Bard4

This document in no way shows you how to role-play a bard. But,
it will explain how to play with your gene pool (rolling stats)
and what you might want to train in (as in spells, abilities).
First of all. . .a Bard. . .basically the 'Jack of all Traits'.
Since GS requires you (a bard) to hunt to get 99.99% of your experience,
thus you need to be a 'warrior', I would advise a race which doesn't hinder
strength, reflexes, and aura. The Str bonus and the Ref bonus will do
you great service in making your life easier in Elanthia (thus killing
critters above your level easier). Then comes Aura and Logic, your
profession based stats (I would advise a higher number in Aura over
logic as aura governs how much mana you get per level/trains and is
a factor to both mental and physical points). 80's in these stats
are good. Since they are profession stats you get an extra +10 to each.
Then the following. . .Discipline (holds more field exp. so you can absorb
more and also important for training points mental and physical).
Constitution (greater resistance to damage, poison, etc.).
Charisma (excellent for Lore singing. . we're probably the only profession
who needs a positive bonus in charisma <cackle>), Dexterity, Intelligence,
Wisdom (once you have 407, 408 you won't need a high wisdom for
disarming/popping. Just a high aura).

**Bonuses on stats increase by 1:1 ration from 50-60 then 1:2 from 60-100
for a total of +25 bonus. Look at the +'s and -'s for each race. The
greater the + the faster that stat will raise for that specific race and vice
versa. Also bard's charisma happens to be one of the fastest increasing (hmm
maybe not if you're a dwarf or halfing <shrug>, as is our logic and aura
(go fig. . professions stats)

Doodling with Your Gene Pool

Welp, first of all. . .roll your numbers. . .add them up--if it's
lower than 640 reroll. . . Trust me, the time you invest in having
good numbers will greatly help you in the end (and not only with
Mental and Physical Training points). The first 3 of your numbers
should be above 80. . .the next should be above 49. The last
number is random. . .don't let it fall below 75. Place the numbers
in the order I mentioned above. In my opinion, the best bard's are
(in no particular order of importance) humans, giantpeople
(note--they have a negative in reflexes so you might want to put a
higher number in this rather than strength), half elves (really the
best race in the lands. . .but I'm not saying that just because I'm
a half elf <whistles>), sylvan elves.

Training Skills & Spells

If you follow my advice on stats, you probably won't need to train
to wear double leather or full leather (but maybe not for giants. .
.you people are just darn heavy)
So. . by now you'll have roughly around 42-48 Physical and Mental
points to train with. I won't tell you on what to train because
it's your choice. I do suggest the following on . . .

1x Combat Maneuvering, 1x armor, 2x shield, 2x edged (or blunt), 1 spell,
1x body training, 1x mana share (or 1x perception and first aid)
Things like hiding, ambushing, disarming, picking, brawling is up to you.

Spells
I really do believe Bards are the most efficient in mana use. . .our
spellsongs take less and less mana to renew as we grow older and
older (roughly -1 mana every 5-6 levels. . not to go below 1). The
best way to do your spells is shuffling between the 1000's and 400's.
If a person trained up to 1007. . .by level 7 they wouldn't be able
to maintain Kai's Triumph (1007, +10 AS) to very long since it'll take
about 6 mana to renew the song.
I advise. . 401, then 1001 to 1003 (you'll get +10 DS and able to main-
tain the spell), then back to the 408 (so you can disarm and pop boxes,
+10 DS, etc.), back to Spellsongs until 1007 (by this time you'll be
able to maintain various songs (i.e. Fortitude and Kai or Song of Pro-
tection. . or even both <grumble>). Now. . go back and get brillies
(spell prep 414 which is +25 DS). If you are thinking of getting
sonic blade instead of 414, trust me it isn't worth it. You won't
be able to maintain sonic blade very long (especially if you are
singing Kai, Fortitude, and/or Song of Protection). Now that you're
set to be self sufficient. The rest of the spells you can doodle with
do one here do one there and it won't affect you as much (probably
not even at all).

***as of far these are the only spells that work--1001, 1002, 1003, 1004,
1006, 1007, 1008, 1009, 1012

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1001 Holding Song

-10% DS of the target
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1002 Vibration Chant

Makes the critters (yep, can't be used against people darn <whistles
innocently> drop one of the items they are holding. There's a
chance the item might even break (% = to bard's level and the item's
characteristics)
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1003 Fortitude Song

+10 DS

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1004 Purification Song

A chance of purifying a gem (makes it worth more). I hear it can also
make it imbeddable or rechargeable but I've never bother. This
song is highly unstable. . .the chances of the gem shattering will
increase every time you successfully purify it.
**if you miss, the gem won't be purifiable**

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1005 Illusionary Item
**not implemented**
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1006 Song of Protection

+15 DS to all types of Magic to anyone in the same group as the bard

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1007 Kai's Triumph Song

+10 AS to everyone in the same group as the bard singing it (not stack-
able <sigh>)

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1008 Mass Holding Song

-10% DS to anyone not in the same group as bard (it's not stackable
with 1001)

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1009 Sonic Shield

bonus of a normal shield (20) + 10 + 1/3 spellsongs known = shield's DS
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1010 Illusionary Creature

**not implemented*&

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1011 Song of Peace

**not implemented**
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1012 Sonic Blade Song

Able to sing all weapons in Wehnimer's Weapon's Shop including a falchion,
excluding backroom weapons.
15 + 1/3 spellsongs know = Total AS of weapon
This will also do random vibration flares (I've seen'em up to 45)
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The rest of the spellsongs as of this moment aren't implemented

**I'm thinking of writing one on Lore Singing if this Text works out well
e-mail me your comments to and input to Cx Noirs@AOL.com**

PS--See me in the lands say, "HI' (but my first name is Rethis not Lord.
I'd love to know how my first 'How To' is working. If there are
ani typos Bardin me i wrotte this on plain text so everyone--PC or
Mac can access it <grin>. Good luck and Have Fun

****Rethis Sardone, the Silent Bard