New bard

[rinsche999]

I'm thinking of rolling a bard, didnt like the hack and slash of a barbarian. im planning of being mostly a buffer to parties and having some decent heals too. mostly just supporting the party with some less then decent mele too. thanks !

[Mad_Bombardier]

"Bards make everything better." :)

[nbhs275]

if healing, buffing and CC are your aims, i would tell you that your best bets are either a drow or human bard, with maxed cha, and empower healing, extend and mental toughness as some of your first feats. Take spell singer, and depending on your outlook on songs and spells, take a level of sorcerer for a healthy boost to your mana pool. Put points into your healing enhancments, and try to get items like the reaver gloves and DQ helmet, so that your healing stays constant no matter whats in your hands.

[COBHCLambofgod]

dont take a level of sorc because you gonna miss out on level 6 spells and youll want those if your a CCer.

[maddmatt70]

I didnt hear anything about ccing from the poster so I am going to assume that the poster is not interesting in that as much. I would also add halfling for races to the list. Some possible options for you:

Halfling Level 16 bard
Feats:
Least dragonmarks of Healing
Lesser dragonmarks of Healing
Greater dragonmarks of Healing
power attack
weapon focus piercing (or slashing if you plan to use two handers then cast 1st level spell and use greataxes)
empower healing

Key Enhancements: take the warchanter speciality, get lingering song 4, inspire attack 3 and inspire damage 3, and bard song magic 4.

Starting Stats with 4 level ups for 32 pt: 13 str, 10 dex, 15 con, 8 int, 8 wis, 18 +4 cha. (either this or go 12 str, 10 dex, 16 con, 8 int, 8 wis, 18 +4 cha)
Starting Stats with level ups for 28 pt: 12 str, 10 dex, 14 con, 8 int, 8 wis, 18 + 4 cha.
Key skill: umd..

Note: with this build I would seriously consider a sorc splash at level 17 when the cap expands to 18 but you will miss out on a +1 to hit and damage at level 20...

Human level 16 bard
Feats:
power attack
weapon focus piercing (or slashing if you plan to use two handers then cast 1st level spell and use greataxes)
improved crit piercing (or slashing if you plan to use two handers then cast 1st level spell and use greataxes)
empower healing
mental toughness
improved mental toughness
Skill Focus Umd/Quicken spell (not sure if you will have enough sp for quicken with this build, but if you do this feat is really nice for big battles and makes you a much more legit healer).

Key Enhancements: take the warchanter speciality, get lingering song 4, inspire attack 3 and inspire damage 3, and bard song magic 4.

Starting Stats with 4 level ups for 32 pt: 14 str, 8 dex, 16 con, 8 int, 8 wis, 18 +4 cha.
Starting Stats with level ups for 28 pt: 14 str, 10 dex, 14 con, 8 int, 8 wis, 18 + 4 cha.
Key skill: umd..

Note: with this build I would seriously consider a sorc splash at level 17 when the cap expands to 18 but you will miss out on a +1 to hit and damage at level 20...

Drow 16 level bard
Feats:
power attack
weapon focus piercing
empower healing
mental toughness
improve crit piercing/improved mental toughness / Skill Focus Umd /Quicken spell (not sure if you will have enough sp for quicken with this build, but if you do this feat is really nice for big battles and makes you a much more legit healer). You have to choose 2 of the 4 best options here, but since I dont how much melee your interested in doing I cant make that determination.

Starting Stats with 4 level ups for 32 pt: 14 str, 10 dex, 14 con, 8 int, 8 wis, 20 +4 cha.
Starting Stats with level ups for 28 pt: 14 str, 10 dex, 12 con, 8 int, 8 wis, 20 + 4 cha.

Key Enhancements: take the warchanter speciality, get lingering song 4, inspire attack 3 and inspire damage 3, and bard song magic 4.

Key skill: umd..

Note: with this build I would seriously consider a sorc splash at level 17 when the cap expands to 18 but you will miss out on a +1 to hit and damage at level 20...

Overall Notes: Since your not interested in cc, but more interested in buffing, healing, and fighting I would prefer warchanter over spellsinger. Warchanter provides better buffs in particular for 12 person raids. 6 person quests the buffs are more equal especially with the added benefit of spellsinger saving the other casters 10% spell points. Saves are on the low side with these builds except for the halfling build. My bards have similiar starting stats, but I dont have any problems with my bards' saves especially because bards get reflex and will as primary class saves. Your melee to-hit might not be great because of the low strength so you will often have to have power attack off, but one nice trick to compensate is to get some divine power clickies which gives you an extra attack and a higher to hit. Use displacement, fearsome items, and stoneskin scrolls instead of putting a huge effort into ac..

The build that most intrigues me is the halfling build this is in part because I have a human warchanter and drow spellsinger already, but not a halfling bard which would be fun to play. The healing dragonmarks saves spell points and provide some nice healing power although without improved crit your going to get a little less melee punch. An additional nice benefit with halflings is they get a +4 to possible saves and the developers have been talking about fixing the halfling enhancement line of halfling companion which if they did would be cool for a bard..

Edit: whoops forgot extend feat for halfling replace empower healing with extend. for human take extend over skill focus umd/quicken or sub out improved crit and for drow take extend and then choose one feat between skill focus umd/improved crit/imrpoved mental toughness...