Bard

Description

Bards are jack-of-all-trades adventurers who use music to create a wide variety of magical effects. Though they often use melee weapons, bards are primarily a magic-using class, with the ability to wear plate armor and wield many different types of weapons and instruments.

Bards can do a little bit of everything. Their songs can regenerate health and mana, increase attack speed and accuracy, momentarily charm angry enemies, help friends resist many types of damage and even directly damage enemies. Bards are perhaps best known, however, for their ability to greatly increase the foot speed of their group.

Bards have the unique ability to create multiple effects at once. By weaving different songs together, a bard can customize effects to any situation. This makes nimble fingers and quick thinking a must for those who want to play a bard.

Bards do well both alone and in groups. With the right combination of songs, they can adapt to many different challenges. The bard is a great class for players who enjoy a wide variety of play options but are quick to adapt to a changing situation.

Creation Guide

Statistics

Strength

Strength determines how much you can carry. It influences maximum and average damage and how quickly you learn many offensive skills. Bards wear plate armour, which can weigh large amounts at upper levels. Also they have a semi-melee role, which means they will get more damage done with their weaponry with higher strength. Whilst a number of their songs do increase this stat, it is one which should also get a boost at creation.

Stamina

Stamina affects how many hit points you have, and how long you can hold your breath. The number of hitpoints gained from increasing this statistic is very minimal and Bards have a song which replenishes stamina if needed. No points should be assigned to this statistic at creation.

Agility

Agility affects how quickly you can learn some defensive skills, how difficult it is to hit you as well as how much damage you take when you are hit. The true effect of Agility is often debated. Since Bards can get hit a lot in combat, there is sound argument for putting points into this statistic. However, it doesn't seem to make a noticeable difference, and there are quite a few Agility increasing items in the game. Bards also increase Agility and AC with their songs. Despite the fact it is a relevant statistic, it is recommended to put your bonus points into more important areas when starting out.

Dexterity

Dexterity affects how quickly you learn weapon skills, and how often weapons will do their special. For Bards it also effects their chance of missing notes (fizzling) their spells. This is a critical statistic for Bards and one which they should certainly raise with their extra points.

Wisdom

Wisdom affects the amount of mana the priest classes have, also rangers and paladins. It also affects how quickly you can learn many skills if your wisdom is higher than your Intelligence. This skill has absolutely no relevance for the Bard class and bonus points should not be put into it.

Intelligence

Intelligence directly affects how quickly you can learn most skills. It affects the amount of mana for Bards and all pure casters, as well as shadow knights. Mana for Bards is only used in a small number of songs, and they have no way to increase its regeneration rate. It is much easier to get a few items which raise this stat for when you might need extra mana, than to increase it at the beginning. Like Agility, whilst relevant, there are more important stats to raise with your bonus points.

Charisma

This affects amount you will be paid for goods by NPC merchants, and how much they will pay you. It also affects the saving throw on certain Bard and Enchanter spells (charms in particular). For Bards, Charisma is much more important than for other classes. It not only effects their chance of songs being resisted, but also is part of the calculation for fizzled notes. Points should definitely be spent increasing this statistic at creation.

Picking the Right Race

The first thing you have to pick then is your race. Which race you pick will determine the foundation of you character for the rest of your life in Norrath so it is kind of important you pick one you like. The majority of Bards tend to be Half-Elves since they have the highest overall melee stats. Wood Elves trade off their strength in damage for some extra agility in avoiding being hit. Humans, like always, have consistent base stats.

Humans are the only race with no night vision abilities, and none of the races level any faster than another. Since all Bards get the ability to hide and forage, the wood-elves natural abilities are not so important.

Starting Statistics

Spending Your Bonus Points

Overall you have to keep in mind you will need to melee to do damage in most situations and your armor does get heavy. With this in mind here are our suggested bonus point spendings:

   * Wood Elves: Add 10 Charisma, 10 Dexterity, 5 Strength.
   * Half Elves: Add 10 Charisma, 10 Strength, 5 Dexterity.
   * Humans: Add 10 Charisma, 10 Dexterity, 5 Strength.

