Something I'll do is keep some throwing daggers on me. You can chuck one at your
target from just outside his bubble, that gives you a bit extra time to swap
weapons. The cost of daggers really isn't that high compared to the loot you can
get.

Ehlanna, lv10 bard....Bristlebane

Roop Dirump wrote:

> From: "Roop Dirump" <roop@...>
>
> This is how I handle it: First, in one section of my quickkey slots I have
> my 2 weapon slots in hotkeys 1 & 2, and for the rest I have the slots in my
> inventory. Then I wield my mandolin and lament 3 beasts. Rather than
> bellowing (bellowing takes too long, first lament will wear off), I run up
> to the fourth and wack him with my fists, turn and run. While the creature
> gives chase I can easily pick up my shield and place it on the mandolin in
> my quickey slot, then put the madolin on my weapon and take it over to wield
> it. By this time I can then turn around and begin fighting.
>
> Realize that you should press F1 to target yourself, and go ahead and try
> out a lament on yourself. Now you can see just how long one of your own
> laments will last. Try it with just voice and a stringed instrument. Voice
> lament doesn't last long at all, but is probably best if you only need to
> use on one creature.
>
> Roop
>