I recently created a new character that is a bard. Up until this point, I have always been a mage, but I thought I would be interesting to do something else. I got her to level 21 so far, but I'm afraid I am not utilizing the ability to the fullest. I have every song I can get at this level. I would just like some advice on how to best play a bard. Such as what tactics work. How do I utilize my songs to do damage. Stuff like that.
Here are some groupings that may help you. I listed songs through L30. Important skills Kick (L17) Dual Wield (L17) Make sure you are using two weapons and the kick ability. Offensive (Group) Chant of Battle (L1) = +AC, +STR, +DEX Anthem de Arms (L10) = Haste, +STR These two do not stack. If have a haste buff, you'll probably want to go with Chant of Battle instead. Regen (Group) Hymn of Restoration (L6) = HP regen Cassindra's Chant of Clarity (L20) = Mana regen You can run both of these together if you want, if it makes sense for your group. Bards don't receive any benefit from the mana regen song. Protection (Group) Elemental Rhythms (L9) = +M/C/F resists, +AC Purifying Rhythms (L13) = +M/P/D resists, +AC Guardian Rhythms (L17) = +M resist, +AC Psalm of Warmth (L25) = +C resist, +AC, +DS, Infravision Psalm of Vitality (L29) = +D resist, +AC, +DS All except Guardian Rhythms in this list do not stack. So, if you want to use these, choose the one that makes the most sense. You can also always run Guardian Rhythms in addition to any of the others here. Self-only Jonthan's Whistling Warsong (L7) = Haste, +AC, +STR Magical Monologue (L9) = Magic weapons (Self-only, despite description) Amplification (L30) = +Singing skill Jonthan's stacks with either of the group offensive songs listed above. The haste effects do not stack, however. Jonthan's provides the better haste, so it'd benefit you to use this song when meleeing. Magical Monologue is good if you don't have any magic weapons to kill stuff like willowisps and ghouls. Use amp to mod the effects of singing skills. Debuff Largo's Melodic Binding (L20) = Slow, -AC Good debuff to use on any mob you fight head on. Dispel Alenia's Disenchanting Melody (L22) = Dispel 1 slot from yourself and your group This can be useful to dispel mobs on the pull if necessary. Correction: This is the silly self-group dispel. You probably won't ever have a reason to use this. The first useful dispel song comes in at L40. Direct damage Brusco's Boastful Bellow (L12), Singing = DD, push 1', 30s reuse Amplification song will boost the damage on this song. Damage over time (Single) Fufil's Curtailing Chant (L30), Percussion = Magic DoT, -M resist Use a drum! Kite or just use it to add some extra damage while you melee away. It can also be used to help keep aggro. Damage over time (AE) Chords of Dissonance (L2), String = Magic AE DoT Denon's Disruptive Discord (L18), Brass = Magic AE DoT, -AC Instruments are your friend here if you choose to use these songs. They stack. Travel (Group) Selo's Accelerando (L5) = Run Speed Selo's Rhythm of Speed (L25) = Run Speed Shauri's Sonorous Clouding (L19) = Invis, See invis Tarew's Aquatic Ayre (L16) = Breath underwater Lyssa's Veracious Concord (L24) = See invis, Ultravision The second Selo's song listed came out with LDoN and provided a run speed boost indoors, but the first song is faster. Levitation doesn't come until L31, but otherwise, you have pretty much everything you need for travel here. Crowd control Kelin's Lugubrious Lament (L8) = Pacify to L60 Kelin's Lucid Lullaby (L15) = Mez to L30 Selo's Consonant Chain (L23) = Snare, Slow Angstlich's Appalling Screech (L26) = Fear to L52 Solon's Song of the Sirens (L27) = Charm to L37 Crission's Pixie Strike (L28) = Mez to L45, -M resist You still have a little bit to go until you get to the fun stuff, but you can at least pacify pull, mez adds, and snare runners for now. Once you get L26, you can fear in addition to snaring mobs, allowing you to kill them as they slowly run away. And at L27, you have quite a few options with how you can use the charm song to help you. Of course, in all scenarios, the charmed mob can add some extra damage for you, but it can also take the hits for you or help you kill a mob you're kiting. Extra utility Lyssa's Locating Lyric (L4) = Locate corpse Cinda's Charismatic Carillon (L11) = +Faction Lyssa's Cataloging Libretto (L14) = Identify item lore Song of Sustenance (L15) = Food/Water Melanie's Mellifluous Motion (L21) = Group shadowstep Lots of extra fun stuff to play around with here.
