38 pages of bard concerns and THAT was your bard revamp?

[VericSauvari]

Ok so Lockeye a few weeks ago said they were looking into bards and how they could be brought into balance with the rest of the scouts and it was slotted for LU32 ... Well the result was less then stellar and frankly fu.king outright lazy. Wake up devs! pretend we are one of your more favorite classes like templars and actually give us something useful

[TheSummoned]

<cite>VericSauvari wrote:</cite><blockquote>Ok so Lockeye a few weeks ago said they were looking into bards and how they could be brought into balance with the rest of the scouts and it was slotted for LU32 ... Well the result was less then stellar and frankly fu.king outright lazy. Wake up devs! pretend we are one of your more favorite classes like templars and actually give us something useful </blockquote>I agree and here's what I think should be the minimum to be done AFTER the proposed changes are done to further improve the bard expirience, which frankly, is a bit poor. It's basically a copy/paste from my thread in the dirge forums: <blockquote>Well, the Bard FiX - Suggestions thread on the test feedbacl forums has turned into quite a whine thread,  so I decided to post it here in hopes that it would be easier to spot. Basically, when I look at different classes stances, I see that they in quite a lot of cases improve stats as well as skills. So what I thought "Why not split Death Bearer into stances". Defensive and offensive. I do NOT care what the history of this buff was either! Yes, that means you Sorschae! It sees so little use today that it's pathetic. Defensive: Basically take the dmg proc from it and agility, add +10 defense, add a 13.5 CSP penalty and we have a defensive stance <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Offensive: Take the int from our buff, add a 20 CSPR buff to it and possibly disruption/ordination, add a 17 Defense and parry penalty and we have our offensive stance <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Together with our other (group) buffs we should be around on par with other classe's defensive/offensive stances. Not only do we get rid of the concentration requirement of the "buff", we also add flavor to our class, which is what it horribly lacks atm. Together with the DPS increase (however minor it may be), the stances would add a lot to the bard class imo. Thoughts?</blockquote>

[JadzeaDax]

<p>So the bone wasn't tastey I take it?</p><p>I've only really logged in my bard for raids and to craft for several months now sadly <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />.  Guess I will continue to be a rez and buff bot for now.....</p>

[Jeger_Wulf]

<p>No - the bone wasn't tasty. <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>I'm still playing my bard, but he won't be my main forever. I'm levelling up his replacement.</p>

[Arondur]

<p>Someone help me here, would you.  Did I not see a post about how Bards/Troubs were to have there auto attack tables set UP to the same as Swashies?  I can not find the post now, but was'nt there one? What happened to that in GU 32, I have read the notes 4 times and cant see it listed as a change. Did that happen or not or is it still in the works?</p><p>and just for the record I am also underwhelmed with our Bardly revamp. </p>

[Rainfinder]

<p>Hum - what next ?  Oh I know ! The devs in about a month from now will come out and say this. Guys we forgot all about this. And boy do we feel dumb. But as it turns out all bards were on luclin when it exploded  - so like beast lords they never made it . All bards will be removed from Eq2. All current bards will recieve an in game plant for their houses and a nice pat on the back-thanks for playing Eq2.</p>

[Cocytus]

Why do bards need to be balanced? They're balanced just fine imo....they're uber buffers. They're like enchanters with higher survivability and less dps...

[xOnaton1]

<cite>Arondur wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Someone help me here, would you.  Did I not see a post about how Bards/Troubs were to have there auto attack tables set UP to the same as Swashies?  I can not find the post now, but was'nt there one? What happened to that in GU 32, I have read the notes 4 times and cant see it listed as a change. Did that happen or not or is it still in the works? and just for the record I am also underwhelmed with our Bardly revamp. </p></blockquote> Don't read the patch notes in the forums. They're not formatted very well and not complete. Read the patch notes here: <a href="http://patch.everquest2.com:7010/patch/eq2/motd/en/updates_live.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://patch.everquest2.com:7010/pa...dates_live.html</a> *** Classes & General Combat*** <span style="color: #ffff33">Dirge: Increased weapon autoattack damage to match Rogue tables. Troubador: Increased weapon autoattack damage to match Rogue tables. Guardian: Increased weapon autoattack damage to match all other Fighters tables. Paladin: Increased weapon autoattack damage to match all other Fighters tables.</span> Othesus - Dirge - Lucan DLere Vaspar - Fury - Lucan DLere

[Arondur]

Othesus@Lucan DLere wrote: <blockquote>Don't read the patch notes in the forums. They're not formatted very well and not complete. Read the patch notes here: <a href="http://patch.everquest2.com:7010/patch/eq2/motd/en/updates_live.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://patch.everquest2.com:7010/pa...dates_live.html</a> </blockquote>Thanks, and yes those are much clearer notes.

