Battlebard? Well why not?

[Ondal]

If you ever happen to read the US bard forum, you'll notice they are suckers for battlebards, and what apparently make one of these is huge str and being a warchanter, usually with fighter levels thrown in for additional feats.

I have a such, 2fig/2rgr/11 (some day 12) bard, my favourite character for a long time, however he does lack one thing: Spells.
No, not the amount of spells, that's just a tradeoff for multiclassing, but rather the ability to cast AND land DC spell, like the old Otto's and not least the great ones like sound burst, fear and hypno. This doesn't make for a bad playstyle, just seems, well, somewhat half?

My view on a bard is:
Bard is a melee class. Bard is secondary a caster class. I mean, if I wanted a caster to spam spells, while powerful, the only thing a bard offers is Fascinate, so I'd be better off making a caster wizard or sorc.
It's actually almost the same view I have on clerics, though they are also a "real" caster class.

So how do you combine these things, strong melee and casting of spells? You can't get 30 str and 34 cha off the bat, but do you need that? I'm happy to report, no you don't.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 2.80
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Ondemolish Fiscadette
Level 16 True Neutral Human Male
(16 Bard)
Hit Points: 164 - 242
Spell Points: 745 - 900
BAB: 12\12\17\22
Fortitude: 8 - 15
Reflex: 12 - 19
Will: 17 - 24

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Modified Stats
(32 Point) (Level 1) (Level 16)
Strength 16 22
Dexterity 13 20
Constitution 14 22
Intelligence 9 10
Wisdom 8 8
Charisma 16 31

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 1
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 16
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 16
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 16
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 16
Really hoping for a +2 cha tome for a wooping 32 cha

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 16)
Balance 1 13
Concentration 6 25
Hide 5 23
Jump 3 11
Move Silently 5 23
Perform 7 29
Tumble 5 34 (add GH for forward flips, and a +11 item)
Use Magic Device 7 29

Notable Equipment
Armor: +5 Elven Chainmail
Helm: +6 Charismatic Bandanna
Ring: +5 Ogre Power Ring
Ring: +1 Health Ring of Heavy Fortification
Goggles: Spectacular Optics (Green item goes here!)
Necklace: Underwater Action Necklace of Protection +5
Trinket: Bloodstone (or PoP 10 pre-buffing)
Cloak: Cloak of Resistance +4
Belt: +6 Health Belt
Bracers: Nightforged armbands (Imp. false life - the forgotten secret)
Boots: +11 tumple.
Gloves: +6 dex.

Level 1 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell
Feat: (Human Bonus) Mental Toughness
Spell (1): Expeditious Retreat

Level 2 (Bard)
Spell (1): Focusing Chant

Level 3 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Khopesh
Spell (1): Hypnotism

Level 4 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Spell (2): Blur
Spell (2): Soundburst

Level 5 (Bard)
Spell (1): Otto's Resistable Dance
Spell (2): Suggestion

Level 6 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack

Level 7 (Bard)
Spell (2): Rage
Spell (3): Displacement
Spell (3): Fear

Level 8 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Spell (3): Good Hope

Level 9 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons

Level 10 (Bard)
Spell (3): Haste
Spell (4): Freedom of Movement
Spell (4): Hold Monster

Level 11 (Bard)
Spell (4): Otto's Sphere of Dancing

Level 12 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons

Level 13 (Bard)
Spell (4): Dimension Door
Spell (5): Greater Heroism
Spell (5): Mass Suggestion

Level 14 (Bard)
Spell (5): Mind Fog

Level 15 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Force of Personality

Level 16 (Bard)
Spell (6): Otto's Irresistable Dance
Spell (6): Shout, Greater
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song I
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song II
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song III
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song IV
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage III
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song I
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song II
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song III
Enhancement: Bard Music of the Dead
Enhancement: Warchanter I
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Charisma I
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Constitution II
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music I
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music II
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music III
Enhancement: Bard Charisma I
Enhancement: Bard Charisma II
Enhancement: Bard Charisma III
Enhancement: Bard Wand Mastery I

[Ondal]

I hear the laughs: 22 str? Pathetic! Only BAB 12? You won't hit a football field while standing on it! Power attack? (more football field jokes).

