Hi all on free trial and was curious about bards, I had one as my main in eq1.

[jay777]

<p>Yep and I could twist 5 songs whichever the max was, wasnt easy either hehe anyways that as long ago and have enjoyed many classes since then but I find I constantly miss being an eqbard, I really disliked the minstrel in lotro espically the style. So what is the current state of bards? Are we still jack of all trades? I saw a thread about getting speed back I remember hearing something about bards in this game not having a good enough increase in speed which I personally think made us unique, espically lore wise they where masters of exploration.</p><p>And final question how is our dps these days? I do not care to much about dps I was even happy with the illusonist when I tried this game before, but I may want to spec for dps or something to help with soloing, but I love grouping probably because the bard was my first main class in a mmo and groups wanted me all the time hehe I was a rockstar jk.</p><p>Thanks everyone sorry about going off topic im just excited to try eq2 again, I actually have a good gaming laptop to run it this time woohoo!</p>

[Artalis the Elder]

<p>Welcome and enjoy, always nice to see people excited about the game.</p>

[jay777]

<p>Thank you but I still have these questions about the class here.</p>

[Artalis the Elder]

<p><cite>jay777 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Yep and I could twist 5 songs whichever the max was, wasnt easy either hehe anyways that as long ago and have enjoyed many classes since then but I find I constantly miss being an eqbard, I really disliked the minstrel in lotro espically the style. So what is the current state of bards? Are we still jack of all trades? I saw a thread about getting speed back I remember hearing something about bards in this game not having a good enough increase in speed which I personally think made us unique, espically lore wise they where masters of exploration.</p><p><em><strong>The thread about speed is ancient. Ignore it. Bards can Achieve about 75%ish percent runspeed without equipment, more with racials and certain pieces of gear.</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>Current state of bards in general is that we are highly desired but not necessarily the most capable on our own. Most other classes solo better with equal gear, we do the least dps of all scouts (Dirges edging out Troubs imo due to their epic weapon proc.) As far as 'jack of all trades'? I'm not sure what you mean. Dirges have more versatility than Troubs due to their rezzes and a single semi-[Removed for Content] heal and can buff themselves for hate in a pinch to tank.</strong></em> </p><p>And final question how is our dps these days? I do not care to much about dps I was even happy with the illusonist when I tried this game before, but I may want to spec for dps or something to help with soloing, but I love grouping probably because the bard was my first main class in a mmo and groups wanted me all the time hehe I was a rockstar jk.</p><p> <em><strong>Our dps is gear and aa dependant but a good bard can do ok dps. It's all relative though. I may put out 30k on a fight, but our assassin is topping 60k+</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>There are not seperate specs for buffing and dpsing at the end. Once you hit 250 aa you have all the aa you need to max out your buffs and your personal dps within reason. Saying "I'm specced for group not for myself" is the mark of an ill-informed bard in today's game.</strong></em></p><p>Thanks everyone sorry about going off topic im just excited to try eq2 again, I actually have a good gaming laptop to run it this time woohoo!</p></blockquote>

[jay777]

<p>Jack of all trades as in off tanking healing, dpsing, cc, debuffs, etc. And do we dps better then paladins?</p><p>Thank you for all the info I really appreciate it.</p><p>I also hear swashbucklers are jack of all trades now, and the best part is there rare I do not really know why but sounds like it might be better suited for me.</p>

[Artalis the Elder]

<p>A dirge can tank, though they need at least twice the healing of any real tank.</p><p>A troub can tank with skill and a cooperative group and the right buffs, same deal with heals.</p><p>A dirge has 1 heal that is pretty much only viable for emergencies</p><p>Troubs have no heals.</p><p>Troubs can mez and charm(22.5 seconds with aa) though both abilities are of limited usefulness due to mob immunities</p><p>Dirges have a fear that has a high probability to break upon recieving damage (including dots)</p><p>Troubs and Dirges do arguably the lowest dps of all non-healer classes (possibly with the exception of Illusionists of late)</p><p>Both Bards have ok debuffs, I think the dirge attack speed debuff makes them better in that department personally</p><p>A good bard can beat a paladin on a single target fight. A good paladin destroys a bard if there is more than one mob.</p><p>Paladin heals are crap, but they are better than bards.</p>

[Aaramis]

<p>The simple response, coming from an ex-EQ1 Bard, is that EQ2 Bards are completely different.</p><p>Some people like that difference;  some hate it;  others are indifferent.  Time will tell which category you fall into.  But suffice to say that the gameplay is completely different from EQ1.  Your major tools in EQ1, such as off-tanking, swarm kiting via charm/fade, DoT kiting, etc. are all pretty much non-existant in EQ2.  Buff twisting doesn't happen either - our buffs in EQ2 are permanent until cancelled.   Also, where the EQ1 Bard was a meleer with some song DoTs to throw in, the EQ2 Bard is a hybrid of caster and meleer - we have spells to cast (i.e. sonic/mental damage shouts and the like) combined with our melee combat arts.</p><p>So yeah, it's not so much a "jack of all trades" class as it was in EQ1.  But then there really is no class that defines that role in EQ2.  It's a completely different beast.  All I can say, is try it out and see for yourself.</p><p>As for running speed buffs, yes, as Kiki pointed out that thread is ancient.  Bards can attain up to 100% runspeed with certain combinations of AAs and gear, but the majority of people will be around the 70-78% marker.  Which is sad, really, considering that any class can reach that for overland movement with mounts (i.e. 65% runspeed mount + 10% from AAs + 5% guild mount buff = faster than most Bards).  However, it does give us an edge with "in-combat" movement speed I suppose.  But yeah, slightly sour grapes there.</p><p>Anyways, the rest of the questions have already been answered I think.  Good luck with the Bard.</p>

[jay777]

<p>Yea I do not think it is for me sadly, I am all for mixture of melee and magic but im not feeling it here, on the good side of things I rolled and swashbuckler and to my suprise really like it, and he is pretty versatile in groups.</p><p>Anyways thanks all hopefully soe will fix the bards in general.</p>