I never got to play when the song worked (started Elfson at the end of
December) so this hasn't bothered me as much as some of the older bards. I
have liked playing Elfson for 42 (woohoo!) levels without any ability to AOE
mez, and I will continue to do so.

I just wish there was some way to "doa dungeon" without an enchanter in your
group. (Fortunatly my guild of like 20 35+ chars has 3 enchanters, so ita
not often a problem). Veerant claims they wish people would "do dungeons",
which (according to them) means walk around, kill stuff, med up and continue
moving. This is a very fun way to play. You just need 3 things to do it
without dying frequently.

1. A meat shield. This role is best filled by a warrior (as it should be),
but a paladin, shadowknight can fill in with little problem. Rangers and
monks (maybe rogues,I have little experience with them) also with a little
more healing. Maybe in a real pinch a buffed up bard could do it, but you
better have pets and blasters to help him out then.

2. A healer. Clerics are the clear choice here, but shamans, druids and
even paladins can fill in and the group still works.

3. Crowd control. Post 30, there is no one who fills this role but an
enchanter. We (bards) are the second best (I think, I dont know how well
necros can do this). And I know I can't do it well enough to "do a
dungeon". In the mid 40's, we are able to break most rooms (with a lot of
good playing) without an enchanter, and then holding the room becomes no
problem. But the mana cost of the break in makes it impossible to keep
moving through the dungeon.

There in lies the problem, you can't play the game (as Verant intended)
without an enchanter. This is why people sit in one place (frequently
outdoors where you can easily pull singles) and camp.

I don't mean this is a slight to the other classes in the game (ie the
damage boys). They are great in a group and I love wizards (expecially when
we are going after a big named spawn). I just don't see tem as "necessary"
for crawling through a dungeon. They just make it easier.

Once again VI shows a lack of (how ironically) vision. I quit EQ in Feb for
almost 2 months, but I missed my friends, so I came back (and worked my blue
heiny off to catch up with them level wise). I love bards, I play them in
any new game I get. However if my guild said "Hey Elf, we've decided to
move the guild to xxxxxxxx (anarchy online, asheron's call, UO2, Diablo2,
Icewind Dale, whatever)" I would leave in a second. But that being said I
don't see it happening, and will continue enjoying my time in Norrath with
my friends. (despite the occasional quirks...)