Exalted Bard

[slarden]

Past Life feats can only be taken at level 3 and up...you'll need to swap around feat order to accommodate.

Thank you. I take my first past life feat at level 6. So I would just move everything up and take a past life feat a later level. My intent wasn't to say a past life feat should be taken at level 1, but rather to show that by gaining a feat you make up 1 DC while having less charisma so choosing human vs. drow is a very solid choice.

[pappo]

As part of the rotation it's worth having in for boss fights considering the total damage of 10 casts which costs only 100 sp. You get a tick every 2 seconds for 16 seconds and it stacks up to 3 times. For me it's part of a rotation of spells so although it's slow, it does it's job during boss fights.

My current bard (Swashy Pure 28 human) is ready for an eTR and I have been following this thread for a while. I am mainly a DPS Swashbuckler build and wanted to try more of a guild group helper with more CC/Heals.

Would you post your spell rotation for trash and for boss fights ?

[BoBoDaClown]

Thank you. I take my first past life feat at level 6. So I would just move everything up and take a past life feat a later level. My intent wasn't to say a past life feat should be taken at level 1, but rather to show that by gaining a feat you make up 1 DC while having less charisma so choosing human vs. drow is a very solid choice.

I might have missed part of the conversation, so this could be redundant:

Human is a fine choice, but they do end up lower DC.

Human: 18cha +1 enh cha +1feat
Drow: 20cha +2 enh cha +1enchant enhancement

So Drow is 3 charisma ahead.

Ofc human have some great other enhancements

[pappo]

I saw that your "endgame" weapon is a kama. Is that what you fought with as you leveled in Heroics ?
I wondered because lately it seems like all bards take swashbuckling for their DPS. I know your primary focus is CC/Heal, but when you had to melee, what did you do ?

[pappo]

I did my eTR and changed my swashbuckler to an Exalted Bard. I screwed up and didn't do a heroic TR, so I lost the Bard PL. After I get this toon back to 28 and eTR again, I will use a +20 Heart to get that Bard PL.

At level 21 now with a 73 Fascinate , 43 DC on the Orb. Mass Hold is hitting nicely, even in Epic Orchard slayers.

I had a Mad Lute (http://ddowiki.com/page/Item:The_Mad_Lute) in my bank and used it at lvl 20, but have now switched to a Quarterstaff with 102 Resonance until I can get to a Thunderforged item.

So far I am surviving well because I am primarily doing CC and singing songs for my guildies, or Pug I am in. I tried being more DPS in Epic Hard Von 3 and was doing good damage. Highest DPS numbers from my Greater Shout SLA with all the Meta's turned on it. I did see a couple of 900 - 1000 crits.

Overall I am enjoying your build very much. Thanks slarden .

[slarden]

I did my eTR and changed my swashbuckler to an Exalted Bard. I screwed up and didn't do a heroic TR, so I lost the Bard PL. After I get this toon back to 28 and eTR again, I will use a +20 Heart to get that Bard PL.

At level 21 now with a 73 Fascinate , 43 DC on the Orb. Mass Hold is hitting nicely, even in Epic Orchard slayers.

I had a Mad Lute (http://ddowiki.com/page/Item:The_Mad_Lute) in my bank and used it at lvl 20, but have now switched to a Quarterstaff with 102 Resonance until I can get to a Thunderforged item.

So far I am surviving well because I am primarily doing CC and singing songs for my guildies, or Pug I am in. I tried being more DPS in Epic Hard Von 3 and was doing good damage. Highest DPS numbers from my Greater Shout SLA with all the Meta's turned on it. I did see a couple of 900 - 1000 crits.

Overall I am enjoying your build very much. Thanks slarden .

Thank you and sorry for the late response.

I tried a hybrid build, but the feat restrictions make it really hard to be good at everything.

I am fully caster on this build and rely heavily on SLAs for offense because of the realities of bard spell point pools. My primary DPS spells are:

BURSTS:
- Exalted Angel Divine Wrath SLA (DC based on cha modifier)
- Energy Burst SLA twisted from Draconic (DC based on cha modifier)
- Greater Shout (used sparingly due to high sp cost)

SINGLE TARGET SPELLS:
- Shout SLA from spellsinger tree
- Sun Bolt SLA from Exalted Angel ED (DC based on cha modifier)
- Avenging Light SLA from Exalted Angel ED (DC based on cha modifier)
- Sonic Blast SLA from spellsinger tree
- Reverberate SLA (dot mainly for bosses)

The Energy Burst and Divine Wrath Combo will clear almost all mobs. Single target DPS is 100% slas.

Even in really high level content mass hold + energy burst either kills or softens up the enemies so the DPS can finish them off quickly.

If you wanted to go hybrid you can probably drop maximize/empower/epic spell focus enchant/lasting inspiration and take the single weapon fighting line instead for melee dps instead of spell dps.

