How many Feasable Bard Builds are there...?

[Henrieta]

Oogly Of Sabbat, has an awesome ac bard, I will look for his build for you, but with the right gear and buffs, I know he reaches at least an 80 and kicks butt.

IIRC, My halfling bard reaches about a 50 before buffs wearing the epic kundarak delving suit, light and darkness, and chaosguards. Unfortunately, I seldom find high ac useful so I just stick to wearing easily swappable robes such as DT for various effects and the silver flame robe for the night shield clicky.

[Rav'n]

Thanks Hen...The Bard I have in mind to do the AC Build with has the Chaos Guards, Delving Suit (still need a few things to Upgrade..) and the Shield of L&D. He's also the 15/3/2 biuild. Might have to move him to the forefront on my Epic Runs. I've been running my 20 WC for the most part on Epic. (When not TR-ng my Main Bard)

[Samadhi]

It really depends on how you classify 'feasible'.

This is the heart of the matter. So far, I have done multiple DPS-focused, caster-focused, various types of more balanced builds, as well as a couple experimental builds (intimi-tank bard for example). They are all "feasible" in that they are not going to get you kicked from most groups. That doesn't mean they are ideal, though, and personally I have continued to shelve any and all of my non-ideal builds because they just are not as versatile or fun as another bard I have rolling.

All that said, if you haven't played a bard with healer capacity (somewhat implied) then I would do so. All it takes is two feats (quicken/maximize) and a couple AP; meaning that your bard can still be focused the way you want as long as you can fit those two in. My next planned bard (when half-orcs come out) is planning to be a DPS-focused healer; and definitely my favorite of my bards of the moment is my balanced healer.

[Samadhi]

Oogly Of Sabbat, has an awesome ac bard, I will look for his build for you, but with the right gear and buffs, I know he reaches at least an 80 and kicks butt.

IIRC, My halfling bard reaches about a 50 before buffs wearing the epic kundarak delving suit, light and darkness, and chaosguards. Unfortunately, I seldom find high ac useful so I just stick to wearing easily swappable robes such as DT for various effects and the silver flame robe for the night shield clicky.

I had Hu spec'd similar to this for a while. Didn't find it optimal. My self-healing bard with 9 AC had better survivability than piles of AC / limited to scroll self-healing.

Here is the build (at least in its early stages) for reference though:
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=218706

[Rav'n]

This is the heart of the matter. So far, I have done multiple DPS-focused, caster-focused, various types of more balanced builds, as well as a couple experimental builds (intimi-tank bard for example). They are all "feasible" in that they are not going to get you kicked from most groups. That doesn't mean they are ideal, though, and personally I have continued to shelve any and all of my non-ideal builds because they just are not as versatile or fun as another bard I have rolling.

All that said, if you haven't played a bard with healer capacity (somewhat implied) then I would do so. All it takes is two feats (quicken/maximize) and a couple AP; meaning that your bard can still be focused the way you want as long as you can fit those two in. My next planned bard (when half-orcs come out) is planning to be a DPS-focused healer; and definitely my favorite of my bards of the moment is my balanced healer.

It's about time you poked your head in here!!! Now, I waiting to hear from Matt, Bobo, Leslie (and I know I'm missing someone....)

Defining Feasable- While the Bard does NOT have to Epic quality, he needs to be at least "HARD" Raid ready.... and maybe a few on Elite... And just a note... 10 versions of a Melee Bard... I don't need. . I have 2 Good Melee Builds now and I'm planning a Bardbarian one... THAT one I'll want some input on!

Never made a true Heal Spec'd Bard... so THAT one is definitely on my list. Eflat was originally a Spellsinger, before I LR'd him into a WC. He was poorly built the first time around... and I wanted a straight class WC weilding the Mad Lute Eflat is getting a Makeover when Half Orcs come out. (He'll be the BardBarian)

So... (after reading all the threads...) what I need are good Builds on

AA Bard (TRing a Ranger)
Bardbarian (TRing a Capped bard to Half Orc)
Doctor Bard (Lessering a FvS)
AC Bard (TRing a 15/3/2 B/R/F)
Spell Casting Bard (Might just Build this one)

[Philam]

My suggestion is!

