Looking for Bard/dps build

[~Xakan]

I'm looking for a bard build that has some dps to it. I have found some bard/barb/fighter builds but they are really dependent on epic grinds and tomes that are above +3.

I'm a 32 point build with all races/classes unlocked.
Any advice would be great. thx.

[Fahrenheit]

I'm looking for a bard build that has some dps to it. I have found some bard/barb/fighter builds but they are really dependent on epic grinds and tomes that are above +3.

Outside of Bard/Barb Warchanters, Bards and DPS go together like NASCAR and french wine.

[unbongwah]

I don't know what Fahrenheit is talking about. There are plenty of DPS Warchanter builds which do pretty good DPS on their own and boost the party's overall DPS. Some stay pure, but most I've seen take one or more of the following splashes: fighter for feat(s), martial weapon proficiencies, and +1 STR enh (ftr 2); barbarian for run speed boost, martial weapon proficiencies, and Rage; or rogue for trap skills, sneak attacks, and Evasion. I like rogue / bard / fighter myself, but there are other good combos. EDIT: the Axesinger is the go-to build of choice, I think.

Did you have a preference as to race, THF vs TWF, etc.?

[Chai]

Outside of Bard/Barb Warchanters, Bards and DPS go together like NASCAR and french wine.

I see plenty of good DPS bards at high levels including epic. They grind just as hard as everyone else. 18/2 fighter, 18/2 rogue, 16/2/2 fighter rogue - etc.

[~Xakan]

any chance i can get a link to a good 15/3/2 bard fighter rogue build. i cant seem to find any good ones

[stormarcher]

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=253687

or the axesinger build.

[~Xakan]

Any recommendations for tweaking that for a drow. I have unlocked drow a while ago but have not found any good drow builds. heh.

[HGM-Chi]

any chance i can get a link to a good 15/3/2 bard fighter rogue build. i cant seem to find any good ones

I don't think most people are likely to elect to go 3 fighter over 3 rogue in this type of split, which is why you can't find one. The only benefit the fighter level gives you is a couple extra HP. The rogue level gives you an extra d6 to sneak attack damage, plus another rogue level to boost rogue skills.

The axesinger and wrecker builds linked above are both good options of the 15/3/2 Bard/Rogue/Fighter split.

[HGM-Chi]

Any recommendations for tweaking that for a drow. I have unlocked drow a while ago but have not found any good drow builds. heh.

Drow make good pallies and wizzies. Go with one of those classes for your drow if you'd like to play one.

[~Xakan]

i don't care what order the fighter rogue order is.

[stormarcher]

Any recommendations for tweaking that for a drow. I have unlocked drow a while ago but have not found any good drow builds. heh.

Um.

Sorry but.. Why Drow??? If you wanted to tweak it go ahead you wouldn't loose to much DPS but you would loose some

[~Xakan]

So i should avoid elf and drow for a bard?

[stormarcher]

i don't care what order the fighter rogue order is.

you should cause 2 fighter 3 rogue is better then 3 fighter 2 rogue for the reasons that HGM said

[ragwa1]

wf 16/2/2

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=236283

[Thanimal]

So i should avoid elf and drow for a bard?

Please understand all of the following is with respect to optimality. As always, you can play anything you want if you find it more FUN!

Sadly, Elf and Drow are just not very good, and seem to be getting relatively worse as new material increases the importance of HP relative to other defenses.

For a melee Bard, those are the two worst choices. They offer almost nothing that you want, and it's impossible to get reasonable hit points. I specifically address Drow in the Axesinger thread, relatively near the beginning.

For a pure caster Bard (which is frankly a dubious concept right now) Drow would probably be OK.

Drow can be good arcanes if you can tolerate poor hit points and prefer a style that requires huge DCs on your spells. In theory they are good Paladins, but you better invest heavily in Toughness and Toughness enhancements. I find Humans easier to build. Elf can be a Favored Soul 18/Monk 2 with longswords -- but even there I think cforce's Human unarmed variant is superior.

See my Favorite Builds page for links to almost everything I mention above.

Hope this helps and HAVE FUN out there!

[unbongwah]

Any recommendations for tweaking that for a drow. I have unlocked drow a while ago but have not found any good drow builds. heh.

