Just a build question

[migz]

What do you guys think about this spec, for farming/hunting?

GM:
Archery
Tactics
Provo
Musc
Healing
Anat

30 magery
70 resist

thanks

[archaicsubrosa77]

Barding is alot faster if you can cast Vortexes/Daemons. Faster doesn't necessarily mean more fun though. That should take priority. Would you like to play this template? That should be the primary question.

[mrbojangles]

Unless you're planning on using recall scrolls, 30 magery is not enough. One fizzle when being ganked by reds is usually enough to seal your death.

[MatronDeWinter]

My bard template is

Stealing
Snooping
Hiding
Stealthing
Wrestling
Magery
Meditation

Ok, on a serious note.
A musician-type bard needs to do two things well, aside from the obvious, musical talent.
Wrestle and recall.

[archaicsubrosa77]

Pure Mage Bard seems common...maybe cartography without any eval if you have an alt lockpicker that doesnt have this skill.

But you don't have to solo, and you can make an alt gater. If you can buddy up with a GM mage, a tamer perferably because together you would compliment each other's strengths and weaknesses quite awesome, or if you have a gater...you could even drop magery entirely.

Don't be afraid to play a different playstyle, but remember alot of times the oddball templates are usually team oriented and not always self sufficient. On the contrary in some areas you may find out you can do very well on your own, not to mention if you are good at fleeing recall may not even be necessary all the time in order to escape. You might even learn to like the chase.

I know any tamer would like an archer bard accompanying him being summons endangers the pets and with provocation it helps keep their health at max and easier to control if trouble shows. He gates out all the time anyway lest his pets have died. Not to mention an archer can do some wicked damage to keep the spawn rolling.

[migz]

thanks for the responses, guys.

my thoughts on the archery/tact/anat were as follows:

I can do some massive damage with a magic heavy xbow, to finish off what im provoking.

My dex will be at 100 so I'll shoot faster then a Mage/Archer class with 25 dex.

I have healing, so if I was to get ambushed by a pk I could give them a little surprise with my Archery/healing ability (80 damage healed at gm anat and heal, i think).

I guess it's more of a defensive template, with respect to PvE and PvP. I know I may not be able to hunt as fast with the archery instead of the magery, but I figure I'd give it a shot. I'm not worried about escaping PK's, im usually decent at the run and I'd carry trapped pouches/heal pots. If recalling is a must, I always plan on having some scrolls, as well as the ability to mini heal...hence the 30 magery.

I guess it's all about style, no? I could be wrong, but it's not like I'm going to jail and not passing go if I am.

[archaicsubrosa77]

Archery
Tactics
Anatomy 90
Healing
Resist 80
Music
Provoke
Mage 30

I think would be a better idea if you decide to have bare bones magery. There isn't much difference between 90 and GM anatomy especially since you will be avoiding melee combat that could hinder bandaging a bit. 2% isnt a big deal that's about 1 hp damage bonus. Like any dexxer,(any character really) it's best to stock up on potions. That and of course greater heal charges.

Might even want to go 90 resist, 80 anatomy being it's the casters you'd have to worry about.

Archery 90
Tactics
Magery
Meditation 80
Resist 80
Provocation
Music
Evaluating Intelligence 50

Might make the best of three worlds. Most magic bows would put you over 100 archery. Might want to make a teleport macro though for each direction so you can recall/provoke from the other side of the mob or obstacles or at least get a jump on running AH RED!!! arrow key!!!! arrow key !!!!

Also it would be good to have a daemon summoned just for protective reasons not so much to make your kills. Don't underestimate the power of 50 eval either, with a precasted flamestrike and bowshot after your daemon nullified reflect...that's a considerable amount of damage with a two hit succession. Wait for the first shot to hit, draw near the second shot timer, release the spell and fire again. Provoke all enemies on your opponent keep running circles and you are good to go. If they cast dispel against your guardian that gives enough time to recall.

Just try to stay out of the range of melee, that's where teleport can find use. In 1.8 seconds you can be 10 tiles away and behind a mean mother monster giving ample oppurtunity to decide the next course of action.

[MatronDeWinter]

I'm not worried about escaping PK's, im usually decent at the run and I'd carry trapped pouches/heal pots. If recalling is a must, I always plan on having some scrolls

You obviously have not seen how PK'ing works here. You are never going to get that scroll to cast with the constant harms, not to mention getting hit while you wrestle. You will be fodder for even the lowliest dexer-px.

[RoadKill]

My bard template is

Stealing
Snooping
Hiding
Stealthing
Wrestling
Magery
Meditation

That's the number 1 PVM template on the shard (on a fairly serious statement)