I TOTALLY disagree. If you're getting booted from groups for a tank, then maybe
you aren't doing something right, or you are in poorly balanced groups (or poor
team groups). I have never been booted from a group for any such thing. As soon
as I log in, I get tells asking me if I'm in a group and if not would I like to
join? I play roughly 3 hours a night, so maybe that is more than some, and I
meet alot of people that I think are very good, so it is easy to find friendly
faces to group with. I can think of another bard on Karana that I know is also
excellent, and I'm betting she doesn't have much trouble getting in a group (Kae
;P).
In my group I tank when needed, and often pull, but the main thing I would guess
people like is the hymn during battle and particularly during downtime, and
anthem is also visibly beneficial. If you have a druid in the group, have them
SOW you, and don't use selo's! Clerics and Druids LOVE bards, because you help
so much with there healing load, particularly in downtime. since we don't use
mana, the only time I'm not playing something is when a train is about to roar
by.
Personally since getting chain at 23rd I use it heavily, as it noticably slows
the attacking monster. Lullaby is great for when those smaller monsters join in
the fray. I still use bellow when soloing, but very rarely in group (and I
almost never solo). Our group effects do so much to enhance the effectiveness of
the entire gathering, a meager 13 hp damage per bellow seems trivial. (I
recently moved on to twisting three songs instead of two unless I'm getting
stunned, and that's with never less then 270 ms ping, so ping doesn't seem to be
a big deal).
I think it's important to take note of bad group members. If you have a sole
cleric in your group that never heals and uses all his/her mana on smite, while
you are being beaten to a pulp, do not be so forgiving. That is a TERRIBLE
cleric. Does the wizard overnuke in the beginning of every single battle then
scream for heals? Overnuking every battle is a sign of a poor wizard.
One of the keys to enjoyment I have found is that when you make mental note of
people that work well with you and you like to play with, tell them so, and
group with them again. Team-oriented players tend to know who other
team-oriented players are, and they all end up in groups together. There is
nothing quite so rewarding as making a full level over a few nights with the
same dozen people and never dying. I consider it quite a feat to not die as a
bard leveling in the 20s, since mobs hate us so. (I did this at level 23, and I
sure hope to repeat the trend again). =]
Ariell Thunderwolf, Karana
> Will one song be good enough? Sure, and your party will boot you out when
> the first tank comes along because you are doing 20 points of damage a
> round, constantly frenzying the mobs, and don't add anything to the party as
> a whole.