First, my opinion on the game(s) in a nutshell:
- Neverwinter Nights 2 is a fantastic game *platform*. The D&D 3.5 world has never been put in polygons with as much quality, detail, and most importantly smoothness of gameplay. There are a few missing pieces (e.g. mounts) but by and large, it's an awesome software for which to write both a single-play adventure or a multi-player persistent world.
- The original campaign of NWN2 is cheesy pre-cooked more-of-the-same clichéd standard default unoriginal mass-produced high fantasy fare. While it does have its awesome moments (the trial was like a piece of a better game transplanted into the OC; and fighting a red dragon plus a tribe of fire giants at the same time *was* exhilarating), overall it is extremely forgottable in character, setting, story, and mood.
- Mask of the Betrayer is the best Forgotten Realms adventure I have ever played (yes, I played every version of BG and IWD as well as several mods). Among all RPGs I've played, I rank it on par with Vampire Bloodlines and second only to Planescape: Torment (probably the original Fallouts too, but I'm going to play them only in a few months). My advice is to skip the original campaign and just straight up play MotB and enjoy the amazingness. EDIT: That is, assuming you aren't new to D&D and won't get overwhelmed by starting with all the abilities of a Level 21 character.
Now, as for playing a Bard, I played through both games with a melee Bard build that I found on GameFAQ. I strongly recommend it to pretty much everyone since it's very easy to play, rounds up a party well by providing both the warrior and a semi-healer option, and is just overall incredibly powerful. Most importantly, though, it has plenty of skill points and a high Charisma, so it makes for a great main character since it handles dialogue just like a Bard should.
If you pay attention to the requirements you can easily fiddle with the numbers a bit to account for your preference, without losing much effectiveness (for example, I didn't want a 'dull' character and raised Wis to 10 even though it's not really needed). I also *think* (although I'm not sure, it's been a year since I touched D&D) that it can be built without need for the Blackguard levels, therefore allowing a good character. But I could very well be wrong.
Here it is (credit to randomsome1):
E) BadBard Bard16/Blackguard3/Fighter1, Human, evil, non lawful
BadBard is a solid bard build that relies on pre-battle buffs. He acts
as a strong fighter in full plate and shield, that can also support his
friends with solid skills, bardic auras, and spell buffs. He gets very
high saving throw bonuses thanks to the blackguard levels.
He does not use many spells in battle due to his armor. However, he
gets Curse Song which is the most powerful debuff spell in the game!
In addition, Divine Shield greatly increases AC temporarily, as needed, and
a few spells are castable even in armor, such as Displacement and Darkness.
He is easy to level, since he is STR-based, uses plate and gains
the ability to use it early on.
In my experience, "caster bards" are just plain bad. They need to be in
battle for their auras and curse song to work well with others.
They dont have enough casts per day to buff parties AND cast offensively.
Besides, 1 area effect spellcast, and ALL the enemies charge you anyways...
str 16 +5levelup = 21
dex 12
con 14
int 10
wis 8
cha 16
1 bard - evil, nonlawful. Natural Leader background.
Take Luck of Heroes and Power Attack feats.
2 fighter - Cleave feat. Gains wpn/armor feats free.
3 bard - wpn focus: whatever
4 bard
5 bard
6 bard - Curse Song
7 bard
8 bard - [Ensure 5 HIDE skill here!]
9 Blackguard - practiced caster
10 BG (gains massive saves bonus)
11 BARD (NOT BG!!!)
12 BG - Divine Shield feat - MUST be taken exactly at 3rd BG level.
13 bard
14 bard
15 bard - extend spell
16 bard
17 bard
18 bard - Choose:Toughness,PowerCrit, or Lingering Song
19 bard
20 bard
Feat Choices: Lingering Song is mainly used for Curse Song extension.
Most other bardsongs are pretty weak.
PowerCrit is ok, but not really that necessary. Good if you used a
scimitar or rapier.
Toughness is +20 HP. Always a nice boost. I don't see a clear preference.
Skill choices:
you have 165 skillpoints.
Maximize tumble for +2ac, avoid attk of opp.
Maximize Perform for maximum Curse Song debuff
Take 5 HIDE for Blackguard prerequisite.
UMD for device usage would be very nice.
Some lore is convenient since you get +16 for being a bard anyways.
Rogue openlock,disarm trap is handy, but are cross skills so you can
only get 11 ranks (instead of 23)
Spells:
You have to take off armor/shield to cast most of these.
Hence, use only buff/utility spells. Consider a mithril shield so you
do not have to remove the shield also.
My recommended list:
1: identify, dispel lesser, cure light wnds, amplify
2: Heroism!, mirror image, ghostly visage, darkness(Castable in Armor!)
3: See Invis, Haste(extend it), Find Traps, Displacement(castable in armor)
4: Greater Invis maybe, Warcry?(extend), Neut Poison, Freedom Movement
5: ethereal visage(extend), greater Heroism, mass cure light wnds, dispel
6: (used only for extending 5th lvl spells mainly)
take Energy Immunity(situational), mass charm(castable in armor!)
Bulls str is nice, but by the time you get it, you probably dont need it.
(can use the low duration Blackguard version if REALLY needed)
Combat "Spell": Curse Song. 16 uses per day.
At lvl16, 30 perform it hits all baddies in decent area for:
-2ab
-3dmg
-3saves
20 sonic dmg.
-5 AC!!
No saving throw allowed, which makes for a VERY powerful debuff spell.
Combat spell #2: Divine Shield. 6 to 12 uses per day.
Gain CHA bonus to dodge AC for CHA bonus rounds.
You want to grab a +CHA item as soon as possible, as it makes the shield
very powerful, plus pumps spellcasting, AND adds +saving throw bonus.
Other combat spells: Darkness, Mass Charm, Displacement.
(all are non-somatic and castable in armor)
Weapon Choice: Doesn't really matter all that much. I would go with
1hander+shield personally. Scimitar,longsword,warhammer are best.
AB = 16bab +5str +3aura +1leader +1focus = 26.
(+4 greater heroism, +1haste, +5 curse song effectively)
AC = 10 +2tumble +8plate +2shield +1dex +1luck = 24
(plus 4bard aura if needed, +up to 9 from divine shield, and
effectively 2 from curse song)
UPGRADE:
--------
There are lots of ways to go with this build.
Going from 16bard to 21 would let you pick up Hymm of Requiem which is pretty
strong, as well as pump up your auras and songs.
Some more fighter levels would add bonus feats that would be promoted to epic.
You won't easily be able to hit Greater/Epic weapon focus, so I would avoid
trying for it.
4 levels of RDD would also be an ideal way to cheaply gain some nice bonuses.
So, I would plan to go 21bard,2fighter,3BG,4RDD as this scores a good balance
of these different upgrade paths. You have enhanced bard casting, Hymm,
auras, and plenty of skillpoints to use. 4 RDD adds +4STR,+2AC which is solid,
and the 1 fighter level adds 1 bonus epic feat.
NOTE: This will impact your BAB bringing you down to 23BAB max.
Another plan is to stay 16bard,3BG, then add 7 fighter and 3 NW9, which keeps
a high 26BAB for 6 attacks.
