Bard or Ranger for a 4 man group?

[Tecmos Deception]

Mastering charming with a bard while not neglecting your other duties is pretty much the mark of a godly bard. I'm sure there's a bard around here somewhere you can teach you about the duration of bard charms and server v. client ticks and shit. It's not me though!

[Mandalore93]

The real problem begins once you start hitting level 37 which is where the first mana free charm stops. After that indefinite charming doesn't really become an option since bards don't regen mana like the other classes since we only have a single point in meditate. I'm also pretty sure that our own mana song doesn't affect us but that could be wrong.

After you hit the 40s, I just use charm to further split pulls and add in temporary DPS. The charm isn't by ticks as far as I know, but on a straight 18 sec duration. Generally speaking when I'm twisting while charming to hold a camp I'll do 5 songs then re-charm. If it's a tough camp that has been giving me solid damage then the last song before recharm will be to mes the thing I'm fighting to give myself a little breathing room.

As for server vs client ticks, never really played with it as for the most part you won't be able to set up a perfect twist with the timing, especially if you're taking hits.

[MikeXG]

So charm, before and after the level 37 charm both are songs like any other? Not something you can cast and have last a while like normal charm?

While twisting you would need to switch back to the target you want charmed when you got to charm song in your twist rotation? Is there a macro to help with this? is it ever viable to just sit with an instrument out playing group buffs and keeping your charm target targeted twisting through rotation to avoid having to switch targets? This would increase the potency of your group buffs (provided it was the right instrument) and replace your DPS with a charmed mob DPS?

[Mandalore93]

Yes you have to re target your pet in order to charm.once you get the timing down though it's not so bad.

[Calabee]

bard charm is roughly 24 seconds, you have time to twist in 6 songs (3 sec cast time + 1sec delay to move fingers :P) and you need to recharm

[MikeXG]

What is the expected amount of songs to be twisting in average combat as a bard. I can do 4 no problem even if I am tanking. 5, sometimes 1 will drop off for a second as I am casting it again, 6 seems a bit much but doable if its okay to have 1 dropped off for a tick or two.

[Mirana]

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

What is the expected amount of songs to be twisting in average combat as a bard. I can do 4 no problem even if I am tanking. 5, sometimes 1 will drop off for a second as I am casting it again, 6 seems a bit much but doable if its okay to have 1 dropped off for a tick or two.

Just play 4 songs. Between latency, getting bashed, pulling... not to mention song duration is anywhere between 12 and 18 seconds depending on where the "tick" hits. 4 is the right number for groups.


You may be familiar with this already, but just in case you aren't.

Making /stopcast macros for all of your songs will make twisting much easier for you, and requires only one keypress instead of two.

/stopcast
/cast 1

/stopcast
/cast 2

etc.

[Lartanin63]

I use to just do 3 at a time. No reason to cramp the hand :P

[Tenlaar]

Four songs (not including charm, 5 songs with it) or you're a slacker.

[Calibix]

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

Four songs (not including charm, 5 songs with it) or you're a slacker.

Why stop at 4 when you have time for 5?

charm, snare, dot, dot, dot, snare, charm... profit.