BARD BUILD, Neverwinter Nights, NWN1

NWN Bard Build

The Bard Build is a NWN Build for BioWare's cRPG Definition of 2002, Neverwinter Nights 1.

This is a basic Bard build that sports low-level versatility. She sings, enchants and fires a crossbow. We can play this bard conventionally or as what amounts to a self-buffing warrior.

NWN Bard Build Foundation

• Human, Female, Chaotic Good, Bard
• Role: Enchantress (debuff, immobilize, divide & conquer), Ranged Attacker (crossbow), singer (buffer, debuffer), loremaster, diplomat.
• Stats: Str 8, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 16, Wis 8, Cha 16

NWN Bard Build Progression

• Bard 1: Bard Song, Curse Song, Lingering Song, Cantrips
• Bard 2: Mage Armor, Sleep
• Bard 3: Spell Focus: Enchantment, Charm Person
• Bard 4: Cha +1, Ghostly Visage, Tasha's Hideous Laughter
• Bard 5: Identify, Eagle's Splendor
• Bard 6: Rapid Reload NWN
• Bard 7: Hold Person, Confusion, Charm Monster
• Bard 8: Cha +1, Haste
• Bard 9: Greater Spell Focus: Enchantment
• Bard 10: Displacement, Improved Invisibility, War Cry
• Bard 11: Hold Monster
• Bard 12: Cha +1, Extend Spell
• Bard 13: Dominate Person, Mind Fog, Ethereal Visage
• Bard 14: Healing Circle
• Bard 15: Improved Critical: Light Crossbow
• Bard 16: Protection From Alignment, Summon Creature V, Mass Haste, Ice Storm
• Bard 17: Blindness/Deafness, Summon Creature VI

NWN Bard Spells.

We select key enchantment spells when we level up because we have spell focus feats in enchantment.

We have 20 hard ranks in 8 different skills. The most important skills are Perform, Lore, Spellcraft NWN, Tumble NWN and Use Magic Device NWN. Appraise, Bluff, Persuade, Heal, Concentration are secondary, but still important. You should have enough skill points to invest in all of these, more or less.

With the above-screencapped OC items, Perform skill is 41.

Bard Fighter Build Foundation

Feel free to take one or more levels in Fighter. It gives us access to martial weapons and Fighter feats.

• Stats: Str 16, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 8, Cha 14.
• We would take Power Attack, Cleave and Improved Critical. 
• Maybe Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization as well if we take four Fighter levels (Scimitar).
• Then, we would choose Bard Spells NWN that buff martial abilities, aka our offense and defense in combat.

SMAC Guide:

Neverwinter Nights Builds	Weapon Master Build NWN	Wizard Build NWN
Red Dragon Disciple Build NWN	Fighter Build NWN	Sorcerer Build NWN
Cleric Build NWN	Paladin Build NWN	Bard Build NWN
Monk Unarmed Build NWN	Barbarian Build NWN	Gnome Illusionist Build NWN
Monk Kama Build NWN	Dwarven Defender Build NWN	Druid Build NWN
Rogue Build NWN	Arcane Archer Build NWN	Shifter Build NWN