Bard Song epic progression.

Post by **Sparky** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 1:53 am

As of late, I've noticed a lot of people making bards and some of them have even inquired as to what Bard Song's bonuses are as you raise your Class and Perform well past the epic barrier on this server.

Ever curious myself, and not wishing to waste a Developer's time by asking them to dig through code, I made a 40th level Bard called "Bardsong Test" and attempted to reach as high a Peform modifer as I possibly could.

I maxed starting Charisma at 18, took every perform feat, took Great Charisma X, and used all the perform items available in the game(Pleasure Leather, Crafted Imbued Cloak, Magically Sealed Bracers) along with empowered Eagle's Splendor to just barely make 100 perform pre-song at level 40.

The result was contrary to some posts I have seen listing insane bonuses to Bard Song. AC increases to +6 at 75 modified perform, and increases to +7 at 100 perform. Temporary HP and skills also continue to increase at 5 perform increments to a cap of +48 Temporary HP and +19 to all skills.

Curse song experienced similar results in reverse of Bard Song.
(Thank you Celorn for your help)

Upon reviewing the Wiki, these posts reflect accurately the results I received today testing out the bard.

http://www.nsrealm.com/ns4wiki/index.php/Bard_Song
http://www.nsrealm.com/ns4wiki/index.php/Curse_Song

I hope this helps to clear up any confusion as to Bard Song's epic progress on this server.

JesterOI · Post by **JesterOI** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 11:20 am

I checked through the code and those tables look to be bang on with the bioware versions.
They haven't been changed for NS have they?

Post by **Netrom.dk** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 11:53 am

No they haven't

Post by **TGPO** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 12:14 pm

I have started a rewrite of the bard code no less than a dozen times. The problem being that I dont particularly care for the way bioware did it. My goal has been to run the thing as a single formula instead of an if|then tree that bioware went with. All of the formula's I have tried though have either been insanely powerfull or gutted the bard to the point of uselessness.

Its on my one of these days I'll get it right list.

JesterOI · Post by **JesterOI** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 12:26 pm

I hope it's at bottom of list... It seems to be working fine right now.

Don't fix what ain't broke?

Post by **TGPO** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 12:32 pm

Actually its is broke after a fashion, it caps out at level 32.

Sightbringer · Post by **Sightbringer** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 12:38 pm

Out of curiosity, what is the problem with the if/then tree? If your formula would end up producing the exact same results, what would changing it buy you?

I doubt there would be any performance improvement so I'm guessing your intent was to also modify the effects of bard song (i.e. make the effects better or simply different).

Throst54 · Post by **Throst54** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 2:49 pm

more efficent scripts take less time to run.

Post by **TGPO** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:34 pm

There are other things about bard\curse song that I would personally like to change. I dislike that it is tied to level and perform together. One should be a modifier for the other instead of concrete case statements. That and tighter code does run better.

I believe that its entirely possible to weight all the variables, plug them into a single formula and use the result to drive all the bonuses that are possible. A net gain of smashing 5 pages worth of repetitive code down to a quarter page with no case statements.