[Draggoz]

<cite>Cocytus wrote:</cite><blockquote>Why do bards need to be balanced? They're balanced just fine imo....they're uber buffers. They're like enchanters with higher survivability and less dps...</blockquote> Since you have that stupid comment.  Why don't you go to the Healer forums and complain about the fact that they get tons of AA to increase DPS.  [Removed for Content] do they need increased DPS for, they are healers.

[Elorah]

<cite>VericSauvari wrote:</cite><blockquote>Ok so Lockeye a few weeks ago said they were looking into bards and how they could be brought into balance with the rest of the scouts and it was slotted for LU32 ... Well the result was less then stellar and frankly fu.king outright lazy. Wake up devs! pretend we are one of your more favorite classes like templars and actually give us something useful </blockquote>HA!  I dont mean to derail you there, but WHY would you think that Templar is one of their favorite classes?  They are the MOST boring class out there!  I have been turned down from PU groups in favor of a druid or mystic.... As for the bard issues, they do need something since they were basically dumbed down a while back.  I know that bards are supposed to be a "jack of all trades", but that implies that they are at least handy to have around....  Bards lately haven't been for any reason other then regen....<img src="/smilies/1069449046bcd664c21db15b1dfedaee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Frodex]

Last night I was very disappointed with the supposedly "upped" auto-attack damage. SOE stated they were going to up the dps tables on dirges but I've yet to see anything more than a 1-4% increase if that!

[da5idblacksun]

Frodex@Kithicor wrote: <blockquote>Last night I was very disappointed with the supposedly "upped" auto-attack damage. SOE stated they were going to up the dps tables on dirges but I've yet to see anything more than a 1-4% increase if that! </blockquote>LOL .. I know.  Of all the classes to say the devs love, Templars should be the last one. If you would have said Fury then you'd make sense.  Templars do not get the love.

[SisterTheresa]

<cite>VericSauvari wrote:</cite><blockquote>Ok so Lockeye a few weeks ago said they were looking into bards and how they could be brought into balance with the rest of the scouts and it was slotted for LU32 ... Well the result was less then stellar and frankly fu.king outright lazy. Wake up devs! pretend we are one of your more favorite classes like templars and actually give us something useful </blockquote><p> I'm sorry to hear that they did this to Bards.  I haven't played with many as the two in our guild are on leave.</p><p>But I do want to say, that Templars aren't as favorable as you might think.  With wards and ability to heal more with less power like other healing classes can, it's tough being a Tempy.</p><p>But that is neither here nor there.  Hope you get some loving soon!</p>

[Thrashercat]

Don't templars have that handy spell where they throw it up and whenever the tank is hit, a heal procs? That is pretty darn sweet if you ask me, since I play a fury as well. However, I digress...speed increase? Big deal....increase in auto-attack? That is all good in between when I am casting my songs that I have more of then dirges and the dirge ability of COB is then made even better by it. By all means, though, dirges are in the exact same boat as trouby's as we are continually ignored and thrown half-rotted scraps from the devs. Just my 2cp.

[Cuz]

It's pointless, just roll another class. Oh and don't address Lockeye directly without sacrificing a goat or other livestock first, you might en cure his wrath.

[Trabbart]

<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Arial">I recently discovered WHY we are getting no attention. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Arial">Yesterday i was running around Nektropos castle and also had a fury there. We were having some fun. Killing grey stuff. The fury ( lev 58 ) had killed the cellar and upperfloors. And i ( troub 70 ) was killing a dog in the courtyard. The fury got so carried away that she accidentally hit my troubador and he went straight to the ground. We were shocked. What had happened?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Arial">After some investigation we discovered...</span><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Arial"><b>Masterstrike ghost works on troubadours</b>. Through some glitch in programming we are not seen. I would bug it but think that my entire account has been compromised. As ghosts i think we may have to accept that the dev community is just incapable of acknowledging our existence. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Arial">Its time to face (virtual) reality. We do NOT exist.</span></p>

