Bard melee

[Videri]

Rangers are considered DPS; Bards aren't. They're capable of doing great damage, usually via swarm kiting or charm shenanigans, but their direct single-target damage doesn't really compare to "DPS" classes such as rogues and rangers and even wizards (burst).

But I'd imagine bards have greater sustain aka less downtime, than almost any other class when soloing. When using their best solo techniques, they don't even take damage. So, once you kill this mob(s), you just start it back up again (unless you have to pee).

Fear-kiting on a bard is indeed pretty slow. You're twisting Slow, Fear, self-haste (or group haste if duoing with a rogue or something), and maybe a DOT; and meleeing...it's not great. But hey, you can always duo.

I keep finding myself saying, "Why are people trying to solo so much?" EQ is a team game. Yes, yes, kids, jobs, AFK at a moment's notice, but still. Once in a while you'll be able to do a nice group.