Ranger or Bard, which has more dialogue/role play options?

ReadingRambo

Hey guys, putting my party together I've come to the conclusion that according to what I want, I simply can't have a ranger and a bard in the same party.

So which class offers more role play type options? They are mutually exclusive in the party I'm creating.

booinyoureyes

Bards have multiple unique dialogue options, including one that grants extra experience in the beginning of the game, and a chance to perform music in exchange for a diamond!
As far as I know there is no such options for rangers, so I would say bards.

JuliusBorisov

Words, not swords!

or even better: Songs, not swords!

Cedeos

Bards - and not only for the class itself but also for the somewhat higher stats you will probably have with this class (INT and CHA).

Kenji

Rangers' Tracking ability actually adds depth to most of the areas you explore. Not really something as direct as Bards having dialogue options, but I do like having a Ranger (archer) around just to read the textual description of the area.

booinyoureyes

bengoshi said:

Words, not swords!

This would be good advice for everybody in the real world too.

Redrake

There are certain situations where a ranger can also have specific dialogues. For example, a ranger can warn the ogre in Kuldahar Valley not to harm the villagers (not that there are any left). Bards do get more quests, rewards and some experience. Early on there's a quest for bards in Easthaven and later on, having a bard can help you make a certain character quit the fight altogether.

Fardragon

Stats wise, there are some wisdom based options, usually along the lines of "I sense a disturbance in the force". The ranger will probably have a higher wisdom than the bard.

Redrake

Well, having extra Wis on a bard can be useful. Wis adds lore (if it's above 15), so the bard can be even more of a loremaster. There's also a certain item which only bards can use, that casts heal and requires a bard with 13 Wis.
Wis is wasted on a ranger, but they do have the highest rolls, so is often possible to build a ranger with 18 in 4 attributes.

RAM021

Redrake said:

Well, having extra Wis on a bard can be useful. Wis adds lore (if it's above 15), so the bard can be even more of a loremaster. There's also a certain item which only bards can use, that casts heal and requires a bard with 13 Wis.

Except at 10 Lore/lvl (5 for Skalds), bonus Lore due to high Wisdom is rapidly mitigated by naturally high Lore.

The Heal Item is obviously beneficial however.

luskan

Higher wisdom on a bard will help with Limited Wish, if that's your sort of thing.