Please help me figure out if I should be a bard.

[Obitus]

My bard has 1289 sp(in addition i have a spell storing ring so closer to 1364). I have the abbot raid silver flame robe +150 sp (I would like to get the emerald claw robe, but the abbot is not beatable right now), mental toughness, 34 charisma on my drow, and I am a spellsinger.

Random question time: Do you get double benefit from the Wizardry VI robe on that build? I'm curious because it seems to me you should have even more mana than you're reporting.

[maddmatt70]

Random question time: Do you get double benefit from the Wizardry VI robe on that build? I'm curious because it seems to me you should have even more mana than you're reporting.

I dont think that I do. I think this is something that they fixed. I think I get it for the one level of sorc but not the 13 bard levels. Somebody has undoubtedly tested this. I believe that I dont have full ranks in the bard spell point enhancement as well, but only just enough to get spellsinger - I would need to check though. Maybe this is what you are referring to.

I would clarify that I recommend the halfling bard over the drow bard the op is proposing due to both the heal spells with the dragonmarks but also to help remedy sp issues. The drow pure bard has less sp then the 13 bard/ 1 sorc build - I think a couple hundred anyway and the halfling dragonmarks' spells would save some sp and bring some potent healing to the fore...

[Obitus]

I dont think that I do. I think this is something that they fixed. I think I get it for the one level of sorc but not the 13 bard levels. Somebody has undoubtedly tested this. I believe that I dont have full ranks in the bard spell point enhancement as well, but only just enough to get spellsinger - I would need to check though. Maybe this is what you are referring to.

I'm sure they did fix it. I'm just wondering how the mechanic works; IIRC, I got double sp from items at level one on my Sorcerer. I guess the amount of the bonus shifts along the proportion of your class levels, but it would be interesting to know when exactly that happens, and by how much.

If we assume that you're not getting any extra benefit at all from the robe, then in theory, as best as I can tell, you should have:

350 base SP from Bard 13
+180 base SP from Sorc 1
+264 CHA bonus from Bard levels (12 * (9 + 13))
+120 CHA bonus from Sorc level (12 * (9 + 1))
+150 Wizardry VI item
+80 Mental Toughness
+100 spellsinger
----------------------
1244 total, and then you add 20-80 more depending on which Energy of Music enhancements you've taken.

Two levels of EOM puts you at 1284, which is within 5 points of your total. So either I calced something wrong, or the Robe is giving you an extra 5 sp for your one level of Sorcerer. I suppose that's possible, but it seems strange that ~7% of your maximum levels only yields ~3% of the Sorc's bonus.

Anyway, sorry for the derail; it's just good to know these things, I think. The Sorcerer splash looks a bit better to me now that I've thought it through a little more.

[maddmatt70]

I'm sure they did fix it. I'm just wondering how the mechanic works; IIRC, I got double sp from items at level one on my Sorcerer. I guess the amount of the bonus shifts along the proportion of your class levels, but it would be interesting to know when exactly that happens, and by how much.

If we assume that you're not getting any extra benefit at all from the robe, then in theory, as best as I can tell, you should have:

350 base SP from Bard 13
+180 base SP from Sorc 1
+264 CHA bonus from Bard levels (12 * (9 + 13))
+120 CHA bonus from Sorc level (12 * (9 + 1))
+150 Wizardry VI item
+80 Mental Toughness
+100 spellsinger
----------------------
1244 total, and then you add 20-80 more depending on which Energy of Music enhancements you've taken.

Two levels of EOM puts you at 1284, which is within 5 points of your total. So either I calced something wrong, or the Robe is giving you an extra 5 sp for your one level of Sorcerer. I suppose that's possible, but it seems strange that ~7% of your maximum levels only yields ~3% of the Sorc's bonus.

Anyway, sorry for the derail; it's just good to know these things, I think. The Sorcerer splash looks a bit better to me now that I've thought it through a little more.

I would advise against the sorc splash if you are thinking of doing a more cc oriented character as well. The other big spell at 6th level is the new ottos dance spell which is listed in the player's handbook as a spell where the opposition gets NO SAVE just SR. I have been playing my bard for 10-11 months so I don't regret a thing about the sorc splash as I will have had about a year of fun with her before the new mod comes out. I will look up the spell points breakdown for you Obitus when I get a chance.

[sigtrent]

I also recomend the Warforged Sorcerer.

Massive self healing
Super specilized
Can Finger bad guys all day long.

Yes you take a small hit on your charisma but the super fast self healing is amazing and -1 on your DC values will not make or break a character, just specilize for necro and you will be fine. It really sounds like what you are looking for.

[maddmatt70]

I'm sure they did fix it. I'm just wondering how the mechanic works; IIRC, I got double sp from items at level one on my Sorcerer. I guess the amount of the bonus shifts along the proportion of your class levels, but it would be interesting to know when exactly that happens, and by how much.

If we assume that you're not getting any extra benefit at all from the robe, then in theory, as best as I can tell, you should have:

350 base SP from Bard 13
+180 base SP from Sorc 1
+264 CHA bonus from Bard levels (12 * (9 + 13))
+120 CHA bonus from Sorc level (12 * (9 + 1))
+150 Wizardry VI item
+80 Mental Toughness
+100 spellsinger
----------------------
1244 total, and then you add 20-80 more depending on which Energy of Music enhancements you've taken.

Two levels of EOM puts you at 1284, which is within 5 points of your total. So either I calced something wrong, or the Robe is giving you an extra 5 sp for your one level of Sorcerer. I suppose that's possible, but it seems strange that ~7% of your maximum levels only yields ~3% of the Sorc's bonus.

Anyway, sorry for the derail; it's just good to know these things, I think. The Sorcerer splash looks a bit better to me now that I've thought it through a little more.

The actual totals are
450 base
384 ability score
295 Feat
160 Enchantment (this is the robe so the sorc level must give me an extra 10)
--------
1289

By the way I have only the bard 2nd rank of the bard sp enhancement which = 40sp.. I also only have the mental toughness feat...

[geezee]

I believe MT gives 75 mana @ lvl 14, which would explain the odd 5. He prolly gets 10 from the robe for having a level of sorc, like he said.

[Obitus]

I believe MT gives 75 mana @ lvl 14, which would explain the odd 5. He prolly gets 10 from the robe for having a level of sorc, like he said.

Ah yeah, my fault. I don't know why I was thinking 80. Thanks for pointing that out.

[Jaysun]

Well...can't believe so many replies I really appreaciate the help. After a long period of thinking on it..I didn't go bard. I had a drow rogue that was well built but was retired for 6 months or so. brought him to life and he is using a repeater. So im kinda standing back and *casting* ...in a generic way of doing dps. I also have a good role for disable and stuff. He is built for traps will have a 63 search when its all said and dont. For now my plan is to play him and my cleric untill druids come out. The I will start an alt. I really want to have 3 different classes . Bard is a mix of cleric/wizard/sorc and I'm not really keen on that. Thanks for everything

Dukon/Zayen

[Aesop]

wow he took my advice

Druids are awesome diversity casters... they can heal anlay down potent firewalls and other things +wild shape and whatnot

Aesop