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Bards

mashedtatersmashedtaters Member Posts: 2,266
edited March 2016 in Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition
So I've decided to finally buy IWDEE (in conjunction with pre-ordering SoD) because I'm excited for v2.0 coming out.

I have always loved bards in IWD vanilla because those songs freaking rock. I will probably play with a vanilla Bard, or possibly a Skald (although BG Skalds songs are similar/same). Just curious what everyone here prefers to play in their bards.

The most popular seem to be vanilla Bards and Skalds. I have not included the others in this poll.

How do you build your IWDEE party when it comes to bards? If you prefer the other bards, say why (I accidentally started this poll before I had included Blade and Jester kits...or an "other option". Sorry!)
  1. Bards51 votes
    1. Vanilla Bard
      52.94%
    2. Skald
      39.22%
    3. Both Vanilla Bard AND Skald (omg)
        7.84%

Comments

  • FinneousPJFinneousPJ Member Posts: 6,455
    It depends. Normal mode I might go with vanilla but in HoF Skald no question.
  • KamigoroshiKamigoroshi Member Posts: 5,870
    Gotta have lots of beards, dwarves, drums and half-orcs alongside the skald. This makes for a great party on top of the Spine of the World. Just remember to bring the mead, beer and ale along your journey.
  • PteranPteran Member Posts: 388
    Jester is pretty great! I could see why it wouldn't work as well in HoF though, since the enemies get huge boosts to their saves. In that case I would probably go Skald.
  • BelgarathMTHBelgarathMTH Member Posts: 5,653
    Other than the first level bard song that gives +1 to attack and damage, I find the other ones kind of underwhelming. I wind up never using any song but the first one (What is it, "Song of the Three Heroes"?) until level 11 and the learning of the "Sith Chant".

    Now, the "Sith Chant" is arguably better than skald song, because of the bonuses being as good or better than skald song, plus regeneration. But, the skald song gives +2 to hit, damage, and AC. Especially because of the AC bonus throughout the game, I prefer it to the "Sith Chant", which can only be used from level 11 on, and you usually won't hit that until at least halfway through the game.

    This is kind of the same reason I'm not a fan of multi and dual classes. I like an even power curve through all the phases of the game, rather than suffering inconvenience through most of the game content just to wind up with an OP character or party during the late game.
  • JuliusBorisovJuliusBorisov Member, Administrator, Moderator, Developer Posts: 22,754
    After several playthroughs of IWDEE I've come to a conclusion this game is more fun for me when I use only vanilla classes from IWD, it's more challenging. This is why I would choose a Bard now. A skald's song is much stronger.
  • JarrakulJarrakul Member Posts: 2,029
    My preference is for the vanilla bard. The luck song is very strong (it gives something between +.5 and +1 to basically everything, including spell damage per die, and an even larger bonus to saves), and the war chant is really helpful if you, like me, like to minimize resting. If that's not a priority, I'll admit the skald would probably be better overall, but I'm not convinced the difference is overwhelming even there.
  • semiticgoddesssemiticgoddess Member Posts: 14,903
    Siren's Yearning can prevent even more attacks than the Skald's song, and the 10% resistance to damage from the War Chant of the Sith stacks with other resistances. Druid shapeshifts work especially well. And only bards can block the nightmarish sound attacks in HoW, against which there is almost no other defense.

    Vanilla bards have more flexibility. But it does depend on the run. If you have low resistances and high APR in your party, the balance shifts in favor of the Skald.
  • mashedtatersmashedtaters Member Posts: 2,266
    Wow, great discussion. I admit that I have never played a skald, even in BG2. I prefer Rangers and clerics as my Charname, and I like to have dialogue in the party, so I don't bring along any multiplayer npcs.

    For those in favor of the skald, it seems that raw combat boosting ability is his greatest strength, from an early level and continues to be even later in the game. Simpler=better?

    For those in favor of the vanilla bard, it seems that there is more options to strategize. It does seem to be a general consensus that war chant of the sith (Darth Vader) is the strongest song in the game.
  • WowoWowo Member Posts: 2,064
    FinneousPJ wrote: »
    It depends. Normal mode I might go with vanilla but in HoF Skald no question.

    This.

    I really should do a caster/summoner run with:
    Skald
    Bard
    Totemic Druid
    Priest of Talos

    Or something.
  • dok0zhivagodok0zhivago Member Posts: 82
    My number one choice is Jester.

    A fun class, good for crowd control and higher level songs are great for unleashing havoc and mayhem on large monster mobs.
    I also like vanilla bards, good generalists and lucky song & vader song are great.
    Blades I usually play when I want to play fighter/mage but I don't want to play the Fighter/Mage.
    Skalds are overall great warrior boosters.

