Trying to be positive!

[Jeffin]

<DIV>Hmmmm....</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Seems as though something must have been 'broken' about the whole Scout Archetype/Concept, thus forcing the Devs to "nerf-balance" the class into, well.....</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Speaking as a Troubador, here is what I have noticed:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>--Utility abilities open to ALL Scouts:</DIV> <DIV>   </DIV>

[Jeffin]

<DIV>Well, actually, I meant to start all over and nix most of what I had said, but somehow posted half of what I did not intend to post!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>But, alas, the skills of the Computer-Stupid know no bounds!  ("DAMMIT Jim, I'm a gamer, not a board poster!!!")</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Anyways, here is the sliver lining of what our Class has to offer (at least my own experiences<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><U>Utility Abilities of the Scout Class:</U></DIV> <DIV><U></U> </DIV> <DIV>--Pathfinding:  Sure, some other classes get speed buffs and anyone can buy a horse (well, a RICH anyone...)  But, from what I have seen, our Pathfinding has a few advantages:  First off, it is GROUP.  Likewise, I have not parsed or actually tested the actual SPEED in comparison to others, but what the hey...it is a cheap, easy and convienient.  (To say nothing at the upcomming Mount Nerfs they are implementing)   Not an ability to blow your nose at...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>--Tracking:  Yes, I know that they nerfed the RED Cons (Rare that we will be looking for those anyways) and the Named MOBS (let's admit it, friends, that had "unfair" and "grief" written all over it!), but this is STILL a VERY good skill.  Need those "Sludge-covered-but-not-so-dirty Enraged Python Bunnies?"  (You know the ones that spawn very slowly at three seperate areas int he zone...and you need 50 of them!)  Well trust me...we have a skill here that is LOVED by those who must quest such silly things...Likewise, it is very good for finding NPC's who are NOT MOBS...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>--Stealth:  Really no biggie here, as MANY other classes get some sort of 'stealth,' and it is often actually better, but again, this is one more utility ability that we get.  There are many who would LOVE to have this skill....</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>--Evac:  Again, others (Wizards, I think) may get this at higher levels, but we get this early.  WONDERFUL ability that can save you and your party deaths, frustrations and experience.  Again, while MANY get this ability, EVERYONE else WISHES they had it...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>--HO Mastery:  THIS is where Scouts shine, and where Troubadors should excel.  Sure, we have the same advantages as other Scouts as far as HO's are considered, but ROLEPLAY and make THIS your forte!  Know them, practice them, be the "expert."  No, when fighting a Blue, the HO's are not all that much...BUT if you have a group that can get these off, and acttually understand how to "pick" and "choose" the specific HO's they want to aim for...well, I'm telling you, you WILL be wanted.  This is a skill that is a bit more than mashing buttons, requiring knowledge and real mastery.  (to say nothing of COMMUNICATION SKILLS---which should be the Bard's mastery!)<BR></DIV> <DIV><U>Now, about the Troubador:</U></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>--Our "Nerf" song:  Yes, it appears that our standard "Buff" song, the Raxxyls line, somehow got past the Devs, as they now see that having high stats is a BAD thing!  HOPEFULLY, they will do something to give this song a bit more UMPHH, but, as we really do not even know if the Devs realize that they have a Troubador class anymore, who knows (/shrug).? Still, tell me you do not use this song.  As bad as it is, I still find myself stacking two of them, if at all possible.  And even with limited STAT influences, this song will still buff power a wee bit.  And look at it this way:  We provide more stats than many of the Items in the game.  (So, we're walking Stat Totems!)  Not much, but every bit counts...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>--Speed Song:  I have heard people gripe and gripe about this.  The Tanks I group with LOVE it.  Why?  Because it helps when they try to balance their power usage.  Now, if you are in a group that basically spams every single "Special" that they have, it is of little use.  IF, however, you have a group of people (including Priests who like to hit things too!), who watch their power bars, and try to save some up...well, this song becomes a VERY nice song to play...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>--Luck line:  Personally, I think this is one of the weakest we have.  Still, if you are fighting orange and red MOBS, the extra skills can make a big difference in landing hits, and not getting as many landed on you!  Very subtle, but it can have its uses...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>--Power Regen:  I know, I know, we suck!  Enchanters have FAR better!  We ain't nuthin but a Tier whatever DRINK!!!  Still, how many classes have this ability?  The Mage line, and the above mentioned Enchanters in particular.  Still, if you go by the concept "every little bit" helps...well, we help!  I always have this song up and running if at all possible...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>These are just a FEW of the things that we can bring to a group.  Now I agree with most posters that we have been nerfed bigtime, and have no luvin from the Devs (or even acknowledgement of our concerns--Go figure, that is SOE business tactic #2!)., BUT, we can still be a very fun and helpful class.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I really don't have any problems finding groups.</DIV> <DIV>Because I understand and use my skills, I often find that I am doing MOST of the "Scout-Work."  Even in a group with a couple of Rangers, I find that I am the one keeping Pathfinding up, and doing most of the Tracking and HO intiations/spins.  They kill the stuff, I find it and get us to it...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>While solo, I have noticed a BIG drop off, but I chalk that up partly to getting higher level.  Besides,  I PREFER groups any day.  To me, groups are simply more fun and provide more challenge and randomness.  And, um...company!  Friends is nice!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Now, I must admit, that I have good friends in the game, and we are playing for FUN, not the construction of some "Uber Group" with the BEST Tank, the BEST Priest, the BEST Enchanter, the BEST this, that and them...we are just playing a game, and we like to have our tactics change with the decks we are dealt (i.e. group makeup...)  I understand that this goes a LONG way to 'having fun,' no matter how good your character class may or may not be.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>For my part, I say we stick in there, my fellow Minstrels!  MAKE OUR OWN NICHE!  Roleplay!  Never in the annals of Fantasy writing have Bards been quiet, timid types.  Quite often, as you follow their tales, you say "Boy, what a whimp!  He does a lot of singing and talking, but what a WHIMP!"  But then....then comes the day when they SAVE THE GROUP (Evac), Find the Monster (Track), Keep their groups happy and focused (Troubador Songs!), etc.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Surely, there will be some changes that will come to give us a bit of the "glory" we once had, we need only wait.  The Devs are just now really "balancing" the game, post level 30 (Really, guys, do you think they had any concept of where they would go from BETA???  There simply was not enough time and people in Beta to explore all the variations, [Removed for Content], advantages, cheats, etc., that a PLAYER base would find, use, and sometimes exploit.)  Many of our skills are so broad, that they can have a VERY strong effect on game balance.  Let the Devs get all the other stuff taken care of (Stat and Food effects, in particular), then I fully expect that we will get some new, changed or fixed (Fixed, would be nice...) abilities.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Till then, have fun!  Tell jokes!  Master HO'S!   And actively seek out every little way to help your party.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>You do these things, and your name will be remembered.....</DIV>

