bards....phtphtphtpht

[djtool]

I was messing around with the 'Last of the tuatha' theme and had recuited a few bards because it seems like 2 or 3 bards singing their song and hanging around with the troops (morale bonus) would be a cool thing. Instead they constantly insist on hanging out and casting spells on themselves

I tried all sorts of scripting, to no avail. cool idea...lousy implementation.

[Nagot Gick Fel]

Strange. I never have this problem with Bards.

I leave some behind with my more powerful battlemages and they usually default to Soothing Song when their script runs out, which is exactly what I want them to do.

The others I deploy close to the front line, and even if they cast a few buffs on themselves, most of their time is spent casting Tangle Vines on the enemies and Protection on my shock troops, which is exactly what I want them to do.

What orders do you give them exactly, and what deployment do you use?

Also, there aren't that many buffs available with Nature-1. Do you mean they cast the same spell on themselves repeatedly?

[Graeme Dice]

Originally posted by djtool:
Instead they constantly insist on hanging out and casting spells on themselves

Well, if you tell them to cast spells, they will currently stay fixed to that spot, and cast spells. If there's no friendlies around, then they will probably just cast things on themselves. It would be nice if there was some way to make them move with a body of your troops and cast spells from time to time, but there currently isn't any way to do that.

[djtool]

I'm talking about the 'song' spells nagot not the normal ones.

well i've told them to 'stay behind troops', scripted various song for them to cast, placed them in different location on the battle field (i.e. behind the troops i want them to cast bravery and healing on), placed the troops i want them to help under their command...all to no avail.

so because they refuse to cast those useful spells on the troops or even hang out near them to make their banner worthwhile, their only good as the invigoration tool previously mentioned.

too bad.

[Nagot Gick Fel]

Originally posted by djtool:
I'm talking about the 'song' spells nagot not the normal ones.

Well, Soothing Song is one I mentionned, and the most useful IMO, if you have other mages around. Otherwise all the song spells have very short range so it's no surprise the Bards you put behind your troops can't cast them, as it's unlikely there will be a suitable target within range.

well i've told them to 'stay behind troops', scripted various song for them to cast, placed them in different location on the battle field (i.e. behind the troops i want them to cast bravery and healing on), placed the troops i want them to help under their command...all to no avail.

I understand. It's true these songs are rather useless, except to heal your own bodyguards or prevent them to rout. Doubling their range might do the trick - something I'll probably try when full magic modding is available.

[PvK]

How about placing them behind a group that has Attack orders (and/or or inside a group he leads which has Guard Commander orders), and then scripting him to Attack for the appropriate number of turns for his battlefield position, and then cast spells? That way, if you guess right about how long it takes the group to reach the enemy troops, he should be up there with them when he starts casting spells.

PvK