Is the bard class for me?

[Reano]

I'm new to DDO (but not MMOs) and I'm trying to debate between playing a bard or a cleric. I love to heal in MMOs, however I like the idea of buffing as I believe it is an underrated skill that is often overlooked in many mmo's. I've read up on the Bard and it seems interesting, but I'm not sure if I should choose it over a cleric (which is a role I tend to play most often in other games). What do you guys think? Are bards sought after? Are they fun to play? And better yet are these two things true in comparison of the Cleric?

[Lithic]

I built mine as a crowdcontroler, and frankly felt like I was playing diet-caster. Others seem to have more fun with the melee warchanter-types, but mine was turned into a hagglebot long ago.

[Samadhi]

Bards are awesome, but they really don't start to shine until higher levels. If you are new to the game, I highly recommend that you start with the cleric out of the two you listed. In general, I will never recommend bards or rogues to new players. Bards because they are really dull until level 7 minimum - rogues because they are too easy to build poorly.

Now granted, bards are my favorite class in the game and I absolutely prefer them to anything. Just not wanting a new player to get frustrated with a class that doesn't immediately shine

[Freeman]

I agree with Samadhi. I would recommend that you start out with a cleric instead. Bards can be much more difficult to play than other classes, and new players often get frustrated with the weaknesses of the bard class, particularly at low levels. Also, since they have a much more limited spell point pool, healing on a bard can be much more expensive than for a cleric. There are also a fair number of people who still believe that cleric's are the only healers, so you would have to deal with that ignorance as well. I would recommend you play the cleric until you get to at least the mid-levels. That should give you a decent picture of how the different classes are done, and you can decide at that point how you want to proceed.

[geezee]

I disagree with the above posters in that bards can be powerful at low levels too. That depends on the build. Most battle bards, for example, are overpowered at low levels.

Bard can be tough for new players, as it's the most versatile and difficult to play class. One thing about bards is that there is a multitude of different builds and playstyles. A bard can be built to do just about anything but nuke in DDO.

To answer your questions, bards are highly sought after and a lot of fun to play. I find all the other classes boring and frustrating to play by comparison.

Clerics are better at healing, bards have the best buffs in DDO. Bards can do a lot of things that clerics (and other classes) cant do. One thing about bards that beats the hell out of clerics is that you have a lot more freedom to do what you want. Clerics are expected to heal in DDO, where as no one cares what a bard does as long as he sings a couple songs and hastes everyone. The other thing that really bugs me about playing my cleric after being used to playing bards is how slow he runs and not being able to jump. Like being an old man after being in the NBA.

In the end, it boils down to playstyle. If you like keeping everyone alive and healed, cleric is probably better. If you have a short attention span and like doing all kinds of different things, play a bard.

[Angelus_dead]

What do you guys think? Are bards sought after? Are they fun to play? And better yet are these two things true in comparison of the Cleric?

Both are fun and sought. It will be easier to start with a cleric first, because they benefit less from the consumable items that can really aid a bard.

[geezee]

It will be easier to start with a cleric first, because they benefit less from the consumable items that can really aid a bard.

I dont understand the logic of this statement.

Cleric is easier to play for a noob because everyone will kiss your ass, invite you to groups, join your groups, and run back to find you when you get lost. But that wasnt the OPs question, which one is easier. Just because it's easier doesnt make it more fun.

To the OP, I would make a cleric and a bard and play them til level 6 or so. Then you will know which one fits your style.

[Samadhi]

I dont understand the logic of this statement.

Cleric is easier to play for a noob because everyone will kiss your ass, invite you to groups, join your groups, and run back to find you when you get lost. But that wasnt the OPs question, which one is easier. Just because it's easier doesnt make it more fun.

To the OP, I would make a cleric and a bard and play them til level 6 or so. Then you will know which one fits your style.

It's really pretty simple. AD is referring to wands and scrolls, the bread and butter of a UMD bard, that a new player is really not going to be able to afford. Play both to level 6? Do you remember what it was like to be a new player? Level 6 is AGES away at that point. I almost quit this game at level 2.

[Reano]

Yeah as much as I would like to level both to 6 and see which one better suits my preferences, I would much rather just pick one and go with it... Unfortunately, despite all the help you guys have given me, I still can't decide. This is always the worst part of an MMO for me; I can't ever decide on a class. bah.

[Angelus_dead]

Unfortunately, despite all the help you guys have given me, I still can't decide. This is always the worst part of an MMO for me; I can't ever decide on a class. bah.

I'll decide for you:
Be a cleric.

There, that was easy! For additional info, open the /who list and sort the character classes by name. Count how many bards and clerics there are on right now.