[Frodex]

<cite>Trabbart wrote:</cite><blockquote><p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Arial">I recently discovered WHY we are getting no attention. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Arial">Yesterday i was running around Nektropos castle and also had a fury there. We were having some fun. Killing grey stuff. The fury ( lev 58 ) had killed the cellar and upperfloors. And i ( troub 70 ) was killing a dog in the courtyard. The fury got so carried away that she accidentally hit my troubador and he went straight to the ground. We were shocked. What had happened?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Arial">After some investigation we discovered...</span><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Arial"><b>Masterstrike ghost works on troubadours</b>. Through some glitch in programming we are not seen. I would bug it but think that my entire account has been compromised. As ghosts i think we may have to accept that the dev community is just incapable of acknowledging our existence. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Arial">Its time to face (virtual) reality. We do NOT exist.</span></p></blockquote> Ha I was reading this and was getting scared and then figured it was a joke <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Tri]

Stealth bug Scaling issues Avoidance AA PotM still roots and dazes the caster RoR  adept 1 is at 10% and the master spell = 12% chance to proc Power depleters ( drains is not the word as you don't gain any power from them ) Having to spend AAs to make alin's and Eli's worthwhile... and some GU 32 feedback, 12% in combat speed for the group for 8 AAs is nice, if it worked. Raised auto attack damage, if you say so, anyway if your playing the class ( troub ) correctly you are not auto attacking 1/3 of the time. Even though resists were raised the spells are only usefull if points were spent in the resist AAs The game is good but the vase is almost full

[Sir_Halbarad]

<cite>SisterTheresa wrote:</cite><blockquote>VericSauvari wrote: <p>I haven't played with many as the two in our guild are on leave.</p></blockquote>Isn't that the perfect reason why SOE should fix bards? You can see it everywhere... in our Guild the bards only play because we raid and we need them. We would love to have another Dirge... but there is none to be found...

[Cynnigig]

<cite>Sir_Halbarad wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>SisterTheresa wrote:</cite><blockquote>VericSauvari wrote: <p>I haven't played with many as the two in our guild are on leave.</p></blockquote>Isn't that the perfect reason why SOE should fix bards? You can see it everywhere... in our Guild the bards only play because we raid and we need them. We would love to have another Dirge... but there is none to be found... </blockquote><p> Why should they? Wouldn't it be more convenient if the rest of us just left? Why invest time and money in a dying class?</p><p>This update sends a very clear signal. Minute changes of which one is bugged. Uninspired changes. The time and motivation SOE puts into Bard fixes must be very low indeed.</p><p>We won't be getting any more than this, a few morsels every few GUs at the most. What makes people think that after all these months SOE will suddenly change course in respect to Bards? Either you like the Bard class as it is now or you better reroll.</p>

[ravenscale]

<p>well in defence our auto atk did get raised alot</p><p>testsing auto atk between my brig and my dirge there was a 30%+ avarge (just auto atk)</p><p>now with that send unless you are buff botting how often are you "JUST" auto atking</p><p>because of CAs debuffs and rezzing the bump didnt really do much but i guess every lil bit helps</p>

[VericSauvari]

Murrcury@Crushbone wrote: <blockquote><p>well in defence our auto atk did get raised alot</p><p>testsing auto atk between my brig and my dirge there was a 30%+ avarge (just auto atk)</p><p>now with that send unless you are buff botting how often are you "JUST" auto atking</p><p>because of CAs debuffs and rezzing the bump didnt really do much but i guess every lil bit helps</p></blockquote> yep true, however they didn't fix any of our prime issues, mostly concerning our BUFFS. gah..reading back in this thread a lot of people quoted me with some pretty silly stuff...quote the right people damnit <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Mr. Dawki]

<p>i feel your pain i rolled a bard and all i could do was cry . couldnt even solo a soloable mob</p><p>coercers are getting worse and their voice is starting to be heard in the forums</p><p>and assassins have been screeming for over 30 pages now (15pages condenced into 3 from the forum changes) and all we got was Lockeye threats, (i swear he has no people skills to speak of)</p><p>the phrase   balance of classes    is unheard of in the devs world</p>

[ReturnOfMadness]

