DFI Optimization?

[MesiDoomstalker]

I've heard and read about DFI Bards giving parties fistfuls of d6 fire damage to their attacks. Something like 14d6 or so. Higher than a straight Bard can achieve pre-epic. How? I assume its the equivalent of Nightsticks and Extra Turning for DMM: Persist Clerics in the cheese department.

On a related note: What other things should a DFI Bard want to pick up? PrC's, Items, spells and such. Assuming the party is mostly melee-based.

[gorfnab]

Breaking Down Inspire Courage Optimization, Handbook Edition (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=9830)

{Bard (4) + Inspirational Boost spell (1) + Song of the Heart feat (1) + Badge of Valor magic item (1)} x Words of Creation feat (2) = +14 Inspire Courage or 14d6 damage from DFI

[Aegis013]

Inspirational Boost spell from SpC.
Vest of Legends from MiC.
Badge of Valor from MiC.
Words of Creation feat from BoED.

These are all good things for DFI. Words of Creation in particular if the DM allows the double to apply to additional boosts to Inspire Courage.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Start here. (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?PHPSESSID=ag2tpoqbv950adt7p9vpteqds0&topic=8284.0)

Generally, you go Silverbrow Human with Melodic Casting and DFI, pick up Song of the Heart in place of Suggestion, and get Words of Creation. With a Badge of Valor and casting Inspirational Boost, that will give you 7d6 at 6th level, which goes up to 9d6 at 8th level.

It is possible to have both a DFI and a regular Inspire Courage going at the same time. Get a Harmonizing weapon or Lingering Song, start one type of inspiration the first round, and do the other one the second round. You can also have multiple DFI Bards with different Draconic Heritage feats (via a Sorcerer dip with the Dragonblood Sorcerer sub level) providing as many dice of different energy types to the party.

Typical Bard optimization applies otherwise, which should include Sublime Chord and ways to advance it. Bard 8/ Virtuoso 2/ Sublime Chord 2/ Virtuoso 8 is pretty standard.

[MesiDoomstalker]

Start here. (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?PHPSESSID=ag2tpoqbv950adt7p9vpteqds0&topic=8284.0)

Generally, you go Silverbrow Human with Melodic Casting and DFI, pick up Song of the Heart in place of Suggestion, and get Words of Creation. With a Badge of Valor and casting Inspirational Boost, that will give you 7d6 at 6th level, which goes up to 9d6 at 8th level.

It is possible to have both a DFI and a regular Inspire Courage going at the same time. Get a Harmonizing weapon or Lingering Song, start one type of inspiration the first round, and do the other one the second round. You can also have multiple DFI Bards with different Draconic Heritage feats (via a Sorcerer dip with the Dragonblood Sorcerer sub level) providing as many dice of different energy types to the party.

Typical Bard optimization applies otherwise, which should include Sublime Chord and ways to advance it. Bard 8/ Virtuoso 2/ Sublime Chord 2/ Virtuoso 8 is pretty standard.

What if your are stuck in a race that does not have a [Dragonblooded] variety and don't have Templates as an option?

Also: Source books for everything would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the quick responses!

[kardar233]

Also try the Masterwork Natural Horn (Song and Silence, maybe?) for an extra +1.

[TiaC]

What if your are stuck in a race that does not have a [Dragonblooded] variety and don't have Templates as an option?

Also: Source books for everything would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the quick responses!
Probably your best option then is sorcerer into Prestige Bard. IC starts later but advances faster.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

There's a feat in Dragon Magic called Dragontouched that gives you the dragonblood subtype and allows you to take Draconic Heritage even if you don't have Sorcerer levels.

Source for almost anything (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/lists), the handbook I linked should have everything I mentioned with sources so just ctrl-F that for anything. Most items can be found in MIC, otherwise check DMG2, CM, and CC. You can also google just about anything to find out what book it's from.

[Dictum Mortuum]

Also note that normal inspire courage + power attack (with two-handed weapon) is on par with dragonfire inspiration.

[Malroth]

For the 2 handers maybe, but for the duel weilders, archers, summons, animal companions, followers, charmed enemies, and wizards polymorphed into hydras DFI is the better choice

[Slipperychicken]

Also note that normal inspire courage + power attack (with two-handed weapon) is on par with dragonfire inspiration.

2H Power Attack would yield 2 damage per IC point (and only 1 for non-two-handers). DFI yields average of 3.5 per IC point for everyone, even if they don't have Power Attack.

DFI is much better, especially if your party has attack-spamming builds like TWF, archery, and thrown (for which Power Attack isn't applicable).

If the party is reeeaaallly having trouble hitting (as in, only hitting on a 17), then you might blow a Bardic Music to switch it back to regular Inspire Courage +Tohit.

[MrLemon]

@Slippery: You forgot the +1 IC does to damage, so with a 2H-weapon +1 IC & PA equals +3 damage. Also, no fire resistance applies.

But you're basically right, DFI > IC in most (as in more than half) cases