Just another bard build

[Deadlock]

Here's an equally unoriginal bard build to the others being floated around.

I designed it myself. But it's not original. It doesn't have a name. It's just a build with some bard in it.

It is very effective which is why I bothered to write it up on our guild forum. It's not the uberest, but it is fun, reliable and suits my playstyle.

This is copied directly from our guild forum, will come back and edit out any differences in forum syntax.

[Deadlock]

This is a build that worked out excellent on my Bard life that I've been meaning to put up for a while.

I'll explain a bit of the thinking behind it so you can see why I made the choices I made.

You may agree/disagree as you like But I can tell you from first hand experience that this kicked kobold ass, kicked undead ass, kicked demonic ass and will with no question kick drow ass

So first of all, I had to do a bard life. I tried to think on any "good bards" that I'd quested with over the previous lives and couldn't think of a single one. None that stood out in any way that I'd thought would be worth emulating. I'd had bards in parties and had songs sung, but not at any point had I noticed any major difference with having them in the party.

DDO lore would have you believe:

Using spells, skills, and powerful magical songs, Bards are the ultimate support characters, simultaneously strengthening friends and weakening foes.
Solo Ability: Challenging.
Important stats: Charisma is the most important stat for bards. High charisma makes a bard's songs and spells more powerful and more difficult for enemies to resist and also gives him or her more spell points.

Notable abilities: Fascinate, Inspire Courage.Playing songs is the bard's most impressive ability. With songs bards can give a boost to their allies abilities or subdue foes. The Fascinate song can mesmerize and immobilize enemies better than any other class's spells or abilities.
Bards also have mastery of many different kinds of spells. They can heal allies or attack and manipulate foes and have more spell points than any of the other melee or specialist classes.

With this special blend of abilities, bards can make any party more effective, regardless of composition.

Challenging to solo? A character who buffs the party then hides at the back? A good bard can be a back-up healer, but I don't do nanny-bot. As it stands, not my idea of fun.

Charisma as the most important stat? Charisma will improve the DC of your enchantment spells, but the Perform skill is what's used for the Bard's most powerful ability, Fascinate. Sure, Charisma will give you +1 to your Perform skill every 2 points you invest in it, but that comes at the expense of your other stats. Enchantment spells DC's will be at the spell level unless you Heighten them and that can be tricky to make work if you're splashing.

Fascinate
Cooldown: 10 seconds
Usage: Active
Target: Foe, Directional
Duration: 24 seconds

Activate this bard ability to make your foes stop what they're doing and listen to your soothing notes. Requires 3 trained ranks (not total mod) of the Perform skill to use. Has a save DC of your perform skill plus the roll of a twenty-sided die.

The other attractive feature about Bards is that, along with Rangers, they are second only to Rogues for the number of skill points they get to distribute. With a decent number of skill points, they could easily keep non-class skills maxed so long as they had the relevant splash.

Bards song can be useful as buffs, but they affect you and not just the party. Additional damage and to-hit are always good. What if we stacked that with Rage for extra damaga and to-hit? Barbarians get a decent number of skill points and good movement speed would be handy if you're planning to run around a group of mobs to pull them together for a fascinate. Barbarians also get uncanny dodge and options for Trap Sense, so that would all help with reflex saves for doing traps.

Okay, so that's decided then - we'll make a trapper, evading, self-healing, self-buffing, strength based, raging, cleaving maniac with a lute.



He does requests of course. Just ask him if he knows "The Wheels On the Bus" and see what happens

[Deadlock]

Barbarian Berserker Prestige options are somewhat limited. And have a downside to them:

Barbarian Frenzied Berserker I
Usage: Passive
Cost: 4 action points
Spent: 16 action points
Requires All of: Cleave, Power Attack, Barbarian Power Attack I, Barbarian Power Rage I, Barbarian Damage Boost II
Available to Barbarian class level 6

You gain the effects of the diehard feat while raging and will automatically stabilize if you are incapacitated. Your two-handed weapon glancing blows have a 2% increased chance of applying magical weapon effects such as flaming. You also gain the ability to expend 10 hp to enter a frenzy.

