Favored Bard - looking for feedback to improve

[kazlady]

So the purpose of this build is to be able to buff both divine and arcane, heal moderately well, fascinate in the few circumstances you need it and still be able to hit something when there's nothing else I can do. Let me know your thoughts...other than start from scratch. I'm looking for constructive tweaks. Not rebuilds from scratch.


Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.16.01
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Easier To Pronounce
Level 20 True Neutral Human Female
(6 Bard \ 14 Favored Soul)
Hit Points: 352
Spell Points: 1674
BAB: 14\14\19\24
Fortitude: 19
Reflex: 15
Will: 27

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Modified Stats
(34 Point) (Level 1) (Level 20)
Strength 11 13
Dexterity 10 12
Constitution 16 19
Intelligence 14 16
Wisdom 8 10
Charisma 17 27

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 1
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 1
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 1
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 1
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 1
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 1

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 20)
Balance 5 10
Bluff 8 13
Concentration 8 31
Diplomacy 8 17
Disable Device n/a n/a
Haggle 4 8
Heal 2 26
Hide 1 1
Intimidate 4 8
Jump 1 1
Listen 0 0
Move Silently 1 1
Open Lock n/a n/a
Perform 8 35
Repair 3 3
Search 5 8
Spot 0 0
Swim 1 1
Tumble 5 9
Use Magic Device 8 33

Notable Equipment
Alchemist's Crown
Alchemist's Pendant
Vibrant Purple Ioun Stone (Unsuppressed)
Belt of the Mroranon
Epic Belt of the Mroranon
Ring of Performing +13
Gauntlets of Eternity (Upgraded)
Gauntlets of Eternity
Cannith Boots of Propulsion
Telvi's Touch
Ethereal Bracers
Dragontouched Breastplate
Supreme Tyrant Green Steel Goggles of Mineral
Elyd Edge

Level 1 (Bard)
Feat: (Human Bonus) Extend Spell
Feat: (Selected) Force of Personality
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Ranger
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song I
Enhancement: Improved Perform I
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic I
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music I


Level 2 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Deity) Favored by the Sovereign Host
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Improved Concentration I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic I


Level 3 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Spell
Enhancement: Favored Soul Improved Empowering I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Wand and Scroll Mastery I


Level 4 (Favored Soul)
Enhancement: Favored Soul Charisma I


Level 5 (Favored Soul)
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Charisma I
Enhancement: Improved Concentration II
Enhancement: Improved Heal I
Enhancement: Improved Heal II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic II


Level 6 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Favored Soul Bonus) Energy Resistance: Fire
Feat: (Selected) Heighten Spell
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery II


Level 7 (Favored Soul)
Enhancement: Unyielding Sovereignty (Favored Soul)


Level 8 (Favored Soul)
Enhancement: Favored Soul Improved Empowering II


Level 9 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Selected) Quicken Spell
Enhancement: Favored Soul Charisma II


Level 10 (Favored Soul)
Enhancement: Improved Heal III
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic III


Level 11 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Favored Soul Bonus) Energy Resistance: Electricity
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic IV


Level 12 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Toughness I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Toughness II


Level 13 (Favored Soul)
Enhancement: Favored Soul Toughness III


Level 14 (Favored Soul)
Enhancement: Favored Soul Toughness IV


Level 15 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Selected) Skill Focus: Perform
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Smiting I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Smiting II


Level 16 (Bard)
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage I
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song I


Level 17 (Bard)
Enhancement: Human Greater Adaptability Constitution I
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Song I


Level 18 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Favored Soul Prayer of Smiting I
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Wand and Scroll Mastery II


Level 19 (Bard)
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music II


Level 20 (Bard)
Enhancement: Bard Spellsinger I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Prayer of Incredible Smiting I
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Incredible Song I

[cru212]

Okay. So this is a non-standard split :) And you don't want to change. And generally does not bring much to a party, except healing sprinkled with some early bard buffs. And the -10% spell cost song.


