First bard (and character)

[VoxDulcis]

.

[Celephais]

post your stats too

[sleeveless]

At least .7x dodge and plan on being 1x at some point sooner than later.
Full 1x CMs unless you have a good reason to not want maneuvers or AS.
Unless you have a wizard or something you're dying to share with, hold off on the Elemental control...it won't aid you bardically. Being slightly less than 2x in 2WC wouldn't kill you at this point either, if you're struggling for TPs.

[TheEschaton]

YEah, I was gonna say the thing about Dodge. I hope you've kept in mind that you can't sing up two weapons at the same time, so being TWC as a bard doesn't make sense in the longterm so much. Multi-Opps there's no reason to go past a certain plateau later on, so you might want to hold off on it unti later trains where you can pick it up in addition to your base training.

Take everything I say with a grain of salt, I've never had much success with my bards.

-TheE-

[Danical]

Sounds like your friend just wanted your mana and not for your benefit. :shrug:

I'd chat with Tannious as he's been a TWC bard most of his life. He would know the ins and outs better than most.

[Tannious]

Well if you wanna 2x TWC that's cool. But cut back or stop on the MOC for a good while to keep some extra points. Get your dodge to at least .75x if not 1x. As far as how many MOC ranks you'll want at the least 30. That'll give you a focused double strike (4 total hits with two weapons). You'll want to go with air lore for the flares and the Tonis -RT. I did TWC for a bit in OTF, while it wasn't easy and I had to tank a bit up on the spells it was definatly doable. So I see no reason why you couldn't start from scratch and go all the way to cap with TWC. Now I did TWC with two war hammers, at one point it was a 7x vhcw one in my off hand (yes I know the sonic would be better cause of the weight but not getting disarmed was way more important with a weapon like that in OTF.) As of right now I'm done the OHE/shield, OHB/shield, poles, TWC (blunts and edged). All of them work. I know of one bard that uses archery and is capped, and one that uses 2HW, and of course Gnimble that is a pure bard/brawl. They all work some are just easier than others. Have a little patience with it and once you get a bit older and you have more mana for 1005 you'll do perfectly fine. I didn't take a real good look at stats. But I'm a firm believer in optimize for 50-70ish. I believe 75 is the acctually "halfway point" of the game as far as EXP goes. You really can't go too wrong with stats. I guess if you have anymore questions fire away.


Tannious

[Danical]

So, I should remove all elemental control? Fine with me.

Yes.


And I just got fucking pwned by spider webs again and I'm absolutely livid.

Spiders are bitches; avoid them. I think their web is still buggy. I get webbed even at cap.



I'll have to seek out this... Tannious.

Seek and you shall receive.



I believe 75 is the acctually "halfway point" of the game as far as EXP goes.

63-64 (http://www.play.net/gs4/info/exp_chart_v3.asp) which actually works out better for your range of 50-75 of optimization.

[AestheticDeath]

Fire guardians if your in the landing - then swap over to fire rats/cats when you can.

[Ignot]

TWC Bards are awesome. I had a lot of fun with mine. Find a good flaring weapon with your sonic sword and you will shred stuff. I remember TP's being a challenge though but that just might have been me.

[Danical]

You can get a basic 4x flaring weaopn for pretty cheap. Maybe 200k?

If I had a spare, I'd gladly give it to you for free.

Just an aside, I wouldn't pick up skinning in the future since you probably won't be aiming and therefore hitting the location of the skin more often than not.

[VoxDulcis]

Yeah, I've given up on skinning and survival.

4x flaring, got it. I just made my first 100k and the silvers are coming quickly, so 200k shouldn't be a problem.

[Celephais]

A golden vultite bearded axe with a braided leather grip – 4x, fire flares
MB – 20k

http://forum.gsplayers.com/showthread.php?t=22596 (not my auction, just saw it the other day and thought it was pretty good deal)

[VoxDulcis]

Might as well pick it up.

Incidentally, anyone know why I can't get to the suggested exping grounds?
"You're not able to do that. That crack doesn't seem to want to move to accomodate you. The nerve!"

[StinkyBlumpkin]

http://www.tsoran.com/

[AestheticDeath]

crack? where are you trying to go?

[VoxDulcis]

I was informed that the crack that I was attempting to use to get to Fire Guardians is one way--the wrong way--and I'll have to approach from the southern front, instead :)

[Celephais]

I was informed that the crack that I was attempting to use to get to Fire Guardians is one way--the wrong way--and I'll have to approach from the southern front, instead :)

It's go mouth and go gash to get through the "crack" to fireguardians...

