Multi Class Bard Q's

[NeelaAngeles]

Hello all...

I've been searching these forums for ideas on multi-classing my bard. I see a lot of ideas for rogue, fighter, cleric, and ranger builds, but I'm curious... with the uber-high charisma we bard types enjoy, has anyone multi-classed with paladin or sorceror? If so, how did your build turn out? Any ideas for which might be better to go with? The pally would open up armor and weapons, plus add the pally aura. A second level of pally would also add the charisma bonus to saves. The sorceror would add spell points and (I think) increase our UMD percentages for casting higher sorc spells from scrolls or wands (and possibly increase casting speed?).

[Cedrica-the-Bard]

Bards can't multi-class as Paladins because of the alignment restriction, Paladins have to be Lawful Good and Bards cannot be of Lawful alignment. Too bad, because you're right, a Bard/Pally would rock the world!

I haven't tried the Bard/Sorc combo to comment but others have...

[NeelaAngeles]

Bards can't multi-class as Paladins because of the alignment restriction, Paladins have to be Lawful Good and Bards cannot be of Lawful alignment. Too bad, because you're right, a Bard/Pally would rock the world!

I haven't tried the Bard/Sorc combo to comment but others have...

Argh... I totally forgot about the alignment thing. That is a total bummer. What did you think of the Bard/Sorcs you've come across?

[Cedrica-the-Bard]

Honestly, I haven't played with any Bard/Sorcs in game but I have seen others with that build post here on occasion. I suspect you will get feedback from them directly.

[Delt]

The alignment restriction has been mentioned.

As for a bard/sorc, there is a reason to do it (namely a little more SP and the removal of UMD checks for certain items). The problem/negative side to this splash is that Bard's (and sorc's) have High Charisma almost entirely for casting purposes. If you splash a level of sorc (or worse, deeply multiclass) you lose upper level spells and buffs. And with high Charisma, your UMD is probably good enough to use anything in game...so you are trading your top level spells mainly for a little more SP. Not a good trade off, imo.

[CSFurious]

they take a level of sor for more mana

[Cedrica-the-Bard]

I also remember reading about someone who took one level of cleric and the DV's they could hand out were kinda insane because of the high charisma. I'm considering that on my 14 Bard when the level cap goes up, I just can't justify doing it just for DV's... still thinking about it tho! lol

[NeelaAngeles]

The alignment restriction has been mentioned.

As for a bard/sorc, there is a reason to do it (namely a little more SP and the removal of UMD checks for certain items). The problem/negative side to this splash is that Bard's (and sorc's) have High Charisma almost entirely for casting purposes. If you splash a level of sorc (or worse, deeply multiclass) you lose upper level spells and buffs. And with high Charisma, your UMD is probably good enough to use anything in game...so you are trading your top level spells mainly for a little more SP. Not a good trade off, imo.

Are you able to cast more quickly with the sorc splash?

[Wizzly_Bear]

Hello all...

I've been searching these forums for ideas on multi-classing my bard. I see a lot of ideas for rogue, fighter, cleric, and ranger builds, but I'm curious... with the uber-high charisma we bard types enjoy, has anyone multi-classed with paladin or sorceror? If so, how did your build turn out? Any ideas for which might be better to go with? The pally would open up armor and weapons, plus add the pally aura. A second level of pally would also add the charisma bonus to saves. The sorceror would add spell points and (I think) increase our UMD percentages for casting higher sorc spells from scrolls or wands (and possibly increase casting speed?).

alignment conflict has been mentioned.

mcing one level of sorc in an otherwise pure bard build gives roughly 250-300 more sps. very nice.

my capped bard on ghallanda is a pure support character. he has bard 12/ cleric 1/ sorc 1. very nice sp count, a lot of dvs, no umd on a lot of stuff (but has high umd so doesnt really need that part). he did lose the highest spell level, but like i said, he was built for support, and does it very well. really helps the party cleric especially as he heals the party when needed and dvs the cleric.

[Wizzly_Bear]

Are you able to cast more quickly with the sorc splash?

you cast sorc spells at sorc speed. bard spells at bard speed (which is, incidentally, cleric/pal/rgr/wiz speed also).

[PranasP]

alignment conflict has been mentioned.

mcing one level of sorc in an otherwise pure bard build gives roughly 250-300 more sps. very nice.

my capped bard on ghallanda is a pure support character. he has bard 12/ cleric 1/ sorc 1. very nice sp count, a lot of dvs, no umd on a lot of stuff (but has high umd so doesnt really need that part). he did lose the highest spell level, but like i said, he was built for support, and does it very well. really helps the party cleric especially as he heals the party when needed and dvs the cleric.

LOL I was gonna do the same. Thanks for the unintentional support KM.

I took my sorc splash at 12 and my bard feels like a new character with the 200+ increase in spells and the zero percent failure on very high level wands.

Now the cleric splash kills a spell level until they raise the cap but I an not overwhelmed with the 5th level bard spells as I read them. Maybe a bard casting 5ths could tell me how I am underestimating the value of some of them. And I would appreciate that.

[COBHCLambofgod]

LOL I was gonna do the same. Thanks for the unintentional support KM.

I took my sorc splash at 12 and my bard feels like a new character with the 200+ increase in spells and the zero percent failure on very high level wands.

