Bard vs. Rogue

[Pescador]

just a disclaimer, in a full group, a bard should be a 5% exp penalty for each person in the group, if I understand it correctly.

[Pescador]

err like 6.7%, i can't do maths on saturday.

[maestrom]

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

err like 6.7%, i can't do maths on saturday.

Not exactly. The bard experience penalty does not transfer to other group members directly. when the game divides up experience when a mob is killed, the only thing the game cares about is how much pure total experience each member of the group has.

Group member A has 5000 total experience
Group member B has 5500 total experience
Group member C has 6000 total experience
and Group member D has total 5500 experience

The game will award the largest portion of experience to group member C because that member has the most experience. Group members B and D will receive the same amount of experience (the second largest portion) and group member A will receive the least amount of experience.

Group member A could be a level 32 warrior or a level 28 bard, or a level 30 cleric.

The moral of the story is (stolen from the wiki) group with people who have similar exp totals.

[Teeroyoyort]

I was going to write up this big badass thing about how bards are badass, but I opt'd not. Bard isn't for everyone. If you're super attentive and can react positive for every situation that comes your way bard is for you! But I wouldn't recommend for your 1st class.

[Stormhowl]

I can only give my two cents on Bard, since I never played a rogue past 10ish. They're a great class if you love versatility, being that they can bring nearly every buff or debuff to the table in some form or another. I can't remember a time where someone didn't want a bard in their group; they fit in nearly everywhere there's a slot open (except for tank and healer, for obvious reasons). They're great pullers, and they get an array of utility abilities such as Tracking, Safe Fall, and Lock Picking.

However, for bards you need to learn how to twist songs (if you get the timing right between ticks, you can have as many as 4 songs going at once, but it takes constant attention to maintain; macros will not work) and if you don't have the patience to be constantly be switching songs, I wouldn't recommend the class. It's almost masochistic to play. [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[Lill-Leif]

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

I can only give my two cents on Bard, since I never played a rogue past 10ish. They're a great class if you love versatility, being that they can bring nearly every buff or debuff to the table in some form or another. I can't remember a time where someone didn't want a bard in their group; they fit in nearly everywhere there's a slot open (except for tank and healer, for obvious reasons). They're great pullers, and they get an array of utility abilities such as Tracking, Safe Fall, and Lock Picking.

However, for bards you need to learn how to twist songs (if you get the timing right between ticks, you can have as many as 4 songs going at once, but it takes constant attention to maintain; macros will not work) and if you don't have the patience to be constantly be switching songs, I wouldn't recommend the class. It's almost masochistic to play. [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Yeah, safe fall and lock picking is a must in every group!

[Stormhowl]

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

Yeah, safe fall and lock picking is a must in every group!

That's not what I said, but I appreciate having words stuffed into my mouth.

[Tarathiel]

Chanters are pretty cool... So are bards... I would take either in an xp group as I am not a classist like a lot of people... That being said...all > rogues

[falkun]

Back to the original BARD vs. ROGUE debate:

Bard:
+ Can do a little bit of everything. I've even found ways to "fit" in with a group that already had a chanter and shaman.
+ Track (especially with how low the ranger population is)
+ Fastest soloing in the game.
+ Solid group support.
+ ALWAYS doing something.
- ALWAYS doing something.
- little DPS, groups bring you for your support, not your large numbers.
- bard sneak/hide/lock pick is vastly inferior to rogue version

Rogue:
+ melee are top dogs in DPS in classic, this won't change until foci and AA (which are not planned at this time for P99 server)
+ highest melee DPS in the game (especially after epics come out)
+ easy epic
+ best invis in game (hide/sneak)
- straight DPS, you bring the pain...and that's about it
- not as much to do, backstab and aggro dump are all you do in combat

I'm sure there's ton's I'm missing, but if you want to have a nice, "classic" chill time while still being wanted in groups for your DPS, roll a rogue. If you want to always be busy, roll a bard.

[Dr4z3r]

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

+ ALWAYS doing something.
- ALWAYS doing something.

Truth.