Bard 45+ Questions

[Yttrium]

Quick background. I did standard newbie stuff / grouping 1-35ish, Crushbone -> Unrest -> Mistmoore. Swarmed 35-45. Now I am almost 46 and hit up GD giant charming.

Question 1:
Bard guide recommended Orb of Tishan. I can't figure out how to use it, if I charm and try to whack a giant, he hits me instead of the pet and these guys hit hard. What is the sequence there?

Question 2:
Killing giants is fun and all but its been 20 years since I really did much end game, I guess where do I go from here? What levels can I start to raid, should I be searching for groups for loot or stick to soloing and grinding out exp, any specific factions I should work on etc. Just trying to break into the end game and not sure where to start.

Thanks!

[Snaggles]

You aren’t going to use orbs charming. Typically VERY rare situations where you don’t have an enchanter (small group work; tough kills) like kiting Ixi for a cleric epic fight, or doing juggs without an enchanter but with a shaman. Maybe reverse kiting where fear and snare are hard to land. I’ve had one in my mages bag since 2019 and haven’t used it.

You can start raiding whenever you are allowed to come. I expect before 55 is going to be rare unless you want to hide behind a wall playing mana for clerics. I’d push work your way to 60, it would be more fun and you won’t die as quickly to AE’s.

[kjs86z2]

You could do some XP in CoM groups for at least one level, maybe two until Burning Wood swarm becomes easier/reliable.

Look to see where other level 46-50 folks are at. There's a gap between CoM and KC that sends people off in different directions. Don't rush to Karnor's. You'll be there a while in your early to late 50s grouping should you choose this boring yet reliable spot.

You could team up with a druid and help them do bat charming in solb, etc. There may be a necro or enchanter up on floor 2 of CoM that wouldn't mind some company. Keep an eye on /who.

A little further down the road, Hole entrance is fantastic. I solo'd my paladin there 50-55, and if I had a bard with me it would have been way easier / more fun. If you know any twink melees go get factioned in warrens together (won't take long) for a key.

[Yttrium]

Thanks, this is helpful.

[WarpathEQ]

Don't waste your time with Orb, its a very niche item for very specific uses mostly early in server progression. Anything you're going to solo you will likely be able to land songs on with no debuffs and certainly Fufils and eventually OOS will cover anything you need and are easier to use in that regard. The stronger drums from Kunark/Velious (Selos/drums of the beast) more than offset the value of the Orb.

46-51 is amazing in LOIO doing the bloodgills. Also a fan of Spectres in Feerrott. Generally velious mobs are harder than prior releases.

Bard is an awesome class because you can do whatever you want. I tend to stick more towards solo just because its faster exp and easier to come and go when you want but you have a ton of utility in groups as well. Charm kiting is my favorite leveling strat which it sounds like you're doing currently. I recommend equipping a drum and using your DoTs between each charm then switching targets every charm break, its the most efficient way to kill mobs using charm.

As far as raiding pay attention to the guilds on your server and identify who you would like to join. There is some raiding you can do from 46-52 (naggy/vox/planes) but some of the harder content most guilds want 52+, 55+, or 60 for. 55 is really a huge level for bard raiding wise as its when you get your final cantana and OOS, the main 2 songs you use for raiding.