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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
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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
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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
Vanguard Bards