Bard vs. Rogue

[Muligan21]

Hey guys, i've dabbled in Project 1999 for sometime now and with Rift slowing down i've finally made the jump to P99. I'm having a hard time deciding which class would be more beneficial or needed on the server. I have rolled a bard but some of my friends seem to think I would have a hard time getting a group or even into a raiding guild.

I have played a cleric in EQ for nearly a decade and have healed in nearly every MMO to date at the raid level. I really want to do something different.

Any and all guidance would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks,
Muli

[Versus]

As a bard you won't have trouble finding groups (until maybe 50+ when everyone would rather have an enchanter???). But at that point, you can just kite raptors in TD I guess..

As far as the raid scene goes, you will be welcomed with open arms to a raid guild. Bards are a huge asset to a raid and always wanted.

[Lazortag]

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

As a bard you won't have trouble finding groups (until maybe 50+ when everyone would rather have an enchanter???). But at that point, you can just kite raptors in TD I guess..

The things that some (very misguided) people prefer about enchanters don't really change from 50+. Enchanters get C2, but Bards get a more powerful manasong as well. The only thing that changes that I can think of is that Enchanters get an unresistable mez, so they're definitely better for camps where the mobs are level 56+, but mobs of that level are rarely efficient exp even at 60. So you may have trouble finding groups for some high level item camps, but you should never have trouble finding exp groups.

[nambar]

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

The things that some (very misguided) people prefer about enchanters don't really change from 50+. Enchanters get C2, but Bards get a more powerful manasong as well. The only thing that changes that I can think of is that Enchanters get an unresistable mez, so they're definitely better for camps where the mobs are level 56+, but mobs of that level are rarely efficient exp even at 60. So you may have trouble finding groups for some high level item camps, but you should never have trouble finding exp groups.

Sorry, an enchanter is always superior to a bard. Not only do they have better haste and mana regen, they do more DPS, can pull more mobs and mez more mobs. I also don't have to deal with the hybrid penalty.

The very best bard versus the very best enchanter in an exp group situation, the enchanter brings more to the table every time. Bards can do more things, but exp groups don't need you to do more things, just do a couple well. I'll take an enchanter with a charmed pet chain pulling.

[Lazortag]

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

Sorry, an enchanter is always superior to a bard. Not only do they have better haste and mana regen, they do more DPS, can pull more mobs and mez more mobs. I also don't have to deal with the hybrid penalty.

The very best bard versus the very best enchanter in an exp group situation, the enchanter brings more to the table every time. Bards can do more things, but exp groups don't need you to do more things, just do a couple well. I'll take an enchanter with a charmed pet chain pulling.

I've posted on this a number of times so I'm just going to link an old post I made about this:

http://www.project1999.org/forums/sh...9&postcount=27

After thinking about this more I'm willing to concede that a very skilled Bard is slightly worse than a very skilled enchanter in exp groups (mostly because when I posted that, Charm was nerfed way worse than now), but the people acting like the enchanter is much better, or always better, are not accounting for Bards who may just be more skilled. In fact I think the people saying this have very little experience grouping with good Bards. I've definitely been in groups that could have cleared more mobs faster with me in the group instead of an average enchanter.

[Splorf22]

Yeah but CC is like 20% of what I do. At level 60 I can finally charm level 49 guys again with malo (I could do that at 54 prenerf). He was doing 75 dps. Combine that with better haste/slow/clarity and how can a bard compete with that?

[maestrom]

Bards require a degree of attention and dedication not required of other classes. If you look away from the screen for even a second as a bard, your group is going to notice. You also have to deal with the fact that you'll never be able to do significant amounts of DPS.

However there are a lot of benefits to being a bard.

-Best looking class out there. A bard in full lambent is the best looking class ever and thats a proven fact.
-Selos. We get the fastest movement speed buff in the game and we get it at level 5.
-When things go horribly wrong, it's rarely the bards fault. We don't have to hold aggro, we don't have to land big heals at the right time. There are enough monks on this server that you shouldn't have to be splitting and pulling as a bard much (but you should learn how).
-Endless amounts of utility. We can haste, we can regen, we can DS, we can buff resists, we can buff stats, we can mez, we can dot, we can invis, we can lev. There are very few things bards cannot do. (can't bind...)
-Hands down the best solo-leveling class in the game. A good bard will outlevel any other class in the game by AE kiting. Depending on where you are, you can get an entire level in less than an hour, and you can do it naked.

Rogues can stand behind a mob and hit backstab every few seconds. sneak/hide?

[Muligan21]

Sounds a lot like it always has been. Being a healer my entire MMO career, being attentive is just part of the game for me (though it would be nice to be a "little" bit lax/lazy.)

I know this a terrible thing to ask but I do have a lot of catching up to do... Are there guilds out there recruiting that would help the leveling process along (lower level grouping, plenty of tradeskillers, family/supportive atmosphere)

Still a little torn between the two classes but I've always liked bards, especially during the Kunark era. I had a bard as my alt through most games.

[Numbers_]

Damn maestrom, you're making me want to keep leveling my little level 5 bard I had set aside. Damn this altitus!!

[Estu]

Originally Posted by Muligan21 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Are there guilds out there recruiting that would help the leveling process along (lower level grouping, plenty of tradeskillers, family/supportive atmosphere)

LifeAlert is such a guild. I'm an officer, so if you see one of my characters online, I can invite you; otherwise, you can do a /who all LifeAlert and send tells to people asking if any officers are online. We're well-populated and have a lot of low-to-mid level players.

As for the original question, both bards and rogues are highly sought-after for groups, but bards are a lot less monotonous to play. However, they're also a pain in the ass to play, as you constantly have to be twisting songs. If you want to play a bard, though, you should have little trouble finding groups (and unlike a rogue, if no groups are available, you can solo).