So you get Diehard while raging. Great. Except the idea is to put the bad guys on their backs before they drop me. And I have a regen item so I don't need Diehard in the first place. But it does let you spend 10hp to Frenzy.

Frenzy
Usage: Active
Cost: 0 action points

Expend 10 hit points to enter a frenzy (which can stack with your basic rage), increasing your strength by 2 and adding the 'Vicious' property to your melee weapons (+2 to 12 damage while dealing 1 to 3 damage to self for each attack).\n\nD&D Dice: The 'Vicious' weapon property adds 2d6 damage to your attacks while dealing 1d3 damage to yourself per attack.

So it costs you 10hp, you gain +2 STR and do 2d6 extra damage, which is nice, but costs you 1d3hp per hit. Not convinced this fits with what I have in mind. The build will be self-healing so could probably cope with the hp drain better than most, but I never use Vicious weapons while questing, so why would I want to start now? It is extra damage ..... but, nah, will leave that out.

Won't be putting more than 6 levels of Barbarian into the build, so no point considering Berserker II or Berserker III.

Bard options at least have a few to consider:

Bard Virtuoso I
Usage: Passive
Cost: 4 action points
Spent: 16 action points
Requires One of: Skill Focus: Perform, Negotiator, Bard Extra Song IV
Requires All of: Bard Charisma I, Bard Extra Song II, Bard Lingering Song I, Improved Perform II
Available to Bard class level 6

Your studies into song have granted you a +2 bonus to your Diplomacy, Listen, and Perform skills, 3 extra uses of Bardic Music per rest, and the ability to extend the duration of your beneficial songs by an additional 10%. You also gain the ability to expend a use of Bardic Music to enthrall multiple enemies, fascinating them and inflicting a -2 penalty to attack rolls and Will saves even if the fascination is broken. You may possess only one prestige enhancement line at a time for each class.

Enthrallment
Usage: Active
Cost: 0 action points

Expend a use of Bardic Music to enthrall multiple enemies. Enthralled enemies are fascinated, with a chance of breaking free when damaged, and suffer a -2 penalty to attack rolls and Will saves for 24 seconds plus 6 seconds per bard level, even after being disrupted from their reverie. This ability uses a Perform check as the Will save DC.

Bard Virtuoso II
Usage: Passive
Cost: 2 action points
Spent: 18 action points
Requires All of: Bard Charisma II, Bard Extra Song III, Bard Lingering Song II, Bard Virtuoso I, Improved Perform II
Available to Bard class level 12

Your further studies into song have granted you another +2 bonus to your Diplomacy, Listen, and Perform skills, for a total of +4 to each. You also gain 2 more extra uses of Bardic Music per rest for a total of 5, and the ability to extend the duration of your beneficial songs by an additional 10% for a total of 20%. You can now expend a use of Bardic Music to apply a temporary fast-healing effect to all nearby allies. Your uses of Bardic Music regenerate over time at a rate of 1 every 5 minutes. You may possess only one prestige enhancement line at a time for each class.

Song of Capering
Usage: Active
Cost: 0 action points
Requires All of: Bard Virtuoso II

Expend a use of Bardic Music to make a single enemy dance helplessly. This effect lasts 6 seconds plus 2 seconds per bard level. A successful Will save negates this effect.

Sustaining Song
Usage: Active
Cost: 0 action points
Requires All of: Bard Virtuoso II

Expend a use of Bardic Music to apply a temporary fast-healing effect to all nearby allies. It lasts for 24 seconds plus 6 seconds per bard level.

Virtuoso would help boost Perform skill and make existing songs last longer. Sounds good.

