Solo Pure Bard

[Heidrek]

Ok, by now everyone probably knows that I love the Bard class. I'm Soloing with a Fighter/Bard at the moment and wondering what a pure bard would be like.

So here's the place to give your feedback, potential problem areas and solutions. I'd also like ideas on the best Race options. I'm thinking about Human for the bonus feat and skill points so I don't have to put so many point into Int., but Asamiir and Drow hold some appeal too. I'd consider Deep Gnomes for their inate buffs, spell resistance and AC bonus, but the Charisma penalty is too steep.

[Opalescence]

Well, really I feel that a bard's the best for soloing, because he's a thief/sorceror/diplomat. But the problem with soloing is that you can only rely on you, and so you really want to cover your bases as much as possible. Because of this, I'd still say that fighter/bard is the way to go, since the fighter levels will make up for the bards lack of serious combat ability. For pure bard, I'd suggest Aasimar since the -2 Constitution hit really hurts when you're soloing, since you've got to act as your own tank. Here's my own preferred solo build:

Level 1: Rogue
- lots of skill points
Level 2: Fighter
- Hold your own in combat
Level 3: Bard
- round out
Level 4: Bard
- spells
Level 5: Bard
- more spells
Level 6: Fighter
- combat ability
Level 7: Rogue
- evasion
Level 8: Rogue
- uncanny dodge
Level 9: Fighter
- combat ability
Level 10: Fighter
- Weapon Specialization
Level 11+: Bard
- casting, etc.

I believe this build isn't weak at any point, and has enough to hold its own.

Personally, there really isn't anything wrong with replacing the bard levels with Cleric, and indeed might be better since if you replace it with Demarch of Mask, you get Free Blind-Fight feat and +1 bonus to Hide, Move Silently, and Pick Pockets, and thus you can cast (Cleric levels), fight (Cleric can cast in armor, Bard can't), and do roguish things (rogue levels, +1 hide, move silently, and pickpocket).

[Heidrek]

I agree that a Fighter/Bard would be a better option, I'm soloing with one at the monent. You lose nothing really by giving the Bard a few fighter levels and gain quite a bit (extra feats, hp, proficiencies and attack bonus plus the option to spec. and use fighter only equip.).

I am interested though in whether the 'weaker' pure bard can still suceed in Normal (insane difficulty) and HoF modes. I think he can if he's played and developed properly. I'm thinking of going with either Human or as you mention Asamiir (for the net +4 attrib points). He can always use Bulls Strength to up his Str and Eagles Spelendor for Cha. an Asamiir would look something like:

Str:18 Int:10 Wis:3 Dex:15 Con:16 Cha:18

[Brynn]

I'm still very sceptic about his efficiency in battle...

[Wrath-Of-Egg]

Brynn just try it.. and have fun..

[winter sorrow]

If you want to go for a pure bard, I find that drow is the best choice. Having 16 con is plenty for soloing. The main reasons for the drow choice are immunity to sleep spells (includes command), spell resistance and an effective +4 bonus to will saves v enchantment spells. These really do help you survive in the early-mid game: until you get the summons spells, a held bard is almost as good as dead.

[ishuman]

No doubt that those racial bonuses would be nice. But I wonder if this isn't a situation where that extra skill point for humans could be the deciding factor. If you don't mind min/maxing the stats humans can get a lot of extra ability points by dropping INT and still get at least 2/level.

What skill points would your solo bard need?

[Heidrek]

To be able to make the most of his abilities the Bard would need plenty of points in Knowledge: Arcana, UMD and Concentration. This means a fair amount of skill points will be needed.

Drow is an intersting choice. The Spell Resistance and extra ability points are very nice, the only real down sides are the day blindness and vulerability to fire blinding. How would you allocate Stats?