Haer'Dalis has taught me something
kaffekoppen
Member Posts: 377
Bards aren't terrible at all. For years I've played this game and I've never seriously used a bard, ever. I think part of the blame rests with Garrick and the rest with me for not looking closely enough enough at the kits.
I wasn't really expecting him to perform well at all (it still kind of *looks* like a poor man's fighter with low level spells), but I'll admit it, I was wrong. It's also a more interesting class than most. I'm now thinking I might want a blade charname in the future.
I know this thread is kind of random. Just a bit of unexpected love for the bards from here.
I wasn't really expecting him to perform well at all (it still kind of *looks* like a poor man's fighter with low level spells), but I'll admit it, I was wrong. It's also a more interesting class than most. I'm now thinking I might want a blade charname in the future.
I know this thread is kind of random. Just a bit of unexpected love for the bards from here.
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Comments
But seriously, there's no time to buff in there and I think blades really need to buff to be good.
The class overall is greatly underappreciated though, it's nice to see it getting some recognition for once.
Defensive spin=TEN AC bonus! In BG1 what other character can get to -7 AC? Nobody!
Plus your skull trap and fireball will destroy things in the early game since they level up faster
Bards are also rather useful at high levels. Spike traps, UAI and Enhanced Bard Song? Yes please!
@The discussion about AC in BG1: I'm sure I had Kagain at lower than -10 AC permanently, but I can't remember exactly how much.
In any case, the lore and pick pockets penalties are really non-issues due to potions of master thievery stacking, and because lore will be high enough anyway.
+ Default Bard Song is improved
+ Bards can now progress to level 8 spell memorization and can memorize more spells per spell level
+ Blades start with 3 pips in Two-Weapon style
+ Blades get the new ability "Weapons Display"- opponents must save vs. spell or suffer morale failure, and allies get bonus to hit rolls
+ Blades get Whirlwind as an HLA pick
+ Scribe Scrolls HLA is way better, allowing you to scribe any spell that you have memorized
o Huge changes to HLA's as a whole that fit Bards better, but may not be more powerful
- No Use Any Item
- Blades can't take Enhanced Bard Song to cancel one of their kit drawbacks
It really looks like it buffs Blades considerably- Whirlwind and the improved spellbook look insane, they were already mini-Mages but now they're only missing the few useful level 9 spells. Bards don't even miss UAI that much since they've already got access to scrolls, wands, any weapon type, etc. Really looking forward to installing this.
@Mitchfork: I think it's a good move that blades can't take Enhanced Bard Song. I think that's what makes blades best currently (at ToB level). With one HLA their only significant drawback is gone. Overall the rebalancing looks quite sensible. I'm not sure how it works out with level 8 spells. Could be quite crazy actually. Even level 6 spells are very powerful (PfMW & Improved Haste alone are amazing).
@kaffekoppen Yeah, that's always kind of bugged me even though I haven't played Bard PC's. Seems like a lot of the HLA tables could have used refinement, but they just didn't have time during the ToB release cycle.
You buff before you enter the pits.
It's not like you don't know you're about to fight. You buff then talk to Baeloth. ("irl" you'd imagine you were buffing just outside the gates of the arena.)
Rogue Rebalancing is amazing! I use it too. It makes the three pips in dual wield automatic for blades, which leaves so many proficiencies open. You can use any of those awesome items no one else has.
Also blades actually do get use any item, which is nice for scarlet ninja to and for Carsomyr when you want a major dispel. My blade is currently dual wielding scarlet ninja to in the offhand and celestial fury in his main hand.
Elven chainmail or melodic chain and you get good AC. But the spins are what make him awesome. The -10 to AC with defensive spin makes him an excellent tank. My blade can get to -24 AC with the defensive spin right now. Granted it stops movement, but he can just sit and attack and cast spells with no interruption. All of this plus mirror image, plus blur, plus stoneskin, plus protection from magical weapons=tank.
Offensive spin kills everything. With a strength item and the gauntlets that add 2 thac0 and 1 damage, he hits often (4.5 attacks) with added 2 to thac0 and 2 to damage from the spin... and all attacks do MAXIMUM damage... so awesome.
Plus the harps that you can get are amazingly useful and no one else can use them other than a super high level thief with Use Any Item
Plus he can even use the Robe of Vecna or Ring of Acuity. 20d6 skull traps with like 1 second casting times while level 13 wizards are still using their little 10d6 fireball? Gimme
Haer'Dalis, though, is pretty darn awesome. Part of that is personality (where does he get around referring to my character as his? Pretty brave of him.). Part of it is that the Blade is a pretty fun kit. If only he had some more hitpoints... he sort of falls over when things look at him funny. But he's a blast to play.
I generally always thought if I fell in to the BG world, I'd probably end up a Bard, so I like the class. You can just use them as walking identifying scrolls who sing occasionally, that's true: and, honestly, in my last playthrough of BG, that's basically what I used Garrick for. And the identification and song are indeed awesome. But blades spins? Pretty darn cool as well. One of my favorite kits.
and after a little while, Ruby Ray of Reversal
Spell Sequencer: stoneskin (always use protection first) + enchant weapon + spell thrust
If HP drops below 50%: Contingency Flesh to Stone + Slow
Just watch out for Wild Surge: Enfeeblement or Haste
In case your Stoneskin accidentaly breaks: Spell Trigger Invisibilty + Improved Haste +Shadow Door
:O
Yes, and Bards get UAI as a HLA at level 25 I believe. So the skull trap wouldn't be that fast but it does do significantly more damage than a mages for most of SoA