Ph

[Rav'n]

Yeah... I ran with the build.... in MY experience.... he SUX!!! He got out killed by an Elf almost 2 to 1!!!






Hiya P!

[BoBoDaClown]

It's about time you poked your head in here!!! Now, I waiting to hear from Matt, Bobo, Leslie (and I know I'm missing someone....)

Defining Feasable- While the Bard does NOT have to Epic quality, he needs to be at least "HARD" Raid ready.... and maybe a few on Elite... And just a note... 10 versions of a Melee Bard... I don't need. . I have 2 Good Melee Builds now and I'm planning a Bardbarian one... THAT one I'll want some input on!

Never made a true Heal Spec'd Bard... so THAT one is definitely on my list. Eflat was originally a Spellsinger, before I LR'd him into a WC. He was poorly built the first time around... and I wanted a straight class WC weilding the Mad Lute Eflat is getting a Makeover when Half Orcs come out. (He'll be the BardBarian)

So... (after reading all the threads...) what I need are good Builds on

AA Bard (TRing a Ranger)
Bardbarian (TRing a Capped bard to Half Orc)
Doctor Bard (Lessering a FvS)
AC Bard (TRing a 15/3/2 B/R/F)
Spell Casting Bard (Might just Build this one)

Since you called... ;p

I'm working on a Bardbarian.

Currently level 12. 34 Pt Halfling. I think she'll end up about 8 Bard 2 Fighter 10 Barbarian and then be TRed. The build is pretty borked because I made some changes to qualify for the barbarian past life feat (there's a barb past life maybe bug, which passively applies the +4 str/con bonus of that 30s rage to all your rages).

I think I'm going to TR into a Human Dual Heavy Pick Wielding, 15-16Bard/2Barb/2Fighter.

Something like: 18 Str 15 dex Heaps of Con.
1) Past Life Bard
1) Extend
2) Fighter - Toughness
3) PA
6) Weapon Focus
9) TWF
9) Fighter - ITWF
12) Improve Crit
15) GTWF
18) Not sure- maybe drop a fighter feat.

I won't actually make this character until the ramifications of any TWF nerf are well known. I will drop the fighter level/levels if the barbarian past life feat is 'fixed' and probably go with 2 Rogue levels. Certainly, Khopesh would be a better weapon choice, but I'm sick of them.

Just from 12 levels of play (currently 8/2/2) I can heartily recommend the Bardbarian

I also heartily recommend the 20 Spellsinger CC specialist - you have a lot of fun with them - she's remained my main no matter what other projects are going on.

Have fun with all those bards

[Milamber69]

So... I LOVE to TR!! Yes, I said it. I LOVE to TR! I plan on TRing all my toons, one by one. The little voice in back of my head (the little one... the others all disagree...) says i should TR ALL my Toons into some form of Bard! And I'm tending to listen to him....

So the question... how many FEASABLE Builds are out there? I have the following Bard Builds

TR-ing my main to either a 20 Bard or a 18/2 Bard/Fighter TWF (Really need the feats)
20 Bard Warchanter (Gonna TR him when 1/2 Orcs come out) THF
15/3/2 Virtuoso TWF
4 Bard (lowbie for running with Guildies.)

Was thinking of a Heal Spec'd Bard and maybe a Bard/Ranger ranged build (would use my Capped Ranger for this ), and maybe a Bardbarian Build.

Should mention, I'll keep 2-3 toons for Epic Raiding. The others, were fun to level, but I only use them to fill in on Raids now.

Thoughts? Flames? Cooki...uh... cupcakes?

Mine.

[Rav'n]

If I TR into Temptunez... who are YOU gonna play?

[RoelHeeswijk]

Defining Feasable- While the Bard does NOT have to Epic quality, he needs to be at least "HARD" Raid ready.... and maybe a few on Elite...

