Bard BG1 -> BG2 -> TOB

Remove all ads!

I started a thread like this up ages ago, but due to several reasons, never got around to continuing it for too long.

I'm going to take a bard through the entire saga and thought I would post some details to help all those who have thought about using a bard before but never tried. Bards are a very under-rated class, so my thought is to encourage people to use them and discover how great they really are.

Race Half-elf (some bonuses over humans)
Gender Male
Alignment CN

Str 16 -> 17
Dex 18 -> 19
Con 15 -> 16
Int 15 -> 16
Wis 10 -> 13
Cha 18 -> 19

Smallsword+ (obtain a dagger+1 in candlekeep)
Bows+ (use longbows for THAC0 bonuses)

The stats may seem a bit powergamer(ish), but they are very easy to roll with a bard as the bard has some good minimum stats.

Choose smallswords to start with as there are better +1/+2 weapons early on. e.g. you can get a +1 dagger in candlekeep if you have a cha 18.

I will play as an archer and supporting mage roll and will only engage in melee when needed. Bards can use longbows so a good weapon is available half-way through the game.

The mage spells I will concentrate on will be area effect and enchanting spells, just to try and fit in with the spirit of a bard. Also, spells that are level based (i.e. magic missile, will be better cast by the bard as his level will be higher than the mages and will cause more damage).

My character will wear normal chainmail whenever he isn't casting spells as it gives AC5. No magic armour so I can make use of rings, etc. I will also use the Shield Amulet for AC4 when in tough battles. Plus mirror image and blur for extra protection.

Party members will probably be:-

Me Bard - Party leader
Minsc Ranger - Tank
Jaheira F/D - Tank and Priest
Vicona Cleric - Priest
Imoen Thief->Mage - Archer and Spellcasting
Coran Fighter/Thief - Archer, stealth, locks and traps


I like Minsc as a character and he makes a great up-front fighter, although there are better tanks such as Kagain.

Jaheira makes a great tank, with high hp's and she is also a decent fighter. Her druid spells can be used to buff-up the party for large battles and she can help heal and summon some support when needed.

I always use Viconia when using a Cleric. She is just awesome and will become my romance later.

I will dual-class Imoen to a mage at L7. I could do it earlier, but this fits in with BG2 better.

Coran will be my party theif. He is actually the best archer in the game, and is a great character to use as a sniper and can take out most enemies before you even get to them.

Any thoughts you guys have will be welcome as usual.

 

Powergaming note on stats. I would go for 8 in wisdom and 18 in strength instead.

 

Have you already planned your BG2 characters? Will another bard join your party then? Could be fun!

And will you use a kit now (with TuTu) / when you reach BG2?

Have fun!

 

That was an option, but I thought that would be too powergame-ish. At the end of the game it would give me Str=19. I wanted to have some advantage when transferring to BG2, but didn't want to make it too unbalanced.

 

Best of luck with that one. I did that with a vanilla fighter, and it was a lot of fun.

about Imoen, I don't know from experience, but if you duel her in BG1 is she going to be able to get up to any decent level by the time you need to face the big guy?

 

Towards the end of TOTSC she gets T7/M8 and gains back all her thieving skills as well as her mage skills.

Even if you don't do all quests, she should still be M7. This is enough as there are plenty of wands to fill any shortfall, plus the main char is a bard and has spells.

Plus there is a druid/cleric for extra summonings and buffs.

@Maertyn:
No I haven't fully yet. Probably Minsc/Korgan, Jaheira, Viconia, Valen, Imoen. I have thought about Haer'D but I'll have to wait and see. I'm not using TuTu and will probably play with standard TOTSC without a kit as this is more challenging.

Well my adventure is underway now.

BG - Prologue
-------------

Got the Dagger+1 from fuller and finished all subquests.

Managed to swipe a Comp. Longbow, Heavy Crossbow and Chainmail from the inn before getting caught. That saved a bit.

BG - Chapter 1
--------------

Picked up Imoen, Xzar and Montaron on way to FAI. Killed lots of monsters and got Ring Protection+1, belts from ogre and Ring Wizardry. Lost Montaron to hobgoblin.

Picked up Jaheira and Khalid from FAI. Rested and set off for Viconia.

Made it to Peldvale without incident. Decided to explore area fully, instead of just picking up Viconia. Got Viccy first, then started exploring. Only just survived bandits and black talons - those arrows are deadly. I am very pleased with clearing this area so early as it is quite tough even on higher levels.

Back to FAI to rest up before heading for Beregost.

It may not seem like I have got that far, which is right, but my main character is holding up well.

My equipment is ....
Armour - Chainmail
Gloves -
Belt - Girdle of Piercing
Boots -
Ring1 - Protection+1
Ring2 -
Amulet -
Melee - Dagger+1
Ranged - Longbow

My party is now .....

Bard L2
Khalid - Fighter L1
Jaheira - Fighter/Druid L2/2
Viconia - Cleric L2
Imoen - Thief L2
Xzar - Necromancer L1

Not sure whether to make some changes at Beregost. There is Kagain and Garrick available. I could swap Khalid with Kagain and/or Xzar with Garrick.

[ June 04, 2004, 00:49: Message edited by: Bard ]

 

Don't use Garrick, you already have one bard. In the whole BG saga there is only tow out of four good bards, and that is you and Haer' Dalis. Eldoth Kron is mediocre and Garrick sucks.

 

I agree. I do like Eldoth for his personality though. My only reason to take Garrick would be for a bit more fire-power early on.

I might keep hold of Xzar for the time being.

Been slow going this weekend. Still in the Beregost area and have levelled up a little bit L3 now). Picked up a couple of extra items from some buildings - wand of lightning and bastard sword +1.

My reputation is 6 at present. Got caught pickpocketing Firebeard and had to kill him and Imoen got caught stealing a couple of times. I noticed that once your rep hits 6, it doesn't get lowered again of caught stealing, so you have a free run then to steal lots.

I still have Khalid and Xzar in the party. I am about to shoot off to Nashkell, but might nip off and get Kivan for the time being. I really like him, but have never finished the game with him.

Still not sure about eventual mage in party - Xzar, Edwin and Xan. Xzar could be higher level and more spells when I meet the others, Edwin is a great mage, and I love Xans personality.

..... it's been a few days since i've updated this .....

Well I am now on Chapter 4 and still going strong.

There has been some party changes along the way. And I have been trying to refine my battle tactics as I progress.

PC - Bard L7
Minsc - Ranger L6
Jaheira - F/D L5/6
Viconia - Cleric L6
Imoen - Thief L6
Xan - Enchanter L5

I do regret getting rid of Kivan, as he was an awesome archer/sniper. I used him a lot to scout ahead and pick-off enemies before my party moved into combat.

Having Xan in the party has been a learning experience as I can't rely on magic missile, etc, to bombard the enemy with. Instead I need to make use of other mage spells.

Most used spells currently in combat are:
Sleep
Stinking Cloud
Web
Melfs Acid Arrow
Commandie (Cleric)
Entangle (Druid)
Lighting Strike (Druid)
Remove Fear (Cleric/Druid)
Summon Skeletons (Cleric)

I have found that a pre-emptive remove fear is very advantageous against enemy mages as they nearly always like to cast horror. Against multiple enemies, then sleep and command work really well in thinning out the enemy.

I am just about to descend on cloakwood, where there are some other NPCs to consider. Coran, Faldorn and Eldoth.

Should I take any of them, and if so, who should they replace?

Should I still dual Immy to a mage at L7?

[ June 14, 2004, 23:41: Message edited by: Bard ]