bard needs worn haste items?

[nostalgic99]

Do Bards need FBSS? Does that worn haste help our songs to be more effective?

[supermonk]

so i found haste to be useful when grouping in my 20s and 30s bc you'll end up tanking half the time. i was convinced by a smarter bard to sell my fbss after that. you don't melee as often once you get higher up in level in both solo/group

[nostalgic99]

so worn haste items has ZERO effects on songs? in blue, i see some high lvl bards wear Cloak of flames lol

[supermonk]

just makes you swing faster. worn haste + song/spell haste stack.

[Galenbor]

Haste items indeed have no effect on songs themselves, if you've heard/read about stacking in that context, it was likely referreing to the haste itself stacking (1 item+1song/spell+bard overhaste come Velious).

As Supermonk found, once you reach the 30s, haste items lose their appeal as a bard, since lack of double attack means your melee damage is very subpar. Couple that was the fact that you by then have the ability to use 3 dots, regen and slow/snare with instruments to double the damage of the dots, and it's no contest.

Bards are the one melee class that never needs to worry about having a haste item, not even for tanking (some songs generate more aggro than any other spell you can mention), meaning you can skip the no AC FBSS for a more tanky belt. Part of the appeal for me not needing a heavily contested class of item.

[Wallicker]

Until you get epic.

[Issar]

so worn haste items has ZERO effects on songs?

Correct.


in blue, i see some high lvl bards wear Cloak of flames lol

Haste is not useless. CoF has good dex, good HP, decent resist, and 36% haste. If the bard has an epic, they will melee to proc the song. Also, higher end haste items are relatively cheap on Blue.

[Swish]

I wouldn't make worn haste a priority, bard dps gets worse into the 40s/50s versus what a rogue/monk/ranger is putting out.

Definitely a good point on the epic though, if it helps proc it - at that point it becomes worth it <3

[Dolalin]

The Dex on a CoF will help you proc, but increased swing rate doesn't affect proc rate. Proc rates are a constant per unit time. All you have to do is be swinging at all.

[fastboy21]

Definitely doesn't help with songs.

Of all the melee classes (if you include bard in that category) bard benefits from haste the least. bard melee dps is poopy...multiplying poopy by haste is still poopy...but it is better poopy.

The stats on CoF are really good regardless of haste...so it is still one of best items in slot for bard. for its cost and rarity, especially in classic vanilla, it would be hard justifying giving it to bard...but not totally useless.

Bard can honestly be played naked as long as you have your instruments and know what you are doing...so most gear is of less utility to them compared to totally gear dependent melee classes.

It sounds suspiciously like you are asking if the bard in your group that rolled need on a FBSS is full of shit...and he isn't. That camp offers little to bard for all the work and crap he has to put up with (assuming he is pulling and CC'ing) if he can't roll on the FBSS...so wholeheartedly he can roll need on it.

Also keep in mind that you will get your sky belt basically just for showing up when you get there.

[Issar]

The Dex on a CoF will help you proc, but increased swing rate doesn't affect proc rate. Proc rates are a constant per unit time. All you have to do is be swinging at all.

That's correct, and how I've always understood it from the original developer's notes, way back in the day. I should clarify what I had meant with my comment.

If a bard has an epic, he will be meleeing to gain procs. While the procs are not influenced by haste, you may as well increase the little damage you're doing while you're doing it. As such, if you're not sacrificing any significant stats by wearing a haste item, then you may as well put one on.

I've only played one bard, which is my early 50's bard on blue. So limited experience to reference from. Aside from maintaining skills, my weapons have basically been bagged since the late 30's in both group and solo situations. We are the weirdest melee class...

[Videri]

We are the weirdest melee class...

Well put.

IRL too.