How much do bard songs give as bonus to attack and damage? Common, someone must know?
Spoiler: Bard songs give +16 str!
Not really, but they do in my case give +8 attack and +8 damage, just for 2 songs. Additionally unlike a barbarian rage, you can do everything you normally can (spell casting, thinking, drinking pots, whipping wands) for the entire duration of 6+ minutes. Oh yes, got 20 songs too, those "rages" will last a while

But your armour class stinks for a tank! Yes, and so what? It doesn't actually stink, it's currently as high as it can be without special items and the dodge feat, so 36-38 IIRC, but monsters just chop through that. If you want a bloody tank, don't talk about a "melee" character as a tank. A bard isn't a "tank", in reality very, very few of the melee characters I meet can even remotely call themselves tanks. They just have a few enhancements and maybe a mith. full plate, but that doesn't make a tank at all. Can play a song for +4 AC now, but again, not really worth it.

So AC? Don't really care, try to get it up there, but stoneskin (wands in the 12 now) and displacement is just better for a bard.

Now this character isn't meant to compete with fully fletched melee classes/characters, mainly because it would be rude only playing tunes to yourself Those "rages" mentioned, they benefit the entire group, so any one within range get those +16 str, and not only str, because it works on bows too.

So how does he play out? Well, it's a lot of fun being able to handle pretty much any situation. He can sneak very well, I did have a plan of doing Madstone on elite before posting this, but the level cap went up and I actually find soloing quite boring. The method would be a combination of DiscoKings sneak videos and the available bard tricks, particularly charming and fascinating (the undead are however immune to this). I'm sure someone with more patience than me could make some impressive solo feats with a bard like this.

So the short version?
- Hefty melee capabilities.
- An asset with buffs for any group.
- Decent CC (a wiz or sorc can do a lot better spell-wise), and of course the ultimate one in Fascinate.
- Can sneak/scout, often underrated in DDO.
- Probably the most versatile uni-class character.
- It's a bard, it's cool!

[Ammattikiusaaaja]

Exactly like my human melee bard I have had for ages.
Still only 14lvl... well I'm not playing DDO for now

Having seen the "warchanters" that cant even land a spell on kobold, I'm glad that I have high charisma(for DC) and decent melee capabilities.

All I can say it is versatile and good :P

[DiscoKing]

I obviously got 1st hand experiance playing alongside this dude and it is a very good build,a swiss army knife of the DDO world.

Shame Ond sucks tho

[Ondal]

Originally Posted by DiscoKing

Shame Ond sucks tho

It's true, no character can help the problem 40 cm from the screen

[DiscoKing]

Originally Posted by Ondal

It's true, no character can help the problem 40 cm from the screen

Suxatarians Contraho, Harou!

[J Thompson]

Been playing Jules as a multi purpose bard from her first founding and I agree that this is a very impressive build. Mine is similar class wise (13/2/1 Bard ranger fighter) to the original American style and to be honest I find the fighter splash a waste. I didn't gain anything particularly useful from it and with 2 levels splashed there they are gonna miss out on Greater Heroism.
Secondly I opted more for Dex than STR, sure I do less damage per hit but 2 weapon fighting is a joy, especially the ability to weild a damage dealer in the main had and a specialist weapon (eg paralysis) in the off hand.
That said, I do like the look of this build and it looks like a lot of fun to play, getting your fingers into every classes pies. Nothing like out healing the cleric, CC'ing the caster and out killing the Barb all in one quest

[B.B.Bob]

Can you redo your post with black writing please its bloomin impossible to read with the annoying shade of grey and wishy washy colours you've choosen to read. Almost as anoying as a bard running around facinating everything then crying when a fighter hits them.

[selvetran]

Damn,but this looks like an interesting build,to say the least.I've been looking into making a WF single-class warchanter,but I couldn'r figute out how to fit in all the things I wanted .Your build definitely gives me ideas...

Thanks for sharing the build,Ond.Really nice one.

[Morethan]

Originally Posted by B.B.Bob

Can you redo your post with black writing please its bloomin impossible to read with the annoying shade of grey and wishy washy colours you've choosen to read. Almost as anoying as a bard running around facinating everything then crying when a fighter hits them.

Hehe second that BB, but aye nice build Ondal, sounds like fun if you dig all that singing :P