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View Full Version : Building a bard



Shinizak
2009-06-17, 11:48 PM
I'd like to see your best bard builds, mostly because I've heard that if you build them right they can easily beat even the most powerful caster builds senseless. I'd don't really know much about this class so feel free to share your thoughts.

Sstoopidtallkid
2009-06-18, 12:09 AM
Bard can't beat a full-caster(Wizard, Sorc) without becoming a full-caster itself(Sublime Chord), but that says more about the full-casters than the Bard. The key with a Bard is to ignore the 'Jack-of-all-Trades' fluff and pick one thing to focus on. Got a large party? Optimize Inspire Courage to add 20d6 damage to all their attacks. Missing a caster? Take Sublime Chord to turn yourself into a Sorcerer. Need a Glass Cannon? Snowflake Wardance allows you to fight like a Rogue. They're tough to build well, but they can excel in whatever they specialize in.

Keld Denar
2009-06-18, 12:10 AM
This thread may be of interest to you. Couple cookie cutter bard builds in there. Basically, anything that gives you 10/10 levels of Sublime Chord (Complete Arcane) casting makes you effectively a Bard AND a Sorcerer at the same time. Why just be a Sorcerer?

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115297

Other bard builds get really convoluted..

Savage Bard from UA is used to get into Ur-Priest (Complete Divine) and then into Sublime Chord which are both advanced by Mystic Theurge. This really isn't much of a Bard though, more like the obscenely powerful bastard child of an evil cleric and a starlusting sorcerer. Gets 9th level spells in both Arcane and Divine. Then there are really wonky things you can do with Sublime Chord and the Master Spelltheif feat from Complete Scoundrel to get a pretty disgusting CL so you can walk around and Blasphemy things to death with ease.

Then there are Bardblades and Bardsaders. Hybred Bard combined with the Warblade or Crusader classes from Tome of Battle. They mesh together with the Song of the White Raven feat, found in ToB. Now you have a melee combatant who inspires courage like a 20th level bard, but kicks ass like a 19th level Initiator. Lots of fun, especially if you take Dragonfire Inspiration from Dragon Magic and max out your Inspire Courage in various ways. Boost Time Stands Still to get 2 full attacks, and take like, 20 attacks that all get +12d6 energy damage with Rabid Mongoose. You can generate thousands of damage very easily that way.

So yea...what do you really want your bard to do?