14/6 Bard/?

[Consumer]

I was planning my first Bard build earlier, I have decided to go 14 Bard for +7/+8 inspire courage (with Warchanter). That leaves 6 levels of DPS to play with. The choices for me are 6 Fighter, 6 Barb or 2 Barb/4 Fighter. The build will be TWF and will be melee focused.

6 Fighter gives:

4 feats - weapon focus, weapon specialization, power attack, OTWF
Kensai I
Kensai Mastery I
Fighter haste boost II
Fighter attack boost II
Fighter Str II

For 20 AP

In total:

+4 damage (main hand)
+3 damage (off hand)
+3 to hit
6 20% haste boosts



6 Barb gives:

Frenzied Berserker I
Frenzy
Hardy Rage II
Power Rage II
Extra Rage II
Extend Rage II
Barb Power Attack II
Barb Damage Boost II
Barb Con II

For 28 AP

In total:

+6 + 7 vicious damage (main hand)
+4 + 7 vicious damage (off hand)
+2 to hit
5 rages with Warchanter
-1 feat (cleave)



2 Barb/4 Fighter gives:

3 feats
Barb Con I
Extend Rage I
Extra Rage I
Barb Power Attack I
Fighter Haste Boost II
Fighter Str I

For 10 AP

In total:

3 feats
5 20% haste boosts
+3 damage (main hand)
+2 damage (off hand)
+1 to hit



For the bard levels I only want the minimum requirements for spells, once racial enhancements are done with then fluff can be included and the enhancements can be balanced.

Barb Lingering Song IV: 10 AP
Bard Inspired Attack III: 12 AP
Bard Inspired Damage II: 6 AP
Bard Extra Song IV: 10 AP
Bard Inspired Bravery II: 3 AP
Bard Warchanter I: 4 AP

= 45 AP



The choice of race includes to hit, damage and weapon choice. I have listed the most important enhancements and their costs along with other things I consider important for the race.


WF - +2 con and -2 cha at creation, 4 ranks of racial toughness - Khopesh/Heavy Pick

PA III: 6 AP
Healers Friend II: 6 AP
Constitution II: 6 AP
= 18 AP


Drow - +2 dex, +2 cha, +2 int and -2 con at creation, 2 ranks of racial toughness - Rapier

Melee Damage: 6 AP
Melee Attack: 6 AP
= 12 AP

Advantage of having weapon focus: piercing, this not only gives bonuses to Rapiers but also to Heavy picks.


Human - extra feat, extra skill point, 3 ranks of racial toughness - Khopesh

Human Adaptability Strength: 2 AP
Human Greater Adaptability Constitution: 4 AP
Human Improved Recovery II: 6 AP



The highest DPS combination is the WF Khopesh 14/6 Bard/Fighter however it is at -4 to hit compared to humans and -6 to Drow. The to hit will cause problems in end game content and I am unsure of which way to go.

To hit

20 Base
16 (42) Str
5 Weapon
1 Focus
1 Mastery
7 Inspire Courage
2 Inspire Greatness
1 Focusing Chant
1 Haste
2 Shintao set
1 litany
= 57 to hit
-5 PA
= 52 to hit
-2 TWF (OTWF)
= 50 to hit

Drow = 52 to hit
WF = 48 to hit

Drow without PA = 57
WF without PA = 56

Flanking (fighter mastery I)
Drow = 60 to hit
WF = 59 to hit

Tharne's SA bonus
Drow = 65 to hit
WF = 64 to hit

To finish off I would like to ask which combination of levels/race/weapon would you or have you used. Also if I have made any mistakes please point them out so I can correct them.

[RATRACE931]

Only thing is people expect a capped bard to have AC song which this build would not.

[Consumer]

Only thing is people expect a capped bard to have AC song which this build would not.

People still build for AC?

If the loss of a prestige enhancement was worth giving a bonus to AC to the small % of toons that can feel its benefit I would include it.

[BoBoDaClown]

Quick reply (no time to read your analysis sorry).

Just a quick thought - how does 4-5 rogue levels stack up dps wise?

[Rav'n]

People still build for AC?

If the loss of a prestige enhancement was worth giving a bonus to AC to the small % of toons that can feel its benefit I would include it.

Also +4 to Saves... which to me is more important than the AC.

[BoBoDaClown]

Also +4 to Saves... which to me is more important than the AC.

The +4 to saves doesn't stack with GH does it?