Stretching the concept "Bard" a bit... I investigated some builds who CAN do Epic, but are not "HARD" Raid ready:P.

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=263913

I'm checking to see if our (up till now correct) presumptions about "viable" bards still hold in the current game. But it may not be what you're looking for.

[Dylos_Moon]

Serious AC on a Bard might be difficult. You can't monk splash and don't have a PrE to help. You could do high dex finesse:

Base: 10
Dex: 11
Protection: 5
Bracers: 8
Insight: 4
Icy Rainment: 4
Chattering Ring: 3
Hound Cleric Shield: 7
Armour/Shield Ritual: 2
Song: 4
CE: 5
Barkskin: 3
Haste: 1
----------------------------
Self Buffed: 67

Barkskin: 2
Paladin: 5
Recitation: 2
Boost: 5
------------------------------
Situational: 81

That could work out quite well if you want to do all that grinding. Probably human and take a couple of rogue levels for evasion, intim and +1 dex.

I think something along the lines of this might be more entertaining:

Base: 10
Armor: 13 (+5 Twilight Mithral Full Plate - hard as hell to get)
Shield: 8 (Light and Darkness)
Dex: 5 (Daggertooth)
Protection: 6
Chaosguarde: 2
Insight: 4
Chattering: 3
Armor/Shield Ritual: 2
Song: 4
CE: 5
Dodge Feat: 1
Seal of Earth: 3
Haste: 1
------------------
Self-buffed: 67

Barkskin: 2
Paladin: 5
Recitation: 2
------------------
Situational: 77 (I'm not counting boosts because you'd have to be elf/drow to get 0% asf in twilight mithral plate with light and darkness)

However, there are better armors then +5 Twilight Mithral Full Plate that such a character could use, namely Epic Tourney Armor and Epic Red Dragon scale Armor both of which can reach 0% arcane spell failure on an elf/drow.

[Ancient]

Half-Ogre 12 Bard/6 Pal/1 Monk

That is something you just don't see every day.

[RoelHeeswijk]

Half-Ogre 12 Bard/6 Pal/1 Monk

That is something you just don't see every day.

I'd splash 2 levels of dwarf on that.

[herdisleah]

Bard intimitank....I'm just that crazy. Look me up on Sarlona I tank VOD, hound, and whatnot...not quite geared yet but I'll be starting shavarath soon. Currently 66 intim, high 60s AC without getting my Hound shield yet or shavarath gear.

[Rav'n]

Csivils- Hope you meant 1/2 Orc... 1/2 Ogres aren't available. Also.. Bard doesn't cross class w/ Pally or Monk. If it did... I think you'd see a MAD rush on 15 Bard/3 Pally/2 Monk builds everywhere!

herdisleah-PM me your Build (or post it) Very interested to see it.

[Darkrok]

All that said, if you haven't played a bard with healer capacity (somewhat implied) then I would do so. All it takes is two feats (quicken/maximize) and a couple AP; meaning that your bard can still be focused the way you want as long as you can fit those two in. My next planned bard (when half-orcs come out) is planning to be a DPS-focused healer; and definitely my favorite of my bards of the moment is my balanced healer.

I'd just like to second this. My current bard just hit level 14 and I'm going a bit against the grain in that I'm staying pure with him on a Warchanter. 18str+level/18con/12cha warforged with all spells focused on either buffs, heals, or no-save options. Even on this build you can make your healing viable very cheaply. I'd say you could get by with 6AP's for Song Magic III. I'm going quite a bit more there as I'd say the priorities are probably 1) maxing inspire courage (although that last point of +atk will wait for epics), 2) personal survivability (taking as many hp boosts as you can afford), 3) healing power, and then 4) personal dps. You can go fairly cheap on number 2 as there's not that much beyond the toughness ap's (I could spend 6ap's to get 14 more hp's right now but that just isn't worth it) so after that it's pretty much all song magics and lyrics. Toss in that since our max level is 6 for our spells we can buy pots for 75% amp and you're really set for some usable heals.