<cite>Cynnigig wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Sir_Halbarad wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>SisterTheresa wrote:</cite><blockquote>VericSauvari wrote: <p>I haven't played with many as the two in our guild are on leave.</p></blockquote>Isn't that the perfect reason why SOE should fix bards? You can see it everywhere... in our Guild the bards only play because we raid and we need them. We would love to have another Dirge... but there is none to be found... </blockquote><p> Why should they? Wouldn't it be more convenient if the rest of us just left? Why invest time and money in a dying class?</p><p>This update sends a very clear signal. Minute changes of which one is bugged. Uninspired changes. The time and motivation SOE puts into Bard fixes must be very low indeed.</p><p>We won't be getting any more than this, a few morsels every few GUs at the most. What makes people think that after all these months SOE will suddenly change course in respect to Bards? Either you like the Bard class as it is now or you better reroll.</p></blockquote>exactly my thought hence why i just raid with my 70 troub (and even that for my guild), nothing else left to do, and the class just died for me the second the challenges vanished (reaching 100aa/lvl 70 etc)

[Tandellia]

I have a 70 troub / 52AA and the only thing Im decent for now is sort of soloing in bonemire against those ravasects... and I have some raid gear too! I have friends who do much more dps than I do, I normally duo with a brigand and wow the dps skyrockets when shes around! Yes buffs are nice but I do wish I could do that kind of DPS, bards are a scout class after all, I resorted to a rapier/shield because all i can pretty much do is pretend to tank now =( I am rather burnt out with my trouby so Ive been working up a Templar who, at 47, seems to be doing quite well soloing. Makes me rather puzzled...

[Tomanak]

Halbarad@Blackburrow wrote: <blockquote><cite>SisterTheresa wrote:</cite><blockquote>VericSauvari wrote: <p>I haven't played with many as the two in our guild are on leave.</p></blockquote>Isn't that the perfect reason why SOE should fix bards? You can see it everywhere... <b>in our Guild the bards only play because we raid and we need them</b>. We would love to have another Dirge... but there is none to be found... </blockquote><p>QFE</p><p> Very true. The only time nowadays that my Dirge is logged on is when we raid, otherwise Im on my Bruiser. While I still love my Dirge, Im slowly starting to accept the fact that all he was meant to be was an af afk buffer. </p>

[Aristigon]

Dirges are literally used as buff bots in my guild, and half the time, the only way to get one in our raid is to have someone 2-box. It's really a shame.

[Trabbart]

<p>It really was, wasn't it?</p><p>Lu 33 is here and we are only mentioned for a "singing shot" description change. They truly have no clue.</p><p>INSTRUMENTS????????????????????, sort of promised somewhere around Lu2.</p><p> I once asked to fire the dev responsible for troubs........I think they did.</p><p>But never replaced him/her.</p>

[Fromingo]

<p>We need a boost in DPS to bring us to comparable scale with Brawlers or Furies.  My guild's swash/assassin/ranger can parse over 3K.   I don't want that much, I like my utility.  But our bard utility doesn't mean means our DPS should be under/around 1K.   That's just too low for a scout class.    The brawlers and furies are ripping off 1500-1800 DPS.  The Zerkers are around 1400-1600 DPS.  The guardian around 1000-1400 DPS.    And of course the casters are in the 2-3+K range.  Even the warden can parse 1-1.2K and the inquis can parse a bit higher.  Yet us bards are parsing around 800-1K DPS?!  That's crazy!  We are in the scout class yet even guardians are out parsing us?  I'm sorry but when I made a dirge years ago I was told I'd have scout DPS.  I KNEW it would be at the low end of the scouts but SOE told us it would be higher than fighters and priests.   That is NO LONGER THE CASE.  The game has evolved.  Other classes have evolved.  Bards have not evolved. </p><p>Some have suggested adding stances like other scouts.  I really don't have a problem , in fact the more I think about it the more I like it.  As long as they are not watered down because we have group buffs.  You can even replace our self only buff with offensive/defensive stances.   Some have suggested access to use poisons.  Not my preferred choice but I'll take it. </p><p>We <b>don't</b> have huge HP's or defense.  We <b>don't </b>have good DPS.  We have lots of utility choices but none of it is better than what many other classes can do.  And yes I realize those other classes can't do everything we can but even that vaunted versatility is hamstringed by <b>too many conc slot requirements(specifically self only buff and our hate buff)</b>.    When you have low HP's, low defensive abilities and low DPS what are you?  A paladin's DPS with the survivability of a robe wearer..or a buffbot.  Either of those descriptions make me think...yuck.   Which is why I recently retired until I hear my dirge is fun to play again.</p>

