I was wondering what would be the best proficiecies to take for a Skald? They can only put on point into two-weapon fighting, which would leave the main hand still gimped at -2, so I guess that's out. Two-handed weapons might be a good choice, as a Bard can only use bucklers and they're easy to swap with a crossbow or bow, Two-handed weapon style also gives +2 damage, double crit chance (19-20) and -2 speed for 1 pip. Also the long reach of two-handed weapons could make it safer to enter melee from the second row behind my tank(s).
Halberds could be a good choice in BGEE for the +2/+6 damage Chesley Crusher, since Bards don't get more than one attack anyway (unless hasted), and am assuming the bug with this allowing more than one attack will be fixed in the next patch. On the other hand halberds are slow, perhaps making it more difficult to get in an attack and resuming bard song quick enough for it not to drop. Quarterstaves could be another good choice, crushing damage has less penalties against most armour than piercing and slashing and not many enemies are resistant to crushing damage, they're also faster than halberds, you can get a +1 staff very early on in BGEE, a +2 one in Cloakwood and +3 one and the Staff of Striking later in the game, there are also very good ones in BG2. Two-handed swords are probably out, as I'm likely to take a Ajantis (if playing good) or Dorn (if playing evil) or Keldorn in BG2.
For a ranged weapon I'm thinking crossbows, since they don't get the elf +1 THAC0 bow bonus nor the halfling +1 THAC0 sling bonus, and can use both the crossbow of speed or the heacy crossbow of accuracy and can use the Firetooth crossbow in BG2, which is good throughout the game. If playing good aligned may give him axes later for the Azuredge Throwing Axe in BG2, which is lethal against undead, though the Neutral Evil Dust Mephit familiar is probably the better Familiar choice.
So I'm thinking either:
Level 1:
Crossbows *
Quarterstaves *
Level 4:
Two-handed Weapon Style *
Level 8:
Halberds *
Or swapping round so halberds first, then staves at level 8.
What do you reckon?
Halberds could be a good choice in BGEE for the +2/+6 damage Chesley Crusher, since Bards don't get more than one attack anyway (unless hasted), and am assuming the bug with this allowing more than one attack will be fixed in the next patch. On the other hand halberds are slow, perhaps making it more difficult to get in an attack and resuming bard song quick enough for it not to drop. Quarterstaves could be another good choice, crushing damage has less penalties against most armour than piercing and slashing and not many enemies are resistant to crushing damage, they're also faster than halberds, you can get a +1 staff very early on in BGEE, a +2 one in Cloakwood and +3 one and the Staff of Striking later in the game, there are also very good ones in BG2. Two-handed swords are probably out, as I'm likely to take a Ajantis (if playing good) or Dorn (if playing evil) or Keldorn in BG2.
For a ranged weapon I'm thinking crossbows, since they don't get the elf +1 THAC0 bow bonus nor the halfling +1 THAC0 sling bonus, and can use both the crossbow of speed or the heacy crossbow of accuracy and can use the Firetooth crossbow in BG2, which is good throughout the game. If playing good aligned may give him axes later for the Azuredge Throwing Axe in BG2, which is lethal against undead, though the Neutral Evil Dust Mephit familiar is probably the better Familiar choice.
So I'm thinking either:
Level 1:
Crossbows *
Quarterstaves *
Level 4:
Two-handed Weapon Style *
Level 8:
Halberds *
Or swapping round so halberds first, then staves at level 8.
What do you reckon?