Sub-portal: BARD

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Updated Fri, Jan 02, 2009 by Shayalyn

by Ralsu

Bards have traditionally required skill to play. In EverQuest, Bards had to be able to multitask and twist their songs. While there will be no twisting for Bards in Vanguard Saga of Heroes, multitasking and skillful play looks to be a prerequisite of the class. First and foremost, Bards are offensive fighters who rely primarily on their melee damage. Bards can also compose and name their own songs.

Official Description

Bards are naturally gifted in the melding of song and swordplay into a deadly dance that is at once awesome and terrifying to behold. Bards can use their unique combat forms to gain increasing power as a fight progresses. They also have the ability to compose songs using bits of lore and tunes heard throughout their journeys. Bards have the opportunity to seek out those rare stories and melodies that will add even more power to their compositions.

Bard at a Glance

Races: Thestran, Halfling, High Elf, Kojan, Half Elf, Wood Elf, Qalian, Dark Elf Mordebi

Armor: Medium

Weapons: One-handed Piercing, Hand to Hand, One-handed Slashing, Thrown, Archery

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Class News & Information:

DANCES

Bards can use different fighting styles, or dances, to gain benefits during combat. The longer the dance is maintained in combat, the higher the benefit from it.

Dance of Blades
This dance increases melee damage. It is useful in groups against tough foes.

+4% when activated
+6% at level 1
+8% at level 2
+10% at level 3
+14 at level 4
+24% at level 5

Water Dance
This dance increases evasion, dodge, and parry. It is useful solo.

+5% evade when activated
+6% evade at level 1
+7% evade at level 2, +3% dodge and parry
+8% evade at level 3, +4% dodge and parry
+9 at evade level 4, +6% dodge and parry
+18% evade at level 5, +12% dodge and parry

Careen of the Cunning
This dance increases accuracy rating and the chance to score a critical hit. It is useful for normal grinding in groups.

+2% accuracy when activated, +1% critical chance
+3% accuracy when activated, +1% critical chance
+4% accuracy when activated, +2% critical chance
+5% accuracy when activated, +2% critical chance
+6% accuracy when activated, +3% critical chance
+12% accuracy when activated, +6% critical chance

SONGS

The most unique feature of the Bard is her ability to compose and play songs for various effects. All songs have a base melody and embellishments. As the Bard grows more powerful, she learns to craft more complicated songs for better effects. Other song components are listed below.

Melody: The melody is the foundation of the song and provides the theme. Songs can have only 1 melody slot.

Embellishments: Songs can have up to 3 minor additions in the form of embellishments. These can result in small resistance buffs, debuffs and other various minor effects.

Lyric: Lyrics can enhance run speed, add weapon procs, and cause levitation. A song can use up to 3 lyric slots.

Chorus: This is a higher-powered Lyric. Songs can have up to 3 slots for a chorus.

Verses: Verses are powerful components that can produce DoTs, increase regeneration of different pools, or snare foes. A song can have up to 3 verse slots.

Bridges: Bridges are very powerful components that can do a wide variety of things. A song may have up to 2 bridges.

Codas: Codas are very powerful components that can do a wide variety of things. A song may have only 1 coda.

Rests: Rests can go into any available component slot (besides the 1 for the melody) and reduce the energy cost of the song. A reset can only be used 1 time in a song, but multiple different resets can be used in the same song.

TYPES OF ABILITIES

Attacks
Most Bard damage comes through melee attacks. The abilities cost endurance to use and typically do base melee damage or high plus a small extra amount.

Counterattacks
Some Bard abilities only trigger when the Bard has parried. These abilities generally do 150% base melee damage plus a small extra amount. While useful, these are hard to trigger in a group where the Bard is not being attacked.

Finishers
When available, these powerful abilities can do 3 or 4 times base melee damage.

Direct Damage
The Bard has a line of spells that deal direct damage and use energy.

Debuffs
Some Bard abilities do damage and reduce the power of foes.

Buffs
Most Bard buffs come from songs and affect the whole group within a radius. Songs cost a constant amount of energy per second to use.