Exalted Bard

[slarden]

UPDATED FOR U25

This build is based on a build from Lamannia which was originally a bard 20 during the testing period for update 22 patch 2 and posted here on 7/11: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...=1#post5378167

Prior to armor up I was running 16 bard/2 rogue/2 fvs and I also ran 16 bard / 4 fvs for the shield of condemnation and more crits/spell power. Since armor up I am running a pure 20 bard for maximized cc. DPS is still solid, although a little less without the favored soul levels. Spell point regeneration was a nice feature with the favored soul levels, but since this build is mostly for group play I have no problem managing my spell point pool without the favored soul levels.

This build is intended for epic levels. For heroic levels you can go with sonic evocation as a spell caster.

Currently at 28 I am at 924 hp and 2762 sp before yugo pots and songs. Yugo pots and songs put me up to 1000/hp and 2825 spell points. Yugo pots last 15 min and have a slight downside while inspire excellence lasts over 9 minutes and spell song trance nearly 7 minutes so they are easy to sustain. PRR is 109 and MRR is 50 which is far from a fortress, but certainly not squishy either.

Drow Elf - True Neutral

Bard 20

Starting Stats

STR: 8
DEX: 10
CON: 14
INT: 16
WIS: 8
CHA: 20 All level-ups to Charisma

HEROIC FEATS
1) Maximize
3) Empower
6) Completionist (Without completionist substitute past life wizard or bard if you can to get the same DC)
9) Spell Focus Enchantment
12) Quicken
15) Greater Spell Focus Enchantment
18) Force of Personality (If you are comfortable with FOM put past life wizard or bard here for more DC- but I don't recommend it)

EPIC FEATS
21) Heighten
24) Epic Spell Focus Enchantment
26) Lasting Inspiration
27) Inspire Excellence
28) Spell Power Light

Charisma with all gear, boosts, etc.
Starting: 20
Level ups: 7
Tome: 6
Enhancements: 6 (2 from drow, 2 from spellsinger and 2 from warchanter)
Spellsinger capstone: 4
Charisma item: 11
Insightful item: 3
Completionist: 2
Litany of the Dead: 2
Exceptional: 1
Ship Buffs: 2
Epic Destiny: 4
Inspire Excellence: 2
Yugo Pots: 2
Angelic Prescense (EA Destiny): 2
Total: 74

I realize some people don't like to count ship buffs, inspire excellence and yugo pots, but since they will be on the entire time during difficult content - there is no reason not to include these. Excluding completionist, 2 from tomes (assuming 4 tome), 2 from littany you are at a 66 Charisma for those that don't have time to farm out raid items, past lifes, etc. You will still have a workable EE DC.

Perform which isn't even maximized at this point:

Ranks: 23
Charisma: 32
Good Luck : 2
Completionist: 2
Tome: 5
Greensteel: 6
ENH: Prodigy: 1
ENH: Music of the Sewers: 1
ENH: Music of the Makers: 1
ENH: Masters of Life and Death: 1
ENH: Virtuoso 1
ENH: Maesto of Life and Death 1
Skill Mastery Past Life: 3
Greater Heroism: 4
Epic Levels: 8
Item: 0 (Still don't have a decent augment)
Enhancement selection: 0

Total: 91 (but am showing 92 - not sure where other 1 came from)

Enchant DC
Base: 10
Spell Level: 6
Charisma: 32
Thunderforge Item: 6
Thunderforge Armor with profane bonus: 1
Augment: 2
Enhancement: Drow enchantment Lore: 1
Spell Focus Feats: 3
ENH: Music of the Sewers: 1
ENH: Music of the Dead: 1
ENH: Music of the Makers: 1
ENH: Virtuoso 1
ENH: Yellow Magical Crown: 1
ENH: Prodigy: 2
ED: Enchantment Specialist Twist: 3
ED: Transcendtal Magic (EA): 3
Ship buff: 1
Spell Song Trance: 1

Total: 76

Note: Without completionist, litany and having only a +4 char tome your DC will be 73. If you are able to substitute either past life wizard or bard for completionist you will be at 73. If you put the other in place of force of personality your enchantment DC is 75. This build doesn't require as many lifes as some other DC-based cc builds, although spell penetration may be an issue with epic shavarath and vale comes out. I will modify the build slightly when that occurs.