Here are some suggestions:

Consider FvS 13 / Bard 7. Bard 7 gives you displace and haste, and you have extend.

Before TRing, look at Scepter of Healing or Moonhowl Axe.

Ditch Heighten Spell perhaps? What do you intend to heighten? With only 6-7th level spells... Ditch second Toughness. Ditch Skill Focus: Perform. Consider Maximize, Empower Healing... even Mental Toughness. You could also take some dragonmarks perhaps. This looks like a flavor build mostly after all. Perhaps Dragonmark of Finding to be useful end game?

Take bard scroll/wands mastery instead of fvs one, it's stronger.


Alternatively, consider Cleric 12 / Bard 8 (warchanter). Strength based melee. Her Inspire Courage would be a solid +5 attack / +6 damage. Radiant Aura + Blade Barrier + Rage/Haste/Displace.


Generally, these kind of splits take a long time to bloom (acquiring the best bits rather late)... And even then, they are still weak. So.. that's my opinion. Good luck.

[kazlady]

Okay. So this is a non-standard split :) And you don't want to change. And generally does not bring much to a party, except healing sprinkled with some early bard buffs. And the -10% spell cost song.


Here are some suggestions:

Consider FvS 13 / Bard 7. Bard 7 gives you displace and haste, and you have extend.

Before TRing, look at Scepter of Healing or Moonhowl Axe.

Ditch Heighten Spell perhaps? What do you intend to heighten? With only 6-7th level spells... Ditch second Toughness. Ditch Skill Focus: Perform. Consider Maximize, Empower Healing... even Mental Toughness. You could also take some dragonmarks perhaps. This looks like a flavor build mostly after all. Perhaps Dragonmark of Finding to be useful end game?

Take bard scroll/wands mastery instead of fvs one, it's stronger.


Alternatively, consider Cleric 12 / Bard 8 (warchanter). Strength based melee. Her Inspire Courage would be a solid +5 attack / +6 damage. Radiant Aura + Blade Barrier + Rage/Haste/Displace.


Generally, these kind of splits take a long time to bloom (acquiring the best bits rather late)... And even then, they are still weak. So.. that's my opinion. Good luck.

Thanks for the feedback. I had considered the 13/7 split, but do you think it's still a buyoff given that I lose cure light mass?

[cru212]

I don't know. Going Cleric instead of FVS would allow you to get both.

Also, bard 16 / something 4 (e.g. additional bard 4). Problems: less SP, less HP. Benefit: chance to leverage the high charisma for some CC.

[SealedInSong]

is that you?

Hi!

[savingsoul]

You'll notice from my recent postings that I've been exploring the druid class. Well, the OP on this thread got me thinking. I think that the OP bard/fvs build is seriously flawed, and the one I'm proposing here is also kind of weird. Still, if you're going to do something along these lines, it would be better to combine druid (divine) with wizard (arcane) for a nice blend of buffs. Also, since the general idea is to be useful--a utility build--why not include the ability to disable traps. To top it off, this build is str based and can engage in perfectly respectable melee.

Some Perks:
- Cleave and Great Cleave (You probably *don't* want to use power attack because the BAB is low due to the multiclassing and wizard splash; however, you *do* want to spam cleave and great cleave.)
- Stunning Blow
- 3 x Natural Fighting
- Winter Wolf or Dire Bear
- Evasion
- Fatal Harrier and Reaving Roar


USEFUL BUFFS

DRUID (12 levels)

Self
----
Ram's Might
Animal Growth
Fire Shield
Enveloping Swarm
Longstrider


General
------
Barkskin
Stoneskin
Freedom of Movement
Death Ward
Resist Energy
Protection from Energy
Mass Longstrider
Jump
Merfolk's



Wizard (6 levels)

Self
----
Displacement


General
------
Haste
Blur
Rage
Heroism



Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.16.01
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Weird Druid (2Rog-6W-12D)
Level 25 Neutral Good Human Female
(2 Rogue \ 6 Wizard \ 12 Druid \ 5 Epic)
Hit Points: 364
Spell Points: 1152
BAB: 13\13\18\23
Fortitude: 13
Reflex: 12
Will: 15

