fixing a broken human bard

[Searious]

My bard is 6 years old. recently came back to the game and she's broken. Want to LR but am stuck with human. Was thinking of something like this to take advantage of the AA tree without being able to use the elf to get there. 3 FVS for the CHA to hit and damage. - suggestions are appreciated.

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Level 20 Neutral Good Human Female
(5 Ranger \ 13 Bard \ 2 Favored Soul) 
Hit Points: 264
Spell Points: 813 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 14
Reflex: 19
Will: 11

                  Starting            Ending          
Abilities        Base Stats         Base Stats        
(32 Point)       (Level 1)          (Level 20)        
Strength              8                  8            
Dexterity            17                 17            
Constitution         14                 14            
Intelligence          8                  8            
Wisdom                8                  8            
Charisma             17                 22            

Level 1 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot
Feat: (Human Bonus) Precise Shot


Level 2 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider


Level 3 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Precision


Level 4 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: CHA


Level 5 (Ranger)


Level 6 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Deity) Follower of the Silver Flame
Feat: (Selected) Spell Penetration


Level 7 (Favored Soul)


Level 8 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: CHA
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Elf


Level 9 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Spell Penetration


Level 10 (Bard)


Level 11 (Bard)


Level 12 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Feat: (Selected) Manyshot


Level 13 (Bard)


Level 14 (Bard)


Level 15 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons


Level 16 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA


Level 17 (Bard)


Level 18 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Spell Focus: Enchantment


Level 19 (Bard)


Level 20 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Enhancement: Human - Human Versatility: Defense Boost (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Human - Human Adaptability: Charisma (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Human - Human Versatility: Damage Boost (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Human - Human Adaptability: Constitution (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Skaldic Constitution (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Weapon Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Song of Heroism (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Fighting Spirit (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Enchant Weapon (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Rough and Ready (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Rough and Ready (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Rough and Ready (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Words of Encouragement (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Words of Encouragement (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Words of Encouragement (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Iced Edges (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Iced Edges (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Iced Edges (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Ironskin Chant (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Ironskin Chant (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Ironskin Chant (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - High Spirits (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - High Spirits (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - High Spirits (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Charisma (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Armorer (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Charisma (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Arcane Archer (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Morphic Arrows (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Conjure Arrows (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Energy of the Wild (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Energy of the Wild (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Flaming Arrows (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Dispelling Shot (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Dispelling Shot (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Dispelling Shot (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Force Arrows (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Force Arrows (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Force Arrows (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Corrosive Arrows (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Terror Arrows (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Soul Magic (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Shock Arrows (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Dexterity (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Banishing Arrows (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Paralyzing Arrows (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Smiting Arrows (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Elemental Damage (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Dexterity (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Moonbow (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Arrow of Slaying (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Final Strike (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Elemental Damage (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Runebow (Rank 1)

[Xgya]

The Cha to Hit/Damage only applies if over half of your levels are in Favored Soul. Those two FvS levels will grant you a huge +1 to hit, and absolutely no damage.

If you insist on having Favored Soul levels, put points into Warsoul: you can get half your Charisma to Str, and your Ranger levels mean you have Bow Strength to use it with, so you do have a stat-to-damage, and it's based off Charisma.

If you insist on using a bow and being a Ranver, go into Deepwood Stalker before going anything but the first few points in Arcane Archer (returning arrows).
Sniper's Shot is a fan favorite, and a great attack at that. Plus, it acts as a mild form of CC (enemies turn around long enough for you to make a break for it)

[Searious]

great info tx. I totally overlooked the FVS CHA hit and dmg req. Will definitely correct.

[C-Dog]

My bard is 6 years old. recently came back to the game and she's broken... Was thinking of something like this to take advantage of the AA tree without being able to use the elf to get there...

Okay, sorry - I'm not sure where you are now.

Is that your current class mix, that you are currently Level 20, locked as a 13 Bd/5 Rgr/2 FS? Or... what, exactly?

And what are you hoping to do? Do you want to make this mix Epic-playable, all the way to 30, or are you hoping to get to live at 18/20 long enough to farm Greensteel/the usual/etc., or just tag 20 and HR asap?

Lastly, just in case we can oblige, what is your ~preferred~ playstyle? Solo, group? Melee, caster, ranged??? Even Healer has come back in style, w/ Reaper PUG's.


