Troub Buffing Guide????

[j656]

<p>I am a 37 troub and love playing him and mostly group with a Warden, but we get into full groups when we can.  The one thing that concerns me is the use of the correct buffs.  Does anyone have any guides or guidelines about what buffs to use when?</p><p> Thanks</p>

[Scar]

My opinion only:I always have Selos and Performer's Talent up as they take no concentration slots. Ditto for any AA ability (Allegro, DKtM...) as they don't take concentration.For your five open slots the mix varies depending on the situation.SoloAria: extra damage on a spell cast!Merciless Melody: haste is goodQuiron's: health regen is a must for soloing, don't use it in a group/raid (let the healers do their job)Bria's: power regen (if you're not running low in fights can be swapped out for something else)Raxxyl's (str/sta) or Insatiable Ardor (+def) depending on which seems to help more... I'm still debating which myself.GroupAria: extra damageMerciless Melody: hasteBria's: powerAlin's: de-hateRaxxyl's: str/sta (melees need it, squishies get the extra health. Use +def if you are in a group of monks maybe but not otherwise)Raidsame as group, swap Raxxyl's for raidwide arcane or elemental buff if the situation calls for itI have never seen Requiem of Reflection have a significant effect while soloing so I've never bothered with it in a group. If someone has a better grasp of its usefulness or lack thereof maybe they could add their experience.

[vladsamier]

<cite>Scarry wrote:</cite><blockquote>My opinion only:I always have Selos and Performer's Talent up as they take no concentration slots. Ditto for any AA ability (Allegro, DKtM...) as they don't take concentration.For your five open slots the mix varies depending on the situation.SoloAria: extra damage on a spell cast!Merciless Melody: haste is goodQuiron's: health regen is a must for soloing, don't use it in a group/raid (let the healers do their job)Bria's: power regen (if you're not running low in fights can be swapped out for something else)Raxxyl's (str/sta) or Insatiable Ardor (+def) depending on which seems to help more... I'm still debating which myself.GroupAria: extra damageMerciless Melody: hasteBria's: powerAlin's: de-hateRaxxyl's: str/sta (melees need it, squishies get the extra health. Use +def if you are in a group of monks maybe but not otherwise)Raidsame as group, swap Raxxyl's for raidwide arcane or elemental buff if the situation calls for itI have never seen Requiem of Reflection have a significant effect while soloing so I've never bothered with it in a group. If someone has a better grasp of its usefulness or lack thereof maybe they could add their experience.</blockquote>I recommend running the exact same buffs as Scarry. Troubadors pretty much have set buffs that they cast and will never change. Unlike dirges you won't be having to ask the tank if they perfer defensive buffs or offensive.

[Antipalad]

This is of course the golden lineup, use it, and stick with it religiously.

[roces9]

Yeah for a class that the Devs always say has a great versatility in how we use our conc slots... we really run 3/5 of the same buffs, all the time. Regardless of the situation.If you're duoing with a healer, there is one quick little trick that I learned about on these forums. If you're duoing and want to keep aggro on yourself and not your healer buddy, Turn on the aggro buff, then click it off of yourself in your buff window. You'll automatically generate more hate than your partner and I've almost always been able to keep aggro in this situation. Also pulling with Messenger's Letter (Wis AA Line) helps too. And don't forget your self buff!

[j656]

<p>Thanks guys, this is great info.</p><p>Now, what I have been doing lately is going between the health reg and the power regen buff DURING the fight, depending on how the fight is going.  Do you guys think that makes much of a differance or should I just leave one on based on the group makeup?  havent been doing this long so I'm not sure if I'm see a benefit or not yet.</p><p>Also, I have been going between the defense buff and the magic protect buff during the fight depending on what we are fighting, casters vs melee.  Do you guys think that makes a differnace?  Again, I havent been doing this long so I'm not sure if I'm seeing a benefit or not yet.</p><p> lvl 39 on PVP server btw <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[roces9]

I can't see either regen making enough of a difference in group play for to warrant you switching them mid fight. When you're soloing and trying to Mez Kite something, then that might make sense, but it wont make much of a diff in grouping. Also, running Health regen in a group with a healer is pretty much a waste of a conc slot.Once you put AA points into the Magic and Elemental songs then you can get a little refreshing Ward against Magic or Elemental (respectively) damage, so they can be very useful in the right situations. For example, if you're PvPing and facing a Warden who (iirc) casts fire and ice nukes, it would make sense to switch out your Defense buff for your Elemental buff- especially if you have the AA points towards the Ward. Hope this answers your question and good luck.

