GameBanshee Forums

oh yeah and an update to those of you who are interested in how I'm prgressing.

I'm currently Bard3/Fighter2 and almost finished running errands for Shawford Crale. Hopefully by the time I've done the last ones and all the optional extra quests I'll get another Bard Level before facing the goblin raiders on the palisade. This would give me Mirror Image and perhaps Dire Charm. I've still got to kill Phaen (He killed me fist time I fought him, but I got him to Almost Dead) and do a few missions for Crale. This might be enough to push me over the edge to 6th level. Have to visit Oswald and stock up on a few Lamp Oils (guaranteed 2-16 fire damage, save for 1/2 is a pretty decent ranged attack) and Oil of Fiery Burning, the fighters Fireball! Already got a few Flaming Oils, handy for when you are being swarmed by Goblins, 2-16 to yourself (save for 1/2) is a decent trade off if it kills 3 or 4 at once.

Cleared out the Golin Caves, that was pretty hard, but in the end I looted an Oil of Fiery Burning from one of the sappers and used this on the swarm that accompanied Ulek the Burrower. I tried using sniper tactics to pick them off, but invariably ended up getting surrounded and swarmed by about 8 or 10 of the little buggers and killed.

I'll let you know when I've managed to complete the palisade. Oh yeah, you know the quest Reig Redwater (the guy with the hurt arm when you get off the boat) gives you to grab a healing potion for him? I spoke to some other NPC's who told me that they had to do the fetch and carry missions as well and mentioned that Reig doesn't really have a hurt arm, but just keeps asking people to get him potions. Has anyone ever gone back to him and confronted him about it? Wonder if there's some extra XP to be got there?

[QUOTE=Heidrek]I'll let you know when I've managed to complete the palisade. Oh yeah, you know the quest Reig Redwater (the guy with the hurt arm when you get off the boat) gives you to grab a healing potion for him? I spoke to some other NPC's who told me that they had to do the fetch and carry missions as well and mentioned that Reig doesn't really have a hurt arm, but just keeps asking people to get him potions. Has anyone ever gone back to him and confronted him about it? Wonder if there's some extra XP to be got there?[/QUOTE]

Yes, I actually did that once, you get some exp and some healing potions from him. But nowadays he is never there when I come to charge the potions of him, maybe becouse I rest or have taken to much time. Anyways, anyone who knows why he isn't there?

From one thing to another, I don't think bard/Fighter will be such a very effective class. I would rather go for a sorc/fighter if I am playing solo. What you miss by playing sorc/fighter is the songs but you gain loads of more, and sometimes better spells, so it is even. And if you are soloing with a fighter/bard, take 4 classes in fighter and rest in bard. Only for the weapon spe. Something else I would do is to take 3 lvls of rogue to gain evade, that really pays of when you start evading spells instead of taking half dmg.

I'm still toying with how I want this character to finally develop. I will primarily be a Bard with Fighter and perhaps Rogue levels to suplement his abilities. I have 3 builds in mind:

Fighter4/Bardx: The Spellsword Bard. This allows the bard to get the max. spell casting ability from his class and pack some major offensive punch with Wail of the Banshee and Power Word Blind. The down side is that he will get less Feats (resulting in either less Spell Focus and magic enhancing abilities like subvocal casting and improved init., or less combat abilities such as weapon spec. maximised attacks, blind fight, dirty fight, improved crit.) than a higher Fighter build. Also he will have less HP, a lower Base attack bonus and fewer attacks per round for most of the game. Does also give you the best will save possible, handy when this bard has a wisdom of 3.

Bard 16-18/Fighterx: This is the real Battle Bard. More Hp, plenty of Feats and great Base attack bonus/number of attacks. The Bard levels allow casting of up to level 6 spells, mainly buffing and defensive to suppliment his basic combat ability and compromised AC, but also allowing the Bards best friend - Great Shout- on offense. This guy is pretty much an engine of death that tries to be as hard to hit as possible using Mirror Images, Improved Invis., Blur, Blink and Haste and buffing himself with Emotion: Hope. Most ability score increases with this guy will go into Con. and Strength to boost his fighting ability

Fighter6/Rogue5/Bardx: This is the Balanced Bard. Rogue Levels give 3D6 sneak attacks, good with improved Invis., some extra Skill points, uncanny dodge and Evasion, plus a bonus to Reflex Saves to get the most of that evasion. Fighter levels allow extra feats (not as many as Battle Bard but still more than Spellsword), more HP and better Base Attack bonus. He's harder to hurt and more diverse, but packs a little less punch.

