Bard Problems - STR / ENDR

[Cynosure]

Hey folks,

I have a level 16 Wood Elf Bard that has base stats of STR 70, STA 85, AGI 95, DEX 90, WIS 80, INT 75, CHA 90.

With all of my gear on, my stats change to 76, 87, 102, 107, 80, 78, 95.

At level 14 or so, someone gifted me a set of banded armor (minus belt/gloves). However, my weight is 70/76 simply from the gear (after deleting my copper). I don't have anything on me except this gear, some food, and drum/lute/flute. Looting anything is pretty much out of the question unless a group is about to disband and I'm planning on twisting STR/Selos to get to a merchant.

In addition, even when I'm not encumbered, my Endurance does not seem to want to go past 8% (31/351). I believe it went down because I was constantly encumbered from carrying loot, but now that I'm back to a normal weight ratio my endurance will no longer go up (leaving me unable to jump).

Think it's worth rerolling for more STR? Or should I simply dump some pieces from my banded armor set?

Also, any idea what's going on with my Endurance? I thought I might have been diseased but I am not.

[azeth]

Shouldnt really need strength as a bard. Bards cant even double attack; lvl 60 BIS bard melee is comparable to probably a level 30-40 ranger.

I'm no bard expert but I'd focus on HP/AC, DEX, CHA and STA.

"There are no definitive ways to spend your bonus points, but here are some guidelines for each statistic:
Strength affects how often bards hit for maximum damage and also the bard's ability to carry armor and treasure. Plate armor, which bards wear, is generally among the heaviest of armors while bard melee damage is amongst the lowest for all melee classes. Strength is also an easy stat to raise with gear and buffs. This is an OK location to allocate creation points.
Stamina affects your total hitpoints. The conversion to raw Hit Points from Stamina is only mediocre for bards, but Stamina is a good statistic to put extra points for any class, bards included.
Agility affects how often melee attacks miss the bard, as well as the bard' armor class. Since bards are not tanks, and the returns on this statistic are minimal, it is recommended to avoid adding additional points to Agility.
Dexterity affects how often weapons proc and also how often notes are missed (fizzles) for bards. Since bard's abilities are based on singing, this is an important stat for bards.
Wisdom does not affect the size of a bardic mana pool, as bards are considered intelligence casters. This statistic serves little function for a bard and additional creation points should not be spent here.
Intelligence will increase the size of the bard's mana pool. Since only the charm line, such as Solon's Song of the Sirens, of songs requires mana to cast, the size of a bard's mana pool is largely inconsequential and additional creation points should not be spent here.
Charisma affects lull, mez, and charm resists. Since the bard is one of only three classes that can mesmerize in Norrath, the others being the Enchanter and the Necromancer, this is a decent location to allocate creation points."

[indiscriminate_hater]

Shouldnt really need strength as a bard. Bards cant even double attack; lvl 60 BIS bard melee is comparable to probably a level 30-40 ranger.

Bard melee DPS is dismal but it's not thaaat bad.

Just save up for some cheap STR jewelry to hold you over until you can get better pieces. Also try to get some cheap weight reduction bags. You should be able to start hunting for Sharlok packs at your level.

[Cynosure]

Shouldnt really need strength as a bard. Bards cant even double attack; lvl 60 BIS bard melee is comparable to probably a level 30-40 ranger.

I'm no bard expert but I'd focus on HP/AC, DEX, CHA and STA.



Awesome, thanks!

I threw 20 points into STA and the remaining 5 into CHA. Almost wish I had done 15 CHA, 5 STR, and 5 STA, but don't think it's worth rerolling for the CHA as it seems to be fairly common to raise via gear.


Bard melee DPS is dismal but it's not thaaat bad.

Just save up for some cheap STR jewelry to hold you over until you can get better pieces. Also try to get some cheap weight reduction bags. You should be able to start hunting for Sharlok packs at your level.

Will do!

I'm going to go ahead and bank some of my banded pieces, then, until I can get ahold of some weight reduction bags.


Either of you have an idea as to why my Endurance won't regenerate?

[Daud]

I know plat is tight in your teens on your first character but there are some ways to lighten up for very cheap.

Are you using regular back packs that weigh 3 each? A quick a boat trip to the gnome camp in Iceclad and replace them with deluxe tool boxes that are 10 giant slots and weigh 2.5 each, 0.5 less than regular back packs, and they're only like 1 and a half plat. Careful of the snow cougars though that roam through the camp, they'll tear you up at 17 and the closest real zone is Eastern Wastes.

Then I'd focus on cheap, functional STR gear when I could. Treeweave should be dirt cheap now, it's 12 weight but with 10 str winds up less overall weight then banded with better AC. Hero Bracer is a good piece, it's pretty cheap or a couple more levels and you can quest it yourself. Azure Sleeves are much ligher and higher AC than banded sleeves and are also practically free.

I really don't know about the endurance thing if you have food and drink, though.

[indiscriminate_hater]

That happens if you're hungry (and/or overweight? Not sure)