Bard tank - strategy and suggestions

Vavrek · Post by **Vavrek** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 3:32 pm

Hi there. I'm starting a new game with a new party because my HDD broke up 2 weeks ako with all my files

. My old party (mostly based on Egervari's UPP) was good, but I want to to modify it a little.
I need a solid tank character, which survives HoF. I've read some threads here and on the other forums and find out some tips on barbarian multiclasses or more developed characters of 3 and more classes. First I thought about ranger(1)/druid, but druid is not as goot in HoF as in normal mode. I'm intersted in fighter(4)/bard(x) idea, 'cause bard builds seems to be really tough. So I'd like to ask you for some advices and suggestions, mostly on race choice (half-elf or dwarf?), ability scores and equipment to make this char real badass

, feats, spells and skills seems to be obvious to me.

kmonster · Post by **kmonster** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:25 pm

Race is unimportant. I'd take human for the bonus feat, eventually half-orc barbarian1/bard for 20 str.
Dump int and wis to the minimum, you don't need it. Max strength for max damage and 2 of dex, con, cha (one stat must be 2 below maximum) depending on your preferences.

Vavrek · Post by **Vavrek** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 2:10 pm

Thanks, that helps me a lot. How about weapons? Is it worthy to invest in great swords, or better be two-weapon fighting with long swords/scimitars? I didn't use great swords neither scimitars in the last game, so I'm little bit in two minds.

koz-ivan · Post by **koz-ivan** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 6:27 pm

kmonster wrote:Race is unimportant. I'd take human for the bonus feat, eventually half-orc barbarian1/bard for 20 str.
Dump int and wis to the minimum, you don't need it. Max strength for max damage and 2 of dex, con, cha (one stat must be 2 below maximum) depending on your preferences.

1/2 orc? in 20 str might be nice, but comes at the price of a -2 cha, depending on how one wants to use the bard that isn't a great tradeoff. you're losing spells and your spells are easier to resist.

at the very least a human can start with more cha, and gets a few bonus skills even if one wants to min int. (another dubious decision for a bard)

either way - i'm not sure i "get" the concept of a tank bard, if the end result is a tank that has a few flashy magic tricks, ftr / (wiz or sorc or cleric) would seem to have far more upside.

if the bard isn't going to have at least midling (12-16) int, you'll miss out on skills, and if the bard is destined to spend all his time dealing melee damage as a tank, that cuts out bard songs. and bard spells aren't great (and a cha penalty to boot)

at that point you're better off adding rogue levels to a ftr (or barbarian) and at the very least picking up some sneak attack & evasion.

Vavrek · Post by **Vavrek** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 1:01 am

The main thing about figter/bard is melee attacking with buff and protective spells (MI, haste, mage armor, blur, stoneskin, bull's strength etc.) and yes, bard songs are not as effective, but with the lingering song feat leasts 2 rounds after performing an attack. And when things get not very well in HoF, he can use summons as well. But if you explain your view of tank in detail, I will be pleased

.

koz-ivan · Post by **koz-ivan** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 2:01 am

Vavrek wrote:The main thing about figter/bard is melee attacking with buff and protective spells (MI, haste, mage armor, blur, stoneskin, bull's strength etc.)

of that list only mi & blur are self casting only. both are incredibly good spells even well into hof despite being only level 2 spells. everything else can be cast by (and on) anyone.

i'd take a deep look at the spells per day charts, a spec wizard gets 5 lv 2 spells @ lv 9, a sorc gets 6 @ level 7, leaving a lot of other levels to play with.

the bard by contrast only has 4 @ level 16 and maxes out with 5 castings at level 26.

and yes, bard songs are not as effective, but with the lingering song feat leasts 2 rounds after performing an attack. And when things get not very well in HoF, he can use summons as well. But if you explain your view of tank in detail, I will be pleased .

i usually go for decoy tanks. usually a bizarre multi class in pursuit of ac 72. not an extremely good damage dealer, but can stand melee in against almost anything. really everything is secondary to ac in that type of build.

my more "traditional" fighter types are usually more like glass cannons, built to deal physical damage, with an eye towards dealing ranged damage 1st, but capable in close quarters as well. their ac is never high enough to matter in hof, they survive mostly by not drawing too much attention to themselves.

kmonster · Post by **kmonster** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 7:33 am

Use 2-handed weapons if you want to do damage.

koz-ivan · Post by **koz-ivan** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 1:54 pm

i'll agree on two handed weapons as the most effective way to deal melee damage. one handers + shields can be effective in the right situations as well - especially if you are trying to deal blunt damage.

and if you aren't using ftr or ranger levels, i'm not sure dual wield really pays off vs the feats invested.

smileycrawford · Post by **smileycrawford** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 1:37 pm

I can't think of a more challenging front end fighter than a bard. You will need to put points in every category for this character(wisdom so they don't get easily controlled). I guess you will have a very balanced character, but not one that will excell at anything.
I'd stick with a human to get an extra feat and extra skill points. I'd use 2 handed weapons so you don't have to use extra feats or a ranger level. 2 handed weapons will keep the character further back at times compared to single handed weapons, which is good for this character.

dzemomona12 · Post by **dzemomona12** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 7:55 am

kmonster wrote:Use 2-handed weapons if you want to do damage.

That is exactly how I played Bard, and it was so awesome.