Here's my version:

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.34
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 True Neutral Drow Female
(2 Fighter \ 3 Rogue \ 15 Bard) 
Hit Points: 220
Spell Points: 468 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 10
Reflex: 16
Will: 9

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             16                    22
Dexterity            16                    18
Constitution         12                    12
Intelligence         14                    14
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma             12                    15

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 8

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               7                     8
Bluff                 1                     2
Concentration         3                    24
Diplomacy             5                    25
Disable Device        6                    24
Haggle                5                     8
Heal                 -1                    -1
Hide                  3                     4
Intimidate            1                     2
Jump                  6                     9
Listen               -1                     1
Move Silently         3                     4
Open Lock             7                    14
Perform               n/a                  25
Repair                2                     2
Search                6                    26
Spot                  3                     5
Swim                  3                     6
Tumble                4                     5
Use Magic Device      5                    25

Level 1 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+4)
Skill: Concentration (+2)
Skill: Diplomacy (+4)
Skill: Disable Device (+4)
Skill: Haggle (+4)
Skill: Jump (+3)
Skill: Open Lock (+4)
Skill: Search (+4)
Skill: Spot (+4)
Skill: Tumble (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+4)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 2 (Bard)
Skill: Concentration (+2)
Skill: Perform (+5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (1): Cure Light Wounds


Level 3 (Bard)
Skill: Concentration (+2)
Skill: Diplomacy (+2)
Skill: Haggle (+2)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Fighting
Spell (1): Focusing Chant


Level 4 (Bard)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (1): Grease


Level 5 (Bard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (2): Cure Moderate Wounds
Spell (2): Blur


Level 6 (Fighter)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Piercing Weapons


Level 7 (Rogue)
Skill: Disable Device (+3)
Skill: Open Lock (+4)
Skill: Search (+3)


Level 8 (Bard)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Diplomacy (+2)
Skill: Perform (+3)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+3)
Spell (1): Expeditious Retreat
Spell (2): Rage


Level 9 (Bard)
Skill: Concentration (+4)
Skill: Diplomacy (+2)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Skill Boost I
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage I
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song I
Enhancement: Bard Warchanter I
Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack I
Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage I
Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage II
Enhancement: Improved Spell Resistance I
Enhancement: Fighter Item Defense I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Bard Charisma I
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I
Enhancement: Bard Wand Mastery I


Level 10 (Bard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (3): Displacement
Spell (3): Good Hope
Spell (2): Soundburst


Level 11 (Bard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (3): Haste


Level 12 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Critical: Piercing Weapons


Level 13 (Bard)
Skill: Concentration (+2)
Skill: Diplomacy (+2)
Skill: Perform (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+2)


Level 14 (Bard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (3): Cure Serious Wounds
Spell (4): Cure Critical Wounds
Spell (4): Freedom of Movement


Level 15 (Bard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Spell (4): Dimension Door


Level 16 (Bard)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 17 (Rogue)
Skill: Disable Device (+4)
Skill: Open Lock (+2)
Skill: Search (+4)


Level 18 (Bard)
Skill: Concentration (+2)
Skill: Diplomacy (+2)
Skill: Perform (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+2)
Feat: (Selected) Quicken Spell
Spell (4): Shout
Spell (5): Greater Heroism
Spell (5): Mass Cure Light Wounds


Level 19 (Bard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (5): Shadow Walk


Level 20 (Bard)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song II
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song III
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack III
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery III
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage III
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song II
Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack II
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music I
Enhancement: Bard Charisma II
Enhancement: Bard Charisma III
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Bard Wand Mastery II

Pretty good DPS w/rapiers, 22 ranks of Search & Disable, near-max Inspire Courage. Could also go rogue 2 / ftr 2 / bard 16 if you were willing to sacrifice trap skills & 1D6 SA for 2 lvl 6 spells; or rogue 3 / ftr 1 / bard 16 if you were willing to give up a feat and +1 STR. Like Thanimal said, biggest problem with drow & elves is they're squishy; low-HP race + low-HP class(es) is a risky combo. 220 HPs is pretty low for a melee build; it's doable, but you have to be good at aggro management and you definitely want all the CON & HP-boosting items you could find if you did make a drow bard. Or could drop INT to 10 to boost CON to 14 if you were willing to sacrifice the skill points.