Bards and Morale bonuses

[hazmat]

So I'm looking at bards and their spells for the first time. I'm trying to come up with a character that chants and improves his own abilities. I was also planning on using some of the spells to boost his fighting ability.

The problem is that the spells overlap with each other and the Inspire courage ability. I don't see why the bard has these spells as they aren't that much better than their Inspire Courage ability.

Inspire Courage: +1 morale bonus to attacks and damage; +1 morale bonus to saves against fear and charm affects (increase to +2 at 8th and +1 every 6 levels above 8th). All allies that can hear you.

Heroism: Bard 2nd level spell (lvl 4-5). +2 morale bonus to attack rolls, saves and skill checks. This effect lasts 10mins/lvl. One target at a range of touch.

Good Hope: Bard 3rd level spell (lvl 7-8). +2 morale bonus to attack rolls, damage, saves and skill and ability checks. Can target 1 creature per level, no two of which of which may be 30ft apart. Duration: 1 min/lvl. Range: Medium.

Heroism, Greater: Bard 5th level spell (lvl 13-14). +4 morale bonus to attack rolls, saves and skill checks. Immunity to fear, temporary hitpoints equal to caster level. Duration: 1 min/lvl. Range: touch.

 

[Jdvn1]

You only take those spells if you keep running out of uses of Bardic Music.

 

[Bront]

greater duration. 1/min per level is much longer than concentration+5 rounds.

 

[moritheil]

greater duration. 1/min per level is much longer than concentration+5 rounds.

True, although your fights may or may not last that long. So if you knew that several fights in a row were likely, you could use a spell instead of a performance.

 

[boolean]

Inspirational Boost, Complete Adventurer.

Level 1 Bard spell, swift action to cast. If you start inspiring courage immediately after casting it, the morale bonuses gained are increased by one.

Song of the Heart, Eberron Campaign Setting.

Feat. When you use Inspire Courage, Competence, Greatness, or Heroics the bonus granted increases by one.

So with both of these you can have a 3rd level Bard that gives his entire party +3 to attacks and damage twice a day, +2 for the third.

 

[jasin]

True, although your fights may or may not last that long. So if you knew that several fights in a row were likely, you could use a spell instead of a performance.

But note that you need X spells to cover X party members, and only 1 performance to do the same.

There are situations where a morale spell might serve better than inspire courage, but I think that I'd rather pick other spells as my spells known and make do with inspire courage for morale needs, and have those other spells ready for other occasions.

Overall, I'd agree with the original poster that the morale spells lose utility in the hands of a bard, especially if the just mentioned Song of the Heart feat and inspirational boost spell are allowed.

 

[Thanee]

Yes, the bard in our campaign actively avoids spells like Heroism, it's a waste of a valuable spell known.

There are more than enough good choices left, no worries about getting a headache when choosing spells!

Bye
Thanee

 

[hazmat]

Thanks!

I was really disappointed by these spells "in the hands of a bard" The feat and spell that boolean mentioned sound great!