Wood elf bard

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The Whistler
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Wood elf bard

Unread post by The Whistler »

http://nwn2db.com/build/?238213
r8 and deb8. It's supposed to be used with a mithral breastplate, and +4 CHA item btw.

I've heard that bards steamroll end content but when I rolled up one in JEG's, it had abysmally low AC for my tastes (I guess I'm too used to my 64 AC sorc). But what I really want to know, is EW worth the sacrifice (namely dodge, mobility and practiced spellcaster) I'm making ? Thanks in advance.
Schrödinger's Cyricism: NPCs simultaneously know everything and nothing about Cyric until observed by the Cyricist. Then they default to the state that disadvantages the Cyricist the most.
chad878262
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Re: Wood elf bard

Unread post by chad878262 »

Bards don't need EW to get hits. My bard/fighter is level 25 and steamrolls with AC usually around 37, though he can use a shield wand and chorus of heroism to hit 45 for a short period. Mirror images offer protection from mobs and ethereal visage, displacement/greater invisibility and Requiem take care of bosses. My ranger/Assassin with decent epic gear is about 50/50 if he tries Chaos. My Bard/Fighter recently started trying him out and has yet to go lower than half health.

In short I think dodge/mobility is too expensive unless for rp purposes. STR bard doesn't need EW.
Chord Silverstrings - Bard and OSR Squire / Tarent Nefzen - Arcane Wand Merchant and Master Alchemist / Irrace Arkentlar - Drow Adventurer / Finneaus Du'Veil - Gem Merchant and Executive Officer of SCCE

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The Whistler
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Re: Wood elf bard

Unread post by The Whistler »

chad878262 wrote:My ranger/Assassin with decent epic gear is about 50/50 if he tries Chaos. My Bard/Fighter recently started trying him out and has yet to go lower than half health.
I'm looking to fry bigger fish. Dracolich and above. How does bard fare against those big bads ?
Schrödinger's Cyricism: NPCs simultaneously know everything and nothing about Cyric until observed by the Cyricist. Then they default to the state that disadvantages the Cyricist the most.
Ivan38Rus
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Re: Wood elf bard

Unread post by Ivan38Rus »

The Whistler wrote:http://nwn2db.com/build/?238213
+4 CHA item
reported for harassment and white privilege
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Uranus
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Re: Wood elf bard

Unread post by Uranus »

This build will be able to solo everything but the White Dragon. You only need to familiarise your self with the bard songs and inspirations - the timing of the songs is very important, you can solo the balor with no gear but a sword, if you time them correctly.

About the dodge/mobility for evasion/EW. Definetely worth it. Without Evasion/EW you can solo the Balor but it will require more tactics and effort. Players here give too much credit to Expose Weakness because it is only EW that they see. The one feat that allows you to solo bosses is not EW but evasion, because the problem is not so much that damage you give, but the damage you take. Evasion is what makes a bard able to solo the dracolich - breat weapons, flame arrows etc. Without it, it is a much more difficult task. You can skip EW and take just evasion and you will bury those bosses with ease.

Personally I would bite the XP penalty and go bard/rogue. However the skill bonus on perform makes the investment of those two feats no so bad.
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The Whistler
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Re: Wood elf bard

Unread post by The Whistler »

I thought we concluded on me being transwhite, Ivan. I am in no way privileged.

Uranus, your forum handle makes me chuckle but I believe your advice is sound; thanks for chiming in. I believe I might go rogue after all, seeing as I'll be able to land at level 25. That will soften the blow some.
Schrödinger's Cyricism: NPCs simultaneously know everything and nothing about Cyric until observed by the Cyricist. Then they default to the state that disadvantages the Cyricist the most.
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Uranus
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Re: Wood elf bard

Unread post by Uranus »

The Whistler wrote:I believe I might go rogue after all, seeing as I'll be able to land at level 25. That will soften the blow some.
Level 25 is great. However be prepared for some pain, although if i remember you will be able to go up and down the graypeaks at that level for high teens XP.
The Whistler wrote:Uranus, your forum handle makes me chuckle
Its the planet :D
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freekender
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Re: Wood elf bard

Unread post by freekender »

I recently made another wood elf bard. Trying to figure out how to build Myru I asked for advice on the forums too. I finally decided to make her Bard 22 / Diss.Chord 5 / Rogue 3. I chose DS mainly because RP aspects of the char, but I'm enjoying the mechanic aspects of the PrC. Here is the link to the thread, I hope it to be helpful for you.
Myrualae - Chantress of Doron Amar
Snow - Sorcery and carrots!
Gomez de Aguirre - The Fabulous Knight of the Mystic Fire
Uelaereene Sai'zzel - Once I saw the stars...
Lilly Sai'zzel - Stormy snowflake
And more...
Boddynock
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Re: Wood elf bard

Unread post by Boddynock »

Ivan38Rus wrote:
The Whistler wrote:http://nwn2db.com/build/?238213
+4 CHA item
reported for harassment and white privilege
Triggered!
Liam the Golden
Illdraen, Guerilla Skirmisher of Sshamath
Guy "Knife-Ears" Masterson
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"Liam the Golden, so I have heard,
Yet truly none can polish a...
" - Ameris Santraeger, 2016
chad878262
QC Coordinator
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Re: Wood elf bard

Unread post by chad878262 »

The Whistler wrote:
chad878262 wrote:My ranger/Assassin with decent epic gear is about 50/50 if he tries Chaos. My Bard/Fighter recently started trying him out and has yet to go lower than half health.
I'm looking to fry bigger fish. Dracolich and above. How does bard fare against those big bads ?
Still figuring out the mechanics and then he will go after the bigger fish! :P

Search Naked Bard (if you haven't already) and you will see...
Chord Silverstrings - Bard and OSR Squire / Tarent Nefzen - Arcane Wand Merchant and Master Alchemist / Irrace Arkentlar - Drow Adventurer / Finneaus Du'Veil - Gem Merchant and Executive Officer of SCCE

Tarent's Wands and Elixirs

A Wand Crafter's guide to using wands
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