I thought about Fighter/Sorc. but chose Fighter/Bard because the two classes are IMHO, more compatible. Bards get more HP and better Base Attacks than Sorcerors, also the Bard Songs are handy, particularly at the start of the game. He can also heal himself and has access to the Use Magic Device Skill so he can cast from Cleric or Druid Scrolls and use various wands which his spells don't cover. Plus I like Bards! I'd solo as a pure Bard but think he would suffer a little from lack of offensive bite in the combat department.

Well, if I were you I would go for the bardX/fighter4. You will still be a much higher level than the creeps you meet and you will have loads of extra hp. Later you can use haste so you don't lose any attacks really, especielly if you get boots of speed.

The battlebard is a nice idee but later in the game I don't think you will use feats like dirty fighting, the only thing you really want to do then is to make some dmg. Ofcourse this char is playable and it gives me the feeling of real roleplaying. Try it and tell me how it is going please!

Ok, here's the latest:

I've defended the palisade and wiped out the attacking Goblins. Wasn't too hard actually. I'm currently Bard4/Fighter2 and ready for another level.

What I have found really hard is fighting all the Orcs at Shaengarne River. The hordes of Orcs are too much to take on. 10 on one is just too many. strangely it's the Archers that are giving me problems, not the warriors! I think that the Insane difficulty has increased the threat they pose considerably.

So far the best tactic has been to lure the whole bunch of them out and while they are bunched up, throw an Oil of Fiery Burning at them. this normally kills most of them and of those that survive, most are paniced by the blast.

Only problem is that there are only so many Oils available from Oswald, and they are costly. Flaming Oil is also useful, but lacks the area and punch necessary to turn the fight. I am due for another level, I think I'll take Bard and get Charm Person and either Horror or Eagles Splendor. Splendor is a better long term spell, but Horror lets me have some effective crowd control -decisions decisions! Those damn archers hit far too often for my liking. Even with Mail of Life and Sad Giants Cap giving me an AC of 24 they hit me about 50% of the time! Mirror Image is of limited use due to my Bard only being Level 4, not too many images. Sleep doesn't seem to work very well. Orcs are too high level?

still struggling through Shaengarne River. When facing large numbers of Orcs, the only sucessful tactic has been to Oil them, then play running sniper with the suvivors. I've managed to rescue the Druid guy and clear his house and I still haven't used my Level up. I think I'll take Blur and then Eagles Splendor for my last level 2 spells. Shame I can't get Bulls Strength too, but then again, a wand will do just as well for that spell as it's effect is not level dependent.

I am finding it difficult to survive without my Fighters Fireball potions, once I get into chapter 2 and can buy the Necklace of Missiles it shouldn't be too bad, but until then I'm going to have to use the ones I have sparingly. I can afford 2 of Oswalds Potion of Explosions as well, and I can see myself needing them! Hopefully I can pick up some more in random loot etc. At 7th level Bard I will get level 3 spells, Haste is a must but not sure whether Confusion or Emotion: Fear is a better idea.

Thoughts? I didn't really find Confusion that good in my previous games, how about you guys?

I would try to find a area effecting spell, and don't use sleep on orcs. It really does work very much better if you use Color Spray. On level three I believed I picked death armor and something I don't remember. Try finding some sort of area spell or you will be dead.

Checking through the level three bard spells I would suggest you to take Take emotion: fear. It is a nice spell, works good on small critters like goblins and orcs. And the best part is that you can change it later, I think...
You can change bard and sorcerer spells if you don't like them can't you? Half-Life 2 gives me blackouts so I can't remember anything of the IWD2 rules, sigh. To much Half-Life2, less rpg.

Nope, once you've picked a spell, it's set for the game!

I think I'll go buy that wand of Horror I saw, might help a little. I was thinking of taking Emotion: Fear or Confusion at level 3 as a crowd control spell. I wonder which is better? I'd prefer Fear, but it only lasts 5 rounds. Still this should be long enough to take out a few of the enemy. I'm stuck on whether to take Charm Person or Colour Spray as my last level 1 spell. I've got Sleep and Chromatic Orb so far. Charm Person is handy as it not only takes one of them out of the fight, but often has them fight for you too.

I think Charm Person is probably better overall. I can use Chromtic Orb for targeted non person kills like Wolves and so on. Once I get to Chapter 2 and buy Necklace of Missiles I should be fine for area damage spells. It's only 6d6 but is still good.