Bards as backup mages

Remove all ads!

Can a Bard be an effective backup mage (I'm thinking of having Imoen as my main spellchucker, and Haer'Dalis as my backup)?

I know in PnP, Bards couldn't cast higher than 6th level spells. What's the limit in Baldur's Gate 2?

TIA

 

...at 20th level or below. The High Level Campaigns supplement continues their progression to 32, by which point they'd gained an 8th level spell.

That depends. If you're using the PnP progression from EoU, it's 8th level as I said before, with a max of 6 spells per level (except that at 50th level you get 1 of every spell level to make it 7). With vanilla BG2 they're pretty crappy, stopping at 6th level with 5 or less spells per level. Actually, they stop gaining spells almost at all after 20th level; between 20th and 40th, the difference is one 1st, 2nd, and 3rd level spell.

But all said, either way they can be a fair backup caster. And especially Blades, as they're reminiscent of Fighter/Mages.

 

I agree there: Few things are as fearsome as a Skald wielding Carsomyr +6 (how I love the use any item ability) or Ravager +6 after casting Tensers Transformation (not a blade since they cannot use offensive Spin while using TT, but I guess the same would go for them with axe of unyielding +5 and runehammer/flail of ages).

I found bards quite acceptable with only 6th-level spells, as I feel you have the mage for all the other stuff. I ussually find myself using the fighter-mage or bard as part if the mopping-crew.

 

There's a mod which allows Bards to cast up to level 8 spells. It's also part of the G3 Tweakpack ("Un-Nerfed THAC0 Table, Saving Throws, Grand-Mastery, and Arcane, Divine Spell Progression ")

 

Yes, if you are looking for low to medium level buffage or damage spells.

Note that they are NOT useful if you are bombarding high level arcane enemies like Liches or Improved versions of Irenicus, Hive Mothers, Demogorgon etc because they are only susceptible to higher level damage spells.

 

Bards become pretty good spell casters with PnP tables. Otherwise, they suck as spell casters. And that is about it.

 

Hear'dalis is a great Npc to as a back-up caster/fighter. remember not to limit your bard to only spellcasting as that is not the intent of the class.

but generaly i find bards Crap in the BG series. except for hear'dalis who can become quite deadly if you care to use him.

 

Heh. My jester can help out quite well by confusing people with his bard song. Apart from that ... support mage. And chipping in with electric crossbow bolts, when the going gets tough.

The party rather depends on summons, though, as korgan is my only fighter-type and he can't block doorways by himself.