Bard/Minstrel Balancing
Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 4:47 pm
I don't think their damage is too bad now since every other class was lowered, but bards generally stayed the same. They are in the lower spectrum though, but not the lowest.
However, with /song power they can gain between 3-5 strength which gives them a nice damage boost, and is applicable to the whole party. I.E. it's about 147-197 damage regular with 20 strength, and 184-247 with the power song if you get 5 strength. Typical will probably be 4 strength. About on pair with a paladin. Damage is okay here.
Their shell grants them not only armor, but spell resistance. This was buffed up to about 20% resistance with 20 charisma at level 25. The actual armor amount is lower as they can wear medium armor, but puts them in line between medium and heavy users. Using /song AC boosts it further to high 80's or low 90's.
/song HP should give 20-30HP per tick. Need to test how this works in a large party but it might be too low. Maybe should be around 50 per tick at 25.
/song absorb is just more spell resistance. It's about 15% more resistance. So with shell and this, bards on themselves can naturally remove 35% damage negation on themselves (since shell is only cast on themselves), and that doesn't include any passive spell negation removal that wisdom grants too. Using this song probably gives them a nice chance against sorcs/etc.
I'm wondering about synergy songs though that are unlocked at higher levels. For example, one song giving power and AC. Another song giving all four, etc. These songs can use more per tick (3-4?)...
For example, /song superpower gives 3-5 strength (same as power) but then also gives 75% AC and Resist that /song ac and /song absorb give.
I just don't know what songs should synergy, or if it should even be this way. I don't want 20 different songs for bards.
There is an OAD instrument for sale now as well, it should ramp up your song powers as it is instrument+char based, not level+char.
Also, CURE has been boosted to the same as DRUIDS CURE. So that should actually be better now for them, heal wise.
Bards might make more sense once we have OADs though.
However, with /song power they can gain between 3-5 strength which gives them a nice damage boost, and is applicable to the whole party. I.E. it's about 147-197 damage regular with 20 strength, and 184-247 with the power song if you get 5 strength. Typical will probably be 4 strength. About on pair with a paladin. Damage is okay here.
Their shell grants them not only armor, but spell resistance. This was buffed up to about 20% resistance with 20 charisma at level 25. The actual armor amount is lower as they can wear medium armor, but puts them in line between medium and heavy users. Using /song AC boosts it further to high 80's or low 90's.
/song HP should give 20-30HP per tick. Need to test how this works in a large party but it might be too low. Maybe should be around 50 per tick at 25.
/song absorb is just more spell resistance. It's about 15% more resistance. So with shell and this, bards on themselves can naturally remove 35% damage negation on themselves (since shell is only cast on themselves), and that doesn't include any passive spell negation removal that wisdom grants too. Using this song probably gives them a nice chance against sorcs/etc.
I'm wondering about synergy songs though that are unlocked at higher levels. For example, one song giving power and AC. Another song giving all four, etc. These songs can use more per tick (3-4?)...
For example, /song superpower gives 3-5 strength (same as power) but then also gives 75% AC and Resist that /song ac and /song absorb give.
I just don't know what songs should synergy, or if it should even be this way. I don't want 20 different songs for bards.
There is an OAD instrument for sale now as well, it should ramp up your song powers as it is instrument+char based, not level+char.
Also, CURE has been boosted to the same as DRUIDS CURE. So that should actually be better now for them, heal wise.
Bards might make more sense once we have OADs though.