>You can solo as a bard fairly effective till about 21st or 22nd level.

I think this is a matter of playing style, as well as character race and
strength. I have been unable to solo without dying every five minutes since
level 12 or so. Mainly because I am a wood elf and most of the things that
are blue to my character have a nasty habit of hitting hard and stunning
often, as well as gathering friends to help them.

>Anyways, it's *SO* much more fun in a full group, with everyone knowing
>their role. Once you've tasted it, you'll find it terrible to be w/o a
>group.

This I have to agree with. There is nothing as satisfying to me as spending
a few hours fighting with my party at my side. Regretfully, we know each
other and our personal responsibilities so well now that on the rare
occassions that we find someone else to join us it is difficult to integrate
them into our party.

Liani