Bardaficer?

[Ruhbdahbudah]

So, I was reading through the forums a few days ago and came across a comment about a Bard/Artificer, and my broken mind instantly thought "I want one." So, I was thinking, Arty 12/ Bard 8. I'll be running with 2 other guys sometime in the future, (a WF Fvs and a Helf Monk/FvS), and they need traps and buffs. 12 Arty would give access to all buffs except PfE Mass. I'd be running mostly as support, and the bard would give access to Rage and Haste. Has anyone tried this before, or is it such a stupid idea that I should just scrap it?

[porq]

I'm considering a 15 arty/ 5 bard, or a 15/4/1. 15 gives access to level 6 infusions which means blade barrier, Reconstruct or Deadly Weapons when it is made available but at the cost of poor bard songs, but at least you will be able to CC with fascinate. 5 bard allows you to blur and rage, haste can come from your Armor of Speed.


Another one bouncing around in my head is 12 arty/6 bard/ 2 rogue. Yes, that does mean serious overlap of class abilities for the rogue splash, but the aim is for evasion and haste boost. 6 bard gives you the option for PrE's. Rogue class SA would allow you to be some other race than Half Elf with the rogue dilly, since they do not stack.


I think it's a fine idea for a support character, really. You just need to choose what level of infusions you are willing to stop at and plan accordingly

[Aashrym]

Bard 14 / Artificer 6 gives good IC, tier II bard pre, battle engineer.

[Ruhbdahbudah]

Thanks for responding guys. I've given it some more thought, and I have narrowed it down to four possible builds.
*My original idea, Drow Arty/Bard 12/8. This build would be pure buffs. No DPS Potential aside from what a gimped arty can manage with his X-bow and pew-pew.
*Helf or Drow Arty/Bard/Rogue 12/6/2. Still get Arty infusions, trade Haste/Displacement for Evasion. Not too sure about this one, as my main goal with this toon is buffs... *sigh*
*Drow Arty/Wizard 15/5. This is a cool one. Allows access to Haste, Rage, and Displacement (although can ony have 2 active at once), allows full use of Artificer Infusions, and allows me to use only INT, rather than INT and CHA. Really considering this one.
*Drow Arty/Wizzy/Rogue 12/6/2. Full use of Arty buffs, PM or Arch PrE, and Evasion.

Could use your opinions on all of these, though I am leaning toward either Arty/Bardy 12/8 and Arty/Wizzy 15/5.

[Ruhbdahbudah]

Bard 14 / Artificer 6 gives good IC, tier II bard pre, battle engineer.

Only reason I wouldn't go for this is that I think that Arty buffs would be more valuable to my friends than Bard. It's also faster to reach highest lvl spells with an Arty, which is what I'll need. This is a neat build though, might try it out sometime when I have time. :)

[wax_on_wax_off]

Bard 14 / Artificer 6 gives good IC, tier II bard pre, battle engineer.

If I was deadset on the idea then this is the split that I'd do.

Most other suggestions suffer from getting important/interesting abilities too late.

The above isn't a bad build but when comparing it to a pure or close to pure bard (any PrE) with a THF'ing weapon and decent strength you can buff like crazy, emergency heal, self heal, even raid heal with the correct gear on a pure build, fascinate, OID and more. Bard is an amazingly versatile class and I think that by trying to add more versatility by splashing arti you'll just end up taking it away.

[Aashrym]

Only reason I wouldn't go for this is that I think that Arty buffs would be more valuable to my friends than Bard. It's also faster to reach highest lvl spells with an Arty, which is what I'll need. This is a neat build though, might try it out sometime when I have time. :)

What are you trying to get out of your bard levels, then? 5 bard levels doesn't do much for you and it takes 15 Arti levels to get those high level spells.

[Ruhbdahbudah]

What are you trying to get out of your bard levels, then? 5 bard levels doesn't do much for you and it takes 15 Arti levels to get those high level spells.

I wouldn't go Arty/bard 15/5 EVER. No use. The only reason I wanted to mix the 2 was to get the Arty Buffs as well as Haste and Rage. As it turns out, my friends also recruited a Sorc to run with us, so I'll actually be going pure Arty. Thanks for the help; I'll probably try the Bard Arty 14/6 in a few days (you got it stuck in my head), but not in the same way I wanted this toon to go.

[baii]

16bard/4arti halfling!

