Dirge or troub for soloing a bard?

[Fiflif]

<p>Greetings<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I've been looking for a low stress alt , something to unwind with after coercing. Bard seems pretty fun in that way and useful, however I solo mostly for a large portion of the levels so I was curious which bard is a bit easier to quest grind on solo? Or overall more useful solo? </p><p>Thanks in advance for any input <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Dreamaria]

Dirge:<ul><li>seems easier to find a group</li><li>high end have a tendency to do higher dps easier (imo)</li><li>heal taps on a couple attacks</li><li>2 snares</li><li>not great against multiple encounters</li><li>a lot of dungeon and instance groups look for dirges over bards in general, only real good reason would be if the group was really melee based</li></ul>Troubadour:<ul><li>lower dps in my experiences</li><li>short duration charm</li><li>mez</li><li>low level dungeon groups kind of over look troubadours for some bizarre reason, they're as good as any dirge just different.</li></ul>I find the dirge a little harder to live through tough fights (soloing), don't play a troubadour (above are observations and abilities) both should be fairly desired by any group. I duoed my dirge most of the way to 80, very easy with any class really. I know someone that duoed a troub and a guard again very easy.Only other observation I can make is troubadours are more like a cross between a caster and scout (less on the scout side) while a dirge is very melee oriented, need to be behind the mobs with the rest of the scouts have some melee crit and spell (as well as da), troubadours tend to hang back and cast aren't in close combat as much.I find my dirge very easy to play in groups or raids, don't need to push for dps but some is good, focus is really keeping up my place as utility and adding whatever else i can to the group.Not sure that will help much but it kind of shows a little bit of differences.

[Erithorn]

<cite>Vydak@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Greetings<img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I've been looking for a low stress alt , something to unwind with after coercing. Bard seems pretty fun in that way and useful, however I solo mostly for a large portion of the levels so I was curious which bard is a bit easier to quest grind on solo? Or overall more useful solo? </p><p>Thanks in advance for any input <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p></blockquote><p>** scratches his head  **</p><p>Both are competant  soloers, as long as you pick your battles. Group play is where these two shine, so if ease of solo is your thought, I would suggest another class perhaps?  Monk / Bruiser is an easy soloer.... Conjourer / Necro is as well....</p><p>Bards are an excellent support class, hence if you plan to group, you will be busy as they are the most active, and diverse of the Scouts!</p><p>ALso... if you plan to use this character to relax... try making it on an RP server, and rolplaying a little... WHOLE different game there! </p><p>Erithorn </p>

[Natturabi]

<p>  I have 80 dirge as my main and an 80 troub among my alts.  If you are looking for something fun to solo, look elsewhere than the bard for your choice.  Dirge is definitely easier, since they have means to "heal" with their life tap stabs.  The trouby equivalant is a power stab.  I find having 100% power as my life drops below zero to be little comfort.</p><p>  My trouby led a very sheltered life and probably didn't die more than 10 times total to get from 1-70.  That dosen't mean they are durable.  By the time I got to RoK the death count started skyrocketing.  I found that I had to be ahead of the curve to have any fun at all..alot of T7 masters to ease the transition into T8 and pretty much had to get to Lvl 72 ASAP to get full mastercrafted.  Even then life seemed difficult.</p><p>  Dirge was mostly duoed from 70-80 with my templar friend.  Was very easy with two people, but I do shudder at the thought of soloing RoK as a dirge.  As I said, maybe a tad easier than trouby but certainly not something to look forward to.</p><p>  Last note on trouby, I got to lvl 79 and was trying to finish out Jarsath Wastes.  Finally got the quest where you have to swim around and kill 79^ and 80^ sharks/swordfish.  I just couldn't kill one.  Jesters cap, precision of the maestro, stun, debuff, big guns and still the fish taking huge chunks of my life.  Ended up just forcing 80th lvl doing old world stuff and will try this quest some other time.</p><p>  So in conclusion if you wan't a scouty type fun soloer I'd roll a swash or brig.  I do love bards but they are for groups and these words should never be used in same sentence: solo, bard, fun.</p>

[Yimway]

As others have said, Dirge is the way to go as a solo bard.In fact if you were leveling a troub for end game group/raid play I would level it as a dirge and betray.  Every since the great charm nerf, soloing a troub is just not an enjoyable experience.The dirge wins out cause of several things:1. Slightly more melee focused, helps in those up front solo fights.2. A dirge buffs melee, considering troubs can't root, and there aren't that many places with enough room to kyte, the melee buffs from the dirge >> caster buffs of troub.3. dirge has some great melee debuffs, considering solo 90% of your incomming damage is melee based, this will come in handy4. dirge has some lifetap like abilities that help their survivability5. dirge''s have more moxy

[Loolee]

<cite>Atan@Unrest wrote:</cite><blockquote>As others have said, Dirge is the way to go as a solo bard.In fact if you were leveling a troub for end game group/raid play I would level it as a dirge and betray.  Every since the great charm nerf, soloing a troub is just not an enjoyable experience.The dirge wins out cause of several things:1. Slightly more melee focused, helps in those up front solo fights.2. A dirge buffs melee, considering troubs can't root, and there aren't that many places with enough room to kyte, the melee buffs from the dirge >> caster buffs of troub.3. dirge has some great melee debuffs, considering solo 90% of your incomming damage is melee based, this will come in handy4. dirge has some lifetap like abilities that help their survivability<span style="color: #ff00ff;"><b>5. dirge''s have more moxy</b></span></blockquote>Not to mention, <span style="color: #ff00ff;"><b>more sexy!</b></span>I leveled up my dirge when it was easier to get groups, but that is also the way I prefer to play.  Now that I've been getting a few fabled items on her, solo is MUCH easier than ever!I don't have much to add to all the good information that has already been said, but whichever you choose, have fun!

