How are Bards?

[guineapig]

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

What vital role do bards play in raid situations? Is it the resist songs that are so important?

Not sure if anyone else answered this yet. Yes, the resist songs are huge. When taking on raid bosses I am using a drum and twisting resist songs and AC/ATK/stat buffs in the tank group. With a bard in a raid group (combined with some decent resist gear) you can essentially resist anything that isn't un-resistable that raid bosses throw at you. Bard turn most encounters into a basic tank and spank.

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

For experience groups, are bards usually the pullers? Or does that not happen until much later when (and they won't on this server) get Fading Memories?

I would say that monks with sow are better raid pullers simply for the fact that they have a reset button in classic. A bard accidentally chain aggroing in Fear either leads to a dead bard or the raid being trained.

Bards on the other hand make the best raid kiters, which also comes in very handy.

Some lesser knows benefits of bards that often get overlooked are out damage and spell damage absorption songs. While the rune effect isn't that large it's persistant and mana free and they can be combined with health regen songs. If you are a number cruncher you will see your healing efficiency go through the roof over the course of a raid with a bard grouped with your tank.

[Messianic]

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

So in reading these forums, I know there are quite a few bard enthuisiasts out there. I first played a bard in PoP, so I'm curious how they fare in Classic - Velious?

Example, for Warriors lets say, is they are a little under par right now, but in Kunark, due to discs, really amp up.

Are there similar things for the bard? I know Fading Memories were their glory days as pullers. What are their strong points now? Do they get significantly better later on with expansions?

Thanks for any info.

Mobs have a larger hit box and move a little faster on this server than on classic, so swarm kiting is slightly harder, but still viable.

They still rock in every other way that they did and do on live.

[Mcbard]

I love playing a bard because of their utility and the fact that they are great both solo and grouped. I've heard people tell me horror stories about their group experiences with bards who throw up regen song and go afk, but I think as a bard if you are not a slack ass and half way decent you should be the busiest person in the group which I enjoy. I don't think I could ever play a class that turns autoattack on, hits taunt and sends tells during battles, wouldn't hold my attention, so as a bard you're constantly doing something.

The downsides of a bard: you're constantly doing something (it's a delicate balance), the hitbox here kind of blows (after kiting the last 10 or so levels this is now a complete non-issue, but sure makes for a much steeper learning curve when swarm kiting), and the exp penalty sucks but I guess I'm not in a hurry to get anywhere or I would have made a halfling rogue.

The only 2 classes I really played a lot of (50days+) are Bard and a Necro, so I think I'm a bit biased towards utility classes that have an "I can do it by myself if you don't want to help me" attitude. If you want versatility and a character you can really make your own based on your personal play style I would highly recommend it.

[Pescador]

Swarm kiting with charm doesn't work on this server. Soooo they are much less powerful solo than they were in classic. Also, the mob speed and weird hitboxes make aoe kiting a lot less forgiving (and impossible for some mob types). Finally, the resist system still seems a bit "off", since I can play my MR song and get to 150ish MR and still get charmed / feared frequently by green mobs like evil eyes.

Overall, though, it's pretty similar to how bards were in classic, and I'm enjoying mine a lot.

[Messianic]

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

Swarm kiting with charm doesn't work on this server. Soooo they are much less powerful solo than they were in classic. Also, the mob speed and weird hitboxes make aoe kiting a lot less forgiving (and impossible for some mob types). Finally, the resist system still seems a bit "off", since I can play my MR song and get to 150ish MR and still get charmed / feared frequently by green mobs like evil eyes.

Overall, though, it's pretty similar to how bards were in classic, and I'm enjoying mine a lot.

A friend of mine who was a hardcore teir 1 guild raider up to PoP said he used to kill entire zones at once on his bard...So they're just not THAT powerful here...

[knottyb0y]

Take it from me, playing a bard is AWESOME

I played a warrior and shaman to 65 on live, quit shortly after pop. I've done my share of alts but none (with maybe exception of warrior but i'm crazy about them) has been as awesome as my bard

Bards require skill, and knowledge to play well. I have only grouped since level 5 and I do not regret it. Bards are versatile, we can solo, but why would you? Grouping as a bard is amazing. Why? Because we fill so many roles. A bard can run Crowd Control using mez, and off-tanking abilities. We haste our group and slow the enemy. We have the ac to tank (not as effective as a war/sk/pal but it works) and holding aggro is a cake walk. We can dps effectively if you twist your dot songs, and Bruscos(dd) while dual wielding. We cut the downtime of a group nearly in half (especially post manasong). We make great pullers. We can buff the crap out of a group and make them all better. No other class can fill so many roles (CC, Tank, DPS, Buff/Debuff) you just have to be adaptive. In one group i'm running CC by myself. In another I'm backing up the enchanter by AOE slowing so she/he doesn't take so much damage when mez breaks. In another I'm pulling and tanking until we find a full fledged tank. The beauty of a bard is that we make everyone better. We don't do anything the best, but we do everything well enough. As long as a group has a dedicated healer there is room for a bard.

It is true however that a bad bard is easily sniffed out. Being a good bard is not always about "how many songs can he twist". It is about understanding your role in your group (which changes from group to group) and filling that role with expertise. Singing the right song at the right moment, and augmenting everyone in your group all at the same time.

You are like the Maestro of the group your job is to make sure every person blends together as best as possible. I have enjoyed every moment as my bard, definitely the most interesting class i've played.

[oldhead]

i cant stand all the button mashing and instrument/weapon swapping

bards in Vangaurd are the best bards of any MMO made.

[Pescador]

You won't get fading memories at all on this server, so bards are never going to be the best pullers. What makes bards good pullers, however, is the lull song, as well as mez / charm to CC a bad pull, and enough ac to survive a couple hits before a heal. Monks are way better though.