Song renewal

[Bhuryn]

Ok, so my bard is 15 now and I'm finding myself wondering how bards can manage to keep up all of their songs and still use their mana.

Currently with 1x hp, 1x emc, 1x spells. I can use 1007 and a sonic weapon without eventually blasting my nerves to high hell. That's if I use very few other spells when I hunt (occasional offensive spell). Does this eventually get to a point where I don't have to worry about renewal as much? I know manip lore and such can increase duration and emc does something. Is it just like this at this level 15?

[Lumi]

You have a few misconceptions, but basically, yes, it's just that you're only level 15.

EMC does nothing special for a bard. It allows mana sharing and it gives +1 mana per pulse per 10 ranks (assuming you have more of it than MMC; you get +1 per pulse per 10 ranks for your primary MC, and +1 per pulse per 20 ranks for secondary).

MMC is the same, except it affects the returns on 1013 (which you're too low level to use practically right now), so I'd recommend that over EMC.

1x HP is the way to go.

Telepathy lore is the one that extends renewal time (+2 seconds per rank). Manipulation improves 1002, 1004, 1008, and 1030. Telepathy is a good bet for low level weapon swinging bards (adds to AS boost from 1007, too). I'd try to maintain 1003, 1010, 1007, and 1012 if I could.

What're you hunting? How does a normal hunt go?

[mgoddess]

I'd try to maintain 1003, 1010, 1007, and 1012 if I could.
Or, if you have a normal weapon you can swing, cut out the 1012.

At 23, my bard still has trouble with mana sometimes. She swings a normal naginata, and maintains 1003, 1007, and 1010 (can't maintain 1019, because of how much the renewal is and how she likes to be able to use 1005 during the hunt). With 10 ranks in Telepathy, she has a renew cycle of every 5 minutes or so, and renew mana cost is 18 or 20. I believe she has 50-something mana currently, so she can handle using 1005 a few times before she has to keep an eye on the mana... luckily, she gets about her renew mana cost back on a pulse, so as long as I keep a bit of mana around, and keep an eye on it, I am usually good.

Again, if you have a normal weapon you can swing, you shouldn't need any songs beyond 1003, 1007, and 1010.

[Bhuryn]

Well generally I toss up 1007 and a sonic weapon. I use a 5x medium shield right now, eventually I'll want to use a sonic tower since I'm 1x dodge/shield. I actually have MMC not EMC like I said before. I know I couldn't run sonic shield/weapon, 1007 and 1010 without blowing my nerves up long before I was fried. I might beable to run 1007, a sonic weapon and 1010 now.

[Bhuryn]

I'll have to look again cause it appears I'm losing more mana then I should be on renewals for only using the two songs I have up. I should only lose 5 but last time I checked I was only using 1012 and 1007 and I am losing like 11 without any tele lore.

[mgoddess]

I'll have to look again cause it appears I'm losing more mana then I should be on renewals for only using the two songs I have up. I should only lose 5 but last time I checked I was only using 1012 and 1007 and I am losing like 11 without any tele lore.

1007 Renewal Cost: 2 Mana Points, +1 for every point of AS boost over +10.
1012 Renewal Cost: 4 Mana Points (MP)

So, with 15 spells, that's +8 AS bonus on 1007, which gives your 1007 a renewal cost of 10. Add in the 4 mana for 1012, and you've got a renewal cost of 14.

If you use 1003/1007/1010:
1003 Renewal Cost: 1 Mana Point (MP)
1007 Renewal Cost: 2 Mana Points, +1 for every point of AS boost over +10.
1010 Renewal Cost: 3 Mana Points (MP), +1 for every +5 DS bonus over +10.

At 15 spells, that'd be 1 mana for 1003, 10 for 1007, 3 for 1010; total of 14. Same as when only using 1007 and 1012, but more DS.

How much mana do you have? 45-50?

How long is your renewal cycle?
(From Krakiipedia (http://www.krakiipedia.org/wiki/Bard_Base))The length of your renew cycle is given by the following formula:

* 120 seconds
* +4 per level 1-25
* +3 per level 26-50
* +2 per level 51-75
* +1 per level 76+
* +Logic Bonus
* +Influence Bonus * 3
* +Mental Lore, Telepathy Ranks * 2

I'd suggest running with non-Sonic weapon/shield/armor until you get more mana... you can get more AS/DS out of 4x weapons (your sonic weapon is only at +17 AS right now, with 15 spellsongs), and you won't blow your nerves nearly as often. The only drawback to non-Sonic things is that they actually weigh something... that shouldn't be a problem though, for a swinging bard, unless you're wearing a fuckton of junk or blew your STR/CON stats out.

[Lumi]

Er, mgoddess is right, drop 1012. I have bard-senioritis sometimes; it's not worth using 1012 at that level without the air lore to back it up (some might say even with the air lore). You can wait awhile on that.

At the very least, wait until 1012 gives you more than +20 AS. You're better off getting a regular 4x flaring weapon for now, and sticking with 1003, 1007, and 1010.

[Bhuryn]

My bard is a sylvan, but I have more then 50 mana. I'll have to find a decent handaxe or something to use. I do have a full 1x air lore right now.

[Bhuryn]

So i played my bard a bit and I don't seem to have this issue anymore. I admit though, I tried a regular flaring 4x handaxe and it just doesn't have the same shock and awe that sonic flares seem to have =P.

oddly, I can run 1010, 1012, 1003 and 1007 without any issues now.

[SolitareConfinement]

yeah my bard is 33 and he can keep up 1003, 1007, 1010, 1014, and 1019 and can 1005 a whole hunt without really worrying about mana until im right at fried :) so mana issues don't really last too long for bards

[Loyrl]

Also since you're in gos you'll get sigil of concentration which helps out. I know my bard can't keep up his spells and sigils with out it.