Bard Spellsinger I
Usage: Passive
Cost: 4 action points
Spent: 16 action points
Requires One of: Spell Focus: Enchantment, Mental Toughness, Maximize Spell, Heighten Spell, Empower Spell, Magical Training, Greater Spell Focus: Enchantment
Requires All of: Bard Energy of Music II, Bard Song Magic II, Bard Lyric of Song I, Improved Concentration II
Available to Bard class level 6

Your studies into magic have granted you a +2 bonus to your Concentration and Use Magic Device skills, +100 Spell Points, and the ability to expend a use of Bardic Music to grant yourself and all nearby allies a +1 morale bonus to spell DC's and a 10% morale discount on spell point costs. You may possess only one prestige enhancement line at a time for each class.

Spellsong Trance
Usage: Active
Cost: 0 action points

Expend a use of Bardic Music to grant a +1 morale bonus to spell DC's and a 10% morale discount on spell point costs to you and all nearby allies for 24 seconds plus 6 seconds per bard level.

Bard Spellsinger II
Usage: Passive
Cost: 2 action points
Spent: 18 action points
Requires All of: Bard Energy of Music III, Bard Song Magic III, Bard Lyric of Song II, Bard Spellsinger I
Available to Bard class level 12

Your further studies into magic have granted you another +2 bonus to your Concentration and Use Magic Device skills for a total of +4 to each. You also gain another +100 maximum Spell Points for a total of 200. Any time you finish playing a bard song, you now have a chance to restore a small number of spell points to all nearby allies. You now have the ability to expend a use of Bardic Music to grant yourself and all nearby allies a +1 morale bonus to caster level for all spells, or to apply a spell point regeneration effect to one target. You may possess only one prestige enhancement line at a time for each class.

Spellsong Vigor
Usage: Active
Cost: 0 action points
Requires All of: Bard Spellsinger II

Expend a use of Bardic Music to apply an effect to one target that restores spell points over time.

Song of Arcane Might
Usage: Active
Cost: 0 action points
Requires All of: Bard Spellsinger II

Expend a use of Bardic Music to grant a +1 morale bonus to caster level for spells cast by you and all nearby allies for 24 seconds plus 6 seconds per bard level.

Extra spell points and tiny caster benefits .... no. Just no.

Bard Warchanter I
Usage: Passive
Cost: 4 action points
Spent: 16 action points
Requires One of: Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons, Weapon Focus: Bludgeoning Weapons, Weapon Focus: Piercing Weapons
Requires All of: Power Attack, Bard Inspired Attack I, Bard Inspired Damage I, Bard Inspired Bravery II
Available to Bard class level 6

Your studies into war have granted you a +2 bonus to your Intimidate skill. Your Inspire Courage song gains an additional +1 to attack rolls, +2 to damage rolls, and +1 to fear saves. If you possess the Barbarian Rage ability, you gain +1 use per rest. You also gain the ability to expend a use of Bardic Music to grant all nearby allies damage reduction 5/-. You may possess only one prestige enhancement line at a time for each class.

Ironskin Chant
Usage: Active
Cost: 0 action points

Expend a use of Bardic Music to grant damage reduction 5/- to all nearby allies for 1 minute plus 6 seconds per level. As a non-magical effect, this song cannot be removed by dispel magic or antimagic.

Bard Warchanter II
Usage: Passive
Cost: 2 action points
Spent: 42 action points
Requires All of: Bard Inspired Attack II, Bard Inspired Damage II, Bard Inspired Bravery III, Bard Warchanter I
Available to Bard class level 12

Your further studies into war have granted you another +2 bonus to your Intimidate skill, for a total of +4. You have also grown more resilient, gaining +10 maximum hit points, gain medium armor proficiency (and the ability to cast arcane spells in medium armor without arcane spell failure) and gain access to purchase a single martial weapon proficiency you possess Weapon Focus in for one action point. You also gain the ability to expend a use of Bardic Music to grant all nearby allies a 5% to perform a double strike, at the cost of 10% fortification, or to produce a short duration non-magical mass Greater Heroism effect. You may possess only one prestige enhancement line at a time for each class.

