I think there is an inherent Catch-22 when playing a bard in a bad group.
First off, you don't really know if you are in a bad group until you get a
bad pull. Any group, good or bad, can handle the easy pulls. So you get a
bad pull. If you know how to play a bard properly and you are in a bad
group, you chances of dying increase because you will draw too much
attention. The other option is to not play your bard to his maximum
capability until you gauge the quality of the group. So you get a bad pull.
If you played your bard to his maximum capability, there is a chance your
entire party can survive the fight. But you don't want to die so you play
it safe and not sing the songs you know will draw everything to your
attention. Now you risk pissing the other people in your party off because
you weren't giving 100% effort in the fight. Either way you end getting the
short end of the stick. For me personally, I always play my bard to the
best of his capabilities. Therefore, the only way to avoid the situation is
to play in a regular group or not let it bother you when you die. Since my
time constraint wont allow me to play with a regular group, I have just
accepted the other option as the norm.

Just my opinion.

Galtin of E'ci

> I know I'm addicted to having fun with other people. Unfortunately I've
> been in so many bad groups lately that hasn't translated into playing as
> much EQ as I used to. I think that's the biggest drawback to the bard
> class. When you get in a bad group, its the bard that pays the price. At
> least that's been my experience.
>
>