I also have a 14 bard / 4 fighter / 2 rogue melee build - but it's a dex-based swashbuckler and doesn't have any cc.

[slarden]

Currently out of town on laptop with hotel wifi - so can't really play much - so I have been planning all my builds for U32. Full disclosure - it requires alot of U32 gear and will take me a long time accumulate - if ever as I have numerous alts. The build is little changed in strategy - it's an enchant-blast build designed for party play.

The big improvement is adding burst of glacial wrath to the mix.

This specific character has 9 heroic past lifes (3x fvs, 3x sorc, 3x wiz), 4 iconic past lifes and 5 epic past lifes. The heroic past lifes are right for the build but not the epic/iconic. I was originally going to turn this character into a sorc but settled on bard instead. The character is Randcarden of Sarlona alt #7. Since only a handful of past lifes are needed I am no longer running this build on a main character.

The Heroic lifes help alot for spell pen, but not much else.

Human - True Neutral

Bard 20

Starting Stats

STR: 8
DEX: 10
CON: 16
INT: 16
WIS: 8
CHA: 18 All level-ups to Charisma

HEROIC FEATS
1) Maximize
2) Empower
3) Quicken
6) Spell Focus Evocation
9) Heighten
12) Force of Personality
15) Spell Penetration
18) Greater Spell Penetration

EPIC FEATS
21) Epic Spell Penetration
24) Burst of Glacial Wrath
26) Lasting Inspiration
27) Ruin
28) Hellball
29) Arcane Pulse
30) Greater Ruin
30) Scion of Plane of Fire (feywild for more dc)

Charisma with all gear, boosts, etc.
Starting: 18
Level ups: 7
Tome: 7
Enhancements: 6 (1 human, 1 from harper, 2 from spellsinger and 2 from warchanter)
Spellsinger capstone: 4
Charisma item: 17
Insightful item: 7
Profane: 2
Exceptional: 2
Quality: 4
Artifact: 2
Ship Buffs: 2
Epic Destiny: 6
Remnant Potions: 2
Yugo Pots: 2
Angelic Presence (EA Destiny): 2
Total: 90

Perform will be through the roof- not going to even bother computing it...

Enchant DC
Base: 10
Spell Level: 6
Charisma: 40
Enhancement Bonus: 7
Insightful Bonus: 4 (legendary mutilator of minds)
Quality Bonus: 2 (legendary mutilator of minds)
Artifact Bonus: 4
Thunderforge Armor with profane bonus: 1
Augment: 2
Enhancement: Drow enchantment Lore: 1
Spell Focus Feats: 0
ENH: Music of the Sewers: 1
ENH: Music of the Dead: 1
ENH: Music of the Makers: 1
ENH: Virtuoso 1
ENH: Yellow Magical Crown: 0 (take evocation instead)
ENH: Prodigy: 2
ED: Transcendtal Magic (EA): 3
Ship buff: 1
Spell Song Trance: 1

Total: 88 (it's not max because it doesn't need to be)

Note: There is more dc than needed so if you don't have the gear you can still make this build work.

Evocation DC DC
Base: 10
Spell Level: 6
Charisma: 40
Enhancement Bonus: 7
Insightful Bonus: 4 (random loot goggles)
Quality Bonus: 2 (legendary mutilator of minds)
Artifact Bonus: 4
Thunderforge Armor with profane bonus: 1
Augment: 2
Past Life Sorc: 3
Spell Focus Feats: 1
ENH: Music of the Sewers: 1
ENH: Music of the Dead: 1
ENH: Music of the Makers: 1
ENH: Virtuoso 1
ENH: Violet Marigold Crown: 1
ENH: Prodigy: 2
ED: Transcendtal Magic (EA): 3
Ship buff: 1
Spell Song Trance: 1
Evocation Specialist Twist: 3
Total: 95 (epic completionist can fit in 2 more twist from draconic)

Spell Penetration:
Bard: 20
Feat: Spell Penetration: 2
Feat: Greater Spell Penetration: 2
Feat: Epic Spell Penetration: 4
Feat: Past Life Wizard and Favored Soul: 9
Item: Enhancement Bonus: 7
Item: Insightful Bonus (Legendary Mutilator of Minds): 4
Spellsinger: 5
Epic Destiny: 3
Epic Destiny Twists: 3
Ship Buff: 1
Total: 60

Crowd Control
Burst of Glacial Wrath
Soundburst spell
Soundburst SLA from EA
Mass Hold (I am considering using disco ball which doesn't create helpless damage and using soundburst and burst of glacial wrath as primary cc)
Otto's Sphere of Dancing
Fascinate (situational)

Burst Mob Damage
Burst of Glacial Wrath
Energy Burst
Divine Wrath
Hellball
Horn of Thunder (if taken in place of mass hold)
Shout

Single Target Damage
Arcane Pulse
Greater Ruin
Ruin
Reverberate
Sonic Blast

For twists, I can't fit in sense weakness or empyrean magic. A more accomplished character can fit at least one of those in. I think having the extra burst is more important.

