When is a Bard Necessary?

[Shockme58]

I'm in the third dungeon right now, and not using a Bard. How far along can I get without one? Are there any other 'necessary' classes to finish the game?

[j_kz]

Technically you only *have* to have a bard to beat the Dark Domain, the first dungeon of BT II (for BT I and BT II that is).

[flux_c]

Which game are you referring to? Bard's Tale I or II? Strictly speaking, a Bard is never really necesssary to win either. You can't beat the Dark Domain in the second game without a Bard, but that dungeon is entirely optional.

In order to beat the first game, your party either needs:
- a spellcaster, and one of the following: Paladin, Warrior, Hunter, or Bard, or
- a Bard, and either a Monk or a Rogue

In order to beat the second game, you only need a spellcaster (Archmage, specifically).

[Lord Marcus]

The Bard is the only one able to use Fire and Frost Horns, those got me out of many a scrape when spellcaters were low on points, plus Watchwood Melody comes in handy if you don't have a NoSpen ring.

[wilson.max]

A bard is also great in BT2 for singing the Spell Song to double your damage, and Sanctuary Score to protect your party. I highly recommend at least one bard.

[Gold Dragon]

BT1: Harkyn's Castle level 1 has a door that can be opened only by a bard.
BT2: Dark Domain level 4 at the Double Doors. (play the Light)

[Wakawaka]

Bard is useful throughout the game. Seems like some people use 2 bards which I never tried.

I think rogues are usually the ones that people leave out of the party. With hunters being able to crit at range, I think rogues are even less useful than in the originals.

[wilson.max]

Originally posted by Wakawaka:

Bard is useful throughout the game. Seems like some people use 2 bards which I never tried.

I used one paladin, three bards, and three mages to beat Bard's Tale I. If I did it again I'd use four bards and three mages, or maybe later on three bards, three mages, and a Demon Lord. The paladin just didn't bring much to the table, since a Bard with a couple of Falkentyne's Furies and Traveller's Songs on him is tougher and hits harder, in addition to having access to instrument weapons like Frost Horn. Basically bards just scale better than warriors do.

[waltc]

It's not called the *Bard's* Tale for nothing...;) Bard can be amazingly powerful, used properly. Much more valuable than--say--a rogue, in BT1 &2, imo. Horns like Flame Horn are devastating out to 40'. Etc.

Paladins @ higher levels are literally "Holy Terrors"...;) Mine hits 8 times at a max of 582 damage points with (+16 to hit) against a melee enemy --Pureblade is incredible. I currently use a Paladin, lvl 48 (maybe higher now), give him either a bow or a Dragon shield--and he can do wonders even in ranged encounters. The Paladin is a slow starter--I thought so, too--but when the levels accumulate he becomes a monster...;) I use a Paladin, Monk, and Hunter, Bard, and two arch mages--just finished BT2--Dark Domain. Usually summon a greater demon Lord for the 7th slot. Am deciding where in the wilderness to go next!

[simon.marks]

The problem I have with ranged attacks is that, well, you only get one of them so it doesn't scale and you have limited ammo for a lot of them.

[waltc]

Originally posted by simon.marks:

The problem I have with ranged attacks is that, well, you only get one of them so it doesn't scale and you have limited ammo for a lot of them.

Remember that with magical items like the Dragonshield/Arcshield equipped on your melee fighters, you can hit entire groups of monsters out to 30'-40'--as far as the Long Bow goes, be sure and equip either Ag's Arrows or Zen arrows--a hunter, for instance, often kills on one shot because of his extremely high critical-kill abilities. With the magical arrows you can hit out to 90'. Magic attacks from all of your magic casters are of course 98% ranged, too. For ranged attacks, always start with attacking the enemy mages--the non-mage enemies @ 20' on out can be ignored, if necessary, until after you dispatch the enemy mages, and until the enemy fighters close to 10'. Then you dispatch them, etc.

[wefuntw]

Bard's necessary , lowering everyone's AC avoided tons of deaths strikes, stones effect from monsters. BT2 spell song is OP, makes all spell / item attack double damage! MAMA > 1000 damage! Having a bard in BT2 means double the number of your mages!