Newbie Bard Advice

[Cyph]

Hi all,
My level 3 Bard, Voce, is coming along nicely in GFay. However, she's still geared in her newbie gear; the training short sword and tunic and nothing else. I never played a bard in the original so I'm a bit at a loss to how to developer her equipment wise (even then, it was a decade ago since I last played EQ). The price of songs are high (well, for me) and I don't even have enough to buy my level 3 songs yet! That said, what should I be aiming for, weapon and armour wise? Are any players out there able to make crafted armour and perhaps bags? If so, how much gold am I looking at for these and where would be a good place to find such services?

Cheers in advance to anyone and everyone who is able to help out.

[Comfortably]

probably best to look for a wizard in gfay or a druid in bbm, and try to tag along for a port and head over to EC. People trade/craft, and all that sort of stuff in the tunnel. There's a bard trainer in freeport, and you can look for orc camp groups/turn in the belts.

[Estu]

Your biggest problem is going to be actually getting the money to buy anything from players. An example of basic crafted bard armor is banded armor, which usually sells for about 1pp/ac, which is 91pp for an entire set. Gfay, moreover, is rough for getting money, and grouping is rougher. To get the most basic armors you can kill humanoid monsters (pixies, skeletons, orcs) in the area; they'll drop cloth armor. They also drop rusty weapons, splintering clubs, and cracked staves, which sell for a few gold (except for staves, which sell for about 1pp). Orcs will often drop crushbone belts, which sell for 1pp, but you're probably better off just handing them in for the quest, as you'll get exp and about 5gp in rewards, as well as tattered/patchwork, which is basic leather armor superior to cloth. Giant wasps will sometimes drop venom sacs which sell to merchants for about 5gp.

You won't really be making much money grouping in crushbone, although higher level orcs sometimes drop bronze weapons, which sell for around 5pp. Once you're high enough level, you can run over to Butcherblock and do a little farming. Green goblins drop about 5gp each along with weapons and cloth, and the casters will also drop gems. Spiders drop spider silk, which you can sell to players for a bunch of plat a stack. If you really want to make some money and get some gear relatively early, your best bet is probably to group in crushbone until level 5 or 10 ish, and then go to East Commonlands (by boat or by port) and farm bone chips, spider silks, and high quality bear pelts to sell to players; HQ bear pelts are rare but sell for 10pp.

I wouldn't worry about getting player-made bags early on; buy some large sewing kits from merchants and you'll be all set for a long time. No weight reduction but otherwise excellent, cost about 1pp each. You should place your priorities on getting a set of banded (or better armor), a nice weapon, and some jewelry; low level enchanters often craft basic jewelry for about 5pp each piece.

[Nlaar]

Check your private messages Cyph.

[madara]

Skeletons, always go where they are. 5pp a stack is great for starter songs. Plus they drop containers, cloth, crap to sell.

[Cyph]

Thank you all for your informative posts and Nlaar for offering help, much appreciated and makes me happy to see positive players (which seems to be a rare thing on other games these days).

[Solarie-EQ]

Look out, hubby say's bard's can't solo here.

[Qaedain]

Bards can solo just fine, if you aren't bad.

[Cyph]

Death is becoming common now for me... damn orcs near the hill.

[Bubbles]

Thank you all for your informative posts and Nlaar for offering help, much appreciated and makes me happy to see positive players (which seems to be a rare thing on other games these days).

The really amazing thing is we're 10x nicer in game than on these boards, so you're way ahead of the game. ;)

[Cyph]

I bumped into some helpful players today during my lunch break. One even tracked my corpse!

On that note, I'm finding it quite difficult playing a Bard; I'm getting owned so easily if I let my guard down for one second. Money is still tight and I don't have enough to buy my level 3 song, let alone armour and weapons. It's a hard life :)

[Sareil]

I was dying all the time before I hit 6 and got the heal song, your survivability shoots way up there.

[Cyph]

I would just like to thank some kind souls who provided me assistance today, Vonyor (from Divinity) and Teddee. Your kindness is greatly appreciated and this Wood Elf bard now has a few plat to rub together for backpacks, songs and hopefully weapons and armour. Is anyone able to point me in the direction of some affordable weapons and armour for a starting bard? I need to put their faith into good use!

