New Bard: Will I be despised if I Swarm Kite?

[Benjord]

I'm considering coming back to EQ after a 16 year absence and love the Project_1999 concept. I used to be a Bard, and I'd really like to try it again.

However, I've been researching online regarding various Pros and Cons of Project_1999, and I was quite surprised to see how many times I ran across comments like "I hate Bards who Swarm Kite".

Why is that?

I honestly don't remember that being a problem with other players back in the day. Maybe I was oblivious at the time? But I have no recollection of people being pissed-off when I would swarm-kite with my Bard back in 2001.

Have perceptions changed for some reason? Maybe there aren't as many mobs in Project_1999 compared with the original EQ, and as a result the players don't like Bards "hogging" all the mobs for themselves?

I don't know. It just seemed like Swarm-Kiting was a legitimate strategy for the Bard, but if everyone is going to be pissed-off all the time, perhaps I should consider a different class instead?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[gildor]

Short answer no...don't be a dick and you won't be despised.

Long answer, no...don't be dick

[Xap]

If you are courteous and don't take every single mob from other players, people won't hate you. I do generally roll my eyes when I see a bard rounding up all available mobs from a spot I'm hunting, but the 25 mob PBAoE cap has definitely helped curb douchey behavior. It's not nearly as taboo as a few years ago.

Also since the Guides/community determined it was kosher to just pull single mobs off a bard's kite, I would just pull singles off a massive train to keep my flow of xp uninterrupted.

[Xap]

Also worth mentioning that Swarm Kiting is a super specific skill, so make sure you keep up to date with your songs/combat skills/abilties/etc by grouping or soloing 1v1. Make sure you aren't that lvl 38 bard without any 1hs skill, and no grouping appropriate songs. Make sure you know how to charm, mez, pull and twist in a group or solo setting. Many bards quit by the time they are about 40ish, as swarming becomes boring and they have no skillset outside of it.

Bard charming is some of the most unique solo xp methods I've ever experienced, and I encourage others do try it! Bard Fear Kiting is also really fun.

[aMindAmok]

If you are courteous and don't take every single mob from other players, people won't hate you. I do generally roll my eyes when I see a bard rounding up all available mobs from a spot I'm hunting, but the 25 mob PBAoE cap has definitely helped curb douchey behavior. It's not nearly as taboo as a few years ago.

Also since the Guides/community determined it was kosher to just pull single mobs off a bard's kite, I would just pull singles off a massive train to keep my flow of xp uninterrupted.

This. But, don't let people take advantage of you when swarming. I don't think people are allowed to peal them off if they have been damaged... only agro. (at least that is what ive heard)

[Benjord]

Ah, that makes sense. Having a 25 mob cap per train, and allowing others to single pull a mob here and there from the train seems perfectly reasonable.

This may be a dumb question (I feel like I'm almost a noob all over again), but how long does it take at lower levels (20 and under) for the more basic mobs to re-spawn after being killed?

Thanks again for the input.

[Xap]

Ah, that makes sense. Having a 25 mob cap per train, and allowing others to single pull a mob here and there from the train seems perfectly reasonable.

This may be a dumb question (I feel like I'm almost a noob all over again), but how long does it take at lower levels (20 and under) for the more basic mobs to re-spawn after being killed?

Thanks again for the input.

6 Minutes for the lower level ones, so just be courteous to other players, as if you have 25 mobs running around for 15mins, that effectively stops anything from spawning in that area. Also the 25 mob cap is hard coded, so your PBAoE songs won't hit more than 25 targets!

This. But, don't let people take advantage of you when swarming. I don't think people are allowed to peal them off if they have been damaged... only agro. (at least that is what ive heard)

Yeah this is correct, I wouldn't ever recommend pulling a mob that is less that 100% hp, opens up new KS avenues no one wants to go down.

[Legidias]

Since swarm kiting doesnt work on p99, no one will get mad at ya.

AE kites though....

[Menden]

My advice is, don't swarm kite in any dungeons if other players are there. Also be aware if you swarm kite and have to zone or die, your mobs will path back and most likely kill someone. That's on you.

[skarlorn]

make sure you spam your favorite song lyrics in oOC and only speak in poetic verse

[aMindAmok]

make sure you spam your favorite song lyrics in oOC and only speak in poetic verse

This user is a known troll please disregard his advise

This might or might not be true. But that doesn't mean you should ignore Skarlorn's advice. Spamming song lyrics in OOC is a time honored tradition among bards and should be encouraged. Speaking in poetic verse is annoying though. Please don't (or do if you are particularly talented). <3

[Shinko]

Any zone “that you can swarm” kite people should not be leveling there anyways

[aMindAmok]

Any zone “that you can swarm” kite people should not be leveling there anyways

Do you mind specifying these "no-go" areas for us non-bards? Wouldn't want to get in a fracas with the boys in blue.

[Shinko]

ie hotspots for groups you would never swarm in

Ie- crushbone
Missmore
Hhk
Com
Seb
Oasis (people might complain) those gators bro
Do people level in ot?

[Dreenk317]

As a bard, I grouped to 18, get those basic melee and defense skills and basic group knowledge down first. Then I swarmed up to 54 with a long pause at 52 till I got my epic scales. I suggest OT, can go 18-30+ easily and quickly, when OT starts drieing up, hit FV and the drolvargs, then DL and the drolvargs, then BW and the bees, or CS and the wyverns, or TD and the raptors, or OOT and the cyclops. Or get back in a group, and show people what a good bard can do. Bard tanks FTW #SHIELDBARD!!!

[Cen]

What I do is if I come to a new area and someone is witnessing me, I tell them I will donate this swarm purely to them, group with them, then let them collect half the xp for a few swarms. They become your friend for life. Some of them vanish forever in fact without a complaint. (I assume they just made a bard)

[Triiz]

Do you mind specifying these "no-go" areas for us non-bards? Wouldn't want to get in a fracas with the boys in blue.

There's really only a few zones the majority of bards swarm in, obviously there are some exceptions that are dicks, but mainly it's

Pre-25: OT
25+: LOIO
30ish - 40ish: OT
30ish - mid 40's: FV
mid 40's - low 50's: DL
50+: BW
High 50's-60: DN

Some of those are ok xp with pretty much zero risk of dying for non-bards(back of KC in DL for example) so it's understandable some people level there, but even before the swarm nerf it was pretty easy to avoid swarming bards in my experience.

[JackofSpade]

Just be courteous of other players in your zone and general area and you should be fine. If a group or player is XPing anywhere near an area I am either pulling from or swarming in I just send them a tell asking which mobs to / area they are hunting and what to leave alone for them. Doing it this way I have never run into an issue and players generally appreciate my taking the time to ask them and respect their kill zone.

[JackofSpade]

Oh also, it's bad form to kill your swarm in the same area as another hard or where a group is hunting. It can cause major lag issues or major train issues if you die. And it's probably common sense but when you are pulling, don't pull your swarm directly through where others are hunting. It all basically comes down to being courteous of the players around you, and communicating if an issue does arise. Happy hunting and feel free to PM me and other hard questions you have!

[Jimjam]

If a wizard offers to duo up and PBAoE the swarm, is the increased kill rate(?) worth the hit in xp?

[Nagoya]

Can they do 49% of the damage?
If yes, yes.
If no, no.