How to play bards right?
BelegCuthalion
Member, Mobile Tester Posts: 453
I'm a BG veteran, but i think despite being interested a lot in the class, i have only played a bard once a long time ago as main character, and i think not very effective or to her potential ... Currently i'm playing an evil group with Eldoth, but again i'm not sure i'm using him right, not even singing seems to work as i'd expect ...
So acting as if i'm a total noob – could anyone tell me how to use bards with songs and all in BG1 (but also going on into BG2 and ToB)? Eldoth primarily, but any other bard flavour alike as i'd like to make a run with a Bard sooner or later ... singing, spells, fighting – how do you do it as a bard?
Bonus question: how do bards in IWD differ besides there more effective songs there? Somehow my impression is i can use them well in IWD, but not in BG.
So acting as if i'm a total noob – could anyone tell me how to use bards with songs and all in BG1 (but also going on into BG2 and ToB)? Eldoth primarily, but any other bard flavour alike as i'd like to make a run with a Bard sooner or later ... singing, spells, fighting – how do you do it as a bard?
Bonus question: how do bards in IWD differ besides there more effective songs there? Somehow my impression is i can use them well in IWD, but not in BG.
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Bards in general are my favorite class, mainly because they can be used to fit any role. That's why it's hard to figure out how to use them, because there are so many uses. They can be used as buffers, through spellcasting and singing, backup archers, or even faster-leveling fighter/mages. It depends on where the stats go, and unfortunately for Eldoth, he doesn't have stats in the right places.
In IWD, bards get a lot of special interactions with NPCs, as well as numerous items only they can use. That's basically it.
Hope this helps. I'm sure there are people on the forums who know how to play bards better than I do, but still.
People like to play bards as buffers, but I don't.
The nicest thing to do is be a Jester and sing invisible among the enemies. In BG1 specifically it's devastating. When they are close to kill each other, just get out and throw a Skull Trap to get the XP for killing.
Other than that, they're a catch-all utility class. Decent access to weapons, a few spells, and the ability to use wands and scrolls means they can fill whatever role you want them to, though keep in mind they won't be terribly good at any of it. I'd definitely second @Raduziel in recommending spells that scale with level, as their quick leveling means their spells will hit harder than a wizard's with the same XP. Add Spook to the list of spells that would take good advantage of that.
One thing I always do with my bard characters is load them up with spells that my current full wizard party member can't cast because of their specialization. Bards are generalist in wizardry, so at least they can learn all arcane spells, up to their spell level cap, of course.
While singing is effective no matter what, I find it best with a large mob or a particular sturdy creature, anything that lets you get the biggest bang for your buck out of the bonuses it applies to the party. Also singing works best with a martial-heavy party (save for when you're playing a Jester, naturally,) so if you prefer casters, there's really not much point in singing.
Follow up questions ...
If I play a mainchar bard, do I get it right that blade is somewhat like fighter mage and maybe the most untypical bard kit (i think I plaxed that before)? jester and skald are rather clear to me - is it worth to ever play an unkitted bard in BG1/2?
Rogue rebalancing mod: do I want it if playing a main char bard? I usually play with SCS mod at core rules or slightly above, so I can make use of some extra power maybe coming with RR, but i dont want to powerplay, it has to be a fair challenge.
RR is a must in any playthrough with a thief or bard, even if they're not the main character.
Those kits from vanilla game are kind of lame IMHO. All of them prejudice you in the long run.
Da Bard
SongPlain Bard song resets party member morale back to normal, and removes nonmagical(?) fear from anyone suffering from it. It also gives Protection from Fear while it is playing.
Unlike IWD, it doesn't improve AC, Thac0 or skills. If you would like your song to do that, play the Skald kit.
Spells
Bards can be your secondary spell caster in BG. They do not get as many spells per level as a mage or sorcerer, but do get a handful. At 7th level they get 3/2/1. You can do 3 protection from petrification spells (if taking on basilisk), saving your mage's first level spells for something more potent.
A bard's spell casting should either compliment another spellcaster (taking spells they cannot cast like Nercomancy spells with Quayle), compliment their playing style (prebuff spells like luck, pfe, stoneskin for tanking), or scenario saving spells (Resist Fear, Identify, Friends, Dispel Magic) where you don't need to rely on casting them for every battle or scenario and your mage spell slots can be saved for something else.
Lore
A bard's lore score is its best feature IMO. Identifying items right away without having to either trek back to town, waste first level spell slots from your mage or stalk up on scrolls. It saves time and dilemmas on what should you identify first scenarios: The short sword +1, or the 10 arrows +1. Bards can do both (as long as Wis wasn't their dump stat).
Scrolls and Wands
Bards can use them while wearing armour. So go nuts with the monster summoning, fireballs, fear, and my favourite: paralyzation.
Pickpocket
Meh it is there allowing your thief to skip the skill if needed. Most of the good stuff to pick (cloak of Balduran for example) is late game where your bard's skill will be over 50%.
Fighting
So where ever the bard is doing, he is doing it in a secondary roll. He won't have a high of a thaco as an elven (bows) or halfling (sling) thief for range, nor will have a warriors thac0 in melee. But they can be great support with the right weapons. Unlike all other non-warrior classes, a bard can choose any weapon to become proficient in and use.
The Chelsey Crusher is a great weapon for them to use because their APR is already 1.
The Army Scythe is also good for bards allowing them to get 2 APR with a crossbow instead 1.
Mithral Chain (Drizzt) or Elven Chain (Dorn Personal Quest) can be worn by bards and allows them to cast spells while equipped, so seek either one of them out if you want your bard striding into the fray.
I know this thread is about BG1, but I'd say blades must be even more powerful in BG1, since BG1 has less magic and more physical fighting, and the level 6 spells limit is irrelevant.
From a role playing perspective, though, I don't like the concept so much. The fact that a bard is by far the most powerful melee character doesn't make much sense to me.
@elminster confirmed this in another thread.
(1) Identifying Items
- Don't underestimate this. It's actually very useful. Saves you time, money and/or spell slots.
(2) Wands/lvl 1 spells
- There are so many wands and so much gold in BG1 that you can get by with a bard using wands for all of your magic needs. Summon monsters and fireball are extremely powerful. Paralyze will end tough fights before they begin. Bards hold onto these and are tougher than mages. So a point goes to them there.
- They also are higher level than mages, which scales nicely with magic missile and chromatic orb. They can cast enough of those to be relevant when not using wands.
(3) Backup Archer
- Ranged weapons are powerful in BG1. Bards can have the Army Scythe or the returning throwing axe. Very useful indeed.
Bards in BG2...really just means Haer'Dalis.
(1a) Give him Belm for his offhand, which pushes him up to 3APR.
(2) Eventually give him the Scarlet Ninjato for his main hand, giving him 4APR.
(3) He can do offensive spin, giving him 5APR and max damage.
(4) He can tank really well with stoneskin and mirror image. He can also AC tank with his defensive spin.
(1b) Or when he gets HLAs get him the improved bard song, and he gives major buffs to the entire party.
(2) Then give him defensive items. Such as the AC shields that nobody else uses, some good armor, helmet, perhaps the defender of easthaven for his main hand and the like. Throw on his defensive spells and he will tank like nobody's business while buffing you to oblivion and back.
So yeah, I'd say that's what bards are good for.