Bard (7) Gear for 100pp?

[Djumpmonkey]

I've got a bard, currently level 7. Someone was super kind last night and gave me 100pp to get some equipment. If possible I'd like to use it to get something that will be useful now, and hopefully, a long time into my barding expererience.

My big problem, it seems I've forgotten a lot over the last twenty-plus years. To save my life, the only gear I know I want to get is Lambent Armor. I struggled with ADHD back in the day, and never got very far, so doing one of the old class armor quest-lines is a huge aspiration of mine. But that's for questing. I don't know where to start with gear otherwise. I don't even know the economy (P99 Green), so I really don't really understand the buying power of my 100pp.

Any help pointing me toward some good, lasting equipment investments would be much appreciated. And a huge thanks to all of you (sorry I am terrible with names) who I have run into, in game. The community has been really great, I've been gifted everything from buffs, helping massively in the early grind, a few odd pieces of bronze, and the aforementioned, massive, influx of funds. Seriously, Thank You!

And thanks in advance for any gear pointers.

[Topgunben]

Kind of depends on your play style.

If you are looking to solo I’d probably save up enough PP for 5/55 rings. This might help you survive at lower levels getting hit while swarming.

If you are looking to group I’d buy sionachies partisan and cheap instruments from vendor

But it’s hard to not start some fashion quest. Being naked isn’t so cool, but really it doesn’t matter because you should be getting hit in groups or solo, and the best damage output you can have is but swarm kiting, which doesn’t require a weapon.

[Ennewi]

Either go with instruments that have useful song modifiers (lute/drum) or cheapo HP items for added survivability. Platinum fire wedding rings are a bit out of that price range, but there are some decent alternatives that are more affordable. Bard-only weapons aren't a terrible option either, specifically for levels 1-20ish when every class can chip in noticeable melee damage. Choose whatever seems the most fun for your current play sessions imo.

[Toxigen]

#1: lute + drum from vendor
#2: hp gear
#3: ??
#4: profit

side note: bad bards melee, dont be a bad bard

[Ennewi]

Lowest and highest levels are the exception for bards, specifically due to weapon procs.

Lowest levels, velium brood axe is essentially a less expensive self-PL but well outside the 100p range. Take it to blackburrow/crushbone and one-shot gnolls/orcs, loot fangs/belts, praise the sun.

[Topgunben]

Why I recommend 5/55 rings is that they are basically good into your 50s and beyond. Yes they probably will run you 450 for the pair, but there really isn’t a better way to spend your PP than those.

You can swarm kite into your 30s so fast it’s kind of unbelievable. Gear really doesn’t matter so much, and even cheap merchant instruments are decent enough to get you through. What will make you the best bard in a group is constantly switching to the right songs for the moment, twisting the right songs, and then adding DPS. You won’t be worth a turd tanking. My bard has some pretty damn good gear and at level 36, he just had a hard time holding up to any other hybrid or melee. But as a bard, you can add regen, mana regen, haste and in desperate times AOE mez (be prepared to die from this haha).

Bard has got to be the absolute funnest class in the game because not only can you do so much, but you are so valuable to a group.