Utility Class?

[Healinglight]

<DIV>With most MMOs I play, I always tend to enjoy that group oriented class that provides tremendous utility to the group. At first glance, I thought this would be the Troubadour, I played one to 22 and started to become a little disapointed with the class. Most of the time I found Troubadours could be easily replaced by their easier to find counterpart, the Dirge and the Troubadour didn't really have a special spot in the parties I was in.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I don't claim to be a master at the game, my highest character is only level 33, I've never experienced an EQ2 raid, and what classes people tend to look for when making the raid. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>On a scale from one to ten, what would be the Troubadour's overall utility in a group? Would they be considered one of the most group-utility classes? Thanks for any input.</DIV>

[Jeger_Wulf]

<P>Well, I am only 51, so there are many others here that probably know a lot more than I do. However, I am reconsidering the choice of troubadour. They provide utility, but there seem to be a number of classes that provide nearly as much utiiity and a lot more in terms of either damage or healing. Just my opinion, though.</P>

[Jooneau]

EQ2's best utility classes are the Enchanters (Coercer or Illusionist).In terms of the sheer power of their utility, Bards rank behind other classes. Enchanters and some Priests have better buffs. Some Priests and Rogues have better debuffs. Enchanters are much better at crowd control than Bards. Bards, however, are the most versatile, being able to provide a wide variety of buffs that would be difficult to reproduce without them. The "Jack of All Trades, Master of None" adage fits them perfectly.It is debatable just how useful Bard buffs and debuffs actually are. Some people swear by them, but I bet if you polled the majority of EQ2 players, not as many groups would break up if the only Bard left a group than if the only Priest or only Fighter left a group. The bottom line is that "utility" isn't as important as healing or "tanking" in EQ2.<p>Message Edited by Jooneau on <span class=date_text>07-07-2006</span> <span class=time_text>11:47 PM</span>

[VericSauvari]

<div><blockquote><hr>Jooneau wrote:EQ2's best utility classes are the Enchanters (Coercer or Illusionist).In terms of the sheer power of their utility, Bards rank behind other classes. Enchanters and some Priests have better buffs. Some Priests and Rogues have better debuffs. Enchanters are much better at crowd control than Bards. Bards, however, are the most versatile, being able to provide a wide variety of buffs that would be difficult to reproduce without them. The "Jack of All Trades, Master of None" adage fits them perfectly.It is debatable just how useful Bard buffs and debuffs actually are. Some people swear by them, but I bet if you polled the majority of EQ2 players, not as many groups would break up if the only Bard left a group than if the only Priest or only Fighter left a group. The bottom line is that "utility" isn't as important as healing or "tanking" in EQ2.<p>Message Edited by Jooneau on <span class="date_text">07-07-2006</span> <span class="time_text">11:47 PM</span></p><hr></blockquote>bards do everything half [Removed for Content] when it comes to our buffs...we basically have gimped versions of other classes spells</div>

[vinterskugge]

<DIV>If I was forming a raid and had multiples of every class to choose from, I'd take two of each bard.  The only other class I'd take more than one of would be a brigand, so if you're planning on raiding, troubadors are pretty desirable.</DIV>

[Sanju]

For a single group (as in xp grinding, questing, etc.) Troubadors are not essential, and in most cases would be better served with a dirge (simply beacuse in my experience it's more often that a group is melee-heavy rather than caster heavy), or with either enchanter (mana regen + better dps).For raids, 2 Dirges and 2 Troubs is what we try to field as well.

[ironman2000]

Ok maybe i'm biased towards my troubador, but at 51 most groups i get seem to be glad to have her, she can mezz and charm (but SoE did nerf our charm a lot but its still enough to let a group get through one creature and get to the one I have charmed about the time the charm breaks), she has mana regen and and health regen, she can evac and debuff wis and agi and she can buff up defense and add a damage proc to group that does mental damage.  Mind you I don't raid at all, I dont' play this game to raid, well except when needed to finish a heritage quest or something, but I wouldn't trade my troubador for anything and I do know that others can do the things she does, but she is more durable than casters and has better avoidance too, so in my book that makes her less fragile than a robe class.  Then again this is my view of the class, so take it for what you will.

[Twodrago]

<DIV><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> ironman2000 wrote:<BR> Ok maybe i'm biased towards my troubador, but at 51 most groups i get seem to be glad to have her, she can mezz and charm (but SoE did nerf our charm a lot but its still enough to let a group get through one creature and get to the one I have charmed about the time the charm breaks), <FONT color=#ccff00><STRONG>she has mana regen</STRONG> </FONT>and and health regen, she can evac and debuff wis and agi and she can buff up defense and add a damage proc to group that does mental damage.  Mind you I don't raid at all, I dont' play this game to raid, well except when needed to finish a heritage quest or something, but I wouldn't trade my troubador for anything and I do know that others can do the things she does, but she is more durable than casters and has better avoidance too, so in my book that makes her less fragile than a robe class.  Then again this is my view of the class, so take it for what you will.<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR><FONT color=#ff9900>Biggest mana regen of all classes I do believe.  Saw a 50+'ish Troubador in TT and had a mana regen song going for 25'ish in-combat regen.</FONT></DIV>

[Cragger]