[liveja]

I have a 63 Troubie, & I've solo'd probably 50-55 levels with him. I've never had trouble soloing.

[Yimway]

<cite>Flaye@Mistmoore wrote:</cite><blockquote>I have a 63 Troubie, & I've solo'd probably 50-55 levels with him. I've never had trouble soloing.</blockquote>I've leveled both dirge and troub to 80.Troub could not do something as simple as harclave at level 22 without purchasing mastercrafted armor to survive.  As with anything in game, stack mastercrafted+ and adept3's on it and it can solo fine.  Dirge however didn't need the extra gear to do the same thing.

[Amnerys]

As everyone else seems to be saying, I vote dirge.  I'm biased though.  My main is a dirge and since I don't really have any alts (OMGWHA?!) she's all I've ever played. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />I soloed her a lot.  It's not too hard to find a group since people want your buffs.  DPS isn't too bad.  You can invis and sneak around a lot of places without help. And by the time you reach the higher levels, you can heal and resurrect.  The only thing I can't do as a dirge is bring people to me (COH) but otherwise I don't have a single complaint.

[Fiflif]

<p>Thank you all! Very helpful! </p><p> I didn't mean to say I was going to be purely solo, I just recognize that there are certain stretches of the game that are mostly teamless content(60-80), and below that where some soloing is needed to stack on the AAs.  Overall though I love teaming when it is available!</p><p> Looks like it is dirge then <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Dreamaria]

And you can always betray if you think that's going to be better at a later date. Little bit of an option, going from coercer to illusionist didn't seem to hard when i did it, don't think changing from dirge to troub would be out of the question either.

[Griffinhart]

<p>I recently leveled a new Troub to 80.  I had no problems soloing him at all.  Mez and charm really help a lot.  Charm (even with the super short duration) is fantastic for pulling solo encounters and for quickly handling that pesky add.  Mez is great for when you start losing a fight.  Mez the mob and use your songs to regen enough health and power to finish the fight.</p><p>Troubs are fantastic in groups too.  At least if your group plays well with mezzers.  I've taken my troub through RE2 several times now, replacing the spot usually given to enchanters because I can help manage the adds on the X2 fight. </p><p>Two observations about troubs in general that I have made:</p><p>There are far fewer high level troubs than there are dirges.  I like that to be honest.  Actually on my server the least played class at 80 is the troub.</p><p>I wasn't 80 for more than 30 minutes before I started getting asked to raid out of the blue.  A very novel occurance since my other level 80's are a Wizard and Fury.</p><p>The same thing happened to a guildy/RL friend.  He finally got his Troub to 80 and almost immediated started getting asked to hit zones and raids by complete strangers.</p>

[greenmantle]

<cite>Guillermo@Butcherblock wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>  Last note on trouby, I got to lvl 79 and was trying to finish out Jarsath Wastes.  Finally got the quest where you have to swim around and kill 79^ and 80^ sharks/swordfish.  I just couldn't kill one.  Jesters cap, precision of the maestro, stun, debuff, big guns and still the fish taking huge chunks of my life.  Ended up just forcing 80th lvl doing old world stuff and will try this quest some other time.</p><p>  So in conclusion if you wan't a scouty type fun soloer I'd roll a swash or brig.  I do love bards but they are for groups and these words should never be used in same sentence: solo, bard, fun.</p></blockquote>Have to agree i have an 80 dirge with decent equipment ( not raid but good group quest ) the 80^ s in skyfire stomp me into bits and dance on the pieces solo. I love dirge's and soloed a lot of the way to 80 but i wouldnt call them low stress soloers. Swashie rolls through the same mobs and can even handle an add, warden tags a saber tooth and i can watch tv while i quest there, dirge dies a few times gets a group and does maidens again. <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/c30b4198e0907b23b8246bdd52aa1c3c.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />

[x82nd77]

<p>As a soloer I asked this question once of the bard forums and will NEVER forget the answer I got...</p><p>How would you rather kill yourself... With a rusty spoon or a ball of wax?</p>

[SugarGirl]

<p>I VOTE TROUB!!!</p><p> (Just because there are already waaaay too many Dirges coming up <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </p>

[Martrae]

I leveled a troub to 70 (cap at the time) and then betrayed to dirge. Leveled the dirge to 80 and haven't regreted betraying a single day. I do a lot of soloing and noticed a considerable difference in my survival rate once I betrayed.