Best solo melee class?

[Zuranthium]

Some rather pointless things being brought up.

Shaman would be able to do better melee damage than Bards in my version of EQ, but that doesn't mean they're not a caster class.

The most difficult categorization theoretically would be a Spellblade. You're meant to be in melee at all times, but if your base melee capability without magic is sub-par, which categorization fits more?

[Goregasmic]

Who cares what they are? You get no actionable knowledge from solving that riddle.

Didn't we have a geared bard on here who melee'd down crypt caretaker solo?

Aren't most of the good songs unaffected by instruments?

If a bard solos in kithicor forest and no one is around to hear it, does he make a sound?

[Ennewi]

It's been debated since EQ's release and even in beta, but it's fun to see how the class is viewed now, after all this time, compared to back then.


https://dbsanfte.github.io/eq-archiv...tml/20346.html

Message ID: 20346
Date: Thu Jul 6 20:51:53 BST 2000
Author: Kevin L. Crawford
Subject: Re: [eqbards] Bards forgotten again....


Umm actually, Kit, if you page back several months, I've been saying that
all along. Bard Melee is pathetic after level 20, when all the other
Hybrids get double attack. After 20th level we start to get really dusted
in melee ability. After 16th they start to dust us in defensive as well so
by level 22 or so we are horrendously behind the power curve melee wise.

Bard = Caster in Plate, just like a cleric, with slightly better offense
skill and a slightly higher dodge cap.

Actually Cleric is a VERY good comparison, melee power wise, to a bard.
Except that they only get 4 points per level for OFFENSE and DEFENSE and we
get 5. And their Dodge, I believe, is capped at 75

Basically a Bard is a Caster with pretentions at being melee.

Any bard who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves. And I've been saying
that since beta.

From: "Kimes, Dean W." <dean_kimes@...>
To: <eqbards@egroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2000 3:09 PM
Subject: RE: [eqbards] Bards forgotten again....


> It is interesting to see that when I long ago argued that our melee skills
> were only barely superior to that of shamans there were many who argued
> vehemently that we were far better at melee. It seems now that more bards
> are beginning to agree that our melee skills are not far beyond those of
> some of the "pure" casters.
>
> Kit
>
>
> Actually his statement is exactly right. Our Melee skills are hardly our
> defining trait. Being only barely a notch above shaman and druids in our
> melee ability. Sure we get dual wield but they can wield 2h blunt
weapons.
> So we're better at melee, but not near on par with the 'true' melee
classes
> that get dual wield and double attack or just double attack but can wield
> 2hs weapons or 1hs and use a shield to bash. Either way, any of the real
> melee classes are "defined" by their melee skills. We are "defined" by
our
> ability to sing songs.
>
> (and almost any bard will tell you that our songs are far more powerful
than
> our melee ability)
>
> Lyrnia

https://dbsanfte.github.io/eq-archiv...tml/13157.html

Message ID: 13157
Date: Mon Jan 17 20:18:44 GMT 2000
Author: Mike.Langlois@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
Subject: Are we Hybrids?


This is a repost of something I posted to the GZ questions thread.
I think we should be re-classed as casters, much like Shamans and Clerics.

Comments?

Feel free to burn me at the stake for being a heretic, but some good logical
responses would be nice as well [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

----------------------------------
I'd like to pitch in my two coppers on the Binding Issue.

I understand that the Dev Team feels that the current bind status (Hybrids and
Melee classes don't get it) is unlikely to change and is well balanced. For the
most part I agree. However, I'd like to argue that the Bard shouldn't be
classed as a Hybrid. Sound crazy?

Hybrids are Warrior/Pure Caster combos. They get some melee skills in addition
to the spells from a specific casting class. IE Rangers get Warrior skills and
Druid spells.

Our spells are unique in that they may mimic some existing spells, but they do
not come from any particular casting class. We are a casting class unto
ourselves with completely different spells and casting structure.

To be a Hybrid you must be part Melee class (Warrior, or in our case Rogue) and
part caster. We've got the caster part down, but where is the Melee part? We
get Plate, but so do Clerics. Everyone gets Dodge.

