Help my Haggle bard

[SiliconScout]

Hey there.

Looking to build a Hagglebard / Mule type character. The idea is to maximize Haggle first and foremost and then to be a CC / Heal in the back end so he's not piking.

Basically he buffs, secondary heals (primary if really needed) and helps with / IS Crowd Control.

This is what I came up with. Any suggestions. I don't care so much about Epics and Raiding is optional for me. I don't expect him to TR.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.11.02
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 True Neutral Human Male
(20 Bard) 
Hit Points: 264
Spell Points: 1151 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 9
Reflex: 11
Will: 11

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             14                    14
Dexterity             8                     8
Constitution         16                    16
Intelligence          8                     8
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma             18                    28

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               3                    22
Bluff                 4                     9
Concentration         7                    32
Diplomacy             6                    32
Disable Device       n/a                   n/a
Haggle                8                    41
Heal                 -1                    -1
Hide                 -1                    -1
Intimidate            4                     9
Jump                  2                     2
Listen               -1                    -1
Move Silently        -1                    -1
Open Lock            n/a                   n/a
Perform               8                    32
Repair               -1                    -1
Search               -1                    -1
Spot                 -1                    -1
Swim                  2                     2
Tumble                1                     1
Use Magic Device      8                    36

Level 1 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+4)
Skill: Concentration (+4)
Skill: Diplomacy (+2)
Skill: Haggle (+4)
Skill: Perform (+4)
Skill: Tumble (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+4)
Feat: (Human Bonus) Empower Healing Spell
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Spell (1): Cure Light Wounds
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song I
Enhancement: Improved Haggle I
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic I
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music I


Level 2 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (1): Hypnotism
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage I
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song I
Enhancement: Bard Charisma I


Level 3 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Skill Focus: Haggle
Spell (1): Otto's Resistible Dance
Enhancement: Human Versatility I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Song I
Enhancement: Bard Wand and Scroll Mastery I


Level 4 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song II
Enhancement: Improved Haggle II


Level 5 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (1): Focusing Chant
Spell (2): Blur
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack I
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Charisma I
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Incredible Song I


Level 6 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Negotiator
Enhancement: Bard Charisma II


Level 7 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (2): Soundburst
Spell (3): Good Hope
Spell (3): Cure Serious Wounds
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song II
Enhancement: Human Versatility II


Level 8 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (3): Haste
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic II


Level 9 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Spell Focus: Enchantment
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song III
Enhancement: Improved Haggle III


Level 10 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (4): Cure Critical Wounds
Spell (4): Otto's Sphere of Dancing
Spell (3): Displacement
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage II
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Song II


Level 11 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (4): Freedom of Movement
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Incredible Song II
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music II


Level 12 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Spell Focus: Enchantment
Enhancement: Human Versatility III
Enhancement: Improved Concentration I


Level 13 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (4): Dimension Door
Spell (5): Greater Heroism
Spell (5): Mind Fog
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Improved Concentration II
Enhancement: Improved Haggle IV


Level 14 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (5): Mass Suggestion
Enhancement: Bard Spellsinger I


Level 15 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Mental Toughness
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic III


Level 16 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (5): Shadow Walk
Spell (1): Remove Fear
Spell (6): Otto's Irresistible Dance
Spell (6): Mass Cure Moderate Wounds
Enhancement: Bard Spellsinger II
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music III


Level 17 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (2): Invisibility
Spell (6): Mass Charm Monster
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song IV


Level 18 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Spell (3): Slow
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song III


Level 19 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (6): Heroes Feast
Spell (4): Hold Monster
Enhancement: Human Versatility IV


Level 20 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (5): Mass Cure Light Wounds
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage III
Enhancement: Bard Musical Prodigy

Haggle should look like this.

41 - Base
+5 - Human Versatility
+4 - Greater Heroism
+1 - Focused Chant
----
51 Total

Add in a +6 CHA item and +12 Haggle item and we are looking at a Haggle of 66. (51 + 15)

It's not too bad to get a +15 haggle item so that can be pumped to a 69 without anything special really.

Am I on the right track?

[Faent]

You can hit a higher Haggle, for the record:

Add ship buffs and the following:

+2 Head of Good Fortune (Luck Bonus)
+3 Gem of Haggling (Guild bonus)

See this thread: http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=168293

And this thread, for 116 Haggle: http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=346660

[Sir_Noob]

If you care to spend the time when the Crystal Cove event comes back you could always fashion a hat there for the sole purpose of being a haggle bot. + 6 Charisma with + 15 Haggle.

[Grenada]

market shield. From chronoscope pack. +3 more, though im not sure when haggle maxes out (does it max out at some point?)

[Faent]

market shield. From chronoscope pack. +3 more, though im not sure when haggle maxes out (does it max out at some point?)

The highest achievable haggle appears to be 116, currently.

The shield grants a +3 Enhancement bonus. This doesn't stack with the +5 Enhancement bonus you get from ship buffs. So there's no reason to use the shield (unless you don't want to run to a ship).

At 126 Haggle you could buy for less than you could sell for. So treat the max Haggle as 125 given the current system. It will never go above that (unless the system changes), since this would introduce an infinite supply of money into the economy. There is currently no way to get to 125 Haggle.

[SiliconScout]

I am not too sure I want to be grinding out for the absolute max haggle. I mostly want a character that can bankroll my others and be their fence.

Anyone see any issues with the build that would make it unusually difficult to play or useless in a group or solo?

Keeping in mind he's not likely to do many if any raids or epics.

[Cardtrick]

Anyone see any issues with the build that would make it unusually difficult to play or useless in a group or solo?

Keeping in mind he's not likely to do many if any raids or epics.

First -- I assume the enhancements you put in are just preliminary? If not, you definitely will want to swap those out -- you should be taking Spellsinger long before level 14.

For high-level healing on a bard, Maximize is pretty much essential. You just don't pump out enough healing power without it. I would definitely take it over the second Toughness. This is more debatable, but I would also probably swap out Mental Toughness for Spell Penetration to help you penetrate spell resistance with your enchantment spells. That would make it fine in a group, I suppose. I think soloing will be painful on this character, though -- with absolutely no melee-oriented feats, you're going to be reliant on nothing but self-buffing to help you do damage. You can avoid a lot of fights with Fascinate, true, but you still have to hurt the enemies somehow.

Honestly, I would forget about the two haggle-oriented feats, at least while leveling. Use them for Power Attack and Improve Critical:Slashing, so you can do some decent damage with Master's Touch and a greataxe or falchion. Once you hit cap, you can swap them out for the haggle feats if you really think the extra 5 points is going to matter much.

[NaturalHazard]

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php...t=haggle+queen

my haggle bard is based closely on this build by leslie west.

Just finished solo ccing a epic DA.

Ran him through all the raids and other epics my other toons do, and hes done fine as a CCer or a healer.

I didnt bother with the haggle feats however I picked up some meta-magic ones not sure which, I took instead have to go take a look.

and also spellsingers are in demand for a lot of raids and epics, so dont sell yourself short, most just want vigor and the 10% off spell casting song, but you can also be CC and back up heals, if you cycle through scrolls as well it makes you an even better healer.