Looking for a new experience

[Berethor]

I'm currently playing on Core Rules difficulty. I haven't been playing on Insanity because all it does is increase damage recieved. I want a difficulty level that increases the amount of health that enemies have.

There's gotta be a mod out there to buff enemy HP. I'll look it up later.

TBH, I'd rather just take Haer' Dalis than play a bard myself. I just don't like mage spells much before level 8 or 9 spells. Abi Dazim's and Dragon's Breath are awesome.

[fable]

There's gotta be a mod out there to buff enemy HP. I'll look it up later.

You mean, other than Tweaks, which imports The Bigg's code for providing maximum HPs to enemies?

[Berethor]

Hmm, I must have missed that one. I'll have to take another look at the installer.

But more than maximum HP, I want an HP multiplier. For example, twice as much HP on Insanity.

[thebannedone]

Heres a link to a mod that will increase the HP of ALL enemies in the game, and the amount can be adjusted: D's Enemy Upgrade - Spellhold Studios

I havent tested it myself though so i cant say anything about it, but it might not be such a good idea to use it with challenging mod fights, as it will beef up all creatures in the game, including ones from mods, unless if you'd install it first before any other mod, then all the creatures from other mods would override those that it beefed up. So that would be a working solution i'd say, since then all the modded creatures would remain untouched and still beatable, but all the original ones that other mods didnt touch would be beefed up.

[Crenshinibon]

Fable, if anything, the bard would make the game easier. xD

Berethor: Well, keep in mind that the bard is meant to be used a substitute in your group. First of all, you don't need any armor as the bard and if he's your only caster, give him a Robe of Vecna and be done with it. Don't forget the armor spells though. Spirit Armor will put his AC right up there (or higher) than everyone else.

If you really feel the need to cast higher level spells, use scrolls and if you don't want to waste them, give your bard Vhalior's Helm.

If you take the tiefling, you should give him a few of "stat items" to even out his ability scores.

[Berethor]

True enough. It sounds like a bard would be quite powerful, and I may have to give the class another look here. Should I play the Bard with better melee combat skills, or the Skald with it's powerful song? That's another decision that kept me away from the class.

thebannedone: Thanks for the link, I'll have to try it out and see what happens.

[fable]

Fable, if anything, the bard would make the game easier. xD

If you have a party optimized to provide plenty of cover for a bard, they can cast spells like an underpowered mage. If you let them attack at once, they do so as underpowered fighters. If you let them get off a spell or two first, before attacking, you've got a fighter who has to come into battle several rounds behind the others. Bards are a challenge to use well strategically. Which is fine; I like that. I enjoy challenging NPCs, and professions: it needn't be all about power. But I wouldn't call playing a bard easier, unless you tell me all the many professions it is easier than.

[Berethor]

It's because of their "jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none" status that I haven't really played a Bard for more than a few hours.

You can really only do one thing at a time. If you're casting, you're not only casting weaker spells, but you're not fighting. If you're fighting, you're not only weaker, but you're not casting. The sensible option to utilize bards is to have them sing their song, but then all they can do is walk around. Furthermore, unless you're a Skald, your song will be pretty weak before you get HLA's.

I like the idea of skalds, especially for sitting on the back-lines using a bow and casting, but their song (and therefore their most appealing feature) is made obselete by the time you get HLA's.

[Crenshinibon]

Bards (Blades especially) can make more powerful fighters than fighters themselves (with buffs) and even if you're using Tensor's Transformation to give yourself a powerful melee presence, you CAN cast spells through magical items and of course wands. With them you can freely buff yourself with some long term buffs, use weapons that give a high THAC0 bonus and prance around in your chainmail flinging stuns and cloudkills every which way. I believe that you can use spell sequencers (which are ever useful for casting multiple spells to inflict more damage or to minimize buffing time) even while wearing armor. For contingency, just use your Tensor's Transformation (as there are a good amount of items that grant you Improved Haste (Ring of Gaxx giving you three charges and Bracers of Blinding Strike, Amulet of Cheetah Speed, Improved Cloak of Protection +2 as well as Darkbow all giving you a single charge.

There's a very good guide called "Bards With Wands" under the BG1 section at Sorcerer's Place, which explains very well what the class is about.

I think that a more powerful melee presence pays off more than the songs of the Skald (because when playing caster Defensive Spin is ever so useful (more so if you decide to use the Ring of Free Action to move around, though many consider this a bug), for when you need to rebuff or cast a spell without interruption). The Skald song isn't THAT powerful and I think it's a crime to literally waste a character for just singing and lesser support. You have clerics for that. In the end, by the time you hit HLAs, the songs will be the same anyway.

As for attacking at once, you should NEVER do that as when you wake up, you want to cast your Stoneskin and the Armor spell appropriate to your level.

Even if you insist on having the bard sit at the back, a Blade is better for their Offensive Spin, which is a huge improvement over a Kensai's Kai (not to mention that it grants an additional attack per round).