Bard Kits

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OK, as a lover of fighting class types, I made an unusual decision to go through BG1 with a bard, and now I'm importing her into BG2, and I was looking at the kits. While the Jester doesn't really do too much for me, I'm torn between the Blade and the Skald. I'm a little partial to the Blade, but that's only because I've used Haer Dalis' and he's a blade. There seems to be some advantages of playing a Skald as well though. I like the +1 to hit and +1 to damage on all melee weapons. Yes, her bard song doesn't improve, but isn't that a moot point considering all bards get the improved bard song?

Also, it should be noted that this bard is going to be a front line fighter when she's not casting spells. So that has to be considered. With a 19 in strength, once she gets the armor in the planar prison that allows her to cast spells she should be able to take on whatever is thrown at her. I'm strongly considering her main weapon to be halberds, just because no other NPCs use them, and while she'll be a tank, she's going to be a second line tank, so I like the better reach with the halberd.

Other planned party members (although this probably won't affect choice of kit that much):

Minsc
Anomen
Keldorn
Jan
Yoshimo/Imoen

So what's your thoughts on using a halberd, and whether to go with a blade or skald?

 

I would definitely say go with the Blade - the improved bard song pretty much nerfs the blade's song disadvantage leaving you with +1 to hit and damage and a bit more lore as a skald versus offensive and defensive spins and a higher pick pocket as a blade.

 

I recommend a Skald, I played with such a class once, equipped with a quarterstaff, and she fought really good, although I dropped the staff later to use daggers and two weapon style instead. But a halberd will be nice, Dragons Breath, the Wave and the Ravager. A Skald with this and the armor you mentioned would be good enough to hold his own in battle.

 

Blade. Offensive spin is fantastic, although I've never actually used the defensive spin. But somehow, a Blade doing anything other than dual-wielding some sort of sword just doesn't seem right.

Scythesong wrote a Guide to Blades which you might want to read; it's very good (other than his shamefully cheesy recommendation for raising gold ).

 

Nothing cheesy about doing what you're meant to do as a Rogue class

Oh and I second that. Blades are way better than Skalds.

 

The cheesy part (IMO) is where he is recommending (I think) that you do the steal/sell routine over and over with the same vendor.

Otherwise, as I said, a very good guide.

 

For the ability to go melee I'd have to back the Blade as well. You'll want to put some thought into spells both to cast and have cast upon your character. Obvious choices are Stoneskin, Mirror Image, PFMW, and Imp. Haste. Mislead is an interesting option, as the Decoy can Sing, which is huge once you get Improved Bard Song. Simulacrium (from the helm) might work for this tactic too.

 

If a Blade in defensive spin, he is immobile, but cast a Freedom of Movement or equip the ring which gives freedom, blade can move and attack while still enjoying the benefits of Defensive Spin. Could be interesting, don't you agree?

 

All good buffs, but I would say the bomb of all spells for a melee bard would have to be Tenser's Transformation. Given the fact that bards level quicker than fighters, you'll probably be the best fighter in the party once that spell is cast. True, you can't cast any other spells while under those effects, so I have to remember to buff first.

 

@Aldeth,

Combined with offensive spin that would be truly devestating.

 

YES, give it a try! If their bonuses STACK (and I can't see any reason not to), bard will be a fighting macchine!
Stoneskin, mirror image, blur (it is CUMULATIVE you know?), IMPROVED haste, Tenser, Offensive Spin, with a HEAVY weapon (CROM FAEYR PLEASE!) umm you will be doing awesome amounts of damage, plus Misleads singing IMPROVED SONGS (THEY ARE CUMULATIVE TOO!)....

AARGH you will be power-horse!
Definitely try it!
And tell us how it is!!!

 

Well, I've never tried it, but I imagine that Tenser's Transformation would stack with Offensive Spin. The only thing that TT takes away is your ability to cast spells (the spell icon is greyed out). However, I see no reason why this would prevent you from going into offensive (or defensive) spin as that is under the special abilities button.

[ May 03, 2005, 15:01: Message edited by: Aldeth the Foppish Idiot ]

 

As always the Jester is left out.

I will never get why people choose a bard when they want a fighter.
A bard is about tricks, magic, music, stories. (and lots of stealing in my games) My Jester is so busy with spellcasting and using magical artifacts that he barely sees any meele action later on. Therefore its not that important what proficiencies he has. He cant even sing as often as I would like have him to.

What my point is? Dont abuse bards! They have a vocation of their own.

 

That depends. There are many types of Bards, all with different personalities. A scholarly bard is different from a battle bard, a stage bard or a wandering bard.

If you want a singer from the very beginning go for a Skald. Blades are more of a frontline tank which can show potential the moment they get Stoneskin, so dual-wielding would best maximize their potential. If you elect to choose Skald, the best weapon for him would be a Bow(Tansheron's, Gesen) and a Two-Handed Sword/Halberd (as Kaine suggested), unless you give him THAC0 increasing items in which case dual-wielding would be best for him.

I beg to disagree. I was merely stating the existence of said tactic, with embellishments intended to convince gamers into trying out the class. The procedure suggested was the direct, powergamer's approach - if you wanted to roleplay, you just have be creative about it.

I'm actually working on a more general Bard guide with a more detached perspective, for the use of both the puritan roleplayers and absolute powergamers this side of SP.

Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. Believe me when I say that I have a save game in which the Protagonist Blade can use Offensive Spin over Tenser's, a newer game which does not allow it.
I think it has something to do with the lastest official patch, which edits Offensive Spin a bit (you're actually not getting the +1 to hit and damage with the unpatched version).

BTW, I'm having summer classes at the moment so I can't work on the guide too much, but my recent playtestings have showed that the vanilla Bard's (and therefore, Blade's) song seems to increase the outcome of rolls, the same as Tymora's Melody in IWD2. If the song shows the same property it could potentially be better than the Enhanced Bard Song. Quite ironic.

[ May 04, 2005, 07:55: Message edited by: Scythesong Immortal ]

 

In order, I would go for:
1) Jester (because he's funny), then
2) Skald (because he sounds cool), then
3) Blade (last because whilst I know what offensive and defensive spin do, I'm not sure what they actually are. Does he spin around like Tasmanian Devil or something? Anyway, Blades are too weird and too high maintenance for me)

 

I want to be a power horse