Circle kiting needs to be nerfed

[zanderklocke]

^ Bard quad kiting hill giants? Is this a thing?

[firesyde424]

Understand, before you read my wall of text, assuming you read it, is that for me, the day swarm kiting was nerfed, was the 2nd worst day in EQ for me. The day they nerfed AoE spells and songs so that the mobs had to be standing still for them to be affected, was the worst day in EQ for me. I think that Sony didn't really know how to balance bards.

Swarm kiting is a lot of fun but it can get monotonous at times. Something like the the final PoAir fight. Kiting the adds can be thrilling at first until you realize that you are only kiting the adds so some pervy gnome in plate armor can look at Xegony's boobs for a half hour.


The problem is that bards were never well accepted in groups. Being a jack of all trades is both a blessing and a curse. You can fill in for most roles, but if one of the classes who specialize in that role are available, most group leaders don't see the point in inviting a bard.

Top that off with an absolute mess of people who started playing bards because they could swarm kite but never took the time to learn the nuance of the class. Most of you probably have seen or grouped with someone like this. They know how to twist... maybe, they know that clerics like mana song, and they know that bards can hit things with "swords n stuff." As a result, bards don't have the most pristine of reputations.

Whatever the reason, bards usually have a hard time getting groups. So, we have to make up the difference ourselves. Does that mean bards should monopolize an entire zone? No, but I think it's blatant hypocrisy to cry nerf over that when other classes can effectively monopolize just as easily, if not on quite the same scale.

Unless I miss my guess, monopolizing entire areas like that is covered under the "play nice" rules. May I suggest prosecuting this under that pretense rather than crying nerf.

[Duckwalk]

lol at the retards complaining about at most 2-3 zones when there are literally 4-5 other options for that lvl range which provide better ZEM, loot and are less remote.

[Rhambuk]

Hoping this pushes people into less used zones/dungeons. It's not going away and I leveled about 7 Characters in classic in OT and 4 in p99 in OT, simply because thats where groups are.

Would love to do some under used dungeons even trying to set up groups for them is hard people would rather sit in OT and complain about the bards than go elsewhere.


P.S. It is bs though..

[Duckwalk]

It's as much BS as some classes having certain abilities that other don't which lets them do specific unique things.

If it was possible to AE kite in every zone or in the zones with best exp/loot or if it prevented players from accessing unique content that would be one thing.

However as bards are very restricted in the mobs and zones they can use this tactic on, the fact that the zone are generally out of the way shit holes with out redeeming experience modifiers or loot and the fact that there are many other options, make this a complete nonissue attracting only the laziest and worst players.

[Skinned]

When I'm on my wizzy I don't mind bards too much. I just temp flux enough of their mobs off the swarm to do a quad and wait or em to come around again. If they petition they really have no legs to stand on. Most I've ever gotten is the silent treatment for this. They probably hardly notice me.

[kaev]

Originally Posted by firesyde424 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

The problem is that bards were never well accepted in groups. Being a jack of all trades is both a blessing and a curse. You can fill in for most roles, but if one of the classes who specialize in that role are available, most group leaders don't see the point in inviting a bard.

A skilled Bard is an amazing force multiplier when you're in a dungeon crawling to a named or breaking a difficult camp. A Bard who is on top of his game, a Bard who not only knows what his songs do but also knows in detail how his songs interact with spells and is able to quickly work out tactics with the other casters in the group, a Bard who can pull so well that the Monk gets as angsty as a Paladin about how he's "useless", a Bard who can CC without being flattened the instant one tiny thing goes wrong, a Bard like that is worth his weight in fungi tunics.

Takes practice tho, you don't learn any of that AE kiting. When the 60 Bard and the 60 Ranger in your group are discovering for the first time that Bard slow prevents Druid/Ranger snare from landing you'd best have a charged WC cap ready, just in case.

[Zombiehasslehoff]

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

Takes practice tho, you don't learn any of that AE kiting. When the 60 Bard and the 60 Ranger in your group are discovering for the first time that Bard slow prevents Druid/Ranger snare from landing you'd best have a charged WC cap ready, just in case.

Bard slow is also a snare that is overwritten by druid/Ranger snare, unless the bard was using AoE slow. If they were using that your in for a bad time.

[Skinned]

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

A skilled Bard is an amazing force multiplier when you're in a dungeon crawling to a named or breaking a difficult camp. A Bard who is on top of his game, a Bard who not only knows what his songs do but also knows in detail how his songs interact with spells and is able to quickly work out tactics with the other casters in the group, a Bard who can pull so well that the Monk gets as angsty as a Paladin about how he's "useless", a Bard who can CC without being flattened the instant one tiny thing goes wrong, a Bard like that is worth his weight in fungi tunics.

Takes practice tho, you don't learn any of that AE kiting. When the 60 Bard and the 60 Ranger in your group are discovering for the first time that Bard slow prevents Druid/Ranger snare from landing you'd best have a charged WC cap ready, just in case.

Well put. A well played bard is worth a stack of fungi tunics. Often it takes grouping with a good one to remind how good the class can be, as there are just so many baddies out there. But that holds true with every class.

[kaev]

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

Bard slow is also a snare that is overwritten by druid/Ranger snare, unless the bard was using AoE slow. If they were using that your in for a bad time.

Ah, I misremembered the conflict going the other way, been a while. Also I don't play a Bard, I just love grouping with a good one when the opportunity arises.


I'd happily trade out a bad Bard for an SK in a group that already had Warrior & Paladin or a Druid in a group that already had Shaman & Cleric tho, please don't wait until you're in your 50s to practice grouping your Bard.