[Jehannum]

<cite>Scarry wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>My opinion only:I always have Selos and Performer's Talent up as they take no concentration slots. Ditto for any AA ability (Allegro, DKtM...) as they don't take concentration.For your five open slots the mix varies depending on the situation.SoloAria: extra damage on a spell cast!Merciless Melody: haste is good  <span style="color: #3333ff;">- Situationally, I prefer Dove Song to eliminate charm/mez resists (^^^ or social pulls)</span>Quiron's: health regen is a must for soloing, don't use it in a group/raid (let the healers do their job)Bria's: power regen (if you're not running low in fights can be swapped out for something else)Raxxyl's (str/sta) or Insatiable Ardor (+def) depending on which seems to help more... I'm still debating which myself.<span style="color: #3333ff;">I generally use +defense against lower blue or green mobs, str/sta buff against white or higher mobs.</span></p><p>GroupAria: extra damageMerciless Melody: haste<span style="color: #3333ff;"> - Again, situationally replaced with Dove; especially against higher-level opponents without a warlock.</span>Bria's: powerAlin's: de-hateRaxxyl's: str/sta (melees need it, squishies get the extra health. Use +def if you are in a group of monks maybe but not otherwise) <span style="color: #3333ff;">- Situationally replaced by (here come the peanut gallery comments) Reflection.  Yes, Reflection. Or the resists, as in a raid.</span>Raidsame as group, swap Raxxyl's for raidwide arcane or elemental buff if the situation calls for itI have never seen Requiem of Reflection have a significant effect while soloing so I've never bothered with it in a group. If someone has a better grasp of its usefulness or lack thereof maybe they could add their experience.</p></blockquote><p>Against some of the caster-class mobs in Kunark, Requiem of Reflection actually triggers, and occasionally even manages to reflect stuff.  It's by no means consistent, and I don't <i>know</i> that it helps more than anything else I could have run in its slot, but it's done something, at least.</p><p>Edit - of course you know I <i>had</i> to pick the one colour which wouldn't contrast once I posted it...</p>

[Antipalad]

Dove Song/Song of Magic is a slot utterly wasted when soloing, grouping, or raiding. I think I used this buff last time I was in a grp with 3 troubadors...

[Pogopuschel]

<cite>Antipaladin wrote:</cite><blockquote>Dove Song/Song of Magic is a slot utterly wasted when soloing, grouping, or raiding. I think I used this buff last time I was in a grp with 3 troubadors...</blockquote>If you plan on mezing an orange con mob, not quite. If you are soloing against yellow cons, not quite.Other than that, yea there is far better choices in our repository.Generally, both STR/STA and the haste buff are the first candidates you want to swap out in certain situations:- If you have weapons with a low delay (2s or faster), I'd probably swap out haste. This will be the case for when you are leveling, as on lower levels the choice of high delay weapons simply sucks.- If you have weapons with a high delay (3s or less), haste is too important or rather: lowering STR will have less of an impact than lowering haste.The trigger chance for Requiem of Reflection (level 52 Ancient Teachings) is way too low on any solo/group fight, do not run that, it is a waste.You have like 20% chance of it to trigger, and proc a one-time stoneskin that will absorb the next magical hit yo u take. When you are grouping, you will not be taking many magical hits (If you do, you're doing something wrong <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />), and the chance to get hit again within 30s is slim. 20% trigger chance means: every 5th magical hit/detrimental effect on you can trigger it. Most mobs don't live long enough to fire off that many on you. Using RoR is very very very situational, and in 99.9% of encounters, you have a better alternative.

[roces9]

<cite>Uyaem@Runnyeye wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Antipaladin wrote:</cite><blockquote>Dove Song/Song of Magic is a slot utterly wasted when soloing, grouping, or raiding. I think I used this buff last time I was in a grp with 3 troubadors...</blockquote>If you plan on mezing an orange con mob, not quite. If you are soloing against yellow cons, not quite.Other than that, yea there is far better choices in our repository.</blockquote>/agreeI run Dove Song when a groupmembers in general get resisted alot. It <i>does </i>work in those situations.

[Kreylin]

<p>Here's what I use.  Feel free to make fun of me as you see fit. =P</p><p>Solo:Raxxyl's: Str/Sta = more DPS and more HP'sMerciless Melody: Haste = more DPS Quiron's: Health Regen = Basically results in more HP's than you normally haveDove Song : I almost never, ever get resisted by anything.  I charm pull and mezz all the time.  I also like to mezz, and then complete debuff, and then start the fight.  That's why I don't use Aria while soloing because debuffs trigger Aria which breaks the mezz.Defense: Can't remember the name of the buff.  Basically, getting hit less is a good thing.</p><p>Group:</p><p>Depends on whether I'm in a melee heavy group or caster group.  Also depends on whether we're fighting yellow + cons or not.  One thing I almost always do is drop the HP regen for Aria's unless it's completely a melee group, in which case I wonder why they didn't grab a dirge instead.</p><p>Raid:Bria's: Always have this up due to the length of the fights.Aria's: No brainer.</p><p>The rest are varible depending on what we're doing.  Raid wide resist buffs are good.  If I have a sub-80 caster toon in the group, Drove Song (actually, think the 70's version is Song of Magic) helps their performance quite a bit.  Str/Sta and Haste always make your tank or any other melee in the group happy (they don't like it when they get left out of the buffing...it isn't pretty when a grown barbarian cries).</p>

