Playable 1-40 PvM or PvP requires an alignment shift
Pros
It's a Bard
Good damage output
Great AC
Even though a lot of his AC is lost flat-footed, the risk of being flat footed isn't that high with high AC (can't hit a KD), discipline (if someone rolls to hit you, chances are you'll succeed on the check) and listen (no sneaking)
Good skillset
Decent saves, especially Fortitude
22nd level Bard Song for party support (assuming you've cast Eagle's
Bard Song makes Discipline 74 Amplify +Clairaudience +Bard Song makes Listen 93 (the two spells are often nerfed but you can still expect to have an insane Listen score) +12 CHA makes Perform 65, that's a 23th level Song and after Bard Song you get a 25th level Curse Song +12 CHA +Bard Song makes Taunt 66
That should be all... feedback welcome! _________________ "We keep our Feast of Feasts, sure of our bourne, Our aims self-same: The Guest of Guests, friend Zarathustra, came! The world now laughs, the grisly veil was torn, And Light and Dark were one that wedding-morn."
Edited By FinneousPJ on 07/04/06 21:24
Finny's Fave, huh? Love these character-types, too You seem to have a thing for those alignment changes, but, no matter, I likes him. Similar to my DS Bard, Click Here (except I've only 1 alignment change (LG to NG), higher AB (note: smite bonus also not in there, nor did I take it to the cap), higher HPs and also some more combat damage output), but the saves and AC are similar. Your AB's still decent, though (40's nothin' to sneeze at, and then you've some nice buffs, and access to a few more bard spells than does mine Oh, but those skills of yours - very, very nice, Finn - not exactly worried about bein' knocked and such, are ya? Also, the listen skills - not much if at all gonna get past you Cool! (yeppers, another bard-pally-dragon - me likes 'em (nice, Finn)
Edited By TyrTemplar on 07/04/06 22:29
as to suggestions
Only thing I'd add is the HP thing; you're on the line, even with bard song; not a "daisy-sniffing, poem-reading weakling[]" or anything, but still . . . I'd be inclined to drop yer AB (-1) for the +40 HP boost, as you suggest as being an option; this, since you've yer bard buffs and taunt also to rely on (which folks should not understimate! Those bard buffs, plus song and curse, just does a character good!(yeppers, although the extra alignment change does hurt, it's another bard-pally-RDD, with a wonderful assortment of skills; just makes me wanna sing or flap the wings around, ya know?!
ps. btw, so everyone's clear on this, with high level bard song/curse song, that's ESF: Taunt-plus in and of itself, and w. LI, sing on, and on, and on, and...! (once again, nice Finn
Edited By TyrTemplar on 07/04/06 23:07
OK, seein' as I likes yer drake with the skill focus (being a very cool twist, & so nice an addition to, the rdd-pally-bard bank (wonderful!) that I thoughts I'd pop by one more time to gives ya a link to a very neat picture all yer own (beware the Faust, and don't ya dare try an' sneak off with this one's gold - Click Here
(oh, and Finn, on yer bard song/curse song, 'cause you got 5 more levels Bard than does mine, you additionally get +2 temp HPs singing (so, 32 instead of 30), and do +2 area damage cursing (i.e., 32 instead of 30) - yes? Not much but still, 2 Hps are afterall 2 Hps Drake on!
Edited By TyrTemplar on 07/05/06 00:57
I can't believe that the 3 replies are from TyrTemplar
Nice, good stats, looks more like a party guy, but sure he's good alone.
Hmm, for HP, you could try to get Toughness, you could change an Epic Skill Focus or Epic Fortitude for it with not much trouble I think.
With the skill focus, party on for sure (and, oops, this would be my 4th post but hey, those skills are his schtick....Toughness, hmmm. Good idea, Thax: that would work; but I wouldn't drop a skill focus for it though; armor skin seems to be a better candidate (ie., high bards get good song (+5 AC) and good curse (-2 to enemy AB thus in turn +2 AC), so AS isn't really necessary: he'd get more HPs while keepin' his unbuffed AB at 40 where it is; that's good thinkin' (yep, would def. help out a party, but he has a special knack for sneakers it seems (with ESF listen, he can hear 'em a mile away and, with good fort, curse, song and bard spells, + other stuff, esp. ESF discipline, it's unlikely they'll knock 'em to get in sneaks (once again, nice twist, Finn - and, ok, with my findin' ya +2 HPs and Thax' +40
(OK, shutting up now, really, as that'd be my two cents - or is that x 4 post = 8 cents'worth
(OK, shutting up now, really, as that'd be my two cents - or is that x 4 post = 8 cents'worth
Tyr, you are really REALLY giving me stuff to sig! I'm guessing that Tyr gets paid 10 cents for EVERY single post that is made on the bioware forums! Please cut in the rest of us!
