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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.

 




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Bard at a Glance 

class="pn-content-page-body">Races: class="pn-content-page-body">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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style="font-weight: bold;">Quick Links

  • href="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=514">Creation
    Guide
  • href="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=587">BRD
    11-20 Progression Guide
  • href="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=512">Spells/Abilities
    Level 1-25
  • href="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=513">Spells/Abilities
    Level 26-50
  • href="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=632">April
    2007 Bugs List

Class News
& Information:

  • href="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=186">Know
    Your Role - Offensive Fighter

  • href="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/index.php?name=News&catid=20&topic="> class="pn-content-page-body">Offensive Fighters in the News
  • href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/forumdisplay.php?f=97"> class="pn-content-page-body"> Ten Ton Hammer BRD Forum

 
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 DANCES

class="pn-content-page-body">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.


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Dance of Blades


This dance increases melee damage. It is useful in groups against tough
foes.
  • +4% when activated

  • class="pn-content-page-body">+6% at level 1 style="font-style: italic;">

  • class="pn-content-page-body">+8% at level 2

  • class="pn-content-page-body">+10% at level 3

  • class="pn-content-page-body">+14 at level 4

  • class="pn-content-page-body">+24% at level 5

class="pn-content-page-body">Water
Dance


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

  • +5% evade when activated

  • class="pn-content-page-body">+6% evade at level 1 style="font-style: italic;">

  • class="pn-content-page-body">+7% evade at level 2, +3% dodge and parry

  • class="pn-content-page-body">+8% evade at level 3 class="pn-content-page-body">, +4%
    dodge and parry
  • class="pn-content-page-body">+9 at evade level 4 class="pn-content-page-body">, +6%
    dodge and parry
  • class="pn-content-page-body">+18% evade at level 5 class="pn-content-page-body">, +12%
    dodge and parry

class="pn-content-page-body">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
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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.

RELATED LINKS





To read the latest guides, news, and features you can visit our Vanguard: Saga of Heroes Game Page.

Last Updated: Mar 13, 2016

About The Author

Karen is H.D.i.C. (Head Druid in Charge) at EQHammer. She likes chocolate chip pancakes, warm hugs, gaming so late that it's early, and rooting things and covering them with bees. Don't read her Ten Ton Hammer column every Tuesday. Or the EQHammer one every Thursday, either.

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