[Galim]

<p>You dont need Brias (mana regen) when soloing.  And despite what anyone says, Song of Magic is useful whilst soloing if you dont have Mezz AA Spec (IM specced for raiding - mezz is useless in raiding). I have far less resists to mezz with song of magic up.  If grouped with a warlock then no need for song of magic btw.</p><p> So My set up is (only listed the buffs requiring Conc)</p><p>Solo:</p><p>Str/Sta</p><p>Aria</p><p>Health regen</p><p>Haste</p><p>Song of magic OR Defence</p><p>Group:</p><p>This is situational but in a mixed group:</p><p>Str/Sta</p><p>Aria</p><p>Haste</p><p>Brias </p><p>Song of Magic OR Defence</p><p>Raids depends on encounter, in a yellow con or below without a warlock, i drop song of magic/defence for a spell mitigation buff.  In an orange con I drop Haste for spell mitigation or defence and run song of magic.  With a warlock in group I dont run song of magic.</p>

[Lariu]

<cite>roces9 wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Uyaem@Runnyeye wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Antipaladin wrote:</cite><blockquote>Dove Song/Song of Magic is a slot utterly wasted when soloing, grouping, or raiding. I think I used this buff last time I was in a grp with 3 troubadors...</blockquote>If you plan on mezing an orange con mob, not quite. If you are soloing against yellow cons, not quite.Other than that, yea there is far better choices in our repository.</blockquote>/agreeI run Dove Song when a groupmembers in general get resisted alot. It <i>does </i>work in those situations. </blockquote>Actually it does nothing. It's a total waste of a conc except in one situation (yes I HAVE found a use for it!!). When using troub as a buff + mentor bot for lower level enchanters! Sorry but I never use it and I don't have trouble mezzing orange con mobs - skills mean nothing atm.

[Kulaf]

<cite>Lariuss wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>roces9 wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Uyaem@Runnyeye wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Antipaladin wrote:</cite><blockquote>Dove Song/Song of Magic is a slot utterly wasted when soloing, grouping, or raiding. I think I used this buff last time I was in a grp with 3 troubadors...</blockquote>If you plan on mezing an orange con mob, not quite. If you are soloing against yellow cons, not quite.Other than that, yea there is far better choices in our repository.</blockquote>/agreeI run Dove Song when a groupmembers in general get resisted alot. It <i>does </i>work in those situations. </blockquote>Actually it does nothing. It's a total waste of a conc except in one situation (yes I HAVE found a use for it!!). When using troub as a buff + mentor bot for lower level enchanters! Sorry but I never use it and I don't have trouble mezzing orange con mobs - skills mean nothing atm.</blockquote>"atm" being the operative word.  With the upcoming adjustment to the land rates on spells vs. orange MOB's I have a feeling a lot of people are going to be dusting off this line of spells and using them a lot more often.

[Jehannum]

<cite>Lariuss wrote:</cite><blockquote>Actually it does nothing. It's a total waste of a conc except in one situation (yes I HAVE found a use for it!!). When using troub as a buff + mentor bot for lower level enchanters! Sorry but I never use it and I don't have trouble mezzing orange con mobs - skills mean nothing atm.</blockquote><p>This is an exceedingly limited perspective - I have to ask, do you roll with warlocks most of the time?  I don't have trouble mezzing orange con mobs either, but sometimes the tank or healer has trouble dealing with the extra 4-5 seconds of damage the mob's dealing when I do get a resist.  Call me crazy if you like, but I prefer to minimise that risk if I can and if it's appropriate.  It's not necessary for most fights, granted, but there's no way I'd try to take down T/X/D or most of the 85 epic-triggered mobs without it.</p><p>And yes, it's absolutely sick what an enchanter can do to mobs 11-12 levels higher, with a good skill buff.  Our level 74 Illu friend kept a pair of 85's locked for us without breaking a sweat.  Or at least if he was worried, he kept it to himself.</p>

[Kinox]

I think Dove Song/Song of Magic is very useful and will become even more useful after the next update.  I think if you DONT find it useful, you're probably playing ur troub like a rogue/pred instead of a caster.  I find that i do more dps when i act like a caster that auto attacks than when i act like a melee class that casts.  So given the choice between haste and dove song...i'd choose dove song.  I think some of you might be prejudiced against it because you're either used to raid fables with casting skills attacked or you aren't doing your job by keeping debuffs up.  I tried stacking subj gear just to see if i could consistently land my debuffs without resists and i got mixed results.  Turning on dove song almost guarenteed immediate debuff on the first cast.  So...if i spend less time trying to debuff, that means i have more time to dps.  Which means...increased dps...right?