All the bard healing goodies
Ac Song + Arti +1Ac + Halfling companion.
2 scroll level from Arti.(CL 13 heal scroll )

Just waiting to unlock Arti Favor ~~

[JasonJi72]

Only reason I wouldn't go for this is that I think that Arty buffs would be more valuable to my friends than Bard. It's also faster to reach highest lvl spells with an Arty, which is what I'll need. This is a neat build though, might try it out sometime when I have time. :)

Arty buffs more valuable than bard?

Anybody else catch this?

This just struck me as odd.

I can see it now...

LFM reads:

Have Arty. No rogue, bard, healer, arcane, needed. WF tank only! :)

[Ruhbdahbudah]

Arty buffs more valuable than bard?

Anybody else catch this?

This just struck me as odd.

I can see it now...

LFM reads:

Have Arty. No rogue, bard, healer, arcane, needed. WF tank only! :)

:P

I have nothing against Bards (love them, played lots, though never capped), it's just that Arty buffs are what my friends said they wanted (after showing them this thread), plus they needed the trapping. Oddly enough, I have seen lfms like that before, 3 or for Artys just asking for a tank.... blatant Classism if you ask me.

[Ruhbdahbudah]

Oh boy, had another Idea....

Bard/Arty/Rogue 16/3/2, Bard for bardic goodness, Arty imbue weaps, repeater/pew-pew prof., and Rogue for evasion... pulling up my char planner, and I'll see if I can make this work...

[Ruhbdahbudah]

Oh boy, had another Idea....

Bard/Arty/Rogue 16/3/2, Bard for bardic goodness, Arty imbue weaps, repeater/pew-pew prof., and Rogue for evasion... pulling up my char planner, and I'll see if I can make this work...

Meh, scrap that idea, takes too long to get to the good stuff...

[Lalangamena]

Oh boy, had another Idea....

Bard/Arty/Rogue 16/3/2, Bard for bardic goodness, Arty imbue weaps, repeater/pew-pew prof., and Rogue for evasion... pulling up my char planner, and I'll see if I can make this work...

16+3+2=21
next expansion maybe?

[Ruhbdahbudah]

16+3+2=21
next expansion maybe?

Lmfao, no more forums at 6 or 7 for me... apparently even basic math escapes me. ^^

[tekkentroop]

I think the 14/6 split is quite interesting, but unfortunately I already got a bard/rogue and a pure artificer and no char slots...

pros: great buffs, good ranged damage, trap skills
cons: only +6 bard songs, no lvl 6 spells, no silver weapons, low hp, no evasion, pet useless

Im not sure what bard PrE is best for this char... Im tending towards spellsinger since the feat requirements for warchanter just dont work with ranged

Human or Drow, stats are pretty comparable, human seems better overall

stats: usual ranged artificer, 16 dex 18 int 14 con, maybe drop some int for 14 cha

8 feats

Point Blank Shot
Rapid Shot
Precise Shot
Improved Precise Shot
IC: Ranged
Toughness
Mental Toughness
Extend (haste, rage, displace)

Enhancements:
Spellsinger 2
Battle Engineer 1
Wand/Scroll mastery IV

[wax_on_wax_off]

I think the 14/6 split is quite interesting, but unfortunately I already got a bard/rogue and a pure artificer and no char slots...

pros: great buffs, good ranged damage, trap skills
cons: only +6 bard songs, no lvl 6 spells, no silver weapons, low hp, no evasion, pet useless

Im not sure what bard PrE is best for this char... Im tending towards spellsinger since the feat requirements for warchanter just dont work with ranged

Human or Drow, stats are pretty comparable, human seems better overall

stats: usual ranged artificer, 16 dex 18 int 14 con, maybe drop some int for 14 cha

8 feats

Point Blank Shot
Rapid Shot
Precise Shot
Improved Precise Shot
IC: Ranged
Toughness
Mental Toughness
Extend (haste, rage, displace)

Enhancements:
Spellsinger 2
Battle Engineer 1
Wand/Scroll mastery IV

Fine with me but go half-elf rogue dilettante for trap sense II, rogue dexterity I and +3d6 sneak attack.

[cru121]

I have two 6/14 builds here: http://ddowiki.com/page/User:Cru121

[jambajuicey]

haste, blur, rage - was surprised nobody said you wouldn't just scroll these as a pure arty (guild vendor for these even).. wax's is a nice if you must splash, but pure arty is nice depending on your build!