    Anyhow, Jester all the way.
  • mashedtatersmashedtaters Member Posts: 2,266
    @dok0zhivago
    Does jester abilities work against the undead? There are a lot of undead in IWD.
  • PteranPteran Member Posts: 388
    edited March 2016
    mashedtaters wrote: »
    @dok0zhivago
    Does jester abilities work against the undead? There are a lot of undead in IWD.

    I know it works against Shades (like the many Lesser Shades roaming around outside the Vale of Shadows). I don't recall it working against skeletons. I'd have to test it out against other undead.

    EDIT: After further review, it works against Zombies and Mummies. So even if it's a shambling hunk of rotting flesh, if it has ears it can be affected. If it's just a pile of bones, the song won't work. @mashedtaters I hope that answers your question.
    Post edited by Pteran on
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  • kansasbarbariankansasbarbarian Member Posts: 206
    Plain old vanilla for me.
  • SmilingSwordSmilingSword Member Posts: 827
    It's Skald for buffing and Blade for everything else. I personally don't like using bards, I find them to be too much of a hassle. I don't like prebuffing if I can help it and if I have a bard in your party I can't help it. Blades are disgusting at higher levels, but still a hassle to have around.
  • GrumGrum Member, Mobile Tester Posts: 2,100
    Now I am so tempted to do the following:

    Dwarven Defender
    Half-Orc Barbarian
    Skald
    Bard
    Swash-Fighter
    Shapeshifter

    Even a shapeshifter should do something with double bard song. And the barbarian with leather of resistance and the DD with a great shield...well it would be an impervious front line.
  • PhilhelmPhilhelm Member Posts: 473
    OlvynChuru said:

    My favorite is probably the Blade, but I don't make them dual-wield; instead, I make them wield two-handed swords and halberds. Since those weapons have a high maximum damage, they will deal a lot of damage when the character is under the effects of Offensive Spin.

    Besides, it's good to get prepared for Carsomyr one day.
  • Abi_DalzimAbi_Dalzim Member Posts: 1,428
    I did a Skald run in Baldur's Gate 2 and loved it a lot more than I expected, but I'll be honest: I can hardly contemplate finishing an Icewind Dale run without War Chant of Sith. Compared to Baldur's Gate, enemies in IWD just hit so damn hard, so unlimited healing is just too useful to pass up.
  • CrevsDaakCrevsDaak Member Posts: 7,155
    Logical Solution: If a Skald is good, and a Bard is better, a Bard and a Skald would be much better.

    Powergaming Solution: Bard > Skald, more than a single Bard-classed party member is wasting potentially higher damage output from a Fighter or Wizard or more utility from a Cleric or a Thief.

    When I voted I went for the Logic Solution which isn't the optimal but hey Bards are really cool.
  • FinneousPJFinneousPJ Member Posts: 6,455
    @CrevsDaak I think Skald is definitely the power gaming solution, not vanilla.
  • CrevsDaakCrevsDaak Member Posts: 7,155
    @FinneousPJ not in IwD. The level 11 song is too good to pass up. IMO. Skalds are great anyway, but I feel like vanilla Bards are a bit better (they provide more utility and have a much better late game).
  • sylvanussylvanus Member Posts: 27
    For me it's skald but mainly because a skald just fits the setting so much more.
  • ZilberZilber Member Posts: 253
    I currently have a skald, but I cheated a little, and allowed specialisation in the weapons used (I could also just have rolled a bit longer, but found this a better fit).

    If there were a bard with detect traps as a thief ability instead of pick pockets, that would instantly be my choice.
  • MeandreMeandre Member Posts: 38
    For me, my favorite depends on what I want for my group:

    If I'm looking for a character that perfectly supports and enhances a party that focuses on physical damage, a skald is the way to go.

    If I don't want to burden myself with micro-managing the bard's songs, but still want to get the bard quests and a pickpocketing, spellcasting fighter in my group, I'll take a blade.

    If it's a group that's balanced between the number of warriors and spellcasters, or favors the latter, I'll go with the unbeatable versatility of the vanilla bard's songs.

    On a side note, while I know everyone's crazy for the Warchant of Sith (and it IS great!), I've really come to appreciate the level 9 song "The Syren's Yearning". It's just wonderful for crowd-control; having only one frostgiant hammering away at your fighter instead of five for at least a round is pretty great. Also, making a group on enemies freeze on the spot makes targeting all of them with a skulltrap so much easier. :smile:
  • Abi_DalzimAbi_Dalzim Member Posts: 1,428
    One other thing that hasn't come up: there are some seriously good items that can be pickpocketed in Kuldahar as soon as you arrive. I wouldn't be so quick to sacrifice pickpocketing by going with Skald or Blade when the synergy between Ring of Free Action and Web can get you through so much of the game.
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