In Developement: New Spells and Enhancements for 4.2

[EinarMal]

i would roll one with a human

go 12bard/2barbarian or maybe 10bard/4barbarian

it could be pretty tough for a tank or off-tank damage dealer

no cc, just a "warchanter"

Guess I was hoping for a more general boost to fighting not a particular limited style, like spellsinger is a general boost to casting.

[Hurin]

Nice to see Pallies get some luv. Angelskin looks like a decent spell.

[Ransacked]

With this becomming a player castable spell of the "unholy" type will unholy weapons and items be re-introduced into the loot tables?

[Arjen]

Bard Enhancements!

Look really great - it will be nice to see more diversity in builds. Thanks for the love, devs!

[Wulf_Ratbane]

Question: How does Spawn Screen currently fit into the game?

Every had a bad party wipe at the end of Beyond the Grave? You can end up with dozens of wraiths running around, instantly killing anyone else who rezzes, making more and more wraiths.

That kind of thing.

[Ransacked]

Nice to see Pallies get some luv. Angelskin looks like a decent spell.

The duration seems to be somewhat lacking however...

6 seconds per caster level...

[GeneralDiomedes]

I think there's a mistake with Spellsinger though. You can have Magical Training for one of the pre-reqs, but all bards get Magical Training. So that probably shouldn't be there.

Last time I checked they didn't .. which is why some multiclass with Sorc for the 80 mana they get from Magical Training.

[Cedrica-the-Bard]

Inspired Bravery 2 ranks?? Come on... In the end game, everyone on my team has a Greater Heroism, because I give it out if the wizzy doesn't and it has fear immunity as part of it. Why on earth would you ask me to waste action points on Inspired Bravery to get access to the Warchanter? Silly, IMHO.

Also, makes me wish my Battle Bard had taken a level of Barbarian instead of Fighter to get the most out of this. I'm a little disappointed...

As for Virtuoso and Spellsinger, I could make those work on my traditional Bard or my Battle Bard, I suppose... Need to think on it though, may end up being far too costly with all those pre-reqs.

[Freeman]

Spellsinger:
Prereqs: Bard level 6, Bard Music of Energy 2, Bard Skill: Concentration 2, Bard Song Magic 2, Bard Lyric of Song 1, Any one of the following: Magical Training, Mental Toughness, Spell Focus: Enchantment, Greater Spell Focus: Enchantment, Empower Spell, Extend Spell, Heighten Spell, Maximize Spell

"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 all nearby allies a +1 morale bonus to spell DC's and a 10% morale discount on spell costs.

Most of these look good. However, I don't agree with requiring the Song Magic or Lyric enhancements. These only benefit a small number of bard spells, and many bards don't have any of them, even if they are focused on spellcasting. Total cost to unlock: 10 Action points + 1 feat.

For Virtuoso, one of the primary benefits was the ability to unlock Music of the Dead at an earlier level. However, you made the prerequisites for Virtuoso either two feats that are virtually never used(SF: Perform or Negotiator), or Extra Song IV, which you can't take until much later. Essentially, anyone who wants to take this at level 6 will likely have to take a feat to qualify, then swap it out once the get Extra Song IV. Total cost to unlock: Either 9 AP + 1 Feat, or 14 Action Points.

The Warchanter looks better, but the prerequisites for it are a bit steep also. All of the other new enhancements only require one feat, while Warchanter requires two. Total cost to unlock: 6 Action Points + 2 Feats.

I'll likely be taking the Spellsinger enhancement, but I'm going to have to add in several enhancements that do nothing for me in order to get access to it, simply because I don't have Cure spells and my only sonic spell does a d8 damage.

[Hiletroy]

Description of Bard Virtuoso has me confused....

"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."

So, does this mean that only a bard virtuoso can fascinate multiple enemies, and everyone else can only fascinate one target, or does this refer to the second part of the song where only a Virtuoso can inflict the mob with the penalties as described?

[BurnerD]

Every had a bad party wipe at the end of Beyond the Grave? You can end up with dozens of wraiths running around, instantly killing anyone else who rezzes, making more and more wraiths.

That kind of thing.

Aah .. Thanks for explaining it. Believe or not I haven't been in a party wipe in Beyond The Grave, but I understand the mechanic now. Didn't realize party member deaths created more wraiths. Makes sense now

[Chorus]

New Enhancements for Bards:

Spellsinger:
Prereqs: Bard level 6, Bard Music of Energy 2, Bard Skill: Concentration 2, Bard Song Magic 2, Bard Lyric of Song 1, Any one of the following: Magical Training, Mental Toughness, Spell Focus: Enchantment, Greater Spell Focus: Enchantment, Empower Spell, Extend Spell, Heighten Spell, Maximize Spell

"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 all nearby allies a +1 morale bonus to spell DC's and a 10% morale discount on spell costs.