Twists:
Energy Burst: Fire (or any element)
Piercing Spellcraft
Evocation Specialist
Rejuvenation Cocoon (requires mutiple epic past lifes to get this - I can't fit it in currently)

Once I have a chance to test out some of the #s I will likely make changes. And of course getting 5 slave lord crafted items is no small task so this is what I want to get to - not what I currently have.

Spell points will be an issue soloing so this build continues to be optimal for party play rather than soloing.

[BoBoDaClown]

So you fit cold power + element power for energy burst?

What about intensify?

[slarden]

So you fit cold power + element power for energy burst?

What about intensify?

I just use the pansophic circlet for spellpower, 17% generic lore for now, implement bonus and whatever else I can get from universal. Intensify was my original selection, but i changed it to burst of glacial wrath since my evocation dc is enough to get some workable cc out of . Intensify, Burst of Glacial, Wrath, Ruin, Greater Ruin - pick any 3 out of 4 and you can't really go wrong. But overall I really like the extra burst and cc that comes with burst of glacial wrath over the extra 75 spellpower.

it's a work in progress so it can change.

[BoBoDaClown]

I just use the pansophic circlet for spellpower, 17% generic lore for now, implement bonus and whatever else I can get from universal. Intensify was my original selection, but i changed it to burst of glacial wrath since my evocation dc is enough to get some workable cc out of . Intensify, Burst of Glacial, Wrath, Ruin, Greater Ruin - pick any 3 out of 4 and you can't really go wrong. But overall I really like the extra burst and cc that comes with burst of glacial wrath over the extra 75 spellpower.

it's a work in progress so it can change.

Our builds are fairly similar so it's illuminating looking at the differences.

I haven't really pushed evo DCs before - I may do so this life to see how well that works. I was always worried that the evo saves v fort would be too high, but I really like the idea of glacial+proper spell soundburst and dropping Mass Hold for Horn. Thanks for that - think I will check it out.

[peng]

Don't forget inspire excellence

[slarden]

Don't forget inspire excellence

I always took inspire excellence on my bard - mass completionist basically.

The problem is what do I drop to take it? I need the spell pen, so i have to drop burst of glacial wrath, ruin or greater ruin. I am not sure the +2 stats is worth it.

[slarden]

Our builds are fairly similar so it's illuminating looking at the differences.

I haven't really pushed evo DCs before - I may do so this life to see how well that works. I was always worried that the evo saves v fort would be too high, but I really like the idea of glacial+proper spell soundburst and dropping Mass Hold for Horn. Thanks for that - think I will check it out.

Yeah giving up mass hold is tough. The horn is nice though and my back up will-based cc is dancing sphere which doesn't generate helplessness but it still keeps the mobs from attacking.

This build is a definite work in progress - not at an optimal state but solid enough to do well.

[pappo]

So I have my attempt at your Exalted Bard up to level 29 and am only a few quests away from hitting 30.
This is my second bard life, but first as an Exalted Bard.
I have been having a lot of fun with the CC / Healing, and my sonic is doing a lot of damage too.
I want to make my bard into a better Exalted type and continue getting my Enchantment DC higher so I can proc more Mass Holds and Dancing Balls into Legendary content as well.
I have had pretty good luck in Epic Elites. Currently my Ball DC is 63.
I don't have much of the great gear you mention, so I am sure that DC will increase as I get lucky with gear.
I have almost gotten my Arcane Destiny Karma to 6Million. The other Destinies I have not really done much.

My questions are the following?

1. Should I Epic TR and do more destinies to get more fate points, and if so, what Epic PL would you recommend ?
2. What other Destinies would you recommend I concentrate on next ?
3. Should I Epic TR and then Heroic TR for more Wizard lives, or some other class life ?

This build has been a lot of fun and many times I was the only source of Heals and Raise Dead. My CC was applauded many times as well.

Thanks for the build. Now I just want to get better.

[pappo]

I am ready to TR my clone of your first Exalted Bard, the Drow version. I will be doing the U32 update and wondered how your enhancements changed with U32 human version.
I saw the change to the Violet Marigold Crown, but I wondered how you used the Human Tree ?

[mraz]

bard class is a hidden gem for RTRs. im running bard caster atm and its insane dps. i started as a melee and played that way till lvl 6. it wasnt easy since feat selection is focused on caster build... but if you got some skill you'll handle it. on lvl6 i switched from SB to spellsinger tree and now im running s1 solo on lvl easily and s2-3 with a group. didnt try higher then that but tbh im not even interesred cause it takes too much time and i dont want to spend too much time running a single quest on heroics.
and my bard wont be pure.... im thinking 12 bard/3 sorc/3 wlk and last 2 lvls whatever. sonic powaaaa ftw!!!! xD