Hullo all!

I'm working on a list of Bardic Hot Buttons to be included in a letter to
Verant.

These are NOT a demand for fixes, enhancements, or changes to the class or to
the game. I just want to give Verant a state-of-the-union update on Bards in
general. Since we seem to be a low-population class, I don't think we enter
much into the minds of the developers. I hope this will give them something to
work with.

This list should include a SHORT synopsis of what the issue is, and they should
affect Bards only. No solutions are needed, as this is not a complaint or
petition letter.

Please let me know if you see missed items. Please, no single item/single mob
suggestions.

Golias, Solusek Ro

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1) Bard Melee Skills

All classes currently get Dodge. In addition, each hybrid or melee class gets 5
to 7 additional skills. Bards get one single skill, dual wield. Since Bards
are usually very popular among the mobs attacking a party, due to party buffs
and healing, the lack of other defensive skills seems odd. As a side note, we
seem to be Rogue/All Caster hybrids...but Rogues get all melee skills.

2) Mob Hatred

This is tied to number one. Mobs choose their targets based on perceived damage
to them. Buffs, healing, and taunt count as damage. This is fine for all
classes except Bards. Most non-bard buffing occurs outside of combat, no effect
on mobs. Most non-bard healing takes place on a single character, less of it
happens on the whole party, tho it does happen with high level clerics. In the
Bard's case, during a fight we are generating hate for ALL mobs based on
buffing/healing ALL characters and doing it every few seconds. So we get
maximum hate added to EACH mob, based on helping the whole party. And it happens
with every pulse of every song. Coupled with a lack of defensive skills, this
makes the life of a party bard pretty difficult.

3) Charm Level Cap

This is a song that we get at level 27, and is only effective on mobs up to
level 37. Having spells with caps on most casting classes is understandable, as
they get a higher circle spell that replaces it. In addition, most casters have
over 100 songs, where we have only 50, once they are all implemented. The charm
is already difficult to use, I.E. the charm will typically wear off before you
can type a single pet command, and the mob can't be recharmed till it has time
to smack you. Does it need a level cap as well? If this is song is so limited,
perhaps it should be replaced with something else, considering how few songs we
have?

4) Bard Only Weapons

Nuff said.

5) Instrument Skill Caps

Instrument skill caps are the Bardic equivalent of a caster's Evocation,
Divination, etc. skills. All casters cap at 255 in these skills, where Bards
instruments cap at 200. This leads to many 'fizzles' at high level, many more
than an equivalent caster.