Playing a bard. Trickster or Azata?

[Brian Sirith]

The issue is I don't like cute and forgiving much but I like old larian humour. Aaaand... I absolutely hate Shyka. So I've made a jolly bard, that typically hits on anything remotely humanoid and worships Calistria. Can't see Calistria fitting nicely with Azata. Or is there a more freedom, less nice n cute version of Azata? And if I go trickster how much do I need to put up with Shyka? Can I try and kick him?

Finally my party is: Wendu (dps double kukri), Seelah (tank), Camellia (pure cleric with pet), Nenio (as is), Woljif (arcane bomber), me (Flame dancer)

1. Any of them gonna run on Azata or trickster?
2. Mechanically whats best to have with bard? I have heard that Angel works great with a caster (I played a frontliner). Is there something that would work great with bard?

Thanks

Edit: My other option is Demon. Is it good? I want something more CN focused on freedom and fun. Not murderhobo but not nice either. Legend seems just meh.

[For_Science!]

You could play a more hard-edged Azata. Aivu, though, is still gonna be cute as hell, and there's nothing you can do to stop her. ;-)

An Azata who consistently chooses chaos over good in key plot dialogues (especially the ones where you're deciding what role to assign a newly recruited bunch of free crusaders) will find that the free crusaders break discipline and stage a valiant but foolhardy charge into Midnight Fane, only to die for little gain. Most Azata players consider that a bad outcome to Act III, but you might like the way that it mutes the happy Azata vibe.

[Frostfeather]

Assuming you want to make use of your Flame Dancer spells - I believe Zippy Magic works on Burning Arc, which could be pretty big for you. Then also Favorable Magic, of course.

That said, I don't think either path will make or break things because they're both strong. I just think Azata is probably a bit better mechanically.

[Brian Sirith]

Thanks guys.

So I'm looking at Azata and theres a lot of 'song of x' performance. Wouldn't that kinda 'waste' my bard performances? I'm assuming I wont be able to cast two together. Or will I???

[Conquista]

your number of rounds per day for songs stack, so no two songs but more azata songs if i remember right

[Brian Sirith]

Originally posted by Conquista:

your number of rounds per day for songs stack, so no two songs but more azata songs if i remember right

Thanks. Not too excited about this tbh.

[Rhapsody]

Like night4 said, one thing Azata is good for a bard is that you can get Favorable Magic and actually do things with your lower level spells. You could also get Hideous Laughter and Best Jokes mythic ability and burn everything while they keep laughing.

Personally, however, the Flame Dancer seems like a very lackluster archetype to me.

[art_loots]

Feel like a bard dedicated to desna would be a perfect fit =).
and btw why go camelia as clerc when sosiel the cleric already excists, just curious

[Brian Sirith]

Thanks everyone. I’m curious though: no trickster players around or did you guys play both but prefer Azata?

@Rhapsody I chose the player class based on my roleplay. You’re probably right but I think I’ll make it through the game.

@art_loots Sosiel is my least fave I think. Probably cause I liked him in the TT version. I’m getting characters I didn’t use previously Cam n Wendu (I’ve always killed both) and Nenio (never recruited). Seelah (never used) and Woljif seem like fun people my char would want about. Given that composition I thought best to make Cam my cleric. My usual cleric has always been Daeran.

[art_loots]

Originally posted by Brian Sirith:

Thanks everyone.

@Rhapsody I chose the player class based on my roleplay. You’re probably right but I think I’ll make it through the game.

@Sosiel is my least fave I think. Probably cause I liked him in the TT version. I’m getting characters I didn’t use previously Cam n Wendu (I’ve always killed both) and Nenio (never recruited). Seelah (never used) and Woljif seem like fun people my char would want about. Given that composition I thought best to make Cam my cleric. My usual cleric has always been Daeran.

fair enough was just curious about why nothing else. i mainly stick with the classes given to me by the game. often time even in this game their base classes are in quite a bit of dialoge and for me it break immersion if i make them something else. same with dipping in other classes. yes i know it's beter when you wanna min max but for me it doesn't feel right if you have a character that has levels in like 4 different classes. 2 max for me, but everyone is different

[Brian Sirith]

I generally pick the people I want storywise and then try and make the team work. I’m good with changing classes as long as it’s nothing… weird. Like I won’t make Regill a barbarian. But Cam was already a cleric type and Woljif was already a part-time caster :).

[Conquista]

what exactly do you want to do as a bard buildwise? i think for most builds trickster wins over azata but maybe there is a niche for some zippy magic shenanigans

[belangf]

Originally posted by Brian Sirith:

Edit: My other option is Demon. Is it good? I want something more CN focused on freedom and fun. Not murderhobo but not nice either. Legend seems just meh.

Azata is not necessarily nice. You can recruit some unsavory creatures in your court like outlaws, mimics and carnivorous quickwood. The way I see it Azata is live and let live and accept other people's difference. Azata is having fun with friends, Trickster is having fun at other's expense. It just depends what kind of bard you want to role-play.

[Brian Sirith]

Originally posted by Conquista:

what exactly do you want to do as a bard buildwise? i think for most builds trickster wins over azata but maybe there is a niche for some zippy magic shenanigans

I have never had a bard and I am really not sure. I play turn based and in the first turn I cast a performance after that... what am I supposed to do? I usually cast grease on the second turn and after that I can either buff (which I have a cleric that does better) or attack with my bow (which I'm not really good at at low dex). So basically it comes down to... not sure. Debuffing / control would be nice.

Originally posted by belangf:

Originally posted by Brian Sirith:

Edit: My other option is Demon. Is it good? I want something more CN focused on freedom and fun. Not murderhobo but not nice either. Legend seems just meh.

Azata is not necessarily nice. You can recruit some unsavory creatures in your court like outlaws, mimics and carnivorous quickwood. The way I see it Azata is live and let live and accept other people's difference. Azata is having fun with friends, Trickster is having fun at other's expense. It just depends what kind of bard you want to role-play.

Thanks. Thats interesting.

[Rhapsody]

There isn't much for bard to do at lower levels, but the buffs they provide can be very valuable. Early on you can use your high charisma score to Demorailize enemies, which will help set them up for more severe effects like Ember's Slumber.

You can also grab a spear, bardiche or glaive (especially that Marching Terror) and take some swings at enemies from behind your frontline fighters, especially once your group can get started with the Outflank teamwork feat.

There are also several good crossbows and some decent throwing hatchets in the game in case you ever feel like reconsidering the ranged option.

[Brian Sirith]

Originally posted by Rhapsody:

There isn't much for bard to do at lower levels, but the buffs they provide can be very valuable. Early on you can use your high charisma score to Demorailize enemies, which will help set them up for more severe effects like Ember's Slumber.

You can also grab a spear, bardiche or glaive (especially that Marching Terror) and take some swings at enemies from behind your frontline fighters, especially once your group can get started with the Outflank teamwork feat.

There are also several good crossbows and some decent throwing hatchets in the game in case you ever feel like reconsidering the ranged option.

Sounds good. I have Str 10 and Dex 12, thats why I'm worried about my effectiveness. Its been fun tbh, just not sure how to play :)