Bard tips needed! Thanks!

[MiRo2]

Once I knew what I was looking for it was easy to spot right away. Just offering tips, not mandatory bard instruction.

The best thing about being a bard is that you can play it pretty much however you want and still be effective in some way.

[Crede]

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

Going to make a bard alt. I am looking for tips, such as macros to use, tips on how to use instruments, etc.

Anything you guys can think of that would be good to learn or know how to do on a bard is what I seek.

I do not want to swarm kite, so no instructions on that please.

I will group and solo for XP using melee then later charm once I get that.

Thanks you!

Stopsong macro is key as it cuts your keystrokes in half, I wouldn’t be playing a bard without it. Get yourself a nice drum, and a gypsy lute. Walrus skin drum is great and almost as good as selos for 1/4 the price or even cheaper.

1-26 just twist normal songs and melee dps. At 27 charm just owns, use that as long as you can. Even better when you add fungi/jboots to the mix. You charm one then attack another, and when it breaks charm your former target and attack old pet. Rinse repeat break them both before dying and just keep going. Add in dots to help them die faster, especially when you start getting chant dots. I second getting a goblin gazughi ring I was lazy and relied on hide or tried to time it out but looking back I’d get the ring for sure for insta charm breaks.

This will take you to 50 with ease, 50+ is a different ball game and you gotta get more creative for leveling spots solo but grouping is an option I just don’t play long enough in one sitting to deal with groups.

[Legidias]

Alternatively to invis break, when they get low you charm the ones thats lower (under 20%) and bard slow the higher HP one, and balancing slow with dots on only the high hp one usually ends up with both breaking at like 10% hp, which is easy to finish off since they're now running. This takes a bit of practice to get a feel for when you should slow / dot (and stop doing it at low hp) but its just as effective to get the mobs to break charm at very low HP %.

[Issar]

When I was playing, the first thing I did with my bard was make my /stopcasting /cast 1-8 macros. I also set them up on action bar 4(?) and bound those keys to my mmo mouse. I would typically use keys 1-5 on my keyboard and anything beyond that generally is pressed on the side keys of the mouse. Comes in handy to have them all bound though, when you're trying to poor a cocktail and kite/play at the same time.

[Jimjam]

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

When I was playing, the first thing I did with my bard was make my /stopcasting /cast 1-8 macros. I also set them up on action bar 4(?) and bound those keys to my mmo mouse. I would typically use keys 1-5 on my keyboard and anything beyond that generally is pressed on the side keys of the mouse. Comes in handy to have them all bound though, when you're trying to poor a cocktail and kite/play at the same time.

For AoE damage spells, you may also consider

/stop
/pause x, /cast n
/stop

The advantage is it ensures you don't run around singing damage and get killed by non aggro high level NPCs, the disadvantage is the /pause/stop combo can break your rhythm if you get a skipped note.

[Lhancelot]

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

For AoE damage spells, you may also consider

/stop
/pause x, /cast n
/stop

The advantage is it ensures you don't run around singing damage and get killed by non aggro high level NPCs, the disadvantage is the /pause/stop combo can break your rhythm if you get a skipped note.

I created macros like this.

/stopcast
/cast 1

This seemed to run songs really smooth making it so then I only had to tap each song once. I didn't add a pause in, is it really needed?

I decided I can't play bard the class is too busy on the fingers/wrist and I rather not contract carpal tunnel's syndrome. Even when simplifying the twisting, macros are a huge help - it's just too much for me.

I only add to this thread in case someone makes or has a bard and can use the tips given here.

[Jimjam]

/stop
/cast 1

stops any song you are singing

starts a new song

It's a great way to have a bunch of hotkeys to conveniently weave together. What I suggested was different, and really specific for AoE aggro so you don't upset otherwise neutral NPCs (the classic lvl 2 AoE DoT on city guards example).

/stop
/pause n cast 1
/stop

stops any song you might be singing
starts casting a (damage) song
stops the song again after the stated time

What this does is let you do one pulse of the AoE then automatically stop it, ergo ensuring you don't leave it on while running to the vendors/guards.

Does that make more sense?

[Lhancelot]

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

/stop
/cast 1

stops any song you are singing

starts a new song

It's a great way to have a bunch of hotkeys to conveniently weave together. What I suggested was different, and really specific for AoE aggro so you don't upset otherwise neutral NPCs (the classic lvl 2 AoE DoT on city guards example).

/stop
/pause n cast 1
/stop

stops any song you might be singing
starts casting a (damage) song
stops the song again after the stated time

What this does is let you do one pulse of the AoE then automatically stop it, ergo ensuring you don't leave it on while running to the vendors/guards.

Does that make more sense?

Yes. Makes sense good tip thank you Jimjam.

[Jimjam]

Great, if that makes sense to you, hopefully it makes sense to any young, up and coming bards of the future too!

[Arkanjil]

I’m a subscriber to the melee bard in group, depending on the situation. Switch in your instrument in for the particular song. With decent weapons/haste, you might not do good damage, but it adds up. If your in a caster heavy group, strict mana songs makes sense. If you play your class well, you’ll be too busy pulling/charming/CCing/buffing to be too concerned with instrument vs melee. I switch my style depending on the group.

I’ve also had my epic for so long, I barely recall my adventures before it. But, I’ve always enjoyed meleeing when it made sense, which was usually in more melee heavy groups. The breath of Harmony clicks for 5 songs was always fun for vanity purposes too.

Love the bard play style, it’s always been my favorite. Enjoy the ride!