Inspire Recklessness
Usage: Active
Cost: 0 action points

Expend a use of Bardic Music to grant a +5% morale bonus to double strike chance and -10% fortification to all nearby allies for 1 minute plus 6 seconds per level. This effect will be removed if the target enters combat expertise, defensive fighting, or a defensive stance. As a non-magical effect, this song cannot be removed by dispel magic or antimagic.

Song of Heroism
Usage: Active
Cost: 0 action points

Expend a use of Bardic Music to give the effects of the Greater Heroism spell to all nearby allies for 1 minute plus 6 seconds per level. As a non-magical effect, this song cannot be removed by dispel magic or antimagic.

Warchanter has some possibilities, but for me, the extra benefits to Perform and Fascinate, extra songs and extended songs from Virtuoso win ahead of Warchanter.

[Deadlock]

In order to get Virtuoso I early, I'll be taking Skill Focus: Perform, and then around level 13 or 14 when I have Bard Extra Song IV, I'll go speak to Fred and swap the Skill Focus Feat out.

Putting this all together gives:

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.14.02
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 True Neutral Half-Orc Male
(6 Barbarian \ 2 Rogue \ 12 Bard)
Hit Points: 366
Spell Points: 346
BAB: 16\16\21\26\26
Fortitude: 15
Reflex: 17
Will: 10

Starting Ending Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Base Stats Modified Stats
(36 Point) (Level 1) (Level 20) (Level 20)
Strength 16 24 26
Dexterity 15 18 19
Constitution 17 20 22
Intelligence 13 16 16
Wisdom 8 11 11
Charisma 7 10 12

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 3
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 3
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 3
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 3
+1 Tome of Wisdom used at level 3
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 3
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7
+3 Tome of Strength used at level 11
+3 Tome of Dexterity used at level 11
+3 Tome of Constitution used at level 11
+3 Tome of Intelligence used at level 11
+3 Tome of Wisdom used at level 11
+3 Tome of Charisma used at level 11

Starting Ending Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 20) (Level 20)
Balance 6 8 8
Bluff 2 19 19
Concentration 3 6 6
Diplomacy -2 1 5
Disable Device 5 26 26
Haggle -2 1 1
Heal -1 0 0
Hide 2 4 4
Intimidate -2 1 3
Jump 7 27 27
Listen -1 0 4
Move Silently 2 4 4
Open Lock 6 8 8
Perform n/a 24 33
Repair 1 3 3
Search 5 26 26
Spot 3 4 4
Swim 3 12 12
Tumble 6 8 8
Use Magic Device 2 19 19

Level 1 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+4)
Skill: Bluff (+4)
Skill: Disable Device (+4)
Skill: Jump (+4)
Skill: Open Lock (+4)
Skill: Search (+4)
Skill: Spot (+4)
Skill: Tumble (+4)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+4)
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Barbarian
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Monk
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Rogue
Feat: (Selected) Stunning Blow
Feat: (Automatic) Attack
Feat: (Automatic) Half-Orc Orc Blood
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
Enhancement: Orcish Fury I
Enhancement: Orcish Melee Damage I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I


Level 2 (Barbarian)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Swim (+4)
Feat: (Automatic) Defensive Fighting
Feat: (Automatic) Dismiss Rage
Feat: (Automatic) Fast Movement
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency (ALL)
Feat: (Automatic) Medium Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Rage
Feat: (Automatic) Shield Proficiency (General)
Feat: (Automatic) Sunder
Feat: (Automatic) Trip
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Barbarian Sprint Boost I


Level 3 (Bard)
Skill: Bluff (+1)
Skill: Perform (+6)
Feat: (Selected) Past Life: Berserker's Fury
Feat: (Automatic) Dismiss Charm
Feat: (Automatic) Fascinate
Feat: (Automatic) Inspire Courage
Spell (1): Sonic Blast
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song I
Enhancement: Orcish Extra Action Boost I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Improved Perform I
Enhancement: Barbarian Toughness I


Level 4 (Bard)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Bluff (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+2)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Spell (1): Focusing Chant
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage I
Enhancement: Orcish Strength I
Enhancement: Bard Wand and Scroll Mastery I


