Bard Guide for p99. part 1

[Lithiar]

i just heard of this server recently, but im planning on playing a bard, now i just gotta wait for the fios guy to install my internet.

[Hurnal]

This is largely not true for most songs. From my experience Bard DOT's will do the same amount of damage whether you have a lute or a gypsy lute equipped. Why is this?

I think this is due to rounding error. At least right now (at level 26) Chords of Dissonance does 8 damage base, 16 damage with a lute, and 16 with a lute of the Gypsy Princess. I think the formula will automatically round down the damage, so with the LoGP I am really doing 8 * 2.1 = 16.8 damage, but the server just rounds off the fractional part.

I will post again when CoD starts doing 10 damage base (should happen sometime in the mid 30's) and report if it does indeed do 21 damage with the LoGP.

[Cyph]

I would just like to thank you all for your input on this thread.
Next time I go to play EQ I'll update my key layout as Tork recommended as well as setting up some macros. I still haven't figured out how to hotswap weapons/instruments, so if someone could help out there, it would be much appreciated [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[toddfx]

I have been playing with macros to automatically cast more than 1 song at once, but when it comes down to it, nothing is as reliable as single song macros.

[maestrom]

My setup for bard was a little strange but it worked for me.

I used the arrow keys for moving instead of WASD and bound song slots 1-8 to numpad 1-8. 0 was autoattack. I had too many hot buttons going on to make /stopsong macros so i just double tapped but having everything on the numpad made double tapping much more convenient. Also it let me move with my left hand and twist with my right hand with the mouse close by for emergency looking.

btw, Tork is the reason I became a bard.

He sucks.

[Teseer]

I can throw in my 2 CP when it comes to leveling spots:

I started AoE kiting at around 10. I found the perfect place to start was in BB.
If you look at the EQAtlas Map of ButcherBlock Mountains, go to number 12 on the map.
This is a group of 4-5 bandits that respawn real quick. There is very un-even ground here which at first I was worried about. It was very difficult to drop the DoT and hit get hit. After like 5 pulls I was able to do it no problem. Low and behold, since then, kiting on level ground is like mega-easy.

I kited these guys till about 13-14. At this point I headed to Lavastorm.
Here I just chilled at the Entrance to Nektulos and kiting Dervs/Drakes/Snakes/Imps.
**BE VERY CAREFUL TO AVOID THE BASILISKS!**
These bastards have a long stun proc. If you have bad luck and get nicked when your dipping in for your DoT, you'll be stunned and owned by your train.
I love this place for the crazy loot (I got a few Emeralds here) and the fact that higher levels are running to SolA/B so you get random drive-by buffs [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]
Also, not crowded at all here.

I did LS till around 17 and left for EK. I went to the Gnoll Obelisk. This is at number 7 on the EQAtlas Map of EK
Very low risk here, just watch for the Griffin that wanders somewhat close. Grab the 9 gnolls and whatever other blues are within sight range. This is fantastic cash as well, with the merchant closeby and bronze/leather drops.

I did these till about 22. At 22 I left for the Zone Line to the Gorge of King Xorbb.
Here I grabbed the HUGE number of Gorge Hounds. Horrid loot, great exp.

I did these till about 24/25. From this point I went to SK and here I am today. I can't find any other spots and I'm lookin for one if anyone has an idea [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

(TL;DL)
1. lvl 10 -> BBM, number 12 on the MAP
2. lvl 13 -> LSM, Nektulos Zoneline
3. lvl 17 -> EK, number 7 on the MAP
4. lvl 22 -> EK, Gorge of King Xorbb Zoneline.
5. lvl 25 -> SK [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[guineapig]

Once you are around 30 (maybe sooner) you can take a stab at the gnolls outside of Splitpaw while you're in SK

You can kite in Rathe Mountains starting at around level 34-36 depending on your comfort level. The killing will be slow still but the payoff is pretty good. At 38 with your second targeted drum-dot the speed of kills will be considerably better.

There is always competition there, this is true. However bards have some advantages:

Unlike the necros and mages there, bards have tracking so you know exactly when a mob has re-spawned and can outrun anyone to it.
And unlike druids, bards don't have to meditate between kills.

Oasis is a good spot for kiting specs around the same level but you will probably want a peggy cloak or some form of levitation to truly be effective there due to the steep cliffs and the water.

Although you can go there sooner, I don't recommend the Seafuries in OoT till 46 for a simple reason. You really need your third targeted dot in order to kill at a decent pace there (fire, ice and magic). I guess if you are purely using charm then this slow pace is somewhat negated but then you end up having to meditate eventually which a bard should never be doing. Like I said, you can try it sooner... but it's EXTREMELY slow going and you will be resisted a lot!

[Lazortag]

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

Oasis is a good spot for kiting specs around the same level but you will probably want a peggy cloak or some form of levitation to truly be effective there due to the steep cliffs and the water.

actually you can just use the levi song and go to a flat part of the zone. Although using levi cloak and kiting them over the water can be fun.

Honestly though Oasis specs are really weird. Sometimes I can kite them fine and sometimes it's abysmal and it's impossible to hit them/not get hit by them. Yet at the same time the specs in OOT are really easy to kite. I'm going to bug report it soon because it's very bizarre and I have no idea what causes it.

[guineapig]

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

actually you can just use the levi song and go to a flat part of the zone. Although using levi cloak and kiting them over the water can be fun.

Honestly though Oasis specs are really weird. Sometimes I can kite them fine and sometimes it's abysmal and it's impossible to hit them/not get hit by them. Yet at the same time the specs in OOT are really easy to kite. I'm going to bug report it soon because it's very bizarre and I have no idea what causes it.

Yeah, I tried using lev song in my twist there but it was really annoying and takes up a twist slot. AoE dot song range is abysmal in general but particularly with specs so AT the time I stuck with a targeted dots, Brusco's and snare.

Brusco's in general is a good idea to use with you are single target dot kiting but don't have your third dot yet. It's extra damage ever 4 tics that you wouldn't otherwise be adding (since your dot has a 3 tic duration anyway).

[Lazortag]

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

Yeah, I tried using lev song in my twist there but it was really annoying and takes up a twist slot. AoE dot song range is abysmal in general but particularly with specs so AT the time I stuck with a targeted dots, Brusco's and snare.

Brusco's in general is a good idea to use with you are single target dot kiting but don't have your third dot yet. It's extra damage ever 4 tics that you wouldn't otherwise be adding (since your dot has a 3 tic duration anyway).

Oh I was talking about AOE kiting. AOE kiting specs is definitely faster than single kiting them. It's just that the OOT ones are for some reason much easier to kite than the Oasis ones.