Bardbarian Questions

[Maelodic]

I'm having a few issues with my bard, level 6 (7 with warchanter I soon)

First: I got the power attack feat, and I love it to death, but when I put it on my to-hit becomes terrible, it drops to below 50%. Is there a way to get similar accuracy when on power attack as to when I'm not?

Second: I just got me an awesome +1 Mythril Full Plate. Pretty shweet for a brand new player, at least it looks cool. But now, even though the spell failure rate is slightly above that of my old ironweave tunic, I'm now seeing a bit of spell failure, not too much, but enough that it's noticable. Which never happened before, but it's ****ing me off. How can I stop that?

Thanks

[Freeman]

First, Power Attack isn't that useful at low levels, because it is a much larger penalty compared to your total attack bonus. I wouldn't suggest using it most of the time until at least level 10+. Even then, always turn if off if you are missing. Eventually, it won't be an issue, but it will be awhile before your attack bonus gets to that level. There's nothing special you need to do about it, since it is a common problem for most melees.

The mithril full plate is medium armor. Bard's have no spell failure in light armor, so you need to switch back to that to avoid it. At level 12, you can take Warchanter II, which allows you to cast in medium armor, but honestly, medium armors are generally fairly crappy to begin with. I'd find a good chain shirt or mithril breastplate and stick with that.

[bartosy]

the best way to get to hit and atk at an early level is to get the korthos set or the goggles of insight wich is the reward of a korthos quest too.

Also get focusing chant wich adds +1 to atk and to skills that stacks with heroism and greater heroism, that's +2 already there make sure your raged most of the times wich adds another +1 so +3 at level 9 you will get inspire greatness wich is another +2 to atk gives so +5 wich basicly is the pa penalty covered without even singing an inspire courage song.

If you still have trouble hitting things always make sure you flank an enemy

this is atk the enemy in the side or the back wich gives a +2 atk bonus.

try not to move constantly moving and hitting stuf is -4 to atk !

Don't use weapons your not proficient with that is -4 to atk

If you got a lot of str going for ya try to trip the mob thats another -4 ac to there defense.

Basicly what i'm saying is if you got pa atk on, don't atk a mob from behind and
move around like grazy and use weapons your not proficient with it means 5+4+2+4= -15 to your atk rolls

If you on the other hand got pa atk on atk a mob from behind and stay stationary and use a weapon your proficient with its -5 and thats it. Just applying these rules nets you a profit of 10 to your atks


and that about sums it up.