[Karnek]

I must say starting again as a bard has been the most frustrating thing ever. I made it to level 6 and things got easier (hymm of restoration) but I am still using a cracked staff (best ratio weapon I can obtain). A friend of mine has leveled a necro to 11 in half the time I spent getting to 5. I found out you can't do all the mail run quests to kelethin at the same time either, since it thinks the items are the same. That was pretty unfortunate!

But, with that said... I just can't imagine playing any other class in classic. If anyone sees me (or my corpse) just say hi! I'll be around GFay area, killing orcs while I can.

[Cyph]

Likewise Karnek. I'm around the same area, maybe we can group :)

[Swindle]

Best place for a Bard 4-10 is Blackburrow. Kill Gnolls for fangs, turn them in to the lady in the Halas Warrior Guild. Each fang will net you a couple of blues and 5 GP plus an item, usually a lantern or food which you can also sell. You can amass a tidy sum by 8 or so. Only drawback is your Lull song is sold in GFAY.

[Messianic]

Best place for a Bard 4-10 is Blackburrow. Kill Gnolls for fangs, turn them in to the lady in the Halas Warrior Guild. Each fang will net you a couple of blues and 5 GP plus an item, usually a lantern or food which you can also sell. You can amass a tidy sum by 8 or so. Only drawback is your Lull song is sold in GFAY.

He could just do Crushbone/orcs in gfay from 4-10 instead, and get CB belts which can be sold for a plat each or turned in for xp and 5g in patchwork items...and be right next to the Gfay bard song vendors =)

Honestly, I always found CB belts/pads faster xp than Gnoll fangs, and CB more profitable and fun than BB...

[Zubek]

He could just do Crushbone/orcs in gfay from 4-10 instead, and get CB belts which can be sold for a plat each or turned in for xp and 5g in patchwork items...and be right next to the Gfay bard song vendors =)

Honestly, I always found CB belts/pads faster xp than Gnoll fangs, and CB more profitable and fun than BB...

I like this idea. Just started up a bard myself and have always done the Qeynos/Freeport areas. Haven't played around in CB before, I think I might give it a shot too.

[Karnek]

I almost wish I had started in freeport - the orc quest for gfay rewards small raw hide leather items and most drops are for small cloth. This has probably added a bit to my frustration. A kind person gave me a few pieces of ringmail and some medium raw hide and I think that helped some. Once I can start making some money and get a decent weapon I will probably be doing better. Self-haste at level 7!

[Cyph]

Thanks for the advice RE the Gnolls, I might stay around Crushbone for safety for the moment though :) I recall my brother did the Gnolls with his Druid back in the day and he did rake in the XP.

I'll be floating about Crushbone/GFay today, so people feel free to hit me up for a group.

And yes, the kindness of strangers is a welcomed sight. Someones junk is a newbies treasure. So to all who help us newbies, thank you so very much :)

[Sareil]

Also in the Qeynos area is the rabid wolves/bear. Their hides you can trade in for the endure disease priest spell, which I sold a bunch of for almost 2p a pop, plus the rabid bear pelt turn in nets you another 2p from the quest reward. I killed that bear every chance I got, for almost 4p a pop. Finally, they rarely drop an item called "fleshy orb" which you can take to freeport for a fine steel weapon.

Besides, blackburrow > cb

[Cyph]

A couple of friendly people have provided me with some starting plat to purchase equipment. Does anyone here have any weapons/armour/items that would suit a starting Bard? I'm looking at putting this plat and their friendliness to proper and good use.

[Qaedain]

What kind of plat do you have to work with?

[Cyph]

I have been given a couple hundred plat all up, some of that has gone to bags and spells so far.

[Estu]

I'd get a suit of bronze, some basic jewelry from enchanters, and some kind of weapon.

[kizben]

Cyph,

Send me a PM. I am also going to be a bard (once i get my crashing issues resolved). Without sounding too arrogant...although bards can be that way ;), I was one of the best pulling and twisting bards on Tunare back in the day.

I can give you lots of tips on how to enjoy the best class I ever found in any MMORPG.

And don't worry about soloing, everyone should WANT a bard in their group. Just the opinion of someone who could pull off a 9 song twist.

Kiz

[Cyph]

thanks kizben , will do.

ive made some orc hill groups with great success , the belts gave me some great xp and finally some armour!

[Cyph]

i may take up a trade to help with plat, any suggestions or advice?