I gotta say only one thing: tyr, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take a look and post on one of my builds!!! They rarely get any notice
*as a side note to that... its kinda hard to post on builds that are over 6 months old, so on second thought, DONT post on my old builds... I'll get a name build out soon. just tryin to work out the fine print _________________
This post is for general information purposes only, and does not constitute a legal opinion or render any legal advice. It may not be relied on for any purpose, and gives rise to
I'd change ESF: Listen for Toughness any time, but well, it's Finn's build, he'll know what's best.
Quote: I gotta say only one thing: tyr, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take a look and post on one of my builds!!! They rarely get any notice
yeah, 4 replies here and none on your builds avado, wouldn't do you damage to post on my builds too, she only posted once on one of mine, posts by TyrTepmlar are mostly praises so it's nice to recieve them
Yo, peeps! ( )
Nice to see four out of seven replies are by TyrTemplar
I'd like to note that the ESF concept isn't my own, I copied it from my other favourite build, CD's Skillful Minstrel I've been playing that build for a year now, and it never gets old. The version I'm using is the Bard 26/Fighter 4/RDD 10, and like a week ago I figured why not change FTR for something else? First I made him with Bkg - that's where the name really comes from - but I didn't like having to pick Cleave, and there are already numerous builds like that posted. So, I changed it to Paladin He's still a fallen Paladin so it's not so bad...
As for the HP, I think 400 isn't bad for a 26th level Bard. Besides, where I tested this (PvM), the toughest meleers have "only" 57 AB (IIRC) -- they can't even hit me And that's the case with most opponents, I'd say; even most WMs have trouble hitting this guy (they tend to have ABs in the low to mid 60s, and I can Curse them). A WM will probably need a roll of 15 or so to hit me, and that with 50% concealment is good protection.
If you don't have to worry about Dev Crit where you play, Epic Fortitude would be my first choice for dropping too.
Cheers _________________ "We keep our Feast of Feasts, sure of our bourne, Our aims self-same: The Guest of Guests, friend Zarathustra, came! The world now laughs, the grisly veil was torn, And Light and Dark were one that wedding-morn."
Edited By FinneousPJ on 07/05/06 16:44
Listen on human ? Either take spot or go elf , no sneaks isnt true with listen, everyone with a ranged weapon can still hit you flatfooted and get sneaks in.
Listen on human ? Either take spot or go elf , no sneaks isnt true with listen, everyone with a ranged weapon can still hit you flatfooted and get sneaks in.
Well, I've read from many sources that spot is (even more) unreliable than listen. And really, I don't understand your point. Are you saying elves cannot be sneaked with ranged weapons? IIRC, the difference is a mere 5 feet vs. 10 feet; you can fire sneak attacks from up to 30 feet. _________________ "With Europe liberated, the people of the world turned their attention to that old devil, the United States of America [...] We taught that monster of old the true meaning of freedom." Star Wreck
Any build can always get sneaks (except when you're immune of course ) so there is no point here.
)
You seem to have a thing for those alignment changes, but, no matter, I likes him. Similar to my DS Bard, Click Here (except I've only 1 alignment change (LG to NG), higher AB (note: smite bonus also not in there, nor did I take it to the cap), higher HPs and also some more combat damage output), but the saves and AC are similar. Your AB's still decent, though (40's nothin' to sneeze at, and then you've some nice buffs, and access to a few more bard spells than does mine 
Oh, but those skills of yours - very, very nice, Finn - not exactly worried about bein' knocked and such, are ya? Also, the listen skills - not much if at all gonna get past you 
Please cut in the rest of us! 
just tryin to work out the fine print