Starting a bard for dummies

[yesicj]

Ok, so I haven't played a bard beyond level 2, and that was when GS was still on AOL. Long story short, I'm clueless. I'm looking to make a bard to pass some time when I get bored with my wizard. I'm ok with starting off with a weapon and FIXSKILLing into a pure, but my real obstacle is stats.

While I'm not looking for really long-term viability, I also don't want to make him impracticable beyond say, 40. Anyone want to give me an idea of what to tank, what to care about, etc.? I'm planning on making him an Erithian, for what it's worth. Training advice is welcome too, though, particularly recommendations on armor. Thanks in advance.

[Stretch]

http://forum.gsplayers.com/showthread.php?t=35543

[yesicj]

Cool, thanks for that. Anything to contribute, armor-wise? Milestones, maybe, like the bard equivalent of learn 425 at 25 for mages? I was thinking of going with reinforced leathers for a while, and just having my mage enchant that as the bard levels.

[Drunken Durfin]

Anything to contribute, armor-wise?

Two Words: Sonic Armor

You have to make it to 14th first, but it is awesome for the natural resistance to heat/cold/electrical attacks.

[SolitareConfinement]

sonic armor ftw

[yesicj]

Two Words: Sonic Armor


Yea, that's more or less what I was shooting for, but it still doesn't get around the armor training itself. Reinforced has 0 hindrance for bard, but at the end of the day it's still leather. Basically, what I'm trying to get at is what people tend to wear/sing in terms of ASG. Nothing covering the head, obviously, (except for maybe brig?) but do most of you wear/sing leather, scale or chain?

[Izzy]

Yea, that's more or less what I was shooting for, but it still doesn't get around the armor training itself. Reinforced has 0 hindrance for bard, but at the end of the day it's still leather. Basically, what I'm trying to get at is what people tend to wear/sing in terms of ASG. Nothing covering the head, obviously, (except for maybe brig?) but do most of you wear/sing leather, scale or chain?

End game armor for bards seems to be augmented chain in many cases.

[Fallen]

Isn't it a bitch at earlier levels to have mana for all your sonics and spells and still hunt?

What spells should you be running at level 5, 10, 15, and 20?

[petroglyph]

Isn't it a bitch at earlier levels to have mana for all your sonics and spells and still hunt?

What spells should you be running at level 5, 10, 15, and 20?

Yes, yes it is.

At level 26 I run 1003, 1007, 1010, 1012, and 1019, which leaves me with just enough mana to use 1002 in the field. I can't see myself using 1014 for another 10 or 20 levels. I didn't start using 1012 until level 23 (when I hit 25 ranks of air lore). The rest, I pretty much started running as soon as I got them.

[Beguiler]

At 35, my bardess wears 1003 (start it, stop it), 1007, 1010, 1019. I use a sonic lance 1012, but have a backup naginata, and I still wear my lightened FGB. At some point, in the next 5-10 trains, I'll have enough mana to use both sonic lance and sonic armor and still have enough mana to actuall use lullabye and vibe chant easily.

My current plan is to fixskills into a pure (shield/brawl/disruption) at 45 or so.

[yesicj]

Things are going well enough so far, just grinding out the first few levels. Thanks for the tips everyone.
Also, fine, early levels are easier than before, but talking to Thrak only gets you 750 experience now?!!