Good rage powers for Skalds?

[Barachûrg]

Hello!

I've just been experimenting with a new Skald build. I was just wondering what rage powers anyone out there would recommend for their rage songs. I've been looking at the totems and some other rage powers. Just wondering if anyone out there has had much experience playing a skald.

I just threw together a couple of lists of some of the rage powers that I've looked at and grouped them together as Totem rage powers, and those that are not totems (that I've had the time to look at). Any comments anyone could give me would be cool.

I'm also kind of curious as to what rage powers I haven't listed people have used to good effect with skalds.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Rage Totem Trees:

• Beast Totem: buffs allies with natural attacks and armour
  
• Celestial Totem: good vs evil nasties and quick healing
  
• Chaos Totem: only really useful when all you'll fight are lawful types
  
• Dragon Totem: kind of heavy on prerequisite tax
  
• Elemental Totem: Not as versatile as Elemental Rage tree
  
• Fiend Totem: Only really useful for all-evil parties (ever so nasty!)
  
• Hive Totem: Only useful when you know you'll be facing LOTS of swarms
  
• Spirit Totem: Lots of extra damage, but useless against undead
  
• World Serpent: Really good versus outsiders and many kinds of DR

Other Rage Powers:

• Elemental Rage tree: can pick and choose type of extra elemental damage
  
• Powerful Blow: extra damage per hit is always useful
  
• Renewed Vigour & Regenerative Vigour; gives allies and skald extra healing (a bit redundant with Skald's Vigour and Greater Skald's Vigour, though.
  
• Swift Foot: good for extra mobility for your party while song is on
  
• Linnorm curses: that lot is just plain nasty (I likes them, I does!)

[LoneKnave]

Scent is actually really great if you are also using Pheromone arrows.

[Barachûrg]

That would be useful if the opposition made a run for it. Have you used that one before for a Skald or Barbarian?

[Claxon]

If you have a party full of melee types then beast totem would be outrageous. The ability to grant pounce to everyone is HUGE!

[Insain Dragoon]

Superstition, Witch hunter, and stuff.

[LoneKnave]

Barachûrg wrote:

That would be useful if the opposition made a run for it. Have you used that one before for a Skald or Barbarian?

It's useful without the opponent running. With a skald, you give everyone (including yourself) in the paty+2 to attack and damage in exchange for a 15 gold arrow. Skalds really like tuned bowstrings too, so archery is a natural fit.

Sadly, didn't have the chance to play a skald yet, but it's a great rage power for them.

[Barachûrg]

@Claxon: I can see how that would buff up your allies, no doubt about that! The claw and armour bonuses to get there wouldn't be anything to sneeze at either!

[Barachûrg]

@Insain Dragoon: Thanks for pointing those out. I can see how that collection of rage powers would sure buff up Skald & Co against magical opposition!

[Barachûrg]

@LordKnave: that could be quite handy at higher levels, when 15 GP per arrow isn't such a big deal. Getting +2 bonuses is good too. Might be hampered a bit by the situation. But oh well, nothing's perfect!