Bard advice

t0lkien · #1 06-08-2013, 03:09 AM

So, my Bard is kind of stuck at level 19 due to groups being pretty hard to get during off-peak (I'm in Australia). Naturally I'd like to be able to start kiting, but I don't have charm yet (nor a pair of mosquito boots), and my two DOTs are AoE so <strike>swarm</strike> DoT kiting is also pretty much out (very risky with a 30 range and Oz lag). I'm at that awkward point where meleeing even light blue mobs is tricky and risky solo, and blues are downright dangerous. I can't get plat for needed upgrades or even slight twinking because I'm having trouble finding stuff I can take down without dying repeatedly. Unless I'm missing something - which is entirely possible - I'm at a bit of a loss as how to proceed and get the levels I need to get in order to be eligible to apply for a guild and increased fun.

I missed Kunark back in the day (I started just after Velious), so my knowledge of the old world is limited. Can anyone suggest a strategy, or know of a guide that applies to Kunark on p99 at my level?

Faerie · #2 06-08-2013, 03:20 AM

Swarm kiting isn't possible until 27, when you get charm. People here seem to frequently make the mistake of calling AE kiting "swarm kiting", and I hope they're all ashamed of themselves for it.

You can AE kite though, since you're 18+ and have your brass AE dot. There is a ton of info on the topic, just search for "swarm kiting" and remember that every instance of the term that doesn't involve charm was said in error. Even without using the proper terms, they give good advice on how to AE kite.

But there are lots of ways to solo as a bard, and I wouldn't limit myself to AE kiting unless I was in a hurry for some reason. 15+, you can mez. The melee method works, with lute hp regen + mez working to keep you from dying. I always thought this was fun. So try that!

But since I assume you're playing on blue, why not find a group? Even on Aussie time there's tons of people playing on that server, and it's best to level in groups so you get that practice in where it really counts. imo

Good luck! Please don't call kiting with your AE dots swarming; it's wrong.

Kekephee · #3 06-08-2013, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faerie [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Swarm kiting isn't possible until 27, when you get charm. People here seem to frequently make the mistake of calling AE kiting "swarm kiting", and I hope they're all ashamed of themselves for it.

You can AE kite though, since you're 18+ and have your brass AE dot. There is a ton of info on the topic, just search for "swarm kiting" and remember that every instance of the term that doesn't involve charm was said in error. Even without using the proper terms, they give good advice on how to AE kite.

But there are lots of ways to solo as a bard, and I wouldn't limit myself to AE kiting unless I was in a hurry for some reason. 15+, you can mez. The melee method works, with lute hp regen + mez working to keep you from dying. I always thought this was fun. So try that!

But since I assume you're playing on blue, why not find a group? Even on Aussie time there's tons of people playing on that server, and it's best to level in groups so you get that practice in where it really counts. imo

Good luck! Please don't call kiting with your AE dots swarming; it's wrong.

I think we as a society should agree that the justification for calling charm kiting "swarm" kiting (the mobs "swarm" each other) is totally inferior to the justification for using it to describe a method in which you are in actuality kiting a swarm of 40-50 mobs.

Off-topic but come on, it's time someone says it, we need to take a vote on this.

Splorf22 · #4 06-08-2013, 03:21 AM

AOE kite NE corner of OT

Faerie · #5 06-08-2013, 03:28 AM

http://www.project1999.org/forums/sh...ad.php?t=62581

Here is a good place to start. 18+ bard is the fastest solo class.

t0lkien · #6 06-08-2013, 03:29 AM

Ah yes, the old mez trick. Thanks, I may try it. AE kiting + lag is a great way to delevel I've found. I only found DoT kiting in later levels to be successful with any sort of latency. Oh and charm kiting of course, which I loved.

Having said that, I most prefer grouping, but at 19 on Oz time there's honestly not much happening. Thanks for all the advice though!

Faerie · #7 06-08-2013, 03:55 AM

Call me a purist, but if a vote is held I feel we should disclude anyone who did not play a bard in classic EQ on live. And swarm kiting is named as such because it's NPCs that are social with one another swarming on another NPC, not on you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swarm_behaviour

A key word being "social". AE kiting can be done with practically anything at once, but proper swarm kiting requires like-minded NPCs that assist one another.

Kagatobs · #8 06-08-2013, 04:08 AM

I advise you to delete your bard and make a rogue. The trick to being a good rogue is never grouping and always I repeat always use 2hs weapons that are rogue friendly. Rogues can use 2hs for a reason.

t0lkien · #9 06-08-2013, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kagatobs [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I advise you to delete your bard and make a rogue. The trick to being a good rogue is never grouping and always I repeat always use 2hs weapons that are rogue friendly. Rogues can use 2hs for a reason.

Now why on earth would I do that. It's the only class I've ever played seriously, and one of the reasons EQ was great.

quido · #10 06-08-2013, 05:15 AM

AE kiting is really the way to go once you're 18. Even if you die five times for every successful kite, at least at the beginning, you will still profit experience. Start in EK and do all the dogs and gnolls. It's really easy with that 18 dot (greater range than level 2 dot) and a horn - I'm talking like a level a kite that takes at a maximum 20 minutes between pull and kill (once you are adept anyways - I've leveled 3 bards here). When you get a few levels upgrade to SK. The pace will feel slower in SK than it did in EK, but you will still level plenty quickly if the entire zone isn't camped. Once you're 28 or 29 goto OT and kite everything. OT is awesome until the late 40s. It's really the best way to level a bard, if you're confident. I wasn't confident at first, but I became so very quickly and I think anyone with a smooth computer easily could do the same after a few kites.