Mod Request: IWD-HoW Bard Songs into BG2

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I've been playing Icewind Dale again for like the 90th time (love it) and it occured to me that in IWD (especially with HoW installed) I actually really love bards. In BG2, I find them fairly uninteresting to play, and thus avoid them (even Haer D'alis). A big reason for this is because in IWD, you have 6 different bard songs to choose from, and about 5-6 different bard-only instruments to acquire play throughout the game. Not so in BG2, where you only have the one bard song and only 2 (IIRC) instruments. Hence, Bards in BG2 have very little appeal to me, especially when I can get more use out of a mage/thief.

Has anyone created a mod like this? If not, would it be difficult? Also, I'd be willing to co-op on a mod like this if anyone's interested in writing it. The mod would be designed not to make bards more powerful, just much more versatile and interesting. Aldeth, maybe?

 

I believe this was already discussed and rejected a while ago. (For engine reasons, I believe.)

Not to mention that as a rabid 2e fan, the idea of such a mod disgusts me greatly. Bards are more than versatile enough already (if you know how to play them properly) without adding any anti-2e BS like upgrading songs (the only exception being the Improved Bard Song HLA, which is detailed in the High-Level Campaigns book as something acquireable after level 20). If you want to make a properly balanced kit with an appropriately different song however, that's your own business, but a bard having more than one song to choose from is simply heresy.

 

Do you have Rogues re-balancing? It adds new song-like HLAs to bards to confuse, mass-charm, and do heavy damage to all enemies? It is looking good though I didn'T try it. May go for it in my next run with a Chorister.

Having mentioned Chorister, you need Song&Silence mod also. It has many bardic kits and items!

Ah and Felinoid, I really appreciate you being a pure 2E fan! Me too!

 

I'm a pure 2E fan too, but I highly disagree that a bard having more than one song is inappropriate. The versatility is much better. It doesn't make the bard overpowered at all, it just gives the bard more options. I'm a little annoyed that you're calling my suggestion BS, considering how well it worked in IWD. Bards having multiple songs is far more realistic than having just one. And I do know how to play bards properly, thank you very much - I just prefer the IWD version. I don't think the childish insults are necessary either, Fel.

But if, as you say, it can't be done for engine reasons (which seems strange given that BG2 and IWD run on the same engine), then it can't be done.

 

IIRC there are a great many things a 2e bard can do with his song in battle or just prior. Countersong is a 2e ability and inspire courage is, too. War chant of the sith (and maybe fascinate) is pushing it a bit, but the other bardic music effects are all possible with a bard in 2e.
Back on topic. Yeah, this one is a bit hard coded for now. I think it might be possible to change from one song effect to another using the special abilities bar, but I haven't explored it, yet.

 

@DR:
Dude, lighten up. I wasn't disputing your playing ability, just your claim that bards aren't versatile enough in BGII. They're plenty versatile. Just because I wouldn't do it or even consider downloading it (I'm too hardcore) doesn't mean it shouldn't be made. A mod doesn't have to satisfy everyone so long as some people like it.

@Drew:
Half right. Instilling courage (bonus to morale checks) is a additional benefit from the original bard song that just never got implemented. However, they balanced that with a bonus to damage that shouldn't be in there (and is much more helpful IMO). Countersong is an exception, I admit, but when would that come up in BGII? It's not like there are any enemies who are bardic or use song-based attacks (AFAIR).
[EDIT] It might have been useful against those f***ing sirenes in BG1, but nooOOoo... [/EDIT]

Let's look at the individuals, shall we?

The Ballad of Three Heroes - Standard song; all you really need.
The Tale of Curran Strongheart - Should be part of the standard song as a morale bonus, but got dropped as I said above.
Tymora's Melody - Complete BS. (+3 saving throws? )
The Song of Kaudies - Countersong (of a type); covered above.
The Siren's Yearning - Worthy of a kit, but wait! We already have the Jester.
War Chant of Sith - Good Branchala, no.

Part of the strength of the bard's song is that every effect that he can produce can be put all into the one song (ignoring the countersong for the moment). You don't need any others. Now I'm not saying that the bard only knows one song, just that he/she can only provide one set of effects to whatever song he/she chooses to sing. It's just that simple.

[ January 23, 2006, 23:39: Message edited by: Felinoid ]

 

I suspect you could implement them as bard-only spells. Or if not those exact songs, then different ones of your choice. See, for instance, the Song of the Honored Dead (that's not exactly what its name is, I can't quite remember) scroll added by the Song and Silence mod.

 

Yes Song and Silence add one time scrolls of tales. They are equevelant of spells like Horror, Death etc. Bard armors are a great boon though. Poor bard can not cast while wearing an armor, and he can't put on a spiffy mage robe neither, which sucks. (well without UAI anyway)