ENHANCEMENTS: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...=1#post5388435
GEAR: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...=1#post5388452
Spellpower Calculations: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...=1#post5388483

MY SPELL SELECTION
---------------------------------

BURSTS:
- Exalted Angel Divine Wrath SLA (DC based on cha modifier)
- Energy Burst SLA twisted from Draconic (DC based on cha modifier)
- Greater Shout (used sparingly due to high sp cost)

SINGLE TARGET SPELLS:
- Shout SLA from spellsinger tree
- Sun Bolt SLA from Exalted Angel ED (DC based on cha modifier)
- Avenging Light SLA from Exalted Angel ED (DC based on cha modifier)
- Sonic Blast SLA from spellsinger tree
- Reverberate SLA (dot mainly for bosses)

MASS CC:
- Mass Hold SLA
- Otto's Sphere of Dancing
- Fascinate
- Mind Fog for debuff

SINGLE TARGET CC:
- Otto's Irresistible Dance


Exalted Angel epic destiny works really well for this build with the extra spell points, a dc boost and some nice SLAs. Here is more detail on the Exalted angel Destiny and Twists I am using: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...=1#post5388492

The basic idea is to use lower cost empowered/maximized SLAs for dps to augment the cc spells.

This build is extremely effective in a party for EE runs. Melees love mass holds and while 50 sp isn't cheap it's very nice considering Bards never used to have it. Dancing sphere is much more practical to use vs. mass hold for cc: although melees will prefer the mass holds.

[slarden]

Keeping this spot saved in case I get motivated enough to make a video.

[jakeelala]

What are your enhancements? I'm attracted to this build, and I assume you are taking Mass Hold as a SS T5?
And Song SP Regen? And Just Rewards? Sounds like you don't have any SP problems.
Looks like your SLA's are all Light and Sonic spell power based, with Fire EB twisted?
With a different TF item for other spell power you'd have comparable Spell Power for the other elements? Although I suppose Fire is alright with all the undead in Game.

[slarden]

DROW TREE

Core
- Spell Resistance
- Charisma
- Spell Resistance
- Charisma

Tier 2
- Enchantment lore (3 ranks): +6 to saves vs enchantment and +1 to enchantment DC

SPELLSINGER TREE

Core
- Spellsinger
- Music of the Sewers
- Music of the Dead
- Music of the Makers
- Virtuoso
- Maestro of Life and Death

Tier 1
- Magic Studies (3 ranks)
- Lingering Songs (3 ranks)
- Sonic Blast SLA (3 ranks)

Tier 2
- Reverberate SLA (3 ranks)
- Yellow Magical Gold Crown

Tier 3
- Enthrallment
- Shout SLA (3 ranks)
- Spell Song Trance
- Charisma

Tier 4
- Song of Arcane Might
- Charisma

Tier 5
- Advanced Magical Studies (3 ranks)
- Prodigy (3 ranks)
- Spell Song Vigor
- Mass Hold Monster SLA (3 ranks)

WARCHANTER TREE

Core
- Scaldic Constitution
- Weapon Training
- Song of Heroism

Tier 1
- The Poetic Edda (1 rank)
- Rough and Ready (3 ranks)

Tier 2
- Words of Encouragement (3 ranks)
- Action boost spring (1 rank)

Tier 3
- Charisma
- High Spirits (3 ranks)
- Obstinance (3 ranks)

Tier 4
- Charisma
- Armorer

[slarden]

THIS IS A LITTLE OUT OF DATE - WILL FIX IT LATER

Potential Max DC I posted on the Lamannia forum as 80 but omitted profane bonus. Max I can think of is 81 but can probably be higher:

Charisma
------------
Startiing Stats 20 (DROW 20 BARD)
Tomes 6
Level Ups 7
Enhancements 5
Capstone 4
Cha Item 11
Insightful 3
Completionist 2
Exceptional 1
Ship 2
ED: Exalted Angel Cha 6
ED: Echoes of Ancestor Draconic Twist 1
ED::Cha Twist 1
ED: Cha Twist 1
Littany 1
Inspire Ex 2
Alchemical Bonus 2
Yugo Pots 2
Great Cha Feat 1
TOTAL SUSTAINABLE CHA 78

ENCHANT DC
----------------
Base 10
Spell Level 6
Charisma 34
FEAT: Wiz Past Life 1
FEAT: Bard Past Life 1
Item: Thunderforge Weapon Tier 2 QS 7
Item: Thunderrorge Armor profane bonus 1
Augment: Greater Enchantment Focus 2
ENH Drow Enchant Lore 1
Ship Buff 1
FEAT: Spell Focus Enchantment 1
FEAT: Greater Spell Focus Enchantment 1
FEAT: Epic Spell Focus Enchnatment 1
SONG: Spell Song Trance 1
ENH Music of the Sewers 1
ENH Music of the Dead 1
ENH Music of the Makers 1
ENH Virtuoso 1
ENH Yellow Magical Crown 1
ENH Prodigy 2
ED: Enchantment Specialist Twist 3
ED: Transcendental Magic (EA) 3

Total 81

I will fall well short of 81 because cc is really a bonus to the build and not the main benefit.

