At 01:19 AM 6/9/99 -0700, you wrote:
>From: David Rubino <tigger@...>
>
>
>Very rarely do I disagree with more points in a single post than this one.
>
>>But we are not
>>designed for soloing like the Ranger or Paladin are. Frankly, anyone who
>>complains about not being able to solo well as a Bard is missing the point
>>to being a Bard. You want to be alone? Play a Ranger.
>
>I'm level 23, and I soloed to 23 with no problem. Why? Because Bards are
>simply an awesome solo class. We heal fast so we can engage in battle much
>more rapidly without relying on a healer or the ability to "sit this battle
>out" for healing. We run fast so we can escape the battles we are going to
>lose, eithout relying on a party to save us. The Level 8 song allows us to
>take single handedly a camp which would require a large group. We have a
>decent fighting ability, and plenty of HP. I'm sure soloing gets harder and
>harder after level 23, but the game is supposed to get harder as one goes
>along anyhow, I'm up for the challenge.
>
Sorry to disappoint you but you are going to find soloing a near,i say
again near impossibility, especially after 30..i soled alot till 17 or so
then did the group/solo thing. I am now 34 almost level 35 and it is a near
absolute need for me to group. 1st its hard to find blue cons that are
alone and not in groups...2nd these blues would near kill me every time
even if i could solo one singley...3rd when you get higher you will be
forced into dungeons..yea you could try kiting giants but the time it takes
and the danger involved isnt worth the effort..btw the loot on giants sucks
>>Well, frankly,
>>if you're grouping, you should be gaining experience faster. True, each
>>kill gives you less, but the overall result of being able to kill
>>repeatedly in shorter periods of time, or handle multiple creatures at a
>>time balances that out.
>
>I gain so little exp in a group it isn't even funny. This is why I don't
>group, because the exp is AWFUL. Anyone else had the same experience? If
>you haven't tried soloing, I suggest you try it. You may never want to go
>back.
>
Here i gotta strongly disagree..if you are in a half way decent group your
kill/downtime ratio should far outway the greater exp per kill of
soloing...ive tried both and found with a good group i get at least double
the exp compared to when i try soloing..if you do it time spent/exp.
>>And my final point of the night: (And here's where I expect to work on my
>>dodge skill:) I think Bards should be denied Plate Mail. Already I can
>>hear the Battle Bards winding up - but hear me out: The Bard was never
>>intended to be a grunt-class. The big burly types should be the ones
>>soaking the damage and such, not us. Of course, before they make any
>>changes like this, they should also fix that tiny little bug that makes us
>>the primary target ALL the time :(
>
>When I do group, I find one of my main selling points is "I can't dish out
>the damage, but I sure can take it". It seems to me that platemail is a
>perfect way to counter-balance the relatively small amount of damage we can
>do. Very few classes do less raw damage, but I can solo because even the
>toughest creatures find it difficult to dent my bronze platemail. And in a
>group, the combination of my platemail and ability to attract the attention
>of the mobs, makes me a great tank, taking the damage whilst the
>spellcasters dish it out. From a roleplay perspective (oddly necessary for
>some of you) . . . don't get an image of the Bard as some sort of
>wandering weakling artist. Our skill may lie in singing, not fighting, but
>we are strong surviving types. We are used to braving the dangers of the
>wild, and can take a beating, as well we should.
>
The platemail thing i side with the GOTTA LOVE IT side. My view is the way
verant designed the bard he NEEDS the armor especially when you get higher
up in levels..if they wanted the bard as a party helper who isnt suppossed
to get in the melee they would have made his buffs and damage songs much
more effective..as it is,it is clear you are suppossed to mix the songs and
melee damage to be an effective party member..true i can sometimes play an
instument instead and contribute but i find battles go much more smoothly
if i get in there and get my hands bloody :)
>-Musil Tearsong
>
>
>
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