Now the cleric splash kills a spell level until they raise the cap but I an not overwhelmed with the 5th level bard spells as I read them. Maybe a bard casting 5ths could tell me how I am underestimating the value of some of them. And I would appreciate that.

well with fifth level spells you get Greater Heroism, and Mass Cure light (very helpful imo). the benefit of those spells allows the nukers to save Sp for NUKING!

[Wizzly_Bear]

LOL I was gonna do the same. Thanks for the unintentional support KM.

I took my sorc splash at 12 and my bard feels like a new character with the 200+ increase in spells and the zero percent failure on very high level wands.

Now the cleric splash kills a spell level until they raise the cap but I an not overwhelmed with the 5th level bard spells as I read them. Maybe a bard casting 5ths could tell me how I am underestimating the value of some of them. And I would appreciate that.

you miss out on grt hero and mass cure light. all else is fluff. neither of those are all that great though anyway. we'll miss out on 6th lvl spells when mod 6 comes though, and theres some nice ones in there.


edit: game back up, heading in, lol

[NeelaAngeles]

LOL I was gonna do the same. Thanks for the unintentional support KM.

I took my sorc splash at 12 and my bard feels like a new character with the 200+ increase in spells and the zero percent failure on very high level wands.

Now the cleric splash kills a spell level until they raise the cap but I an not overwhelmed with the 5th level bard spells as I read them. Maybe a bard casting 5ths could tell me how I am underestimating the value of some of them. And I would appreciate that.

I was thinking the sp's would be a VERY nice perk, and if I'm thinking about this right, having the sorc splash opens up your casting ability on a number of wands and scrolls, yes? I notice, even if my UMD is close to the required, if I am not in the class the spell was "meant" for, my chance to activate it is skewed slightly lower. So the sorc splash should boost my chance to activate say... a fireball wand, or something like that. Would my understanding be correct about this?

And does your bard/sorc retain light armor proficiency?

[maddmatt70]

A level of sorc is very nice. I really like it for the mana. Wands are not a problem because a maxed out umd skill with a bards high charisma allows you to use any wand in the game (scrolls you still need to umd it). The negative is missing out on a spell level with the new cap increase and my inspire courage is just a little weaker. That missing out on a spell level is a big negative for me when the cap goes up... When the cap goes up to 18 in 8 months or so I think the sorc splash will be a huge benefit again. I might miss out on an enhancement such as spellsinger 2 if there is such a thing but oh well...

[sigtrent]

I was thinking the sp's would be a VERY nice perk, and if I'm thinking about this right, having the sorc splash opens up your casting ability on a number of wands and scrolls, yes? I notice, even if my UMD is close to the required, if I am not in the class the spell was "meant" for, my chance to activate it is skewed slightly lower. So the sorc splash should boost my chance to activate say... a fireball wand, or something like that. Would my understanding be correct about this?

And does your bard/sorc retain light armor proficiency?

It lets you use arcane wands freely, does almost nothing for scroll use.

You get 100-150 more mana which is nice but you loose a few things as well of course.

You don't loose light armor proficiency but you can't cast sorcerer spells in armor without spell failure, proficiency has nothing to do with that, it only affects your attack bonus when fighting with weapons.

I have a Bard 12/fighter 1/ sorcerer 1 and I like my splash level. I cast greater heroism via scrolls mostly. I took sorcerer so I could heal warforged but it turns out using regular healing is better because my repair spell is so weak. Still I have a lot of mana for a bard (1050 wtih only a power 5 item.) and I have jump and tumble as sorc spells which are kind of fun to use. I love the fighter level as well as it lets me use as that and the UMD let me use any weapon in the game more or less. (I also have two exotic weapon proficiencies). Fun character. Great at nothing but good at lots of things.

[Blind_Skwerl]

there is the other side of the coin too. I have a friend who did a 13 sorc/1bard build. goal was for better umd, fail-free heal wands, and a modest bump to his sp. I asked about his missing level 7's, and he just scrolls them. It works pretty well for him, but man he burns through the plat! Doing PoP runs with him scrolling FoD like he had a twitch, ouch.

[Sillius]

I have a Bard 12/fighter 1/ sorcerer 1 and I like my splash level. I cast greater heroism via scrolls mostly. I took sorcerer so I could heal warforged but it turns out using regular healing is better because my repair spell is so weak. Still I have a lot of mana for a bard (1050 wtih only a power 5 item.) and I have jump and tumble as sorc spells which are kind of fun to use. I love the fighter level as well as it lets me use as that and the UMD let me use any weapon in the game more or less. (I also have two exotic weapon proficiencies). Fun character. Great at nothing but good at lots of things.

Building a WF bard 13/ fighter 1...
Wonder if i should take 1 level of sorc or wiz for the shield and jump spell... I mainly melee. No UMD for repair wands too.
Extra sp won't hurt.

[Blind_Skwerl]

I run a level 14 warforged warchanting battlebard (13bard/1fighter). I started with 14 charisma and have plenty of UMD for repair wands, raise dead scrolls, etc... but I'll tell you what... I still use heal wands. I do have the healers friend enhancements, and it's easier for me to just use a heal wand on myself and my party (I like to hand out the heals between combat) instead of switching back and forth. As for the jump and shield spells: My strength is at 30 (34 double madstoned) so jumping isn't ever a problem. A 33 self buffed UMD would allow easy use of jump or shield scrolls/wands if I felt the need.

[Sillius]

Hi,

Thanks for the comment. Hmm... maybe you're right, I should just keep the 13/1 path.
Sometimes, I just dislike the wands because of the short duration.