Who else is excited for NEW Epic Elyd Edge?

[earlran]

I for one am totally LRing my level 20 Spellsinger healing/CC-specced bard with 44 cha to include TWF Will have to drop 2 DCs from my SF and GSF: Ench feats though...but Fascinate works wonders in epic anyway.

I already have 1 E-elyd, and am missing just shard for 2nd

Maybe with feat progression like:

Human Bonus: Toughness
Bard 1: TWF
Bard 3: Quicken (or Empower Healing, not sure yet, been healing epics solo without quicken for quite some time now)
Bard 6: Maximise
Bard 9: iTWF
Bard 12: Power Attack
Bard 15: Improved Crit: Piercing (or Quicken, suggestions?)
Bard 18: gTWF

What are your opinions/comments? How would you build for a dual E-elyd edge healing SS bard?

This opens up a host of cool drow builds as well, especially with their Cha buff mmmm

[gurth83]

I tought about similar build but i have got mixed feelings. On the one hand investing points in charisma forces CC speced bard but on the other hand there is not enought feats to handle full dps line, healing and CC from spells.
To do good CC by songs charisma is not needed. Even with starting 12 charisma DC of fascinate will be 23 skill + 15 item + 1 base 12 cha + 3 cha 6 item + 1 cha 2 tome + 1 cha 2 guild + 4 GH + 1 FC = 49 +d20. Bonus from charisma to mana is low 19 mn for each 2 cha. But if I were so close to second E-EE like you I think I would do similar build.

Things needed to be checked for me to take proper feats:
-quicken, how does it improve delay between time of starting spell casting and time of first attack. Think as SS, concentration will be quite good, so uninterruptible spell casting benefit from quicken is not worth to take this feat. Same with faster spell casting time benefit because mass cure spells are quite fast and bard don't have accest to mass heal. So reason to take quicken would be better dps if delay is reduced significantly.
-imp piercing, how does it increase dps for 2xE-EE vs enemy fortification, maybe its not worth to take it.
-does 2:06 min haste and displacenent is not annoying to keep. I had 15 bard (1:30) splash and without extened spell it was horror to keep those spells all the time.

[mournbladereigns]

I for one am totally LRing my level 20 Spellsinger healing/CC-specced bard with 44 cha to include TWF Will have to drop 2 DCs from my SF and GSF: Ench feats though...but Fascinate works wonders in epic anyway.

I already have 1 E-elyd, and am missing just shard for 2nd

Maybe with feat progression like:

Human Bonus: Toughness
Bard 1: TWF
Bard 3: Quicken (or Empower Healing, not sure yet, been healing epics solo without quicken for quite some time now)
Bard 6: Maximise
Bard 9: iTWF
Bard 12: Power Attack
Bard 15: Improved Crit: Piercing (or Quicken, suggestions?)
Bard 18: gTWF

What are your opinions/comments? How would you build for a dual E-elyd edge healing SS bard?

This opens up a host of cool drow builds as well, especially with their Cha buff mmmm

It looks like a pretty solid weap, and good option for a TWF bard. I'd be tempted to get a couple just to swing around on a sorc too bad I don't grind epics. I'd definitely take IC, 30% crit is nice DPS boost.

Epic Elyd Edge - (Weapon) +6 Rapier (dmg:2d6+6), Charisma +7, Superior Devotion VI, Silver, Alchemical, Screaming, Cacophony, Inspiring Echoes, Anthem, Empty Red Augment Slot [ML:20, BTC]

[Doganpc]

I think you only need TWF & OTWF, but then again i'm okay with things not being 100%

Dogan
its different.

[wax_on_wax_off]

I think you only need TWF & OTWF, but then again i'm okay with things not being 100%

Dogan
its different.

No, just no.

OTWF does squat. +2 attack? Pffft.

You'll hit more often and do more damage with ITWF (14.3% DPS boost).

GTWF I guess is vaguely optional as an absolute last resort (but it still adds 12.5% DPS).

[earlran]

I could replace gTWF with Extend...

That would probably work best...unless I drop power attack for empower healing...

8 feats (with human): Toughness, Extend, Maximise, TWF, iTWF, Imp Crit: Piercing, Power Attack

Usually on my bard, Maximise + Empower healing does decent healings, dunno if I could solo heal an epic party with just maximise. Maybe if I craft a greater healing lore item on another slot it'd be possible.

Hrm hrm, suggestions?

[wax_on_wax_off]

I could replace gTWF with Extend...

That would probably work best...unless I drop power attack for empower healing...

8 feats (with human): Toughness, Extend, Maximise, TWF, iTWF, Imp Crit: Piercing, Power Attack

Usually on my bard, Maximise + Empower healing does decent healings, dunno if I could solo heal an epic party with just maximise. Maybe if I craft a greater healing lore item on another slot it'd be possible.