What I found is that my 68 enchantment DC is enough in every EE quest in the game. In Stormhorns the only enemy that consistently saved was orc clerics which was unfortunate since their sonic spells stun me all the time.

[slarden]

What I wear most of the time:
------------------------------------
GOGGLES: Intricate Field Optics ins Char +3 (Good Luck +2 and Greater Necromancy Focus slotted)
HELMET: Epic Deific Diadem (Ins Int +2 and Fear Immunity slotted)
NECKLACE: Epic Noxious Embers (Greater Evocation Focus and Greater Enchantment Focus slotted)
TRINKET: Epic Litany of the Dead (Anthem and water breathing slotted)
CLOAK: +150 sp, + 10 hp Concordant Opp - +6 cha skills, +4 int skills, +2 con skills
BELT: Epic Belt of Thoughtful Rememberance (balance +11 slotted)
RING 1: Ward Token with deathblock slotted (ins str +2 and armored agility +2 slotted - basically didn't have much to put here)
GLOVES: Iron Mitts (ins con +2 slotted)
BOOTS: Halcyon Boots with Globe of Imperial Blood and Power +250 slotted
RING 2: Lantern Ring with spellcraft +15 and Heal +11 slotted
BRACERS: Dumathoin's Bracers with Golem's Heart slotted
ARMOR: Shadow Dragonhide armor Tier 2 Shadowcaster with feather falling and false life +40 slotted
MAIN WEAPON: 150 fire spellpower / + 6 evoc focus / 22% fire lore thunderforged kama (because I had it from a prior life as a fvs 16 pal 2 monk 2) with Meridian Fragment slotted
OFF-HAND WEAPON: 150 sonic spellpower / +6 enchantment focus / 22% sonic lore thunderforged orb with devotion 138 slotted.
Other Gear
Epic Dusk Heart for Mass Deathward 15 min
Tier 3 ring of deceit (high skill checks for perform, diplomacy, bluff and haggle

For SP regneration and restoration
----------------------------------------
Halycon boots for temporary spell point proc
Concordant opposition item for spell point bonus procs
Torc situationally
Mysterious Bauble
Epic Twisted Talisman
Twisted Talisman
Vile Blasphemy x2

Easier to obtain gear substitutions:
Goggles: Sages goggles
Helm: Plundered Pirate Hat from 3bc
Necklace: Necklace of Mystic Eidolons
Trinket: Manual of Stealthy Pilfering (basically for +9 spellcraft, good luck +3)
Cloak: Nightsinger's Mantle Elite
Belt: Epic Chord of Reprisals
Ring 1: Epic Eye of the Beholder
Boots: Anything with slots or stats you need Maybe Health +10/HP 50
Bracers: Anything with slots or stats you need

Weapon 1: Thunderforged Tier 2 with devotion and enchantment focus
Weapon 2: Libram of Silver Magic

[slarden]

THIS IS OUT OF DATE - I WILL UPDATE LATER

LIGHT:
Spellcraft: 82
Lantern Ring: 144
Spellsinger Tree: 44
Angel of Veneance Tree: 14
Morninglord active past life: 30
Radiant Power from Exalted Angel ED: 30
Epic Spellpower Light: 20
Spellcasting Implement: 36
Guild Ship Buffs: 15
Smite Foe: 5
Dragon Armor Set Bonus: 15
Total before empower/maximize: 435
Empower Maximize: 225
Total sustainable Spellpower: 660

Bursts
Alchemical bonus from potions: 20
Spellpower boost SLA from Angel of Vengeance: 30

Light Spellpower with bursts excluding scourge and meridian fragment: 710

Light Crits:

Lantern Ring: 18%
Angel of Vengeance: 4%
Total: 22%

Sonic:
Perform: 105
Thunderforge Item: 150
Spellsinger Tree: 44
Angel of Veneance Tree: 14
Spellcasting Implement: 36
Guild Ship Buffs: 15
Dragon Armor Set Bonus: 15
Total before empower/maximize: 379
Empower Maximize: 225
Total sustainable Spellpower: 604

Bursts
Alchemical bonus from potions: 20
Spellpower boost SLA from Angel of Vengeance: 30

Sonic Spellpower with bursts excluding scourge and meridian fragment: 654

Sonic Crits:

Thunderforge Item: 22%
Energy Criticals Past Life: 9%
Spellsinger Tree: 8%
Total: 39%

