Bard

Overview The Bard is a support class focused on the aural arts to bolster his group. His melodies, redes, and songs harmonize into a symphony that will invigorate the most meager of allies. He can increase resistances, stats, and regeneration rates while also dispelling effects and applying potent crowd control through his various powers. His ballads can even make his allies impervious to damage and effects. Powers and Skills Level Icon Ability Description 10 Ritardando Single-target Snare and attack speed debuff Kennings of the Loremasters Single-target item identification 12 Dread Dissonance Single-target magic damage and short Stun Gentle Melody Group health recovery chant (melody) 15 Ballad of Beregund the Bold Personal movement speed buff Ragnor's Rede of Rending Group melee and power damage buff chant (rede) Offensive Stance Personal combat stance Defensive Stance Personal combat stance Precise Stance Personal combat stance 18 Harmonious Stanzas Single-target non-player Lull Ithriana's Love Song Single-target non-player charm 20 Anthem of Avoidance Personal melee Damage Absorber Ancient Riddle Area non-player Mesmerize 22 Cuthric's Rede of Cunning Group defense chant (rede) 23 Ashton Kai's Irresistible Dance Single-target Root 24 Countersong Single-target Dispel Effect 26 Calming Melody Group mana recovery chant (melody) 28 Chant of the Titans Group Strength and Dexterity buff (note: not an actual chant) 30 Dela's Rede of Deftness Group attack rating chant (rede) Canticle of Inspiration Group Intelligence and Spirit buff 32 Mighty Countersong Group dispell debuff and short snare/stun/root immunity 34 Baleful Cry of Weilund Area non-player fear 36 Molto Ritardando Area attack speed and movement speed debuff 42 Restive Melody Group stamina recovery chant (melody) Song of Warding Group magic and mental damage resistance chant (song) 44 Litany of Focus Group magic, mental, cold, fire, lightning, poison and bleed resistance chant (song) 46 Song of Fortitude Group poison and bleed damage resistance chant (song) 48 Song of Spring Group cold, fire, and lightning resistance chant (song) 50 Dance of Derrac the Dauntless Group invulnurability chant Playstyle Tips The Bard is the premiere support class; however, a group rarely benefits from more than one. Because of this, the Bard will often find himself as a high-priority target and must evade enemy onslaughts while supporting his group. Fights are often won or lost on the back of the Bard power so, despite its image, this class is not for the faint of heart. Mage Between Shielding, Anthem of Avoidance, Defensive Stance, the resistance songs, and resistance enchantments your gear it is very possible, and encouraged, to get extraordinarily high resistances on a Mage Bard. Keeping yourself stun immune via prestunning is vital! One landed stun, if it is not immediately dispelled, is likely to be your death. You can keep yourself stun immune with Mage's Stun power by recasting it on yourself while the immunity is still up, thus refreshing your immunity. Keeping up your melodies, redes, and songs can be pretty passive so, in addition to debuff stripping with Mighty Countersong, a good Mage Bard can also handle tossing out crowd control onto targets and keeping high-value debuffs, like Shadow Mantle, buried on a target with Weakening and Enfeeblement. Rogue They are normally outclassed by their Mage counterparts in large group fights but Dodge, light armor, and high defense can make Rogue Bards potent in smaller fights. Take advantage of that in your builds. Some people build them more offensively, and the power rank for various weapons allows them to be pretty potent in a fight. With these type of builds, an effective strategy is to use Countersong to slowly strip your opponent's buffs away. Although one would normally not think this the case, Rogue Bards are less tanky than their Mage counterparts so it is vital that you keep debuffs off of you that negate the defenses and mobility you do have such as defense debuffs, exposes, and crowd control effects. Be judicious with your Mighty Countersong.		Bard Information File:RadarStatsBard.png Base Classes Mage, Rogue Races Aelfborn, Aracoix, Elf, Human, Irekei, Nephilim Disciplines Animator, Archer, Archmage, Artillerist, Battle Magus, Black Mask, Blade Master, Blade Weaver, Blood Prophet, Bounty Hunter, Commander, Conjurer, Enchanter, Huntsman, Knight, Prospector, Rat Catcher, Rune Caster, Saboteur, Sky Dancer, Sun Dancer, Traveler, Undead Hunter, Werewolf, Wyrmslayer Mastery Runes Master of Daggers, Master of Great Swords, Master of Throwing Skills Granted Bardsong, Sword (level 10) Staff Mastery, Sword Mastery, Unarmed Combat Mastery (level 20) Bard Static Powers These powers cannot be trained higher. Use these ranks to plan accordingly. Stances Mage Defensive Stance 35 Offensive Stance 20 Precise Stance 25 stance details Rogue Defensive Stance 35 Offensive Stance 20 Precise Stance 25 stance details Weapon Powers Mage 5 25 10 5 25 25 25 10 Rogue 10 5 35 25 5 30 5 30 30 25

Contributions by: Colest and Rewen in 2018

Classes
Prestige Classes Assassin (P    Barbarian (P    Bard (P    Channeler (P    Confessor (P    Crusader (P    Doomsayer (P) Druid (P    Fury (P    Huntress (P    Necromancer (P    Nightstalker (P    Prelate (P    Priest (P Ranger (P    Scout (P    Sentinel (P    Templar (P    Thief (P    Warlock (P    Warrior (P    Wizard (P Base Classes Fighter    Healer    Mage    Rogue