[liveja]

<p>I just started a Dirge alt a few days back, & so far, he's been a lot of fun to play. But he's only 20th level, & pretty much every class is fun to play at that point.</p><p>I'm very concerned about how "viable" this class will be at 70th level, because the only reason I'm running the character is to have a raid-level Bard. & it especially bothers me to see all the complaining that Bards are doing, for seemingly little return.</p><p>Fix the buff scaling issues. Fix the in-combat runspeed buff of our Selo's AA, & don't tell me you did, either. Do <b>something</b> about our concentration slots. & maybe every other Bard will disagree with me, but ... do something about that god-awful Bard AA tree, & really the Dirge tree isn't that hot, either. Other than a select few abilities in the Bard AA trees, they're pretty lackluster.</p><p>The class is fun. I love Bard buffs, & I daresay most groups that have had a good Bard love them, too. But there seem to be soooo many issues. Please fix the issues.</p>

[Novusod]

Raid level Bards are a very in demand class because there are not that many of them that even want to raid anymore. Most are just sitting on the sidelines pouting over non-sense as evident in this thread. There arn't enough bards to go around anymore so you will have your pick of any raid guild you want.

[Fromingo]

<p>Double post</p>

[Fromingo]

Nah raid guilds can just as easily 2 box a dirge or troub.   And Novusod really if most bards are 'pouting over this non-sense' then maybe it's not non-sense.   SOE could listen to you and lose money or they can listen to the majority of bards and not lose players.  We just lost a fed up dirge and troub to this "non-sense".   Lost a dirge a few months back too.  Guild has 1 active troub main now.  Rest are alts people rarely play.

[Bewts]

<p>Think about it this way....</p><p>Dirges may only do 1k dps.... but if they raised the dps of every dps class in their group (say dirge zerk assassin swash inquis brigand) by 200 dps, they in theory are really doing 1.8k dps.</p><p>I'm not saying you guys don't need a fix - brawlers don't make it into raids for most of the top guilds on the server, or at best theres room for 1 - but at least you are desirable to be in raids.</p><p>Things may be broken, but you know a dirge has a spot with at least the MT, and if you have room with the melee dps groups.  Troubs have a spot with the mages most times.  At least you have a need on raids, even if your soloability sucks, some things are borked for just about everyone.  Find solace in the fact you are desirable albiet have broken skills.</p><p>And yes, I agree being a buff bot sucks.</p>

[TalanRM]

<p>We can raise the DPS of our group and that is all well and good. The problem with playing a Dirge is that there is little that actually needs concentrating on. Debuff mob on pull, stand behind and cycle through an identical attack sequence time, after time, after time, after time.... Occaisonally, quick reactions on Oration of Sacrifice will save someone. But I think that is about it.</p><p>We do have some nice buffs, but so do other classes that do better DPS and don't have the concentration slot issues. However, there is hardly any tactical play/ thought required to play Dirge's at all. I suspect that most people who selected bards as their main when the game launched did so because they wanted to play an adaptable character. Currently, we are essentially buff/ de-buff bots with little need for thought (not no need but little need) in the way we are played.</p><p>Over-instancing aside EQs quests and zones are very polished and well-designed, if game-play as well as just game-balance was put into character design (I'm being a little unfair here as there has been some obvious listening to feed-back in at least two of the EoF AA trees) then the game would rock.</p>

[Fistantantilus]

I liked bards from eq1 so I decided at some point to make an alt in eq2 as well. my experience from the bard (dirge actually) was rather bittersweet. I really like him but at the same time it is hard to actually do something with him. My main is sk. that is the toon I raid with. I have made a number of alts. one of them my dirge. he is only 48 and i get tells from ppl telling me to level up already there is a lack of 70 bards. but the problem is in that tier it is hard to level. it is hard to find a group. perhaps it is the timezone I play but ppl in general do not want in the 40s a dirge in the group they prefer the tank healer(s) dps combo. bards are by definition a group oriented class. they are not very good at soloing. perhaps for me I could find a friend to mentor (aka plvl) me and get him to 70 but for someone starting fresh to play a bard I think it would be very hard :p oh yes there is room for them in raids, ppl beg them to be in the raid. but to reach that point and when you do all you are needed for is to be a buff bot (and for dirge rez ppl). it is a dishonor for the class guys... I mean come on. I totally sympathize with those guys who started playing a bard as main and now all they are doing with him is logging him for raids for the good of the guild and only that. Bards, both bards , need a fix and soon. Our templar heals (as he should) during the raid and averages close to 1000 dps too. Why does a templar need the ability to do that much dps devs ? Bards are in the scout group why is their dps so lacking ?