If you're 6 yrs gone, you should have both a Lesser Heart and a +20 Heart in inventory. I'm sure the combined talent of these boards can find a solution for you.

(If you have time, whether or not you want to use the Lesser Heart or +20 to solve this, it might be helpful (depending) to know the (rough) order you took those classes. If you can't remember (no surprise after 6 years), go see Fred - he'll give you some hints.

o http://ddowiki.com/page/Fred#Feat_respec - & looks under "TIPS" for how-to )

[Searious]

Okay, sorry - I'm not sure where you are now.

Is that your current class mix, that you are currently Level 20, locked as a 13 Bd/5 Rgr/2 FS? Or... what, exactly?

And what are you hoping to do? Do you want to make this mix Epic-playable, all the way to 30, or are you hoping to get to live at 18/20 long enough to farm Greensteel/the usual/etc., or just tag 20 and HR asap?

Lastly, just in case we can oblige, what is your ~preferred~ playstyle? Solo, group? Melee, caster, ranged??? Even Healer has come back in style, w/ Reaper PUG's.


If you're 6 yrs gone, you should have both a Lesser Heart and a +20 Heart in inventory. I'm sure the combined talent of these boards can find a solution for you.

(If you have time, whether or not you want to use the Lesser Heart or +20 to solve this, it might be helpful (depending) to know the (rough) order you took those classes. If you can't remember (no surprise after 6 years), go see Fred - he'll give you some hints.

o http://ddowiki.com/page/Fred#Feat_respec - & looks under "TIPS" for how-to )

She's currently at 10 BRD, and I was going for a STR swashbuckling type - this was before swashbuckling and the ENH trees were a twinkle in the devs eyes lol
I used the LR+0 and brought her back up using this setup from here:
https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...buckler/page26

I'm not sure I'll follow all the ENH trees exactly here, but really like the baseline.
Won't be going epic with this, maybe farm some GS and then TR at first opportunity.

Count of Monte Cristo
Bard 20
True Neutral Human


Stats
. . . . . . . .32pt. . .34pt. . .36pt . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .----. . .----. . .---- . . --------
Strength. . . . .8 . . . .8 . . . 10. . . .4: CHA
Dexterity . . . 15 . . . 15 . . . 15. . . .8: CHA
Constitution. . 15 . . . 16 . . . 16. . . 12: CHA
Intelligence. . .8 . . . .8 . . . .8. . . 16: CHA
Wisdom. . . . . .8 . . . .8 . . . .8. . . 20: CHA
Charisma. . . . 18 . . . 18 . . . 18. . . 24: CHA
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28: CHA

Skills
. . . . . 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Perform . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Balance . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Haggle. . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
UMD . . . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Heal. . . 2. . .½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .11
Jump. . . 3. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 .1 .11
Bluff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. . . . .8
Diplo . . . .1 . . . . . . . . 1. 1. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Tumble. . 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . .24. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6


Feats

.1. . . . : Single Weapon Fighting
.1 Human. : Shield Mastery
.3. . . . : Precision
.6. . . . : Spell Focus: Enchantment
.9. . . . : Improved Single Weapon Fighting
12. . . . : Improved Critical: Piercing
15. . . . : Greater Single Weapon Fighting
18. . . . : Quicken Spell
21 Epic . : Improved Shield Mastery
24 Epic . : Overwhelming Critical
26 Destiny: Perfect Single Weapon Fighting
27 Epic . : Inspire Excellence
28 Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
29 Destiny: Dire Charge
30 Epic . : Epic Damage Reduction
30 Legend : Scion of: Plane of Earth


Spells

Focusing Chant, Feather Fall, Hypnotism, Grease, Merfolk's Blessing
Blur, Invisibility, Rage, Hypnotic Pattern, Cure Moderate Wounds
Displacement, Haste, Cure Serious Wounds, Good Hope, Dispel Magic
Freedom of Movement, Cure Critical Wounds, Dimension Door, Otto's Sphere of Dancing, Break Enchantment
Greater Heroism, Mind Fog, Shadow Walk, Mass Cure Light Wounds, Greater Dispel Magic
Otto's Irresistible Dance, Mass Charm Monster, Mass Cure Moderate Wounds, Heroes' Feast