NOW I ONLY SEMI HATE YOU TURBINE!!!! This only semi makes up for the bard nerfs.

[Freeman]

Description of Bard Virtuoso has me confused....

"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."

So, does this mean that only a bard virtuoso can fascinate multiple enemies, and everyone else can only fascinate one target, or does this refer to the second part of the song where only a Virtuoso can inflict the mob with the penalties as described?

Yes, only the Virtuoso can inflict the mob with penalties.

And to answer an earlier question, no, bards do not get Magical Training. Only wizards, sorcs, and clerics receive that at level one.

[katanaflame]

holysword is things most high lv pallys allready have

angel skin ohoh another 1 minuite buff well I can only hope it stackes with adamantine armor & stone skin.

but the new human versitility is good so I guess it evens out

I never thought I would see the day a human pally would need to use key maping

[Coldin]

Last time I checked they didn't .. which is why some multiclass with Sorc for the 80 mana they get from Magical Training.

I'm pretty sure all classes that can cast spells get Magical Training, and that you need Magical Training to take Mental Toughness. I'd need to get in the game to check though.

Edit: Alright, I stand corrected. Just checked it in-game.

[Yvonne_Blacksword]

Focusing Chant
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Brd 1
Components: V
Range: Personal
Duration: 1 minute

You gain a +1 circumstance bonus on attack rolls and skill checks for the duration of the spell.

wow...bards must be over powered if this is all we get...

Virtuoso:
Prereqs: Bard level 6, Bard Extra Song 2, Bard Skill: Perform 2, Bard Lingering Song 1, Bard Charisma 1, Any one of the following: Bard Extra Song 4, Skill Focus: Perform, Negotiator

"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 your beneficial songs last an additional 10% longer. 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."

...so the pre reqs havent changed...I really have never seen a bard with those particular skill focuses...perform, UMD seem to be the only ones I have seen...pre req for extra song 2...then extra song 4 leave the minimum requirement...kinda moot. I guess some will be willing to respec for virtuoso. not I.

Bard Music of the Dead enhancement prerequisite changed to:

• Bard Level 6 (from 11)
• Any one of the following: Bard Extra Song IV or Bard Virtuoso I

Bard Music of the Makers enhancement prerequisite changed to:

• Bard Level 9 (from 11)
• Any one of the following: Bard Extra Song IV, Bard Virtuoso I, Warforged Construct Thinking III, Lesser Dragonmark of Making

And I am still getting neither by level 14 due to the need to prevent gimping myself...

Warchanter:
Prereqs: Bard level 6, Bard Inspired Attack 1, Bard Inspired Damage 1, Bard Inspired Bravery 2, Power Attack, Any one of the following: Weapon Focus: Slashing, Weapon Focus: Piercing, Weapon Focus: Bludgeoning

"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/-."

this might be ok...
so ok...i am a whiney bard...but at least I know when to run from other's fascinate spells... not falling for it...no respec.

[Yoseph]

Bard Music of the Dead enhancement prerequisite changed to:

• Bard Level 6 (from 11)
• Any one of the following: Bard Extra Song IV or Bard Virtuoso I

So what you are really saying is you can only get Music of the Dead before 10th level if you go Virtuoso as you can't even get Bard Extra Song IV as an enhancement until you are 10th level.

Thanks for that great change.

[RemoJr]

Spellsinger:
Prereqs: Bard level 6, Bard Music of Energy 2, Bard Skill: Concentration 2, Bard Song Magic 2, Bard Lyric of Song 1, Any one of the following: Magical Training, Mental Toughness, Spell Focus: Enchantment, Greater Spell Focus: Enchantment, Empower Spell, Extend Spell, Heighten Spell, Maximize Spell

"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 all nearby allies a +1 morale bonus to spell DC's and a 10% morale discount on spell costs.

oohhhh, nice

[Freeman]

So what you are really saying is you can only get Music of the Dead before 10th level if you go Virtuoso as you can't even get Bard Extra Song IV as an enhancement until you are 10th level.

Thanks for that great change.

Not at all. You can get it at level 6, provided you take one of two useless feats(Okay, Negotiator has a small benefit, but Skill Focus: Perform has absolutely 0 use in the game, other than as a requirement for this enhancement). Once you get access to Extra Song IV, then you can swap out the useless feat for something useful. That must be what you intended people to do, right Turbine?

[Shadow_Flayer]

Not at all. You can get it at level 6, provided you take one of two useless feats(Okay, Negotiator has a small benefit, but Skill Focus: Perform has absolutely 0 use in the game, other than as a requirement for this enhancement). Once you get access to Extra Song IV, then you can swap out the useless feat for something useful. That must be what you intended people to do, right Turbine?

.... or part of Operation Bard Love is to make Perform matter, in which case there will be much complaining.