Religion

Generally speaking being agnostic is a fairly safe bet in Everquest. Religion serves only to get you into trouble in many situations. The disadvantage to doing this is that some items and some quests can only be done by followers of certain religions. Following a religion will at worst get you killed in some areas, but generally you can avoid these. In the end it will not make an enormous difference to your character which Deity you choose.

Songs

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                </tbody>

Level	Song Name	Instrument	Song Description	Locations	Era
1	Chant of Battle	Singing	Party:Increase AC, Str, Dex	Qeynos, Freeport, Kelethin	Classic
2	Chords of Dissonance	String	AE: DoT	Qeynos, Freeport, Kelethin	Classic
3	Jaxan's Jig of Vigor	Percussion	Party: Stamina Regeneration	Qeynos, Freeport, Kelethin	Classic
4	Lyssa's Locating Lyric	Singing	Corpse Location Song	Qeynos, Freeport, Kelethin	Classic
5	Selo's Accelerando	Percussion	Party: Increased Movement Rate	Qeynos, Freeport, Kelethin, Highkeep	Classic
6	Hymn of Restoration	String	Party: Heal	Qeynos, Freeport, Kelethin	Classic
7	Jonathan's Whistling Warsong	Singing	Self: Haste, Str, AC	Qeynos, Freeport, Kelethin	Classic
8	Kelin's Lugubrious Lament	String	Target: Lull	Kelithin	Classic
9	Elemental Rhythms	Percussion	Party: Increase MR, FR, CR, AC	Qeynos, Kelethin	Classic
10	Anthem De Arms	Singing	Party: Haste, Strength	Qeynos, Freeport	Classic
11	Cinda's Charismatic Carillon	Wind	Target: Improve Faction	Kelethin	Classic
12	Brusco's Boastful Bellow	Singing	Target: Direct Damage	Qeynos, Freeport	Classic
13	Purifying Rhythms	Percussion	Party: Increase MR, PR, DR, AC	Qeynos, Kelethin	Classic
14	Lyssa's Cataloging Libretto	Singing	Target: Identify	Erudin	Classic
	Kelin's Lucid Lullaby	String	AE: Enthrall	Kelethin
16	Tarew's Aquatic Ayre	Wind	Party: Enduring Breath	Highkeep	Classic
17	Guardian Rhythmns	Percussion	Party: Increase MR, AC	Qeynos, Kelethin	Classic
18	Denon's Disruptive Discord	Brass	AE: DoT, Lower AC	Qeynos, Freeport	Classic
19	Shauri's Sonorous Clouding	Wind (Required)	Party: Invisibility and See Invisibility	Erudin	Classic
20	Largo's Melodic Binding	Singing	AE: Slow, Lower AC	Qeynos, Freeport	Classic
20	Cassindra's Chant of Clarity	Unknown	Group Mana Regeneration Song	Unknown	Velious
21	Melanie's Mellifluous Motion	Wind	Party: Short Range Teleport	Highkeep	Classic
22	Alenia's Disenchanting Melody	String (Required)	Party: Cancel Magic	Qeynos	Classic
23	Selo's Consonant Chain	Unkown	Target: Slow Movement, Attack	Highkeep	Classic
24	Lyssa's Veracious Concord	Wind	Party: See Invis, Ultravision	Erudin	Classic
25	Psalm of Warmth	Singing	Party: Increase CR, Dmg Shield	Qeynos, Kelethin, Eurdin	Classic
26	Angstlich's Appalling Screech	Brass	AE: Fear	Kelethin	Classic
27	Solon's Song of the Sirens	Wind	Target: Charm NPC	Kelethin	Classic
28	Crission's Pixie Strike	Wind	Target: Mesmerise, Lower MR	Kelethin	Classic