If you skip dodge, what Melee skills do the Hybrids get?

Ranger - (7) Kick, Taunt, Dual Wield, Double Attack, Parry, Disarm, Riposte
Paladin- (6) Taunt, Bash, Parry, Double Attack, Riposte, Disarm
SK - (6) Taunt, Bash, Parry, Double Attack, Reposte, Disarm
Bard - (1) Dual Wield


So, the other Hybrids really are part fighter and part caster. In what way does
ONE melee skill make us part fighter? In addition, all other Hybrids get
Archery except Bards.

I fail to see how we can be classed as Hybrids at all, and feel that the
addition of a personal Bind song to be in line with the current Bind thinking.

If we're to have the disadvantages of a Melee Hybrid, shouldn't we get the
skills to compensate? If not, shouldn't we get the pure caster perks?

So far, we have a stick with 2 short ends [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.] Thanks for the time...

Golias, Sol Ro

[Ennewi]

https://dbsanfte.github.io/eq-archiv...tml/13159.html

Message ID: 13159
Date: Mon Jan 17 20:33:57 GMT 2000
Author: Dave Gaines
Subject: Re: Are we Hybrids?


Much easier distinction at level 50.

A hybrid/melee will not sit on his/her butt during a fight.
A caster/healer will sit on his/her butt during a fight.

You deserve bind if you spend 90% of your time on your arse.

My 2 cents worth, on the wrong list again
Razzan

[Duik]

Can run (really really fast as it turns out) while casting.

Does not sit during melee.

Cannot hit as good as pure melee.

Cannot cast as good as a pure caster.

Marked as Bard. Says so on the box.

Casts so badly that they need to recast each 3 seconds. The equivalent of the (annoying) child on a long car trip that says "are we there yet", but eventually you are there so proves they did something.

[Drueric]

Originally Posted by Revanx22 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I need a break from my druid and would like a melee character that can solo when I can't find a group. What are the best options for that?

Well.. my warrior currently has leveled up to 31 solo, and I will continue. Though he is very well geared though....

[Jimjam]

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

Well.. my warrior currently has leveled up to 31 solo, and I will continue. Though he is very well geared though....

My warrior has made 15. He spams the Elixir Delivery quest, killing any xp or tradeskill mob he passes. When Arnis isn’t up we clear the gnoll guards and do a round of black burrow, passing by the dread corpses to vendor in surefall if necessary.

It’s fun saving up stacks of baked goods like bear steaks and spiderling crunchies and grinding tailoring and blacksmithing with the hope of making some studded armour or better.

[Drueric]

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

My warrior has made 15. He spams the Elixir Delivery quest, killing any xp or tradeskill mob he passes. When Arnis isn’t up we clear the gnoll guards and do a round of black burrow, passing by the dread corpses to vendor in surefall if necessary.

It’s fun saving up stacks of baked goods like bear steaks and spiderling crunchies and grinding tailoring and blacksmithing with the hope of making some studded armour or better.

I agree experiencing that content is enjoyable, but I dont wanna do it on every toon I play.

[Crede]

The answer has always been SK. You can kill for hours straight with no breaks if you understand mob pathing and mix in fear kiting(it really wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be especially if you have a race that can slam or have epic for bash)

Having snare + fd means they can split much better than monks. No need to bring invis pots. The pets are better than given credit for especially if you’re reclaiming for a good one(especially the final 2). They are just the purest solo melee with monks/Pallies competing for second.

[zelld52]

Patch notes from October 2001:

- Bards have had their 1h blunt and 1h slash skill caps increased to
250. Their piercing skill cap has been increased to 240. Their Offense
skill cap has been raised to 252. Bards are also being moved to the
same combat table with all the other melee and hybrid classes (save
monks who have separate tables after level 55). Bards Parry skill cap
has been raised to 185 as well. Finally, the Singing Shortsword can now
be equipped in the off hand and still give full song enhancing
benefits.


Prior to October 2001, bards were not on the same melee tables as other classes.

They were not originally meant to be played as melee characters, but as casters in plate.