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Modified Stats
(32 Point) (Level 1) (Level 25)
Strength 16 28
Dexterity 12 16
Constitution 14 16
Intelligence 16 18
Wisdom 10 14
Charisma 8 10

Tomes Used
+3 Tome of Strength used at level 11
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 11
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 11
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 11
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 11
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 11

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Human Bonus) Power Attack
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Feat: (Automatic) Attack
Feat: (Automatic) Heroic Durability
Feat: (Automatic) Light Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Rapier
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Shortsword
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Shortbow
Feat: (Automatic) Simple Weapon Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Sneak
Feat: (Automatic) Sneak Attack
Feat: (Automatic) Trapfinding


Level 2 (Rogue)
Feat: (Automatic) Defensive Fighting
Feat: (Automatic) Evasion
Feat: (Automatic) Sunder
Feat: (Automatic) Trip


Level 3 (Druid)
Feat: (Selected) Cleave
Feat: (Automatic) Call Wolf Companion
Feat: (Automatic) Dismiss Charm
Feat: (Automatic) Druidic Oath
Feat: (Automatic) Druidic Spontaneous Casting
Feat: (Automatic) Goodberry
Feat: (Automatic) Magical Training
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Scimitar
Feat: (Automatic) Medium Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Shield Proficiency (General)
Feat: (Automatic) Wild Empathy
Spell (1): Charm Animal
Spell (1): Cure Light Wounds
Spell (1): Entangle
Spell (1): Faerie Fire
Spell (1): Jump
Spell (1): Lesser Vigor
Spell (1): Longstrider
Spell (1): Magic Fang
Spell (1): Maul
Spell (1): Merfolk's Blessing
Spell (1): Pass Without Trace
Spell (1): Produce Flame
Spell (1): Ram's Might
Spell (1): Shillelaugh
Spell (1): Summon Nature's Ally I
Spell (1): Takedown


Level 4 (Druid)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Druid Wild Shape) Wild Shape: Wolf


Level 5 (Druid)
Spell (2): Align Fang
Spell (2): Animal Trance
Spell (2): Barkskin
Spell (2): Bear's Endurance
Spell (2): Bull's Strength
Spell (2): Cat's Grace
Spell (2): Creeping Cold
Spell (2): Eagle's Spendor
Spell (2): Fire Trap
Spell (2): Flame Blade
Spell (2): Flaming Sphere
Spell (2): Fog Cloud
Spell (2): Fox's Cunning
Spell (2): Gust of Wind
Spell (2): Hold Animal
Spell (2): Lesser Restoration
Spell (2): Owl's Wisdom
Spell (2): Pack Presence
Spell (2): Resist Energy
Spell (2): Roar
Spell (2): Splinterbolt
Spell (2): Summon Nature's Ally II


Level 6 (Druid)
Feat: (Selected) Great Cleave


Level 7 (Druid)
Feat: (Druid Wild Shape) Wild Shape: Bear
Spell (3): Baiting Bite
Spell (3): Call Lightning
Spell (3): Contagion
Spell (3): Cure Moderate Wounds
Spell (3): Dominate Animal
Spell (3): Neutralize Poison
Spell (3): Poison
Spell (3): Protection From Energy
Spell (3): Quench
Spell (3): Remove Disease
Spell (3): Salt Ray
Spell (3): Shred
Spell (3): Sleet Storm
Spell (3): Snare
Spell (3): Spiderskin
Spell (3): Spike Growth
Spell (3): Summon Nature's Ally III
Spell (3): Vigor
Spell (3): Water Breathing


Level 8 (Druid)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Automatic) Improved Wild Empathy


Level 9 (Druid)
Spell (4): Cure Serious Wounds
Spell (4): Dispel Magic
Spell (4): Enveloping Swarm
Spell (4): Flame Strike
Spell (4): Freedom of Movement
Spell (4): Harrowing Pack
Spell (4): Ice Storm
Spell (4): Mass Lesser Vigor
Spell (4): Mass Longstrider
Spell (4): Rising Fury
Spell (4): Summon Nature's Ally IV