[AestheticDeath]

Please note, going through the boulder will disband you from any group you are in, and they will need to go boulder as well.

Also note that, in the four rooms prior to going gash, you will possibly be exposed to higher level creatures. Make sure you are in defensive posture while traveling.


#Starts inside the Landing North Gate
move go gate
move sw
move s
move s
move s
move s
move s
move sw
move s
move se
move s
move se
move s
move s
move s
move sw
move s
move s
move se
move se
move se
move se
move se
move e
move e
move ne
move e
move e
move e
move go path
move ne
move n
move ne
move n
move nw
move nw
move ne
move n
move go boulder
move ne
move e
move se
move ne
move up
move n
move up
move up
move w
move w
move nw
move nw
move go gash
move down
move down
move down
move down
move se
put climb arch

[VoxDulcis]

How pretty...

[VoxDulcis]

A golden vultite bearded axe with a braided leather grip – 4x, fire flares
MB – 20k

http://forum.gsplayers.com/showthread.php?t=22596 (not my auction, just saw it the other day and thought it was pretty good deal)

So I just picked this up :) Imagine my dismay when I see:

After a careful inspection you determine that a golden vultite bearded axe with a braided leather grip requires skill in twohanded weapons to use effectively.

Anyone need an axe? :) I'm an idiot.

[Carl Spackler]

If you're swinging two weapons, sing one weapon up, pick up a short sword from outside the north gate and have someone eblade it. It'll be 4x and have flares.

[Danical]

or eblade it yourself in a few levels.

[VoxDulcis]

Found my off-hand, no worries.

Trying fire guardians, but with TWC, both guardians and phantoms bolt me pretty regularly since I don't pack a shield. Any other suggestions as to leveling place? I'm level 15 now.

Also, do I bother to join the bard guild? I guess I might, since I get a double secret code with which to speak to other bards... Otherwise, worth it?

[AestheticDeath]

I dont think you have to join a guild to speak your guild speak.. do you?

And I totally didnt think about a non-shield user having trouble with bolting in guardians... Sorry about that. I normally spell tank alot, so I dont have that trouble.

But yeah, work your way towards fire cats, and rats. They dont bolt. I dont think. They might flare tho if they hit.. I dont recall since I try not to get hit.

fire rats(16)
cats(18)
stripped warcats(20), but in a secondary area so you dont have to worry with them yet if you dont want. Believe from where the script stops, you go sw, nw, climb crevice to get to the warcats.


from north gate to hunting ground, and the return trip is there too

move go gate
move sw
move s
move s
move s
move s
move s
move se
move e
move e
move go bridge
move climb bank
move ne
move nw
move n
move n
move ne
move n
move ne
move ne
move n
move n
move ne
move n
move climb rockslide
move e
move sw
move se
move ne
move n
move n
move n
move n
move n
move ne
move e
move go trail
move ne
move e
move e
move e
move se
move se
move se
move se
move s
move u
move nw
move n
move go cave

---------------RETURN TRIP--------------
move go open
move s
move se
move d
move n
move nw
move nw
move nw
move nw
move w
move w
move w
move sw
move sw
move w
move sw
move s
move s
move s
move s
move s
move w
move n
move ne
move w
move climb rockslide
move s
move sw
move s
move s
move sw
move sw
move s
move sw
move s
move s
move se
move sw
move climb bank
move go bridge
move w
move w
move nw
move n
move n
move n
move n
move n
move ne
move go gate

[VoxDulcis]

Very nice.

[Ignot]

you can still sing up a shield even if your not trained for it to help with bolts. You still get the base bonus.

[Sylvan Archer]

No, you don't have to join the guild to speak in the bard language. Though you do get free access to the bar and snacks they have in them. Bards need that ale, you know, to keep up with all their singing. Also comes in handy when Traveller's Song leaves you parched.

[Renian]

Your training looks pretty good, but I'd drop MOC for now (maybe just down to 5 ranks) to get a full 1x CM and 1x dodging. Get MOC back as you gain stats/tps.

Or just 1.5x TWC, maybe. You'll lose a little AS, but if you are swinging a sonic and it flares before your second weapon hits, the critter's stunned anyway. It'll make up for the loss of AS.

As for EMC...I'm pretty sure that affects something. 1040 maybe? But hell, you don't need it right now. Ditch that if you want to keep 2x TWC and 10 MOC ranks for now.