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Kaeso
2012-01-21, 05:58 PM
It's all in the title.
What are some good spells for a bard that wants to focus on melee combat?
Coidzor
2012-01-21, 06:56 PM
Whirling Blade is a good one. Mirror Image. Haste.
Flickerdart
2012-01-21, 07:08 PM
Bladeweave (SPC) is absolutely brilliant. Swift action activation, lasts rounds/level, dazes things you hit in melee if they fail a Will save. 2nd level.
Clawhound
2012-01-21, 07:10 PM
Any spell with a V only component. Bypass armor check penalty. There's some fun spells in there.
Hiro Protagonest
2012-01-21, 07:22 PM
Any spell with a V only component. Bypass armor check penalty. There's some fun spells in there.

Bards can cast without spell failure in light armor.
Kaeso
2012-01-21, 07:59 PM
Whirling Blade is a good one. Mirror Image. Haste.

What's the source on whirling blade?
Coidzor
2012-01-21, 08:02 PM
What's the source on whirling blade?

Complete Arcane, IIRC. I think there's a similar spell in the Spellbook on the WotC website though.

Makes one's sword based attack effect a line of enemies.
Daer
2012-01-21, 08:57 PM
otto's resistible and irresistible dance
Optimator
2012-01-21, 09:39 PM
Greater Mirror Image, Greater Blink, Empyreal Ecstasy
Mystral
2012-01-21, 10:08 PM
War cry is nice. Bonus Damage ist great, but causing panic with a level 1 spell is golden.
Flickerdart
2012-01-21, 10:11 PM
War cry is nice. Bonus Damage ist great, but causing panic with a level 1 spell is golden.
War Cry is a 4th level spell. Where did you get 1st from?
Bloodgruve
2012-01-21, 11:57 PM
Inspirational Boost, swift action and adds +1 to your inspire courage. Spell Compendium

Melee bards are fun,

Blood~
NikitaDarkstar
2012-01-22, 03:23 AM
War Cry is a 4th level spell. Where did you get 1st from?

Sorry but Spell Compendium says it's a lvl 2 spell for bards.

Anyway, more suggestions? I might not be the OP, but I'm running a fighter/bard gestalt atm so this thread is useful for me too. XD
Mystral
2012-01-22, 05:56 AM
Yeah, my bad, level 2. Still great, though.
Clawhound
2012-01-22, 05:05 PM
Bards can cast without spell failure in light armor.

I played a dwarf bard in heavy armor and a tower shield. It was a crazy idea, but kinda worked. V spells were absolutely necessary unless the spell was an out-of-combat spell.
Flickerdart
2012-01-22, 05:19 PM
Sorry but Spell Compendium says it's a lvl 2 spell for bards.
Well, that is quite amusing. War Cry was reprinted in the SpC, it would seem, and changed quite a bit - I was looking at the CAdv version. The SpC version takes precedence, naturally.

If that wasn't dumb enough, there is also a 3rd level Bard spell Warcry from the BoED.
NineThePuma
2012-01-22, 05:26 PM
Well, that is quite amusing. War Cry was reprinted in the SpC, it would seem, and changed quite a bit - I was looking at the CAdv version. The SpC version takes precedence, naturally.

If that wasn't dumb enough, there is also a 3rd level Bard spell Warcry from the BoED.

Do they all do the same thing?
SiuiS
2012-01-22, 05:30 PM
Improvisation (I think? Improvisational boost maybe?) gives you a number of points equal to double your caster level. You can, once per round, spend a number of these points (up to half your CL) to add them to a d20 roll. It may be equal to CL and not double CL for points gained... My character had a high enough caster level that it didn't matter...
Flickerdart
2012-01-22, 05:32 PM
Do they all do the same thing?
The SpC rewrite changes some stuff about War Cry (duration is now 1 round rather than rounds/level, and it only works on a charge). The BoED Warcry is a different spell entirely.