Half Elf Bard Cultual Armor

[Martan]

I have a Half Elf Bard and I’m looking to start gathering materials to make cultural armor. I’m looking at both High Elf and Dark Elf Armors. I would like some input from the Bard community as to which they believe to be best and why.

High Elf Cultural Armor, Mystic Koada`Dal Mithril Full Set: AC: 172 STR: 35 DEX: 48 AGI: 18 CHA: 60 MANA: 5

Dark Elf Cultural Armor, Enchanted Teir’Dal Adamantite Armor Full Set: AC 172, INT 52, AGI 26, DEX 51, STR 41, Mana 5, Wgt 35.7

Also, if you know anyone who might be able to construct either armor please PM me. Thanks.

[Legidias]

Are you making them for RP or fashion purposes?

The stats on them aren't that good on bards (Dex / Cha are pretty much worthless... except CHA for pulling).

If you are dead set on one of the two, KOada Dal is better with the CHA. You also get to look like a teal highlighter.

[Martan]

Are you making them for RP or fashion purposes?

The stats on them aren't that good on bards (Dex / Cha are pretty much worthless... except CHA for pulling).

If you are dead set on one of the two, KOada Dal is better with the CHA. You also get to look like a teal highlighter.

Well, I was assuming that the gear was pretty decent for the casual player. Am I wrong with that? Not sure what RP means, is it Role Play or Real Play? If it’s real play, yes. I can’t seem to find much else that is any better unless you get Thurg Armor or higher. I cannot seem to find any pics of the Teir’Dal stuff so it’s definitely not for fashion purposes.

[Tuurin]

RP means Role Play- aka do you like how it looks?

Tier'dal stuff is like a really dark blue color. Pretty cool looking.

The main difference between the two is INT vs. CHA. For bards Charisma is probably better, although not much of a significance either way.

As has been said in many places, armor is mostly irrelevant for bards past level 20 or so, so pretty much get what looks cool to you. Patchwork armor + nice instruments will allow you to be 99% effective as a bard, so as long as you've got that covered it's all personal preference.

[Legidias]

Yeah, if you're gonna lay in 5k+ on armor, spend that on drums / lute if you dont have em.

[Martan]

As has been said in many places, armor is mostly irrelevant for bards past level 20 or so, so pretty much get what looks cool to you. Patchwork armor + nice instruments will allow you to be 99% effective as a bard, so as long as you've got that covered it's all personal preference.

Why is this that armor is so irrelevant? I seem to get hit quite a bit when I’m in groups and such and sometimes I even have to “tank”. What if I was playing duo with say a shaman?

[Legidias]

If you're duo with a shaman, you're better off either kiting a mob around while shaman dot / nukes it (you can dot it too) or just root rot it with you casting songs on it / helping shammy regen.

Unless you're massively twinked / geared out in end game, its the unfortunate truth that you wont be putting up DPS #'s.

Tanking is fine too, but you won't be tanking in racial armor. If thats what youre concerned about, consider a set of crusty armor. It has -CHA, but again, CHA is only important if you're trying to lull mobs while pulling so you can pull off armor if you need to. Bards can tank just fine, but most bards dont build for it.

[Zipity]

Go with the mystic koadal! Slightly better stats and yes armor is significant Lol to people saying it’s insignificant! I would say perhaps get a phase spider carapace as your BP if you don’t care so much about matching! Ac/Hp/MR are your main stats with bard, but cha with lulls is a nice bonus bc getting a crit resist down in a dungeon on a lull sucks ass

[kruptcy]

Going to buck the trend and say go with the Teir`Dal. CHA is pretty thoroughly not worth having. In 99.9% of scenarios, a lull crit resist will not have serious consequences. If you are relying on a lull to not wipe, you are pretty well hosed no matter what. DEX has a minor impact on missed notes, and the additional STR will help you at least be able to carry your armor better.

Both sets have high AC, which is important, despite what everyone is saying. In group content a naked + instrument bard is not even close to as effective as a high ac / high resist / high hp bard. Bards aren't meant to be afk with mana song on, they are meant to use their toolbox and support their group.

Also dark blue > light blue for fashionquest.

[Martan]

Going to buck the trend and say go with the Teir`Dal. CHA is pretty thoroughly not worth having. In 99.9% of scenarios, a lull crit resist will not have serious consequences. If you are relying on a lull to not wipe, you are pretty well hosed no matter what. DEX has a minor impact on missed notes, and the additional STR will help you at least be able to carry your armor better.

Both sets have high AC, which is important, despite what everyone is saying. In group content a naked + instrument bard is not even close to as effective as a high ac / high resist / high hp bard. Bards aren't meant to be afk with mana song on, they are meant to use their toolbox and support their group.

Also dark blue > light blue for fashionquest.

Thank you for this analysis, it was actually helpful.

[Jauna]

cha/dex is not as important as you think
hp/ac/sta all the way
if its not too late, go zek deity on your bard and get that human cultural armor. be the blood red one man marching band of death

[Issar]

I haven’t played much in the last couple of years, but when I was leveling my bard I would do a lot of charming in both group and solo play. I don’t recall what the returns were on intellect to mana but I do remember thinking it would be nice to have a larger mana pool and considered picking up some int gear.

Given my preferred play style (tank w/ pet in groups, charm kite solo), I’m guessing I would have gravitated towards th DE cultural for int and a/c, if I had the option. My bard is a tunare worshipping WElf. The extra strength is always welcome to help with my loot bags. I don’t have any endgame experience as a bard in EQ, so I certainly can’t speak to that point. For FashionQuest, DE cultural wins.

[greblhad]

I have a Half Elf Bard and I’m looking to start gathering materials to make cultural armor.

Also, if you know anyone who might be able to construct either armor please PM me. Thanks.

No one seems to have hit on the point Half Elves can't make cultural.

PST to Fastsole or Dorgon for Teir'Dal (DEF) armor.

[Diogene]

Teir Dal is nice for charming and packs some STR
Koadal is good for lulls and a good bard should put some effort on his CHA for critical pulling
Rallos Zek has STR and STA, always good to have more HP ?
Tough choice but also pretty irrelevant in the end you need the AC and some stats here and here, if I were you, I’ll go Teir dal or Zek for fashionquest. Pretty darn uncommon to see those red blood singers around, this server is honestly filled with neon tint idiots. Dont be another lost clone running in circles destroying the peace and beauty of all these natural landscapes. Also fuck kiting o:) Bards can be good in dungeon crawls...