a high Charisma.

[RmmBR]

DC 4 in epics will net you another epic feat...even if the list to pick from is smaller. Notice the custom requirement for Divine Champion on this server which requires lore:religion - 3. You can find custom changes here: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=49041

Whoa. I think I can get Epic Prowess now and reach AB 31. Updated: http://nwn2db.com/build/?263837

We don't have sacred vow as far as I'm aware. Custom Feats are here: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=49036

Oh, I picked that representing Northern Hewing!

It's less than optimized, though I did adjust the stats and you can adjust them further for Aasimar. Your songs from Bard and StormSinger are based on Charisma so if you go STR bard you should only plan around the effects that occur when the enemy makes their saves. So for instance Storm of Vengeance would only give a bonus 3d6 Acid damage per round, which is fine, but won't really help you. The 6d6 Electrical damage is much more beneficial, but the biggest win is the stun effect which you won't get often unless you have a decent DC, meaning a high Charisma.

You're right. In the end I was just trying to get the best out of both CHA-based and STR-based worlds without acheiving much in any of them. Thank you!

[Sun Wukong]

The thing about Storm of Vengeance is that it will work even with lousy saves. It is an AoE effect with acid damage that deals 105~ points on average, with a possibility of dealing much more damage whenever the opponent fails their reflex save. (Evasion has no effect here, unless there is some custom server change I haven't noticed.)

Thus you just need to know how to use the spell. In otherwords, you collect a group of monsters and let the Storm of Vengeance deal damage on all of them while your bard focuses on a single target at a time. It is almost like watching a hot knife sink into a block of butter.

[dzidek1983]

If you have Curse Song and Lingering Song then its a good bard build

[chad878262]

The thing about Storm of Vengeance is that it will work even with lousy saves. It is an AoE effect with acid damage that deals 105~ points on average, with a possibility of dealing much more damage whenever the opponent fails their reflex save. (Evasion has no effect here, unless there is some custom server change I haven't noticed.)

Thus you just need to know how to use the spell. In otherwords, you collect a group of monsters and let the Storm of Vengeance deal damage on all of them while your bard focuses on a single target at a time. It is almost like watching a hot knife sink into a block of butter.

I don't see Any custom changes to this spell, how is it doing 105 damage on enemies that pass their saves?

Edit : I get it, 105 over 10 rounds, but thing is song/ hymn will do that in one round and half as much to other enemies. The cool down is only 2 minutes and for the first minute it's active, plus it's far less expensive and offers no save. Song of requiem is a great epic leveling tool, its fast superior in damage, but the sun effect of SoV is great for DC Bards

[RmmBR]

Right, there's a way of squeezing Stormsinger in this build apparently: http://nwn2db.com/build/?263857

Pros:
- Since there's no room for Chorus of Heroism, Great Strength comes in and with that 1 extra AB.
- Stormsinger abilities (SoV seems great, but what about the others? Call Lightning? Great Thunderstrike? Worth the shot?)
- Stormpower Perform and caster level increase (although that only counts for Stormsinger's abilities, right?)

Cons:
- Fewer skills and, with that, no way of getting Spot
- No Chorus of Heroism

Other than that, the build looks pretty much the same to me.

What do you guys think?

[Sun Wukong]

The other Stormlord weather songs can be used... But I would expect the mobs to make their saves. Thus personally I would go for Stormlord just to get access to the Storm of Vengeance, which works as an alternative against any possible sonic resistance or immunity.

But yeah, your build should work.