Which bard variety is best? State your opinion

chimpmaster · Post by **chimpmaster** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 12:41 am

Hi guys,

Im around half one through BG1 now, and am still weighing up the options of skald vs blade (vs jester though Im not sure jester is a serious option).

Ive played through BG2 & TOB with Haer-Dalis in my party so I have a fair bit of experience using a blade.

In leaning towards skald right now. I am aware of the different stats on paper, of course.

What do you think guys?

Coot · Post by **Coot** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 6:46 am

IMO the blade is the most powerful - or at least most efficient - bardkit. The offensive spin ability is very useful.
The jester is a bit less powerful; his bardsong hardly makes a difference in battle, while the skald's most definitely does.
But you've had some experience with the blade allready, so you could chose skald or jester anyway. I found that the most powerful pc's (or npc's, for that matter) aren't necessarily the funnest ones.

chimpmaster · Post by **chimpmaster** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 3:03 pm

re offensive spin

Regarding the offensive spin ability, Ive read that this becomes obsolete witht he whirlwind and greater whirlwind attacks that become available later in TOB, or SOA if you reach a hgh enough level.

Thoughts on this?

MINOR SPOILER

Also does anyone know if the "jester's armour", available in SOA which I think is chain +4 allows you to cast spells in it a. la elvin chain?

Coot · Post by **Coot** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 3:32 pm

Whirlwind and greater whirlwind are fighters HLA's, so I'm sure bards won't get those.
I think jesters armor lets you cast spells. It would make sense, anyway.

Zelgadis · Post by **Zelgadis** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 9:19 pm

Supprisingly, jesters chain does not let you cast spells. It always seemed strange to me

I'd recommend a Blade. He's a great fighter even without buffing, and with buffs he is comprabably to a fighter with whirlwind, and also a strong caster. The jester song seemed useless to me even in SOA. The skald is also a good choice, whether soloing or with a group.

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 3:41 am

and nope...g whirlwind is not as good as offensive spin...

dual wield katanas or some powerful one handed weapon, offensive spin, and set up a spell trigger with stoneskin, improved haste and tensor's transformation...you will have around 7-9 attacks per round, depending on equipment, and that lasts a long time...

Luis Antonio · Post by **Luis Antonio** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 4:40 am

Well, for a team game: Skald. He is usefull from the begginning to the very end of the game.
For a solo game: Blade. I'm soloing one right now - just nice char, good habilities and pickpocket.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 7:25 pm

They are all very good really. In the original game I think the blade may be the more powerful of the three. The blade's drawbacks were not implemented correctly.
The plain bard may be the worst since the regular bard song doesn't seem to work properly.
I like bards alot and if you do you may want to check out BG2 refinements mod.
Littiz has a post about it here.

Coot · Post by **Coot** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 3:36 am

Originally posted by Bruce Lee
The blade's drawbacks were not implemented correctly.

The plain bard may be the worst since the regular bard song doesn't seem to work properly.

How is that? Were the blade's drawbacks supposed to be different?

Nobody seems to know what the regular bardsong is supposed to do... exactly, I mean. I think Bioware never made it clear.
But what do you mean when you say it doesn't work right?

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 7:27 am

These are the weaknesses compared to other bards.
1/2 Normal Bard Lore
1/2 Pick Pocket skill
Bard song doesn't get better with levels
Their lore is usually high enough, especially true if you solo.
They never got a pick pocket penalty and there are plenty of potions anyway.
With ToB they get the same song as other bards. In other words you basically get two weapon fighting plus offensive and defensive spin without giving up anything.

Baldursgate Fan · Post by **Baldursgate Fan** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 12:56 pm

I am myself partial to Blade; offensive spins rock.

Minor spoiler:

There are a few harps that you can get or buy in the game. IIRC, there's one from an extra merchant that is really cool.

IIRC, it's the Harp of Pandemonium from Deidre - can get you out of sticky situations if you are soloing at low levels.

I once made a theme party of 6 bards which was really fun.

Since you are quite set on the Skald, why not go for it and then pick up Haer? 2's company.

chimpmaster · Post by **chimpmaster** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 9:41 pm

one more q on this subject

I just finished BG 1 + TOSC with my bard, who is now almost level 10.

Upon importing I need to select a class specialization.

The two obvious choices are blade and skald.

re the enhanced bard song HLA, it would appear that this is just as a good as the skald's song at level 20.

Is this so? This would indicate to me that the blade is a better choice hands down as he get 3 stars in two weapon fighting and he loses his song disdvantage at about L23, once he gets the HLA.

I like the skald, but I havent decided for sure what I will do with that spare hand, and if the enhanced song is as good as the skalds song, the skalds song becomes less attractive for TOB right??

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 1:52 am

The enhanced bard song is both better and worse than the skald song. The enhanced song has unlimited range, it gives benefits to every party member on the map and also better benefits to the bard himself. However it does not effect summons.
The skald song has limited range but effects summons.
Why it is like that I fail to understand.
There are a couple of mods that "fix" this. Rogue rebalancing and bg refinements. Check the sticky if you are interested.
Otherwise play blade if you like to fight yourself and skald if you like to enhance your summons (and dont pick enhanced bard song).

chimpmaster · Post by **chimpmaster** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 2:09 am

Thanks for the advice

Well thanks for the advice.

After sleeping on it last night and waiting about 24 hrs or so since finishing bg1, I have just imported my character and made him a skald.

I have chosen two handed weapon, two handed sword, halberd and lowbow proficiencies initially.

I figure that I can primarily use a two handed sword or halberd in one slot with a bow in the other, and switch between.

I like the idea of having the skald song being effective between levels 10-25, whereas the blade song isnt, and it means I can get use any item skill and magic flute straight away, rather than having to waste one on enhanced bard song once I get to level 25.

Yeah im happy with this character now. Was a tough decision but I think my skald will server me well.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 8:30 am

I am sure he will! Good luck

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