Bard-like "Buff" character?

[TheNerdzilla]

So, this probably more belongs in the "Archetype" section but I am not entirely sure which archetype would be best for my vision.  I'd like to come up with a Bard build.  A character who offers the most, and the best buffs out there.  I'm curious what ideas you guys would have about accomplishing this goal.  I have played with sonic Defenders who seem to have some very nice buffs... as well as Fire.  I just want to make sure I cover as many bases with buffs as I can.  (Protection, Resist, Shields (if applicable), ext. 

Let me know what you all think.  I'm interested to see what we can come up with.

[mousestalker]

In addition to sonic, you might consider a bubbler or possibly a kinetics. Or to go outside the box, a VEAT. They all get the leadership pools as standard and they all buff their team mates in as close to the 'always on' Everquest style of bard buffing (with no twisting required).

[Frostweaver]

Defenders receive, hands-down, the best buffing numbers of all the archetypes.

 

However, there is NO archetype that would be considered a 'melee buffer' like a D&D bard, although I suppose the Arachnos soldier comes closest.

 

Although you might consider a controller: some sets, between their debuffs, controls, and buffs, placing them far out ahead... Remember, a hard debuff is every bit as good as a hard buff for keeping your team alive.

 

Putting a fantasy-style bard in a superhero game is bound to be complicated, though.

[Erydanus]

I was actually thinking of making a character vaguely along these lines and I'm considering Mind Control/Sonic Resonance controller. The mind control would represent singing to entrance the listeners and the sonic resonance buffs the application of hard musical energy for defense.

[Korschsans]

IMO there isnt a best buff set out there tbh.  Every support shines....I just wish Ice defenders could select minimize fx so everyone doesnt look like an ice cube.

[Shinobu]

IMO there isnt a best buff set out there tbh.  Every support shines....I just wish Ice defenders could select minimize fx so everyone doesnt look like an ice cube.

 

Don't they?  I saw this in today's patch notes:

 

Cold Domination for Controllers and Masterminds now have a Minimal FX option, just as Defenders and Corruptors do.

[Runewritten]

My first though would be a mind/kin or mind/time controller, but I equate bards with charms and haste/slow songs.

Too bad there's no buff/melee AT.

[Korschsans]

IMO there isnt a best buff set out there tbh.  Every support shines....I just wish Ice defenders could select minimize fx so everyone doesnt look like an ice cube.

 

Don't they?  I saw this in today's patch notes:

 

Cold Domination for Controllers and Masterminds now have a Minimal FX option, just as Defenders and Corruptors do.

 

Thank you!  I stand corrected!

[Nic Mercy]

I would suggest something like a Time/Sonic Defender build I came up with and here's why:

 

Buffs:

+34% defense to self and team via Power Boost/Farsight combo

+24% to-hit buff to self and team via Power Boost/Farsight combo

+86% perception to self and team via Power Boost/Farsight combo

+64% resistance to perception debuffs to self and team via Power Boost/Farsight combo

+61% recovery to self and team via Chrono Shift

+50% recharge to self and team via Chrono Shift

+276% regen to up to 4 teammates via Temporal Selection

+31% damage to up to 4 teammates via Temporal Selection

+30% recharge to up to 4 teammates via Temporal Selection

+20% resistance to slows and -regen, debuffs via Temporal Mending

 

 

Debuffs:

-20% damage resistance via most sonic attacks

-30-50% damage resistance via Slowed Response slotted with an Achilles' Heel proc

-49% defense via Slowed Response

-50% regen via Time Stop

-37% healing via Time Stop

-100% regen via Time Crawl

-75% recharge via Time Crawl

-62% fly/jump/run speed via Time Crawl

-39% to-hit via Time's Juncture

-25% damage output via Time's Juncture

-37% fly/jump/run speed via Time's Juncture

-65% recharge via Distortion Field

-91% fly/jump/run speed via Distortion Field

 

 

Crowd Control:

KnockDOWN via a Ragnarok proc in Howl and a Knockback to Knockdown proc in Shockwave

Single target Hold via Time Stop

Two chances to Hold via Distortion Field with a Lockdown proc

Wide cone AoE Sleep via Siren's Song

 

 

Healing/Absorb:

PBAoE Healing + Heal Over Time via Temporal Mending

PBAoE Healing + Heal Over Time via Chrono Shift

PBAoE Healing via Superior Defender's Bastion proc

PBAoE Absorb shield via Superior Vigilant Assault proc

Single Target Absorb shield va Spirit Ward (from the Sorcery pool)

 

Such a character would be incredibly self sufficient while solo and offer a wide variety of support options to a team. It might not be super fast at beating mobs up, but it would be super safe (softcapped defense to ALL positions and ALL damage types plus some decent resistance to s/l damage and minor resistance to other types) and be boon to any team with all that it brings to the table.