Enhancements (80 AP)

Swashbuckler (43 AP)
Confidence, Swashbuckling, Uncanny Dodge, Panache, Roll with the Punches, Evasive Maneuvers
On Your Toes III, Tavern Shanties I
Fast Movement, Double Strike Boost III
Skirmisher, Resonant Arms III, Smooth Flourishes, Charisma
Low Blow, Charisma
Thread the Needle, Second Skin III, Exploit Weakness, Coup de Grace: Melee

Spellsinger (23 AP)
Spellsinger, Music of the Sewers, Music of the Dead, Music of the Makers
Studies: Magical III, Lingering Songs III
Willful III, Wand and Scroll Mastery II, Marigold Crown: Yellow
Spell Song Trance, Charisma
Charisma

Harper Agent (10 AP)
Agent of Good I, Charisma
Harper Enchantment, Traveler's Toughness II
Versatile Adept III

Human (3 AP)
Damage Boost, Charisma

Warchanter (1 AP)
Skaldic: Constitution

[C-Dog]

I have an old Bard in exactly the same spot, Lvl 10 - still haven't decided which way to save her, but there are enough options that it won't be a problem.

At Bard 10 there are several directions you can go. Any of these (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...=1#post5759355) would work fine, and the Count of MC is def a leader among them.

You can also dovetail ~3-6 levels of Fighter in there (see examples in above link) to cover your combat Feats, which allows you to take casting/tactical feats w/ your regular levels. Those work well too (just remember that you'll be at Level 18 for a while, then 20 for however long/short and you're not worried about beyond that).

[Hjarki]

My bard is 6 years old. recently came back to the game and she's broken. Want to LR but am stuck with human. Was thinking of something like this to take advantage of the AA tree without being able to use the elf to get there. 3 FVS for the CHA to hit and damage. - suggestions are appreciated.

As noted, the FvS trick won't work.

I also find that Bard archers just don't work all that well. Arcane Archer looks great on the surface, but it's a Wisdom/Elemental tree that you're trying to shoehorn into a Charisma/Sonic build. Neither Swashbuckler nor Warchanter provides any significant bonuses to an archery fighting style, so you tend to end up with a very AP-intensive way to pick up some stray +Enchantment DC buffs in an otherwise weak fighting style. Even with an otherwise Spellsinger-focused build, archery just doesn't 'fit' - most of a Spellsinger's damage is at the wrong range (cone attacks) and Spellsinger doesn't buff Arcane Archer damage.

Similarly, throwing builds tend to mean you need to abandon Charisma as your primary stat because there's no realistic way to apply Charisma to thrown weapon damage.

On the other hand, a melee build has the potential for a lot of low-hanging fruit from recent additions. Just spit-balling, you might try something like:

18 Bard/1 FvS/1 in either Wizard or Fighter (for extra feat)
Stats: 16 or 18 Charisma, Constitution/Dexterity/Intelligence
Feats: SWF, ISWF, GSWF, Precision, IC: Piercing, Deity: Blood of Vol, Quicken Spell, Heighten Spell. Either go Shield Mastery/Improved Shield Mastery (melee focused) or Maximize/Empower (if you want to dip more deeply into Spellsinger for damage).

Enhancements:
Warchanter for Frozen Fury
Swashbuckler for Smooth Flourishes/Coup de Grace
Spellsinger for Sonic Blast/Violet Marigold Crown
War Soul for Divine Presence
Vistani Knife Fighter for Rapid Attack, Haste Boost (cheaper than Swashbuckler action boost) or Knife Specialist.

This would give you Charisma to damage, 50% Charisma to damage on top of that, a low cooldown freezing attack with 150% of your Charisma bonus on the DC, a shield bash with a Perform DC, the low cost Sonic Blast daze, normal Bard CC like Soundburst with a decent DC and Coup de Grace to finish things off.

If you wanted to amp up melee at the expense of CC options, you could move to tier 4 Vistani (+5% Doublestrike, +20 Melee Power). Alternatively, you could give up Coup de Grace and go the Warchanter route to Spinning Ice/Victory Song (which is a bit more group-friendly in most cases).

Admittedly, you'd probably be torn to shreds by anything that you couldn't CC, but you'd have fairly decent damage and a lot of cheap/effective CC options to play with.