Fire:
Spellcraft: 82
Thunderforge Item: 150
Spellsinger Tree: 44
Angel of Veneance Tree: 14
Spellcasting Implement: 36
Guild Ship Buffs: 15
Smite Foe: 5
Dragon Armor Set Bonus: 15
Total before empower/maximize: 361
Empower Maximize: 225
Total sustainable Spellpower: 586

Bursts
Alchemical bonus from potions: 20
Spellpower boost SLA from Angel of Vengeance: 30

Fire Spellpower with bursts excluding scourge and meridian fragment: 636

Fire Crits:

Thunderforge Item: 22%
Energy Criticals Past Life: 9%
Angel of Vengeance Tree: 4%
Total: 35%

While these numbers aren't amazing, it's not bad considering there are 3 different types. One huge benefit this build has is the ability to use a nearly no-fail mass hold which provides a significant damage boost for my spells plus all damage the party does.

One obvious question is why didn't I put more focus to sonic. It's mainly because most of the spells are based on a fort save and a higher number of enemies will make their fort save. This is also why I decided to focus on enchantment DC rather than evocation.

[slarden]

The primary reason for this choice of destiny is:
1) +3 to all DCs
2) Divine Wrath is that good and avenging light and sunbolt are nice bonuses
3) Each level provides 50 spell points and Endless Faith provides another 10% overall bonus
4) +4 Charisma
5) Mass cure moderate is 35 SP but you get empower/maximize/empower heal for free which gives you a self-healing spell with over 630 spellpower that also happens to heal nearby party members. The ability to heal yourself and the party with divine wrath should not be underestimated
6) Soundburst SLA is available although I am not using it
7) The light slas along with the lantern ring and fire energy burst provide some spell point regeneration with the just reward enhancement.

Draconic is also a great choice if you want to focus on evocation instead of enchantment. This gives you horn of thunder as another dps SLA. Fatesinger can also be a great destiny situationally.

EXALTED ANGEL TREE

TIER 1
- Avenging Light
- Radiant Power (3 ranks)
- Endless Faith (3 ranks)
- Healing Power (3 ranks)
- Charisma

Tier 2
- Charisma

Tier 3
- Charisma

Tier 4
- Charisma

Tier 5
- Leap of Faith

Tier 6
- Sun Bolt
- Divine Wrath

TWISTS (it takes some serious grinding to get these twists, fortunately enchantment specialist is the only critical twist - energy burst is really working up to - but not absolutely critical).
- Energy Burst
- Empyrean Magic
- Enchantment Specialist
- Rejuvenation Coccon

[slarden]

What are your enhancements? I'm attracted to this build, and I assume you are taking Mass Hold as a SS T5?
And Song SP Regen? And Just Rewards? Sounds like you don't have any SP problems.
Looks like your SLA's are all Light and Sonic spell power based, with Fire EB twisted?
With a different TF item for other spell power you'd have comparable Spell Power for the other elements? Although I suppose Fire is alright with all the undead in Game.

I did my best to clean up the thread a little and make it more organized.

Yes I definitely take Mass Hold for tier 5. Mana generally hasn't been an issue, but since I am new to playing a bard I may be spamming dancing balls and mass holds more than necessary in difficult content. Still, not counting clickies, I only used 6 pots from level 20 to 28 and 2 since reaching 28. I am guessing at least half of these pots were probably because I over-used cc:

I soloed The Druid Chain EE, High Road EE, Wheloon EE and the first 2 stormhorns EE quests.

Soloing EE what goes up isn't going to happen with this build. The sonic stuns and flesh to stone just crush me when soloing as I am the only target. Even in a group I died twice in EE What Goes Up due to flesh to stone.

[slarden]

I believe this is a highly effective EE build, especially as a party member. However, this is a list of quests I have not and will not try to solo on EE for various reasons based on my experience with a party

- What Goes Up (sonic stuns and flesh to stone own me due to my fortitude save below 50)
- Breaking the Ranks (hp are a little low with the shots of 300+ damage I take from the dragon on top of the mobs. This one is borderline I almost want to try it but don't have a good feeling about soling this one)
- Von 3 (I hate soloing quests with beholders on a caster - I would have done it if SLAs were still unaffected by anti-magic)
- Von 2 (I hate soloing quests with beholders on a caster - I would have done it if SLAs were still unaffected by anti-magic)
- Foundation of Discord (sonic stuns own me)
- Haunted Halls (reflex is most likely not good enough to solo)

I am sure a few others would make the list after actual testing. I soloed about half the quests on EE and am confident I could have soloed many of the others I ran with a group.

