Bards

[Rhambuk]

Hello recently came back for the fresh start and messing around with different characters.
I see a few people debating in multiple threads about whether a bard should melee or go instrumental during group combat. Can't say ive ever seen a bard do this.
I'm still a nub but i can tell my melee is pretty damn worthless already, once i get my instruments should i pretty much just stick with that or am i going to be twisting and switching out instruments between melee swings for specific songs and tab targeting to keep mez up?
Thanks folks.

[Wallicker]

Regen is the single most powerful song your lute should be equipped when this song lands, at lower lvls if you want to swap in two weapons before and after hymn lands, while mezzing, pulling etc go for it. If you have to choose between instrument or weapon, instrument wins. At lvl 12 with a 1 plat lute you are healing everyone in your group 6hp per tic, that increases to 18per tic at lvl 48-50, it is insanely OP it’s like giving everyone in your group an iksar regen BP to a fungi. And you can still twist 3 more songs )

[Stonewallx39]

Do bards get main hand damage bonus?

[Wallicker]

Yes but no double attack

[Rhambuk]

Well noted! Thank you sir

[zipidi]

In currently a 44 bard, having grouped for about 60% of my leveling.
I found that in 80%+ of groups I am pulling. Whilst pulling i've found a rythmn doing;
In group; Lute for regen + other songs (haste, mana, resists etc), sometimes chant dotting
Pulling; Drum for resist/selos or lute to regen myself

If this were blue and I had really nice velious weps I would consider swapping them in to melee more often but honesly with average green weps the dps we put out is shit. The lvl 38 chant does about the same dps as my melee.

So I would recomend using instruments, but thats just my 2copper

[Rhambuk]

Nice, that will be a cool new change in group playstyle

[DMN]

Runed falchion is pretty good for the time period to cycle in and out. also a really good twink item for almost any class that can use it until damage cap removed.

[Snaggles]

you on blue or green/teal? what level are you? Who's in your groups (charmed pets, etc)? Do you have an epic?

It really just depends...In general though whatever keeps those good songs flowing is best.