Level 10 (Druid)
Feat: (Druid Wild Shape) Wild Shape: Winter Wolf
Feat: (Automatic) Poison Immunity


Level 11 (Druid)
Spell (5): Animal Growth
Spell (5): Call Lightning Storm
Spell (5): Cold Breath
Spell (5): Cure Critical Wounds
Spell (5): Death Ward
Spell (5): Greater Vigor
Spell (5): Pack Aptitude
Spell (5): Panacea
Spell (5): Reincarnate
Spell (5): Stoneskin
Spell (5): Summon Nature's Ally V
Spell (5): Wall of Fire


Level 12 (Druid)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Natural Fighting


Level 13 (Druid)
Feat: (Druid Wild Shape) Wild Shape: Dire Bear
Spell (6): Fire Seeds
Spell (6): Fire Shield
Spell (6): Frostbite
Spell (6): Greater Creeping Cold
Spell (6): Greater Dispel Magic
Spell (6): Mass Bear's Endurance
Spell (6): Mass Bull's Strength
Spell (6): Mass Cat's Grace
Spell (6): Mass Eagle's Spendor
Spell (6): Mass Fox's Cunning
Spell (6): Mass Owl's Wisdom
Spell (6): Mass Vigor
Spell (6): Summon Nature's Ally VI
Spell (6): Tenacious Pack
Spell (6): Tremor
Spell (6): Word of Balance


Level 14 (Druid)


Level 15 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Extend Spell
Feat: (Selected) Natural Fighting
Feat: (Automatic) Inscribe Wizard Scroll
Spell (1): Nightshield
Spell (1): Feather Fall
Spell (1): Expeditious Retreat
Spell (1): Detect Secret Doors
Spell (1): Tumble
Spell (1): Protection From Evil


Level 16 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Automatic) Inspire Competence
Spell (1): Shield
Spell (1): Magic Missile


Level 17 (Wizard)
Spell (2): Invisibility
Spell (2): Blur


Level 18 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Natural Fighting
Spell (2): Lesser Death Aura
Spell (2): See Invisibility


Level 19 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Maximize Spell
Feat: (Automatic) Suggestion
Spell (3): Rage
Spell (3): Haste


Level 20 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: STR
Spell (3): Heroism
Spell (3): Displacement


Level 21 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Bludgeoning Weapons


Level 22 (Wizard)


Level 23 (Wizard)


Level 24 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Overwhelming Critical


Level 25 (Wizard)
Enhancement: Rogue Skill Boost I
Enhancement: Druid Aggravate I
Enhancement: Druid Aggravate II
Enhancement: Druid Beastial Nature I
Enhancement: Druid Beastial Nature II
Enhancement: Druid Fatal Harrier
Enhancement: Druid Nature's Warrior I
Enhancement: Druid Nature's Warrior II
Enhancement: Druid Reaving Roar
Enhancement: Druid Shifting Rake I
Enhancement: Druid Shifting Rake II
Enhancement: Druid Vengeful Hunter I
Enhancement: Druid Vengeful Hunter II
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Strength I
Enhancement: Human Greater Adaptability Dexterity I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery III
Enhancement: Human Versatility I
Enhancement: Human Versatility II
Enhancement: Human Versatility III
Enhancement: Human Versatility IV
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity I
Enhancement: Druid Strength I
Enhancement: Druid Strength II
Enhancement: Druid Wisdom I
Enhancement: Druid Wisdom II
Enhancement: Druid Toughness I
Enhancement: Druid Toughness II
Enhancement: Druid Toughness III
Enhancement: Druid Toughness IV
Enhancement: Rogue Improved Trap Sense I




Let me know what you think.

[savingsoul]

See https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/418521-The-Chameleon-Ultimate-quot-I-Can-Do-Everything-quot-Character