3 replies to this topic

[dudetheman]

Alright hello people! I am still really new to Ragnarok and I was wondering if a bard built for soloing is viable? I know they get bow skills and instruments and songs. But, I have no idea how any of that meshes? Can I sing songs and shoot my bow at the same time? Can I melee with instruments? Which songs would be best for solo play? Am I a retard and bard just isn't built for soloing?

Any info would be great!

[Karlov]

you can't use songs and attack at the same time with a bow because the song requires an instrument. Also, the songs doesn't affect you just your party. You can melee with instruments but it's just better to go around poking stuff with the bow and doing DS as there are no really effective melee attack skills with instruments when you are a bard

[dudetheman]

you can't use songs and attack at the same time with a bow because the song requires an instrument. Also, the songs doesn't affect you just your party. You can melee with instruments but it's just better to go around poking stuff with the bow and doing DS as there are no really effective melee attack skills with instruments when you are a bard

Well that is rather disappointing.. I can't believe the songs don't even effect the bard. I guess coming from an Everquest background I was hoping for something else entirely. Thank you for the info.

[kasshin]

Performers are kind of a strange class in general. You can kill with archer skills / arrow vulcan / severe rainstorm but you can also support when not killing. It's a hybrid kill / support class I suppose, but the post-balance patch changes are not that favorable for them. They are still a useful class however and will always be needed for Magic Strings. They do more of the support side after hitting higher levels after level 90 and during third class so they are better suited leveling with a party.

Soloing is quite possible and also quite effective early on. You will be using arrow shower for AOE, or double strafe for single targets. You may choose to go with Arrow Vulcan if you have rebirthed and are a Minstrel. These skills are quite strong compared to other classes, even though arrow shower and double strafe are archer skills and not second class skills.

I soloed my bard and minstrel using an arrow shower build (DEX, VIT, INT). I got my Minstrel to level 75 in maybe 2-3 hours during 3x exp event without manuals/VIP/etc. Most people will probably go with an AGI / single target build, focusing on DEX and AGI, as killing one monster at a time is somewhat easier and will not use up supplies. So yes, soloing is definitely possible before level 90. Soloing any character after level 90 is still possible but generally partying will give you exp much faster. Pretty much everyone in the game in general will do eden Gramps turn ins after level 80-90 as they are much more rewarding than soloing; it's just the way iRO is like right now. Soloing a character after turning third class is still possible but you do need a lot of zeny for supplies and good gears, and the EXP rate may not necessarily be that good.

The other alternative is leveling with a priest / arch bishop (dualing). You can kill while the priest / AB heals and supports you. This is still possible even at higher levels with Severe Rainstorm as a maestro, although due to the nature of the class, singing songs for a large party may give you better EXP rates since your songs will support the whole party and make them stronger.

Edited by kasshin, 29 June 2012 - 07:19 AM.