 

Build link: http://www.cohplanner.com/mids/download.php?uc=1505&c=713&a=1426&f=HEX&dc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

[Solvernia]

IMO there isnt a best buff set out there tbh.

 

yes there is, it's kinetics

[TheNerdzilla]

I would suggest something like a Time/Sonic Defender build I came up with and here's why:

 

Buffs:

+34% defense to self and team via Power Boost/Farsight combo

+24% to-hit buff to self and team via Power Boost/Farsight combo

+86% perception to self and team via Power Boost/Farsight combo

+64% resistance to perception debuffs to self and team via Power Boost/Farsight combo

+61% recovery to self and team via Chrono Shift

+50% recharge to self and team via Chrono Shift

+276% regen to up to 4 teammates via Temporal Selection

+31% damage to up to 4 teammates via Temporal Selection

+30% recharge to up to 4 teammates via Temporal Selection

+20% resistance to slows and -regen, debuffs via Temporal Mending

 

 

Debuffs:

-20% damage resistance via most sonic attacks

-30-50% damage resistance via Slowed Response slotted with an Achilles' Heel proc

-49% defense via Slowed Response

-50% regen via Time Stop

-37% healing via Time Stop

-100% regen via Time Crawl

-75% recharge via Time Crawl

-62% fly/jump/run speed via Time Crawl

-39% to-hit via Time's Juncture

-25% damage output via Time's Juncture

-37% fly/jump/run speed via Time's Juncture

-65% recharge via Distortion Field

-91% fly/jump/run speed via Distortion Field

 

 

Crowd Control:

KnockDOWN via a Ragnarok proc in Howl and a Knockback to Knockdown proc in Shockwave

Single target Hold via Time Stop

Two chances to Hold via Distortion Field with a Lockdown proc

Wide cone AoE Sleep via Siren's Song

 

 

Healing/Absorb:

PBAoE Healing + Heal Over Time via Temporal Mending

PBAoE Healing + Heal Over Time via Chrono Shift

PBAoE Healing via Superior Defender's Bastion proc

PBAoE Absorb shield via Superior Vigilant Assault proc

Single Target Absorb shield va Spirit Ward (from the Sorcery pool)

 

Such a character would be incredibly self sufficient while solo and offer a wide variety of support options to a team. It might not be super fast at beating mobs up, but it would be super safe (softcapped defense to ALL positions and ALL damage types plus some decent resistance to s/l damage and minor resistance to other types) and be boon to any team with all that it brings to the table.

 

Build link: http://www.cohplanner.com/mids/download.php?

 

Thank you for all the responses.  I actually think I like this best.  It has the added benefit that I've never played either one of these power sets!

 

[Coyotedancer]

Do I detect the presence of a fellow Songweaver player? Hail, daeva. XD

 

If I were trying to recreate that kind of character here, I would probably go with a Kinetic as others have already suggested. If only because the set is a pretty good counterpart to the Aion Songweavers' ability to give their team-mates both traditional healing and the mana boost (HP and END, in City terms-). As for the attack side... Sonic is a definite stylistic possibility and debuffs are always a nice addition, plus it matches well with the whole caster-class "I'm going to slap you from WAAAAY over here!" playstyle. Add an Epic or Patron pool that gives you a DoT hold or imob to recreate rooting someone and you'll have that covered, too.

 

Alas, there's no way for your City Songweaver to turn anyone into a dancing penguin...

 

Not unless we can talk the devs into making us a stigma stone PvP set that procs people into Rikti monkeys doing boogie emotes, anyway. XD

[TheNerdzilla]

Do I detect the presence of a fellow Songweaver player? Hail, daeva. XD

 

Actually no.  Honestly I didn't even mean "Bard" in the literal sense when I started this thread.  I just meant building a character that is primarily based around buffing and debuffing rather than say healing or doing direct damage -- most of the time a "Bard" fits this category.

 

The only "actual" Bard I ever played was in Rift for a short time.

[craggy]

I've been wanting to play a modern bard type character since the game was originally live. The concept I've got is a hip hop artist whose rhymes are his super power. Been looking at the available power sets and think I went Sonic squared Defender when I built and never used him last time, but a mix of Time/Sonic could work, as could Mind. I've always been concept first in my character creation but it'll just sit on the login screen if it's no fun to play. With any of those combos how am I going to be damaging guys? I don't dislike grouping, but do often find myself soloing due to not always having time to commit to a group.