bard or wizard trapmonkey

[neclon]

So I was working an a 2rog/18 wizard trapmonkey max umd drow (no wf yet), but it seems like there is not a lot of bards out there. And dangit if the bard song buffs aren't just awesome for melee (my rogue dps goes crazy with bard buffs.. but maybe it's more obvious because he's dex based).

So wizard: buffs, and firewall kiting. Bard:gets most of the if not all of the most important buffs from arcane, right? Plus bard buffs and PrE that buffs group... lots of skill pts (so easier to keep up trapmonkey skills and umd?).

What's the difference in roles at the end game? Are wizzies still laying down firewalls galore, or do they become more buff-oriented? Is 2rog/18 bard even a good combo at all (compared to 2rog/18 wiz). UMD aside do bards only get to use wands that are in the bard spell list? or any arcane wands?

[Vernah]

Bards, at end game, are used for their songs, and their sub par dps. Wizards buff and cast strong offensive spells.

Most bards go with 14-16 levels of bard, and then mixing in fighter, barbarian, or/and rogue.

[BoBoDaClown]

So I was working an a 2rog/18 wizard trapmonkey max umd drow (no wf yet), but it seems like there is not a lot of bards out there. And dangit if the bard song buffs aren't just awesome for melee (my rogue dps goes crazy with bard buffs.. but maybe it's more obvious because he's dex based).

So wizard: buffs, and firewall kiting. Bard:gets most of the if not all of the most important buffs from arcane, right? Plus bard buffs and PrE that buffs group... lots of skill pts (so easier to keep up trapmonkey skills and umd?).

What's the difference in roles at the end game? Are wizzies still laying down firewalls galore, or do they become more buff-oriented? Is 2rog/18 bard even a good combo at all (compared to 2rog/18 wiz). UMD aside do bards only get to use wands that are in the bard spell list? or any arcane wands?

Depending on the Bard, Bards are used for Buffs, CC, Heals, DPS (in no particular order). With a 2 splash rogue, you'll be focusing on the Buffs, DPS and maybe heals.

A Wizzy is DPS, CC, and buffs.

[JasonJi72]

I suppose it really comes down to whether you want to play a Bard or Mage. Multiclassing does take away from spellcasting, and a Bard tends to suffer less from this, unless they are a CC Bard.

Try them both, and see what you like.

[Irinis]

Bards don't get Resist Energy, which is a very important buff that Wizards get. But Bards get songs, which no other class gets.

If you have a Rogue already and are looking for a different kind of trapmonkey, I'd go with the resources you have available. Bard or Wiz will both need a +2 INT tome ready for them at level 7 to have skillpoints free for something OTHER than trapskills.

Also, if you want to hit Epic traps, the Wizard/Rogue can reach those benchmarks without the need for a greensteel skills item because the Wizard will be maxing out INT (especially if you take Nimble Fingers for +2 to disable until you can craft your greensteel). The Bard would need greensteel due to having to max out either STR or CHA... and might need greensteel for Charisma skills first to hit the UMD benchmark skill level.