[Silverpaws]

Our dirge consistently parses at over 1k dps.  And we arent a full time raiding guild.  Dirges that think of themselves as bots are just lazy.  You just need to respec your toon and think of yourself as a dps character, and less like a mana battery. As far as Im concerned, the only thing that dirges are bad at is complaining.

[Despak]

Denuve@Mistmoore wrote: <blockquote>Our dirge consistently parses at over 1k dps.  And we arent a full time raiding guild.  Dirges that think of themselves as bots are just lazy.  You just need to respec your toon and think of yourself as a dps character, and less like a mana battery. As far as Im concerned, the only thing that dirges are bad at is complaining. </blockquote> As far as I'm concerned you being flame bait.

[Bewts]

<cite>TalanRM wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>We can raise the DPS of our group and that is all well and good. <span style="color: #ff0000">Thats your job - make everyone else better and I think you do it pretty darned good.</span>The problem with playing a Dirge is that there is little that actually needs concentrating on. <b><i><u>Debuff mob on pull, stand behind and cycle through an identical attack sequence time, after time, after time, after time.... Occaisonally, quick reactions on Oration of Sacrifice will save someone.</u></i></b> <span style="color: #ff0000">Isn't that everyone's job on raids that aren't healing/pulling/tanking?  That arguement is flawed.</span> But I think that is about it.</p><p>We do have some nice buffs<span style="color: #ff0000"> check out a brawler and get back to me - they have 2 buffs and if they pay attention can intercede</span>, but so do other classes that do better DPS and don't have the concentration slot issues. However, there is hardly any tactical play/ thought required to play Dirge's at all. <span style="color: #ff0000">This can be said about a lot of classes - if you wanted twisting ala eq1 then go do that.  Bards still bring a lot to any group and can actually type in group chat now.</span> I suspect that most people who selected bards as their main when the game launched did so because they wanted to play an adaptable character. Currently, we are essentially buff/ de-buff bots with little need for thought (not no need but little need) in the way we are played.</p><p>Over-instancing aside EQs quests and zones are very polished and well-designed, if game-play as well as just game-balance was put into character design (I'm being a little unfair here as there has been some obvious listening to feed-back in at least two of the EoF AA trees) then the game would rock.</p></blockquote><p>Face the fact that bards no matter how well geared they are, will not by themselves parse top 3 consistently, let alone top 5.  If you factored in all the damage they brought to others in their group then yes they could be a canidate for being top 3 or top 5 on the dps charts.  Your DPS is applied, not observed.</p><p>I'm sorry you find your class boring - I don't wish that on anyone.  A lot of people have limitations within their classes, not just bards.</p>

[missing_peace]

<p>There are many changes that could be made to improve the bard classes and the problems have been well documented by the players for the entire lifespan of the game.</p><p>Bards are not weak fighters, but they fall a bit below where they need to be.  Personal DPS needs to be improved to be closer to fighters and the high damage priests (really, why should they be behind priests at all?).  The situation with the personal buffs and lack of stances needs to be reworked.  Still, they are not bad, just not where they should be. </p><p>A good portion of the achievements need to be reworked.  Most bards feel forced into the strength and wisdom lines for the end abilities.  However, these lines give little to the bard.</p><p>Contrary to popular belief, bards do not buff or debuff better than other classes.  A bard has a wider variety of abilities to choose from, but they do not do it better.  Despite having more variety, they have the same concentration limit as all other classes.  If you want to characterize a bard as a buffing class then there needs to be some major changes.</p><p> Instruments should have been available from the beginning.  After two years I do not think they will ever appear.  They sure would have been nice though.</p><p>There are a lot of naysayers, but the truth is that there are fewer bards playing than almost all other classes.  The items outlined above are part of the reason that this is so.  It is not the fault of the players, it is the fault of the class designs.</p><p> In summation, bards need to be readjusted and they need it more than all the other classes.  Other classes have 'problems', but on the whole they all fullfill their respective roles.  Bards, it appears, no longer have a role.</p>