[Consumer]

Quick reply (no time to read your analysis sorry).

Just a quick thought - how does 4-5 rogue levels stack up dps wise?

Sneak attack is not multiplied on a crit and you would only have a small amount (3d6+6), it would result in similar DPS that would be lost as soon as you gain agro. The advantage of subtle backstabbing and evasion would be nice though.

You have reminded me that I missed +5 SA bonus from Tharne's goggles in the to hit breakdown.

[Consumer]

Going to go WF with Khopesh.

14/6 Bard/Fighter
WF
True Neutral

Stats

Strength - 18
Dexterity - 15
Constitution - 14
Intelligence - 8
Wisdom - 6
Charisma – 10

Consitution
14 base
6 item
4 tome
3 exceptional
2 enhancements
= 29 con
2 rage
= 31 con

HP
84 Bard
60 Fighter
20 Heroic
10 Draconic
200 Con
22 Toughness feat
40 Toughness AP
20 Toughness item
45 GS
30 GFL
= 531 HP
40 Yugo
= 571 HP
40 Madstone
= 611 HP

Progression

1 - Bard - TWF
2 – Fighter – WF:Slash
3 – Bard - PA
4 - Bard
5 - Bard
6 – Bard - Toughness
7 - Bard
8 – Bard
9 – Bard - Extend
10 - Fighter - Khopesh
11 - Bard
12 – Bard - ITWF
13 - Bard
14 - Bard
15 – Bard - GTWF
16 - Bard
17 - Fighter
18 – Fighter – WS: Slashing, IC: Slashing
19 - Fighter
20 – Fighter – OTWF

Enhancements

Fighter Attack Boost II - 3
Fighter Haste Boost II - 3
Fighter Critical Accuracy II - 3
Fighter Kensai I - 4
Fighter STR II - 6
Fighter Flanking Mastery I - 2
Fighter Toughness II - 3
= 25 AP

Bard Lingering Song II – 3 AP
Bard Inspired Attack III – 12 AP
Barb Inspired Damage III – 6 AP
Bard Inspired Bravery II – 3 AP
Bard Extra Song III – 6 AP
Bard Warchanter I – 4 AP
= 34 AP

WF PA III – 6 AP
WF Healers Friend II – 6 AP
WF Constitution II – 6 AP
WF Toughness II – 3 AP
= 21 AP

= 80 AP

[BoBoDaClown]

Going to go WF with Khopesh.

14/6 Bard/Fighter
WF
True Neutral

Stats

Strength - 18
Dexterity - 15
Constitution - 14
Intelligence - 8
Wisdom - 6
Charisma – 10

Consitution
14 base
6 item
4 tome
3 exceptional
2 enhancements
= 29 con
2 rage
= 31 con

HP
84 Bard
60 Fighter
20 Heroic
10 Draconic
200 Con
22 Toughness feat
40 Toughness AP
20 Toughness item
45 GS
30 GFL
= 531 HP
40 Yugo
= 571 HP
40 Madstone
= 611 HP

Progression

1 - Bard - TWF
2 – Fighter – WF:Slash
3 – Bard - PA
4 - Bard
5 - Bard
6 – Bard - Toughness
7 - Bard
8 – Fighter - Khopesh
9 – Bard - ITWF
10 - Bard
11 - Bard
12 – Bard - IC: Slashing
13 - Bard
14 - Bard
15 – Bard - GTWF
16 - Bard
17 - Fighter
18 – Fighter – WS:Slashing
19 - Fighter
20 – Fighter – Extend

Enhancements

Fighter Attack Boost II - 3
Fighter Haste Boost II - 3
Fighter Critical Accuracy II - 3
Fighter Kensai I - 4
Fighter STR II - 6
Fighter Flanking Mastery I - 2
Fighter Toughness II - 3
= 25 AP

Bard Lingering Song II – 3 AP
Bard Inspired Attack III – 12 AP
Barb Inspired Damage III – 6 AP
Bard Inspired Bravery II – 3 AP
Bard Extra Song III – 6 AP
Bard Warchanter I – 4 AP
= 34 AP

WF PA III – 6 AP
WF Healers Friend II – 6 AP
WF Constitution II – 6 AP
WF Toughness II – 3 AP
= 21 AP

= 80 AP

You need that cha to hit UMD marks? You could grab a bit more con?

[Lifespawn]

Going to go WF with Khopesh.

