Bard Power Build

[brehobit]

I'd strongly consider a dual-wielding bard, actually, with the awesome power of


Arcane Strike (Complete Warrior) and 6 attacks per round, 7 hasted. That's a full attack sequence with +5 on all attacks and +30-35d4 extra untyped arcane energy damage a couple of time per day, with only slighly worse results the rest of the time.

Nit...

Arcane strike only works on one weapon. It is a free action though, so you might be able to blow 2 spells and get both weapons going...

 

[Brother MacLaren]

The barbarian1/bard10/seeker of the song4 in MarauderX's game was devastating. Typically he'd do Inspire Courage and Inspire Greatness (in one round), then rage and charge with Leap Attack. Basically filled the role of a barbarian with fewer HP, much better saves, and a boatload of spells and special abilities, including backup healing and arcane casting. Sure, he went negative in every major fight, but that's what barbarians do.

The party was without fighter-types after level 10 or so, leaving the bard as the party tank.

 

[Victim]

A melee bard may want to focus on Swift action spells instead of conventional buffs. Mirror Image and Haste would probably still be worth using; the party wide buffs of haste and bard songs can be pretty decisive in a melee heavy party, and Mirror Image is usually good for avoiding death. But you could use Bladeweave as a swift action in an effort to lock down a brute melee combatant since they usually have weak Will saves. Grace is a nice substitute for Cat's Grace - it's a sacred bonus to Dex so it stacks with items, and boosts speed.

Snowflake Wardance is a useful feat for melee bards in frostburn; you can burn a music to get +Cha to attack for a few rounds.

 

[MarauderX]

Check out the bard one of my players put together here: www.correl.wikispaces.com
He acts as the main tank & buffer in my lower magic campaign.

The character's name is Grimnyr.