Sorcerer with a splash of Bard?

[elThomaso]

Hi,

I've been wondering for a while now whether or not to choose a splash of Bard into my new drow sorcerer build.

My main reason for doing so would be to gain access to healing capacity, which can use the same main stat (CHA) as the primary class. Also I'd appreciate UMD in order to use a few wands or which ever magical items I might not be able to use otherwise. Well and the single one song per rest I might be able to sing for 1 level of Bard might help, although I don't think it will help a lot when I level up.

The point is, will a splash level of Bard be helpful at all in a higher level (the healing spell will always remain a level 1 spell, casted by a caster level 1), and can that ever outweigh the delay in levelling up the main class?? I'm a bit scepcical on that and have so far taken 4 levels of Sorcerer only with my brand new toon.

Curious to read your comments.

[Tid12]

No, no and no.

[arminius]

To expand just a little on "no, no, and no," it is precisely the things you point out that make it a bad idea. Yes sorcerers get gobs of Charisma but yes that also means that they can UMD no-fail heal scrolls easily, especially now that the 5 epic levels give +5 skills. Other side benefits of bard like haggle can also be gotten so high on a sorcerer that bard levels would be just gilding the lily.

On the other side, you don't gain anything in terms of useful songs and you lose caster levels. If you really want to add some bardy flavor to your build do it with destiny twists.

[Loromir]

Hi,

I've been wondering for a while now whether or not to choose a splash of Bard into my new drow sorcerer build.

My main reason for doing so would be to gain access to healing capacity, which can use the same main stat (CHA) as the primary class. Also I'd appreciate UMD in order to use a few wands or which ever magical items I might not be able to use otherwise. Well and the single one song per rest I might be able to sing for 1 level of Bard might help, although I don't think it will help a lot when I level up.

The point is, will a splash level of Bard be helpful at all in a higher level (the healing spell will always remain a level 1 spell, casted by a caster level 1), and can that ever outweigh the delay in levelling up the main class?? I'm a bit scepcical on that and have so far taken 4 levels of Sorcerer only with my brand new toon.

Curious to read your comments.

You healing will be at such small amounts, it would be near useless at higher levels. On the surface their might seem to be some synergy between Bard and Sorc, but in reality your going to gimp yourself.

If you really want to get some self healing in, work on your UMD to get Wands and Scrolls or reroll and switch to Warforged.

[unbongwah]

If you solo a lot (and don't like relying on cleric hirelings), leveling as bard 1 / sorc XX then LR +1 into pure sorc at lvl 20 makes some sense but isn't free; playing as a bard 1 / sorc 19 in epics is a bad idea, though - you really want the sorc capstone.

[elThomaso]

Thanks guys for being really clear and unanimous. This is helpful. Also means I haven't done any obvious damage yet to my build. Will keep levelling Sorcerer then and max UMD Cool stuff.... feels better when you're more convinced of doing the right thing.

[erikbozelie]

id stick to pure,

however... they gimped the soc capstone. might worth beginning to splash socs now that the capstone is useless

[JollySwagMan]

Unfortunately Fascinate's been nerfed quite badly - the duration on it is quite a bit lower than it used to be. I know that's not the reason you were curious about a Bard splash, but it was a pretty solid aspect that one could incorporate for stuff such as Epic Von 6.