Whats the best goodies for hardalis!

Taking into account his crap strength.

<font color="gold">Well, he can be equipped with many good items, but I suggest that you replace one of his shortswords with the Cutthroat +4, if ya are in that part of the game.
And the mail-armour that only bards can wear (forgot the name) is also good.
And because of his lousy strength, maybe ya should equip him with girdle of frost giant strength or something.

If he gets the right equipment, he is a very powerful NPC!</font>


see ya!

Any more help would be great!!

He can actually work as quite a nice fighter, arty type fencer. I had him memorise a couple of strength and mirror image spells. Combined with offensive spin he really became quite good in combat. I think the swords he comes with are good early in the game. Would be quite funny so see him dual wield crom faer with the flail of ages (would he need the use any item skill tho?)

good points, but i have to disagree with the weapon selection...

kundane in his left hand is almost a must (additional attack with the main weapon, although kundanes description doesn´t state that iirc).
for his main weapon i´d proably go for pixie prick instead of cutthroat, although the choice is yours... save or fall asleep vs an additioanl +2 to thaco/+4 (on average) to damage (including the effects from specialisation which, however, have no effect on the number of attacks in his case).
for his armour, melodic chain is the best he can get. don´t be tempted to save up for the jesters chain in the asylum, it prevents spellcasting and the boots of speed are definitely more useful.

Warning, Contains Item Spoilers, some from ToB
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Right, I've completed the game with a solo blade now and these items did the job! :

Armour: Bladesinger +4/5
Don't rule out valygars armour. When you can use any item (pretty quick when you solo) you can wear this armour and get 25% elemental resistance and also to magic damage *and* it lets you cast the mage spells and use your thieving skills with AC2!! Best in SoA for a bard!. Carry a suit of decent enchanted full plate for combat reasons (armour of the heart from the underdark should do the trick)

Weapons:
Belm (+1 attack per round)
Scarlet ninja To (+1 attack per round and poison ability good for trolls - note you can only use this with the use any item ability since it's for monks only) - These 2 dual wielded give 4 attacks per round!
Tuigan Bow +1 (weak but 3 attacks per round)

Girdle of strength mandatory since bards have a crap THAC0 (lowest base from levelling up is 10). Crom Faeyr is a must, dual wielded with the scarlet ninja to gives 3 attacks per round and a good THAC0. Once you have this, use the belt of inertial barrier to give good protections and drastically improve a bards breath saving throw (which again is crap).

Wear 2 rings of gaxx (pick pocket the first before kangaxx goes hostile to give +20% MR, +4 saving throws, AC+4 and improved haste 6 times per day.)

Wear cloak of the sewer in SoA, and Montilos Cloak in ToB.

Boots of Speed a must

Gauntlets of extra. speialisation from watchers keep combined with boots of speed with give the bard an aditional atack per round (5 attacks with belm and scarlet, 4 with crom faeyr and scarlet)

Amulet of Power or amulet of master harper in ToB

Now you have a good blade that can handle EVERY situation by himself.

If you need help with the locations of any of the mentioned items, tell me so I can spoil you.

Jim.


[EDIT] Forgot about helmet, wear pale green loun stone for excellent HP boost and THAC0 bonus [/EDIT]

[ 01-17-2002: Message edited by: Jim ]</p>

You definately want Melodic Chain mail.

So he should use crom fayer with either belm or kundane.
With boots of speed
Amulet of power
Melodic Chain/Bladesinger

I have ring of gaxx on my stalker!
So what rings should I give him.

Hi BALROGBANE!

Jim's suggestions are nearly perfect, but don't forget about Dakon's Zerth Blade. This Katana lets a mage (or bard) cast an additional spell of each level from 1-4. If H'D is going to chuck M.M.Meteors, be sure to put the Zerth blade in his off-hand. He loses the bonus spells each time he un-equips the Blade.

It's not an extra attack, but it is a +1 katana which lowers his AC by one. A fine balance between boosting spellcasting and combat skill IMO.

-- Nifft

Actually... I would prefer hurling Melf's Minute Meteors with a Blade. It grants 5 attacks per round, 6 if you activate Offensive Spin. It also allows your off-hand weapon to transform into a throwable returnable weapon.