[slarden]

Perform
Spellcraft
Search
Disable
Spot
UMD
Jump
Balance

[Catteras]

This is a great write-up, and the build looks pretty sweet.

I appreciate the honesty about what the build can and can't do. I feel many players would simply lie and say they can solo everything on EE and that DDO is too easy and they are so awesome. You know how it goes.

[jakeelala]

Cant you spell absorb Stuns?
Cant you twist fort saves for those quests?

[slarden]

Cant you spell absorb Stuns?
Cant you twist fort saves for those quests?

Thank you for the response.

The stuns can definitely be absorbed, but there just won't be enough charges for WGU EE without consumables. If I really wanted to solo it I could probably keep swapping for scarabs of spell absorption, but I am not all that concerned about soloing. I do use my ioun stone situationally- for the very end fight of WGU EE example so I don't get turned to stone. The beholder fight in Through a mirror darkly, etc. The ioun stone doesn't prevent anti-magic so beholders with anti-magic are still quite annoying.

I have considered swapping out cocoon for +6 fort save - I mainly like cocoon for the spell point efficiency. I am not sure what save is required so before I do that I want to make sure I am not going from a 5% save to a 5% save in Stormhorns.

Overall I don't find the fort save to be a significant issue in a party. If I just tell the party I am stunned someone usually can throw me a quick cocoon. It's enough to keep me from soloing some quests though which is fine - I prefer grouping.

I did find my reflex save is good enough to solo EE Prove Your Worth except 2 areas. I have to navigate through the open areas of the pit trap or die and use my jibbers blade to open the shrine at the bottom. The fire trap shortly after the puzzle room will damage me, but can be avoiding easily with proper positioning and timing.

[Tauroxe]

I am returning to DDO after a really long break. My last guy was a 13 Bard 2 rogue. I really enjoyed my character and I am bringing a few friends in to play a bit and can't for the life of me remember how to properly level up without screwing anything up. I was thinking of giving this build a try but do you have a leveling progression laid out for this? I recall back in the day there was a some tool which laid out in text what to get when leveling. I am just looking for a bit of help I am sure I will change things around to my taste but it's nice to have a guide.

Thanks in advance

[Nodoze]

I am returning to DDO after a really long break. My last guy was a 13 Bard 2 rogue. I really enjoyed my character and I am bringing a few friends in to play a bit and can't for the life of me remember how to properly level up without screwing anything up. I was thinking of giving this build a try but do you have a leveling progression laid out for this? I recall back in the day there was a some tool which laid out in text what to get when leveling. I am just looking for a bit of help I am sure I will change things around to my taste but it's nice to have a guide.

Thanks in advance

You likely are remembering the "Character Planner" and it is gratefully still being maintained and helps much. Maybe download/install the planner and use the above info to level up in the planner and post it and see if anyone can recommend adjustments.

[slarden]

I am returning to DDO after a really long break. My last guy was a 13 Bard 2 rogue. I really enjoyed my character and I am bringing a few friends in to play a bit and can't for the life of me remember how to properly level up without screwing anything up. I was thinking of giving this build a try but do you have a leveling progression laid out for this? I recall back in the day there was a some tool which laid out in text what to get when leveling. I am just looking for a bit of help I am sure I will change things around to my taste but it's nice to have a guide.

Thanks in advance

Welcome back to the game! I think you will like the changes they made.

I leveled up as a swashbuckler and then used my free lesser @ 20 to respec to a caster. Much of the power from this build comes from cc, epic destinies and a high charisma. I was originally planning to level up as a swashbuckler to 28 and then etr back to a caster build, but decided to use the free lesser instead.

I took fvs 19 and 20 at the same time when I was ready for 20. I took my rogue levels @ 1 and 2.

One option you have is to take single weapon fighting feats @ 18, 21 and 24 and running a few epic lifes as a swashbuckler to fill up your epic destinies. Once you have all your trees filled up you can do a divine etr and try out this build. I've been very happy with the build, but I don't think it would be as good in an off-destiny compared to swashbuckler.

[LeslieWest_GuitarGod]

Slarden man, you killed it for me when you said you leveled as swash and switched to caster at 20. Booo! For someone who played a very similar build for many many years, this build should be fun from the ground floor all the way to 28. Great build!

[cru121]

Just want to mention that the enchantment "Soundproof" on Epic Chord of Reprisals should protect against sonic stuns, so yay, less weaknesses.
http://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Epic_Chord_of_Reprisals

[slarden]

Slarden man, you killed it for me when you said you leveled as swash and switched to caster at 20. Booo! For someone who played a very similar build for many many years, this build should be fun from the ground floor all the way to 28. Great build!

I lack mad skillz