Level 5 (Bard)
Skill: Bluff (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+2)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Inspire Competence
Spell (1): Hypnotism
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack I
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song I
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic I


Level 6 (Bard)
Skill: Bluff (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Feat: (Selected) Skill Focus: Perform
Spell (2): Cure Moderate Wounds
Spell (2): Blur
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Improved Perform II


Level 7 (Bard)
Skill: Bluff (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Spell (2): Rage
Spell (1): Remove Fear
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song II
Enhancement: Bard Charisma I


Level 8 (Bard)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Bluff (+2)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Suggestion
Enhancement: Bard Virtuoso I


Level 9 (Rogue)
Skill: Bluff (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+7)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
Feat: (Automatic) Evasion
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack I
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song II
Enhancement: Bard Music of the Dead


Level 10 (Bard)
Skill: Bluff (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Perform (+2)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (2): Blindness
Spell (3): Cure Serious Wounds
Spell (3): Haste
Enhancement: Orcish Extra Action Boost II
Enhancement: Orcish Power Attack I


Level 11 (Bard)
Skill: Bluff (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Improved Inspire Courage
Spell (3): Good Hope
Enhancement: Bard Charisma II


Level 12 (Bard)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Bluff (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Jump (+2)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
Feat: (Automatic) Inspire Greatness
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song III
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage II


Level 13 (Bard)
Skill: Bluff (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Jump (+2)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (4): Dimension Door
Spell (4): Freedom of Movement
Spell (3): Displacement
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic II
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity I


Level 14 (Bard)
Skill: Bluff (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Jump (+2)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (4): Cure Critical Wounds
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song IV


Level 15 (Bard)
Skill: Bluff (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Jump (+2)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Cleave
Feat: (Automatic) Song of Freedom
Enhancement: Bard Virtuoso II


Level 16 (Barbarian)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Damage Reduction
Enhancement: Orcish Strength II
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution I


Level 17 (Barbarian)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Trap Sense
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Hardy Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Willpower I


Level 18 (Barbarian)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Great Cleave
Feat: (Automatic) Uncanny Dodge
Feat: (Automatic) Uncanny Dodge (Dodge Bonus)
Enhancement: Orcish Melee Damage II


Level 19 (Barbarian)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage I
Enhancement: Orcish Power Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Toughness II


Level 20 (Barbarian)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution II

Play it like you would any barbarian. Buff up and get into the thick of it at every opportunity. Fascinate and pick your targets, killing them one by one. When you find a trap spinning all around you because your Spot sucks, just search, disarm it and charge onto the next creature in need of a gushing head wound.

[Arlathen]

TL;DR

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Ok, kidding :P

Actually, I remember this build in Monastery, I think I was still level-ling Furiyen at the time. It was looking pretty funky - A Half-Orc charging in, smashing stuff with Stunning Blow and then ripping them a new one with obscene amounts of THF damage for a 'Bard'.

Could of mistaken him for a Barbarian.

Oh, wait a..

[Spartywinz]

TL;DR

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Oh, wait a..

BARDBARIAN!!!

All kidding aside, does everyone not see the class forums and end up here? *** MATE!

[Deadlock]

BARDBARIAN!!!

All kidding aside, does everyone not see the class forums and end up here? *** MATE!

But that's where all the other bard splashes are!!!

How do you expect us to feel SPESHUL if we don't get to trot out our entirely been-done-before builds over there!?!?!?!

If we do it here, we can try and convince one server we've done something original and awesome.

Even better. We don't then just big-up our own builds, we then start to smack-talk in channels about how awesome we are and how utter sh!t multi-TR players are in all those EE raids we've done and how we saved the day because we're totally uber and awesome and SPESHUL!!!!

And then we get to act all affronted that people don't like us after we've gone to such efforts to make it clear that that we are feckin plonkers!!!

But while we're on the subject. Yeah it's a great build try it will be doing my 3rd bard life by repeating it