Question regarding bard instruments

[GodOfYawns]

Hi. I'm new to P1999. I played Vanguard for a few months as well as EQ1 on the Ps2 years back. I loved the Bard on Vanguard, which was quite similar to the bard in EQ, only you could macro so that when you sang a song you'd whip out an instrument, and then equip your main hand again. You would only have to put the secondary back in its spot, which was pretty easy. I understand you can macro your songs here so it's only one press of a hotkey. I made a low level bard already and I liked that aspect. My question to experienced bards is, just how important is it to switch instruments (it seems very, considering the modifier), and how hectic is it. I want to play a bard, not some awful, never ending inventory mini-game, which is what it sounds like when I read up on it. Thanks.

[GodOfYawns]

Ah. Nevermind. I think I found my answer from a reply by Calibix on another thread:

Once you get to 50+, and really the whole way up, in group your going to be dual wielding 90% of the time. The main things your going to be asked to do won't overly be affected by swapping instruments in. Snare and haste can't be modded until you get an epic. Mana song isn't affected by instruments outside of the hp on cantana. Lull, Mez, Charm, and Fear all irrelevant outside of MAYBE the lowered MR on mez. So that really only leaves dots, which are filler in groups if at all, and primarily a solo thing where your trying to maximize your limited damage potential. The only spell I routinely swap for is Angstlitch's Assonance because pulling with a 71% slow is sweet. Other than that, its lute during down times, and drum for travel.

[Mirana]

In order to truly min/max it would require a "never ending inventory mini game."

However, it is possible to hotkey inventory/weapon slots so if, for example, you need to switch between percussion and strings for a high end encounter it is not too difficult to do. To be clear, you can add the inventory/weapon slot to your hotbar, and manually mouse click to swap instruments in and out.

In exp groups, just sing and enjoy your class and don't worry about getting that extra 5hp regen.

[Swish]

If you look for Duxa UI then you'll have your 8 main slots visible along with your primary/secondary weapon slots...maybe 5 backpacks, a lute, a drum and a horn is the way to go?

My first main on live was a bard, but I didn't get him past 35 (too many song aggro deaths, I caved in [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.])

[Poosammich]

Ya watch for any AOE dmg songs.... Be sure they're off before running into town. Thats already eatin my whiddle Bard a few times since my return!

[Peacocky]

Just what Mirana said and it is no different on Pre Kunark and the same with Kunark. It was Velious when they introduce /Melody macro and some time later with Bandolier for lazy wannabe bard's who can't sing. [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[Daldaen]

Melody was a LoY/LDoN addition. Never will be here.

[Peacocky]

It was there in Velious era patch note, "The patch-added Melody command allows bards to twist songs automatically, making the class much more accessible than it originally was for newbies, boxers, and people who are used to playing other classes."

So glad it will not be in p99.

[Savok]

I don't think Melody hit until GoD expansion.

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December 15, 2004
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- /melody ability implemented for bards - To use /melody, type /melody
. The numbers are the same numbers you would use for the /cast command.
The melody will repeat the songs in the specified order until a note is
missed due to an interruption.

You can use the UI in my link (selfless plug) if you want a UI that is easy to switch instruments with.

As one bard to another instruments will always give you a better return on your songs than weapons - to the point that in a group you would be more effective doing that than straight fighting (unless your super twinked). The only exception to this are haste and mana songs that are not moddified by instruments.

[Peacocky]

/Melody was release long before epic 1.5 (LoY) and Epic 2.0 (OoW one expansion after GoD). It was first known as /Song. There was an add on third party Macro for bard in Kunark.