14/6 Bard/Fighter
WF
True Neutral

Stats

Strength - 18
Dexterity - 15
Constitution - 14
Intelligence - 8
Wisdom - 6
Charisma – 10

Consitution
14 base
6 item
4 tome
3 exceptional
2 enhancements
= 29 con
2 rage
= 31 con

HP
84 Bard
60 Fighter
20 Heroic
10 Draconic
200 Con
22 Toughness feat
40 Toughness AP
20 Toughness item
45 GS
30 GFL
= 531 HP
40 Yugo
= 571 HP
40 Madstone
= 611 HP

Progression

1 - Bard - TWF
2 – Fighter – WF:Slash
3 – Bard - PA
4 - Bard
5 - Bard
6 – Bard - Toughness
7 - Bard
8 – Fighter - Khopesh
9 – Bard - ITWF
10 - Bard
11 - Bard
12 – Bard - IC: Slashing
13 - Bard
14 - Bard
15 – Bard - GTWF
16 - Bard
17 - Fighter
18 – Fighter – WS:Slashing
19 - Fighter
20 – Fighter – Extend

Enhancements

Fighter Attack Boost II - 3
Fighter Haste Boost II - 3
Fighter Critical Accuracy II - 3
Fighter Kensai I - 4
Fighter STR II - 6
Fighter Flanking Mastery I - 2
Fighter Toughness II - 3
= 25 AP

Bard Lingering Song II – 3 AP
Bard Inspired Attack III – 12 AP
Barb Inspired Damage III – 6 AP
Bard Inspired Bravery II – 3 AP
Bard Extra Song III – 6 AP
Bard Warchanter I – 4 AP
= 34 AP

WF PA III – 6 AP
WF Healers Friend II – 6 AP
WF Constitution II – 6 AP
WF Toughness II – 3 AP
= 21 AP

= 80 AP

i'd switch toughness and power attack since you don't need pa in low levels and the more hp u have the better when your a lowbie.

also u need to switch lvl 18 and 20 feats fighters can't take extend as a fighter bonus missing your base feat for 18 aswell


might consider going bard 7 before taking the second fighter level Haste good hope displacment and rage are tough to pass up at lower levels.

[Consumer]

i'd switch toughness and power attack since you don't need pa in low levels and the more hp u have the better when your a lowbie.

Have power attack permanently on, prefer it to toughness at this point.

also u need to switch lvl 18 and 20 feats fighters can't take extend as a fighter bonus missing your base feat for 18 aswell

Missed a bonus feat at fighter level 4 while writing it up and as a result mixed up the feat order.

might consider going bard 7 before taking the second fighter level Haste good hope displacment and rage are tough to pass up at lower levels.

Get rage and blur before 6, WC at 6 then the Fighter level to provide BaB 8 for ITWF.

[Lifespawn]

haste and displace are at the same level


bab would be the same just would get you haste 1 level sooner



toughness is not in place of pa just more useful at lower levels

[Consumer]

haste and displace are at the same level

bab would be the same just would get you haste 1 level sooner

Looking over it again it would provide 7 BaB not 8 at 9 so I will have to swap some other stuff around.

toughness is not in place of pa just more useful at lower levels

I know, I don't need it earlier and am already level 6.

[Nick_RC]

Hey man,

Looking at resurecting my DPSing warchanter bard(who i loved playing). In the process of LRing to majority barb, then running a pali life at 34 points then back to bard for 36 points and finishing there.

Personally im waiting for Half Orc details to be released as Im hoping these options might be better than a wf overall. This is the build il likely be running but hopefully half orc instead.

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=261177

N

[Consumer]

Hey man,

Looking at resurecting my DPSing warchanter bard(who i loved playing). In the process of LRing to majority barb, then running a pali life at 34 points then back to bard for 36 points and finishing there.

Personally im waiting for Half Orc details to be released as Im hoping these options might be better than a wf overall. This is the build il likely be running but hopefully half orc instead.

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=261177

N

Now WC II/III is being released I can only level it to 16 then I have to stop at the last levels and wait for U7 to see if the higher tiers give a good investment.

Your build is impressive as usual though.

[Nick_RC]

Now WC II/III is being released I can only level it to 16 then I have to stop at the last levels and wait for U7 to see if the higher tiers give a good investment.

Your build is impressive as usual though.

Yup doing the same thing gonna rip through a pali PL real quick before U7 and leave him parked there until I see halforcs and the pretige lines before the final TR build. And Cheers.

N