Bard Armor/Robes

[FireStormReel]

I'm playing a Warchanter multiclass build that is currently level 11 (7 Bard, 2 Fighter, 2 Rogue). What armor or robes would be good for this level, and what should I plan on getting at higher levels? My current armor is +1 Lesser Fire Guard Mithral Chain Shirt of Hammerblock. I'm hoping to grind for the Bloodrage Symbiont this week, so the hammerblock attribute on my armor will soon be redundant. I've been looking at the auction house and brokers for armor and robes, but I'm not sure what I should be looking for.

[Anderei]

Add this level you can very likely forget about AC, as it doesn't matter anymore but the most dedicated AC builds.

I mostly wear a Command&Deathblock robe in Quests, faster Striding out of quests, and have a set of greater elemental resist robes for occasional use.

All easy to aquire, but I'm not so an uber-player anyway

[FireStormReel]

My build is definitely not an AC build, so I'm not concerned about AC. I have the Silver Flame pendant for negative energy absorption and deathblock when facing beholders, so I think I'm set there. Would deathblock be useful in other situations such that I would want it on when I would also want to be wearing something besides my Silver Flame pendant in the neck slot?

[Krag]

Wear Heavy Fortification robe until you get Minos.
Replace with Dragontouched Robe once you can get it.

[Hjarki]

Wear Icy Raiments and annoy your Monk friends.

[drwranck]

Most DR armor are useless for you as you will want your DR song most of the time. Go for whatever suit the situation.

[Humperdink]

On my bard I generally use/have used these robes and/or outfits:

-Fearsome of Improved False Life (20 points)
-Deathblock of Improved False Life
-Anything with the Greater Elemental Resistance (30 pt) on it- fire, ice, acid, etc
-Anything of Moderate Fortification until you can collect 20 Tapestries in the Orchard/Necropolis and get your Minos Legens helmet (Minimum level 11) which gives you Heavy fortification and 20 extra hit points that stack.

[FireStormReel]

On my bard I generally use/have used these robes and/or outfits:

-Fearsome of Improved False Life (20 points)
-Deathblock of Improved False Life
-Anything with the Greater Elemental Resistance (30 pt) on it- fire, ice, acid, etc
-Anything of Moderate Fortification until you can collect 20 Tapestries in the Orchard/Necropolis and get your Minos Legens helmet (Minimum level 11) which gives you Heavy fortification and 20 extra hit points that stack.

That helps a lot. Thanks! I currently have a heavy fort belt, though I'll switch fort to the hat slot once I get Minos Legens.

[Humperdink]

No problem, happy to help. When you get to higher levels, like 16+, you may want to look at crafting yourself a Dragontouched robe/outfit from the Reaver Refuge.

http://ddowiki.com/page/Dragontouched_Armor

[FireStormReel]

No problem, happy to help. When you get to higher levels, like 16+, you may want to look at crafting yourself a Dragontouched robe/outfit from the Reaver Refuge.

http://ddowiki.com/page/Dragontouched_Armor

I'll definitely work on getting Dragontouched robes when I reach the proper level. Thanks for the link.

[Dendrix]

Your AC is still viable and meaningful in armour at your level as long as you make sure you keep it up. Things will start to hit you more, but your AC can still make a decent number of misses happen.

+5 Mithril BP + decent dex,
Shield Clickies (or 5th/10th level wands of shield),
Barkskin Potions,
Protection Items (or shield of faith potions),
Chaosgard bracers,
Parrying or Greater Parrying weapon

Back up that with Blur. when you get high enough Displacement (spell) and StoneSkin wands.

[FireStormReel]

Your AC is still viable and meaningful in armour at your level as long as you make sure you keep it up. Things will start to hit you more, but your AC can still make a decent number of misses happen.

+5 Mithril BP + decent dex,
Shield Clickies (or 5th/10th level wands of shield),
Barkskin Potions,
Protection Items (or shield of faith potions),
Chaosgard bracers,
Parrying or Greater Parrying weapon

Back up that with Blur. when you get high enough Displacement (spell) and StoneSkin wands.

Thanks for the tips. I'll have to reconsider AC. Displacement definitely makes a big difference in how often I'm hit.

[Humperdink]

AC can be useful but that statement should be qualified. Here are some general guidelines:

- 30 to 40 up to Gianthold
- 45 to 50 in Gianthold
- 50 to 55 in the Vale
- 65 to 70 in Shavarath and Inspiration Quarter
- 75+ for main tank in raids

Up to a certain point it is very difficult for bards to maintain those numbers. For example, a bearded devil in Shavarath will miss you 45% of the time with a 65AC and 50% of the time with Displacement. Obviously displacement works out better there.

[Hendrik]

Your AC is still viable and meaningful in armour at your level as long as you make sure you keep it up. Things will start to hit you more, but your AC can still make a decent number of misses happen.

+5 Mithril BP + decent dex,
Shield Clickies (or 5th/10th level wands of shield),
Barkskin Potions,
Protection Items (or shield of faith potions),
Chaosgard bracers,
Parrying or Greater Parrying weapon

Back up that with Blur. when you get high enough Displacement (spell) and StoneSkin wands.

Great tips!

[Dendrix]

AC can be useful but that statement should be qualified. Here are some general guidelines:

- 30 to 40 up to Gianthold
- 45 to 50 in Gianthold
- 50 to 55 in the Vale
- 65 to 70 in Shavarath and Inspiration Quarter
- 75+ for main tank in raids

Up to a certain point it is very difficult for bards to maintain those numbers. For example, a bearded devil in Shavarath will miss you 45% of the time with a 65AC and 50% of the time with Displacement. Obviously displacement works out better there.

With 65AC and 50% displacement, the devil misses you 50% of the time because of displacement. Of the other 50% of potential hits, 45% of those are misses due to your AC. meaning you get hit 23% of the time.

[Aerendil]

Your AC is still viable and meaningful in armour at your level as long as you make sure you keep it up. Things will start to hit you more, but your AC can still make a decent number of misses happen.

+5 Mithril BP + decent dex,
Shield Clickies (or 5th/10th level wands of shield),
Barkskin Potions,
Protection Items (or shield of faith potions),
Chaosgard bracers,
Parrying or Greater Parrying weapon

Back up that with Blur. when you get high enough Displacement (spell) and StoneSkin wands.

Yep. AC for Bards early on isn't too bad at all. I remember I had an AC nearing 40ish for a little while (10base + 10 mithril bp+5 + 5 maxdex + 4 deflection (Delera's manacles) + 3 barkskin + 4 shield + 1haste).
It wasn't until Gianthold that I pretty much threw AC out the window and stuck with various robes + stoneskin + blur/displacement.