Bard question

[KalkiKrosah]

Where are some good spots in the game to go busking? I really enjoy the music in the game and when there are NPCs who are around to join in on the music that's my favorite thing to have happen in my Bard playthrough. Any particular spots you guys know of?

[Empu]

Goblin camp stage is one :)

[KalkiKrosah]

Originally posted by Empu:

Goblin camp stage is one :)

Yeah, that's the main one I know of. Was wondering if there were any other notable spots too.

[Empu]

I was waiting for patch 1 to land before I start act 3 so haven't seen that yet, but no real stage like area, I just play where ever there are alot of NPC's or to distract NPC's so my other characters can loot adjecent areas clean xD

Well, unless you save the tieflings, who'll show up at your camp to celebrate, if you have Alfira and Volo there they'll play together with you!

[KalkiKrosah]

Originally posted by Empu:

I was waiting for patch 1 to land before I start act 3 so haven't seen that yet, but no real stage like area, I just play where ever there are alot of NPC's or to distract NPC's so my other characters can loot adjecent areas clean xD

Well, unless you save the tieflings, who'll show up at your camp to celebrate, if you have Alfira and Volo there they'll play together with you!

Just got to that part today! About to start act 2 now.

[jeffy]

ive been playing as bard for maany hours now. regretted it completly i die all the time. only thing i find with the bard usefull is playing music to distrated npcs while another chaaracter goes and steals some stuff etc

[Empu]

Bards aren't for everyone I suppose, but you get some real nice buffs and debuffs, can play the part of a rogue to detect traps and unlock chests/doors + steal and stealth.

Later on you get reactions to help your party succeed in rolls during combat, which are invaluable.

And the fact that you make a great frontfigure for your party just makes them better.

[KalkiKrosah]

Originally posted by jeffy:

ive been playing as bard for maany hours now. regretted it completly i die all the time. only thing i find with the bard usefull is playing music to distrated npcs while another chaaracter goes and steals some stuff etc

Bards in a fight aren't going to be your main damage dealers or your best tank. They're designed as an auxiliary role and function best as a support. The spells they get are mostly aimed at either dialogue or giving buffs, debuffs & heals. Their damage spells are vastly inferior to a Wizard, Warlock or Sorcerer. Take one or two damage abilities but most of the spells a Bard will use will be crowd control, heals, buffs and debuffs, My Bard slings spells from the backline and when I need my Bard to deal damage the weapon of choice is dual wielded mini-crossbows. Did you know you could dual wield them?

And the best companions for a Bard are Lae'zel, Karlach & Wyll. Lae'zel and Karlach benefit greatly by having a backline ally who can give buffs, heals, environment manipulation AND debuffs all on one character. And Wyll is a druid where he only has 2 spell slots and must replenish them with short rests. Bards gain an ability to play a song that acts like a short rest, so Wyll can get more "bang" out of his spell slots with a Bard in the party.

The only bad companion for a Bard is Shadowheart. Bards don't usually need heals (if positioned properly) and buffs are better off on the other party members. And clerics aren't front line fighters so they don't need a Bards utility spells. The party usually lacks damage when you bring Shadowheart with your Bard so its best to bring any of the other origin characters to compliment the Bards' utility setup.

[Rainnd]

Originally posted by jeffy:

ive been playing as bard for maany hours now. regretted it completly i die all the time. only thing i find with the bard usefull is playing music to distrated npcs while another chaaracter goes and steals some stuff etc

For me it's the opposite, my bard is probably the stongest character that I've made, and I made a lot of them. I've only reached lvl 8 with him so far, but lvl 6 colledge of sword bard + 2 fighter levels for archery and action surge, equiped with two handcrossbows just wrecks everything on tactician.