Hrm hrm, suggestions?

Screw extend. Your short term buffs are now shuffled to the right of the buff bar so you should be able to easily see what is running out of time. 12.5% DPS boost from GTWF is way more interesting.

On another note, I'd definitely take GTWF over IC:P (IC is only better for a khopesh against 0 fort enemies) and possibly take GTWF over Power Attack (trickier choice).

[Dendrix]

No, just no.

OTWF does squat. +2 attack? Pffft.

You'll hit more often and do more damage with ITWF (14.3% DPS boost).

GTWF I guess is vaguely optional as an absolute last resort (but it still adds 12.5% DPS).

OTWF is essential for a 2WF bard IMO. the BAB15 mean you still miss with Power Attack on in epics, even after destruction/improved desctruction.

[gwenniez]

OTWF is essential for a 2WF bard IMO. the BAB15 mean you still miss with Power Attack on in epics, even after destruction/improved desctruction.

bab 17 and 1 feat less wont make you connect everything magicly also :P. bards are pretty feat starved
because they dont get any choosable / good feats while they lvl up otwf should be the first thing to go
on most twf build imo.

[Nephilia]

Here another man excited about new E-EE (and shimmering pendant too :P)!!!

About feats you looks quite good but I would drop quicken in favor of Extend spell
Quicken just eliminate the conc check but you're not an offensive caster
What could you cast?
Buffs? usually you'll do out of melee and battle so no need of waste 10 more mana for quicken.
CC? as u said in epic fascinate works better and it doesn't need conc check... if u want to land some persuasion or whatever I remember you that u just gimped your already low DC dropping SF:ench and GSF:ench so... land a persuasion out of battle and the charge with Greater shout and your new flaming weapons
In the other hand Extend would enlarge the duration of your lowest and best buffs, displacement, haste and rage. Double the duration of haste is priceless imho

[Doganpc]

No, just no.

OTWF does squat. +2 attack? Pffft.

You'll hit more often and do more damage with ITWF (14.3% DPS boost).

GTWF I guess is vaguely optional as an absolute last resort (but it still adds 12.5% DPS).

Look, if you're going to go all DPS on us.. why the hell are you using a Rapier? Unless its in your offhand... Meh, I don't like your game.

Dogan
Its just not a Bard.

[wax_on_wax_off]

OTWF is essential for a 2WF bard IMO. the BAB15 mean you still miss with Power Attack on in epics, even after destruction/improved desctruction.

Doesn't add up.

If you need OTWF to hit then you will hit 10% more often.

However, GTWF gives 12.5% more attacks. Therefore, GTWF will ALWAYS be a better choice, not just when you need don't need the +2 AB (which won't happen that often).

Cast inspire courage, set your APs to have maximum AB on inspire courage, use a divine power scroll, don't give up your crucial DPS (it will be low as it is without gimping it further).

[Emili]

Rosewood is dual wielding already, always has been... You need your feats for spell singer and of course max and other metas help on these types of toons... Fill out songs to the brim - personally all bards eveb singer best have max'd ic, keep a good melee score running off the Epic Elyd Edge (I placed good in the red slot) is nice but the weapon is not exactly the means to an end... I actually pair it with a epic small blade (same base damage/crit profile and doublestrike) a lot.

Many people have wondered why she been an elf over these years... fact was when first rolled did not matter much for bards but when the elf rapier enhancements came out it became a sub to balance her personal 'to-hit/damage' via ap for fine tuning while lvling.

When I TR'd I still wanted that out of her... the toon hits in epic's fine, are just a couple like Malicia give some issue. But then there are times like that I force her into full BaB, yes can be done so with madstone (which I do not recommend on a non-chanter bard, fact I do not even recomend it much there) ... but remember 1:06 minute of divine power and you have it, mind you clickies do the job better than scroll.

SS runs tight and is some balances be met... if you in some way find yourself gimping too much in relm of healing or cc ability for your DPS chances are you could have gone chanter.

[wax_on_wax_off]

Rosewood is dual wielding already, always has been... You need your feats for spell singer and of course max and other metas help on these types of toons... Fill out songs to the brim - personally all bards eveb singer best have max'd ic, keep a good melee score running off the Epic Elyd Edge is nice but the weapon is not exactly the means to an end... I actually pair it with a epic small blade a lot.

Many people have wondered why she been an elf over these years... fact was when first rolled did not matter much for bards but when the elf rapier enhancements came out it became a sub to balance her personal 'to-hit/damage' via ap for fine tuning while lvling.

