I really like me a good Bard, and I am curious how others build/play their Bards. I have seen/read all the various Bard guides, and plenty of "optimization" threads... I am more interested in what people actually use, though.
Why do you play a Bard?
What "role" do you focus on?
What spells do you consider necessary/essential?
What Perform skill is your favorite?
Which Bardic Performance do you use the most or focus on?
Which Masterpieces do you use?
What traits, feats, and items do you use to equip your Bards?
What does your action economy look like on any given round?
So, yeah... how do you Bard? And possibly more importantly, why do you Bard?
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Why do you play a Bard.
Many reasons, though mechanically speaking, it has all the bells and whistles I need (or most of them) that it is the best choice.
What "role" do you focus on?
Support. Plain and simple. I am there for force multiplication and to step into the fray when I see the need for it. That doesn't mean I can't focus on one kind of support role or another, but I am there as a backup for at LEAST one of the other characters.
What spells do you consider necessary/essential
Utility spells and buffing spells for my allies. Learning at least one healing spell so we aren't entirely dependent on wands to do the healing in a pinch. Spells that alter or amplify my bardic performance, especially ones that let me cut it off early to do something fancy.
What Perform skill is your favorite?
Singing/Percussion
Which Bardic Performance do you use the most or focus on?
Mostly inspire courage or heroics. Other performances are more niche and are not a focal point.
Which Masterpieces do you use?
Battle Song of the People's Revolt - teamwork feats should NOT be underestimated, especially when they only cost ONE person a resource.
Kaminari Drums - because electric flame strike.Life Budding in Salted Earth - because fast healing is great.
Rat Quadrille - because it debuffs the enemy, even on a successful save.
Really, there are a LOT of them that are good.
What traits, feats, and items do you use to equip your Bards?
Only feat that really matters is Lingering Performance. You can do a lot more with standards and banners, but they are often unnecessary to spend cash on unless you are already playing in a high powered game.
What does your action economy look like on any given round?
Depends on what level I am at, but it pretty much comes down to getting bard song up, tossing out a buffing spell, and watching the battle unfold to insert myself where needed. Often, I'm standing between the enemy and the squishy caster, just in case someone wants to get through and succeeds.
So, yeah... how do you Bard? And possibly more importantly, why do you Bard?
Well, I actually Skald more often than I Bard, but everything I said applies to them just about as much as a Bard. And I do it because I can. I like playing that 5th wheel and I am damn good at it.
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Lubella Heathertoes is my Hells Rebels character: a halfling Dawnflower Dervish Bard (currently lvl 7). She is primarily a melee fighter.
Her essential spells are Good Hope, Mirror Image, Heroism, Moment of Greatness and Liberating Command. She focusses on both Perform Dance and Perform Sing (Both play an important part in the AP.)
She doesn't use Masterpieces.
The AP gives bonus Rebellion feats, which are included in her progression. She is a holy warrior of Sarenrae, and will eventually take the Sarenrae's Mercy feat.
Action Economy: Move Action: start Battle Dance, Swift Action: Arcane Strike, Standard Action: Attack
At 8th lvl, Standard Action: Cast Mirror Image (replacing destroyed images), Move Action: Meditative Whirl, Swift Action: Quickened Cure Moderate Wounds.
She is equipped mostly with found items (cash is in very short supply) She did save up for a mithril scimitar (important to by pass devils' DR/silver). Arcane Strike makes a magic weapon a low priority.
She took Leadership at 7th lvl, to advance roleplay goals. Her cohort is a healing-focussed human Hidden Priest of Sarenrae. He is deliberately meant to play a mainly background role, so as not to overshadow other PCs.
Cool, we already have a support Bard and a combat Bard... a Bard can be many things.
I really find myself diving into the support role with my Bards... even my Arcane Duelist had Flagbearer/Banner of Ancient Kings, a Dervish Sikke, and Master Performer. The aforementioned Arcane Duelist also had Combat Reflexes/Bodyguard, and the Gloves of Arcane Striking [to add the Arcane Strike additional damage to his Aid Another bonus].
I go all-in on Masterpieces... usually play a race with access to the Human FCB, and trade my FCB spells for Arrowsong's Lament (@ 4,7,11,13,16), Pageant of the Peacock @ 5, Hymn of Restorative Harmonics @ 10, Blazing Rondo @ 12, Life Budding in Salted Earth @ 13... You can really cover a lot of ground with Arrowsong's Lament for spell levels 1-5 (could always trade a 6th-level spell or feat to get that last spell level, too), Mnemonic Vestments, and a Ring of Spell Knowledge. I do really like the Hymn of Restorative Harmonics, and grab it as soon as I can get it for free with my FCB spells... conditon removal is legit.
I do find myself loading up on healing spells and condition delay/removal spells... such spells are not especially common for arcane spellcasters, so I almost feel obligated to learn them. Also, I have found that literally saving someone's life is greatly appreciated. I take pride in being useful in every situation I can. I genuinely enjoy being helpful, if for nothing else, I am seldom bored at the table. Obviously, grab all the Finale spells and Inspiration spells, too. Sometimes I even learn the spells necessary to craft my toys. Good Hope is something I can go without learning on my typical Flagbearer/Banner of Ancient Kings combination... the bonuses for me just being armed and awake within 30 feet of my allies basically duplicates Good Hope as a constant effect... no spells or even actions necessary on my behalf.
At level 13, with Flagbearer/Banner of Ancient Kings, Grand Master Performer, and a Dervish Sikke, my swift action Inspire Courage was granting my allies a
+7 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects. +7 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
+2 morale bonus on attack rolls, and weapon damage rolls.
+2 resistance bonus on all saving throws against mind-affecting effects.
I take Craft Wondrous Item @ 3... you can reasonably make your own Banner of Ancient Kings, Dervish Sikke, Gloves of Arcane Striking, Headband of Alluring Charisma, and Mnemonic Vestments... I like being in control of when I get my nice things.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32
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Cool, we already have a support Bard and a combat Bard... a Bard can be many things.
Indeed. My bard focuses on being a debuffer.
He wields a reach weapon; he sucks at dealing damage with it, but any enemy coming nearby will eat a trip attack (via high dex and Agile Maneuvers) and it has the Bewildering enchantment. He has a dip in inquisitor so he can enlarge himself as a swift action (plant domain) to threaten more squares with this.
He spends his standard action on spells like Ear-Piercing Scream, Cacophonous Call, or Sound Burst (he's aiming for the Bouncing Spell feat for any single-target debuffs); and of course a move action on Inspire Courage.