[Freeman]

Yes, a bard can be powerful at low levels. So can any other class with access to enough money and equipment. For a starting player, a cleric would be much easier to equip and provision. It is also the easiest class to find groups with, making it the easiest to level up and learn the game with as well. In many cases, the idea that someone has about a class changes once they actually play the game, which is why I suggested playing a cleric for awhile first. The two aren't mutually exclusive or anything, so you can decide to roll up a bard after playing a cleric a day, a week, a month, or whatever. But my advice is still to play a cleric for awhile first. It might save you from making mistakes when you finally roll up a bard. I rerolled Freeman after the game had been out for a couple of months to fix some things, and even that reroll is still severely gimped. Just don't tell anyone else that

[Reano]

Cleric it is then. thanks so much for all of your guys' help; I really appreciate it. it's nice finding a community that actually somewhat cares about new guys. I've played some MMOs where people really couldn't care any less what happens to the newer players; so for that I thank you all.

[DaveyCrockett]

What server are you playing on Reano?

[geezee]

It's really pretty simple. AD is referring to wands and scrolls, the bread and butter of a UMD bard, that a new player is really not going to be able to afford. Play both to level 6? Do you remember what it was like to be a new player? Level 6 is AGES away at that point. I almost quit this game at level 2.

What wands do you need at level 1-5 besides a healing wand? Afford what? Do any of you guys play a bard?

I hope none of you work in sales...

[geezee]

Yes, a bard can be powerful at low levels. So can any other class with access to enough money and equipment. For a starting player, a cleric would be much easier to equip and provision. It is also the easiest class to find groups with, making it the easiest to level up and learn the game with as well. In many cases, the idea that someone has about a class changes once they actually play the game, which is why I suggested playing a cleric for awhile first. The two aren't mutually exclusive or anything, so you can decide to roll up a bard after playing a cleric a day, a week, a month, or whatever. But my advice is still to play a cleric for awhile first. It might save you from making mistakes when you finally roll up a bard. I rerolled Freeman after the game had been out for a couple of months to fix some things, and even that reroll is still severely gimped. Just don't tell anyone else that

A battle bard can blitz thru the harbor without money or equipment. You should try it sometime. No fair advising noobs to go play another class if all you do with your bard is haggle. That would be like me going on the rogue board and telling noobs that rogues all suck just because I dont know how to play them.

[Samadhi]

What wands do you need at level 1-5 besides a healing wand? Afford what? Do any of you guys play a bard?

I hope none of you work in sales...

I do work in sales, actually, but it isn't my goal to give unrealistic expectations to a newer player.

I have capped 3 bards in my time playing this game, two of which still live.

Any more questions of relevence?

[Samadhi]

A battle bard can blitz thru the harbor without money or equipment. You should try it sometime. No fair advising noobs to go play another class if all you do with your bard is haggle. That would be like me going on the rogue board and telling noobs that rogues all suck just because I dont know how to play them.

A battle bard is extremely powerful. It is also really hard to balance, and I wouldn't recommend to a newer player.

[Aranticus]

What wands do you need at level 1-5 besides a healing wand? Afford what? Do any of you guys play a bard?

I hope none of you work in sales...

oh geezee!!!!!

dude, from all your post you have made referenced to a BATTLE bard. did you ever run a HEALING bard? a battle bard essentially uses his own sp for buffs and not healing. since a bard ability to heal is so poor (due to lack of sp), in a normal quest in which the bard is the primary healer (which is very common in low levels), the sp is supplemented by scrolls and wands (which is lesser in the cleric's case as they have more sp, my non maxed wis clr has 1540sp without shroud tier 3, my 35 cha bard has 1300 sp with shroud tier 3, difference = 300+). clerics also gain empower healing enhancements to get cheap large heals.

so a battlebard is a bard but a haggle bard is not? i'm sorry i dun quite get your logic here..... geezee! look at the OP and tell me that the OP wants a fighting toon. he requested a HEALING toon. a hagglebard is the perfect example of a healing toon. how? spellsinger (less sp for heals), maxed healing enhancements, maxed cha (more sp), weak (so wont melee but just stay back and heal), compare this to the battle bard (which in most cases, melee and allow the healers to heal them)

i really hope you are a not lawyer or a doctor. people are going to have so much fun with malpractice suits

[Lewcipher]

What wands do you need at level 1-5 besides a healing wand? Afford what? Do any of you guys play a bard?

I hope none of you work in sales...

Actually, hope you don't work in sales The gentleman, or lady had chosen cleric, so....mmm...hope you work in tech support. Yes, bards rock...yes, clerics rock. If you're just coming into this game what's easier? Cleric.

[Angelus_dead]

A battle bard can blitz thru the harbor without money or equipment. You should try it sometime.

No, he can't "blitz" in the sense of doing it at high-speed, because his speed if given equipment will be much higher than without. You ain't soloing Ringleader and WW at level 1 without some prime items or some sloooow tactics.

That fact intensifies if the player doesn't have precise knowledge of all harbor quests, which certainly is the case for the person in question.