When I TR'd I still wanted that out of her... the toon hits in epic's fine, are just a couple like Malicia give some issue. But then there are times like that I force her into full BaB, yes can be done so with madstone (which I do not recommend on a non-chanter bard, fact I do not even recomend it much there) ... but remember 1:06 minute of divine power and you have it, mind you clickies do the job better than scroll.

SS runs tight and is some balances be met... if you in some way find yourself gimping too much in relm of healing or cc ability for your DPS chances are you could have gone chanter.

Cool, what feats did you settle on with her?

[BoBoDaClown]

Personally I would sub quicken for heighten - netting a +2 DC on your discoball/hold, i.e. you'd have a DC of around ~39, which is workable.

That means you can CC, DPS, Heal.

You could consider swapping toughness for heighten, if you have the stats and gear to still swing ~500hp (be tough on a twfer - but if you have two edges, you might be the type of player who can swing it).

[Emili]

Cool, what feats did you settle on with her?

I'd have to log on her to give her exacts... I do know her metas are max and heighten, she has toughness and I believe no PA... choice was either IC pirece vs PA at the time.

The SS PrE actually lend a hand in healing and with just Max (and no emp healing on the toon) running the girl actually can poise as a secondary raid healer at times ... even in elites, She's has solo healed elite shrouds at times when a cleric took a time out and poises well in good groups on ToD's and such in that role when it has to. Max is also kind of nice on the simple sonic spells... you can coax stuns out of them in much the content. Heighten sures up the CC a little and the rest item and rest is buffing up vha well enough... am only running Rose off 42 cha and she manages fine... rest is in str con and enough dex to manage gtwf via tomes. All lvl ups had been in Cha though. In epics it still has 60+ perform lands irresistables and believe it or not hold on some.

What the OP is aiming for is a slightly more DPS oriented (like I said she was built her way to be ale to kill things well herself). I do hate a toon which cannot kill. If had to apply it in human or Helf format may balance better... the elyd lends to the end well but must also remember once epic'd you do not see the fruit 'til 20.

It looks like a pretty solid weap, and good option for a TWF bard. I'd be tempted to get a couple just to swing around on a sorc too bad I don't grind epics. I'd definitely take IC, 30% crit is nice DPS boost.

Or... a drow pally who only need place a cold iron in the red slot for a dual devil/dq dr by passing weapon with an extra sonic proc a little help to their healing. (I know a few 2hf pallys did so with hellstroke axe).

◦Epic Elyd Edge: The weapon now includes Screaming, as well as Cacophony, a sonic damage effect equal in proc rate and power to Incineration. This weapon now uses the higher of Strength or Charisma for to-hit and damage, and has a new effect called Inspiring Echoes in which a Bard wielder's Inspire Heroics, Inspire Competence and Song of Freedom become Area of Effect benefits while this weapon is held.

I am hoping the devs do remember to include the recipe to upgrade the older weapons... I hated having to wait to upgrade my wizard's epic illusionist robe.

[karl_k0ch]

I like it pretty much. It's a nice thing to aim for on my Cha-based spellsinger whose focus is on healing and ccing. It won't hurt to have a viable weapon to swing at the mobs every now and then. So even for non-TWF toons it became more attractive.

[Aerendil]

Look, if you're going to go all DPS on us.. why the hell are you using a Rapier? Unless its in your offhand... Meh, I don't like your game.

Dogan
Its just not a Bard.

Oh nos, it's a Rapier-wielding Bard. Must be a gimp, right?
I guess that Inspire Courage for +7/+7, and the weapon's enchantment itself of +6/+6 count for nothing. Nor the Bard's CHA, which is probably mid-to-high 30s, granting somewhere between +12 to +15 to hit and damage.

Yeah, that's terrible dps. They'd be silly to want to wield this thing.

PS - I agree with Emili, don't worry about PA. If you can squeeze it in, then by all means do it, but you're there to *assist* the dps groups, not *be* the dps. This also means you'll have a slightly better to-hit, and shouldn't need to worry about the lack of OTWF. For those times on bosses when you need the extra boost, use a Divine Power Clicky.
TWF, ITWF, GTWF, I:Crit, Maximise, Heighten, and Toughness should do the trick. If Human, maybe keep Extend as well - 4min Hastes are delicious.

[Miow]

No, just no.

OTWF does squat. +2 attack? Pffft.

You'll hit more often and do more damage with ITWF (14.3% DPS boost).

GTWF I guess is vaguely optional as an absolute last resort (but it still adds 12.5% DPS).

he's right otwf is a dump feat if you need +2 to hit your in trouble already

[BoBoDaClown]

he's right otwf is a dump feat if you need +2 to hit your in trouble already

+2 to hit can be very helpful in epics.

That's why we max our inspire attack line - even that extra +1 to hit can be helpful.

Not saying that he can fit that feat, but it does have its uses. (I'd still rather have all the feats that have been listed)