[Rikini]

<DIV>Fellow Minstrel, very well said, yes yes, very well said indeed, yes yes!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I find myself believing and operating just like you've said. Even when grouped with another scout class, invariably I'm the one doing the tracking, and always the one firing off pathfinding.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I try to be the master of the wheel and the coin, and it's easier now.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Our power regen sucks compared to my fellow guildy's breeze, but then eh, if I'm adding even a little bit, then that's just ever so little an increase in the regen, and decrease in down time.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I had been stacking two group stat buffs, the atk speed buff and power regen, but I think I'll start using the luck line now that we're a bit higher in levels and see if we notice even a little bit of improvement.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Yes, we're down, but we're not out, no no, we're not out. I'm easily the most dynamic of our guild, and the most out-spoken for sure.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Riki SongSpinner</DIV>

[shan]

to the OPwell said, i envy your optimism but sadly i dont see it in this manner, in day 1 i wanted to pick a bard, chose guardian instead ( i do not regret it the least), finally got the chance to play a bard, was having a blast, the bard was everything i imagined it will...then the nerfs came, i was so disgusted, i havent loged on the bard since and considering deleting him ( and canceling the account he is on), SOE took a fun class and smeared it on the ground and ruined it completely. and frankly at this rate they will folow on SWG foot steps.