<div>Ha, hardly Enchanters have Bard mana regen beat by miles. Adept III at 70 is just 41 a tick. Their just the only other class archtype with a constant effect power regen.</div>

[JimminyCrikk]

as long as i have alin's + bria's, I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, evereverevereverever get passed up for a raid spot, and really thats the only thing that matters when i see 4 or 5 melee/caster classes sitting out. troubs rock, never let anyone tell you different. <div></div>

[scl]

<blockquote><hr>Cragger wrote:<div>Ha, hardly Enchanters have Bard mana regen beat by miles. Adept III at 70 is just 41 a tick. Their just the only other class archtype with a constant effect power regen.</div><hr></blockquote>Except you just compared your T7 skill to his T6. We get a much higher one he described. I think you'll find you don't have bards beat by miles...

[Goddfath]

<DIV><FONT color=#ff0033><STRONG>Troubs are by far one of the most essential classes for a successful raid. Although most buffs are not needed..Alin's and Bria's makes everyone happy. someone in a different post said that he could just play those 2 buffs and the group wouldnt notice because thats really all they need. but the Troub is a very versatile class as far as group placement. i've been in the MT group at times, straight melee and of course, the casters. if its a long fight where everyone just ranges it, i'm usually put in the group with the brigand(s) because they can just DPS the whole fight. The troubador is a dying class because it really has no place in lower lvls. just keep on playing and IF you start raiding, i doubt you'll ever be benched</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <P>Message Edited by Goddfather on <SPAN class=date_text>07-12-2006</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>07:50 AM</SPAN></P><p>Message Edited by Goddfather on <span class=date_text>07-12-2006</span> <span class=time_text>07:51 AM</span>

[Pins]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Cragger wrote:<BR> <DIV>Ha, hardly Enchanters have Bard mana regen beat by miles. Adept III at 70 is just 41 a tick. Their just the only other class archtype with a constant effect power regen.<BR></DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Here's a full comparison at Level 70, assuming Master I:</P> <P>Bards: 45 In-Combat Power Regen</P> <P>Illusionist: 41 In-Combat Power Regen, plus a spell which is a group power tap with a 3s cast time, 24s duration, and 45s recast, increases power of the group by 49 instantly and every 4 seconds, for effectively an extra 42.9 In-Combat Power Regen, that is not included in the Cap.  Roughly 83.9/tic.</P> <P>Coercers: 41 In-Combat Power Regen, plus 14.6 In-Combat Power Regen, plus a INT Debuff+Power Regen with a 2s cast time, 24s duration, and 45s recast, increases power of the group by 41 instantly and every 6 seconds, for effectively 26.1 In-Combat Power Regen, that is not included in the Cap.  Roughly 81.7/tic.</P> <P>So yah, it is somewhat baat, of course that's assuming they have their power-tap spells used all the time they're up.</P>

[Lachlan]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Healinglight wrote:<BR> <DIV>With most MMOs I play, I always tend to enjoy that group oriented class that provides tremendous utility to the group. At first glance, I thought this would be the Troubadour, I played one to 22 and started to become a little disapointed with the class. Most of the time I found Troubadours could be easily replaced by their easier to find counterpart, the Dirge and the Troubadour didn't really have a special spot in the parties I was in.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I don't claim to be a master at the game, my highest character is only level 33, I've never experienced an EQ2 raid, and what classes people tend to look for when making the raid. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>On a scale from one to ten, what would be the Troubadour's overall utility in a group? Would they be considered one of the most group-utility classes? Thanks for any input.</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Unfortunately EQ2 made a lot of classes "Utility Classes".  Swashies with mez, group stealth, evac and some nice buffs are a utility class.  Tanks do most of the CC with AE taunts now that leave the mez portion of the game optional except for groups really pushing it.  Most groups are Healer + Tank and a bunch of DPS.   Few are looking for a dedicated CC class unless they are going to a handful of locations that it really helps to have it.  Utility?  I'd say pure healer or an illusionist.  If you have a guild group or start up with a bunch of friends who pick roles and level up together you will do fine.  For pick-up groups, you'll do okay but don't expect an overwhelming demand.  At the end of the day, this game favors raw dps and there is little down time compared to say, EQ1.

[Zapdafi]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> JimminyCrikket wrote:<BR>as long as i have alin's + bria's, I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, evereverevereverever get passed up for a raid spot, and really thats the only thing that matters when i see 4 or 5 melee/caster classes sitting out. troubs rock, never let anyone tell you different.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>lol, yeah.</P> <P>not even allowed to vounteer to give up your slot if someone needs an update or something </P>

[Kreat]

<blockquote><hr>Zapdafish wrote:<BR><BLOCKQUOTE><HR>JimminyCrikket wrote:<BR>as long as i have alin's + bria's, I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, evereverevereverever get passed up for a raid spot, and really thats the only thing that matters when i see 4 or 5 melee/caster classes sitting out. troubs rock, never let anyone tell you different.<BR><BR><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>lol, yeah.</P><P>not even allowed to vounteer to give up your slot if someone needs an update or something </P><hr></blockquote>[Removed for Content] yeah, doesn't mean you couldn't just af someone most of the raid and see how many people actually took notice <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />