bard advice

[mad Trev]

I've never played a bard before as I've normal played a combat orientated character but I fancy a change, does any one have any advice on getting the best out of a bard. I understand that they stay out of combat and help other party members but other than that how do I get the best out of the class, all help gratefully received.

[Zathyr]

Bards don't have to stay out of combat. They're extremely versatile and there are a ton of different ways you can play them.

If you haven't yet, I'd suggest you start off by browsing a bard guide or two. Get a better idea of what you'd like to be doing with your bard and we can give you pointers from there.

[Deadmanwalking]

mad Trev wrote:

I understand that they stay out of combat and help other party members but other than that how do I get the best out of the class, all help gratefully received.

Uh...as the Bard Guides linked hopefully demonstrate that's not generally how Bards work at all. You can stay out of the fighting if you really want, but the best Bards definitely participate in one way or another.

What kind of Bard do you want to be? The three usual types are the melee Bard, the archer Bard, and the spellcaster Bard. All are viable in different ways, and they determine a lot of what advice you should probably be needing.

[Mr. Dodo]

The Archer Bard is usually the most effective, imho.

[nate lange]

i just posted a response to this on your previous thread...

[Deadmanwalking]

Mr. Dodo wrote:

The Archer Bard is usually the most effective, imho.

Probably, but melee and spellcasting are also pretty solid.

[Devilkiller]

I like playing a Bard with a shield for higher AC. I've also really enjoyed the Dirge Bard archetype. It might go without saying that Mirror Image is one of the best defensive spells, but I'll say it anyhow. It combined with the high AC from having a shield can make you very tough to hit in combat.

Inspire Courage is a great party buff, so you should really take the time to use it when you're able. Later on Dirge of Doom can also be very effective, but I suggest learning the Blistering Invective spell and making enemies shaken with it instead.

It might make sense to check out the Focused Study trait for humans since the bonus Skill Focus feats make it easier to max out Intimidate or even to pick up a familiar via Eldritch Heritage. On the other hand, the Seasinger archetype gets a familiar without spending any feats.

I can't suggest Craft Wands enough with or without Improved Familiar (though preferably with). Our party's wands of Good Hope and Haste have been very helpful and get used in almost every fight. Other wands like Delay Poison and Touch of the Sea can really come in handy when they're needed.

[Renegadeshepherd]

I would like to say that a bard has the luxury of playing how it wants to and it's one of the few that can do so. You can still fight if you wish to do so because your performances boost you as well. At the same time you are a star among skill monkeys and mouth pieces.

[BadBird]

An Aasimar: Azata Dawnflower Dervish is pretty absurd when you cross their favored class bonus with their doubled Inspire Courage and their free dervish dance feat.

By level 4 they can buff (only) themselves with +4 Inspire Courage as a move action, then haste (only) themselves with Allegro as a standard action... and then go to town with dex-to-damage scimitar attacks. By level 8 they're up to a +6 Inspire Courage, and can cast a cure spell as a swift action (no AoO risk) by also spending a move action - while still slashing at something with a standard action.

True whirling goodness, it comes in Original Flavor, as well as new Chicken (Master of Many Styles Monk dip for Crane Style fortress defense) and Beef (Urban Barbarian for even more slashy dex-power)!