29	Psalm of Vitality	Singing	Party: Increase DR	Qeynos, Kelethin	Classic
30	Fufil's Curtailing Chant	Percussion	Target: DoT, Reduce MR and AC	Qeynos, Freeport	Classic
31	Agilmente's Aria of Eagles	Wind	Party: Levitation	Highkeep	Classic
32	Cassindra's Chorus of Clarity	Singing	Party: Mana Restoration	Qeynos, Kelethin	Classic
33	Psalm of Cooling	Singing	Party: Increase FR, Dmg Shield	Qeynos, Kelethin, Erudin	Classic
34	Cantana of Soothing	Unkown	Party: Heal, Mana, and Stamina Regeneration	Unknown	Velious
34	Lyssa's Solidarity of Vision	Wind	Target: Bind Sight	Erudin	Classic
35	Denon's Dissension	Brass	Target: Mana Drain	Qeynos, Freeport	Classic
36	Vilia's Verses of Celerity	Singing	Party: Haste, Agility	Qeynos, Freeport	Classic
37	Psalm of Purity	Singing	Party: Increase PR, AC	Qeynos, Kelethin	Classic
38	Tuyen's Chant of Flame	Percussion	Target: DoT, Lower FR	Qeynos, Freeport	Classic
39	Solon's Bewitching Bravura	Wind	Target: Charm	Kelethin	Classic
40	Syvelian's Anti-Magic Aria	Singing	Target: Cancel Magic	Kelethin	Classic
41	Psalm of Mystic Shielding	Singing	Party: Increase Magic Resist, Hit Points, Armor Class	Qeynos, Kelethin	Classic
42	McVaxius Berserker Crescendo	Brass	Party: Haste, Strength	Qeynos, Freeport	Classic
43	Denon's Desparate Dirge	Singing	AE: DD	Qeynos, Freeport	Classic
44	Cassindra's Elegy	Singing	Party: Increase Wis, Int	Erudin	Classic
45	Jonthan's Provocation	Brass	Target: Haste, Strength, Absorb Dmg Shield, ATK
46	Tuyen’s Chant of Frost	Percussion	Target: DoT, Lower CR	Qeynos, Freeport	Classic
47	Niv's Melody of Preservation	String	Group: Increase Str and Atk, Heal, Absorb Spell Dmg	Qeynos	Classic
48	Selo's Chords of Cessation	String	AE: DoT, Slow	Highkeep	Classic
49	Shield of Song	String	Group Damage Absorption (Max: 20 per tick)	Erudin	Classic
50	Verses of Victory	Singing	Party: Haste, Str, Agi	Unknown	Kunark
50	Melody of Ervaj	Unknown	Group Haste Buff	Unknown	Velious
51	Selo's Song of Travel	Unknown	Party: Increase Movement Speed, Invisibility, See Invisible, Levitate	Unknown	Kunark
51	Largo's Absonant Binding	Unknown	Target: Decrease AC, Attack Speed, Movement, Agility	Unknown	Kunark
52	Nillipus' March of the Wee	Unknown	Party: AC, Agility, Absorb Damage	Unknown	Kunark
53	Song of Twilight	Unknown	Target: Mesmerize, Decrease MR	Unknown	Kunark
53	Song of Dawn	Unknown	Target: Lowers Agro List	Unknown	Kunark
54	Vilia's Chorus of Celerity	Unknown	Party: Haste	Unknown	Kunark
54	Selo's Assonait Strane	Unknown	AE: Slow Movement, Attack	Unknown	Kunark
55	Brusco's Bombastic Bellow	Unknown	Target: Stun, Direct Damage	Unknown	Kunark
55	Occlusion of Sound	Unknown	Single Target Unresistable Resistance Debuffer	Unknown	Velious
56	Song of Highsun	Unknown	Target: Stun, Cancel Magic, Shadow Step	Unknown	Kunark
56	Song of Midnight	Unknown	Target: Fear, Increase Movement, Direct Damage	Unknown	Kunark
57	Mcvaxius' Rousing Rondo	Unknown	Party: Haste, Strength, ATK, Damage Shield	Unknown	Kunark
57	Cassindra's Insipid Ditty	Unknown	Target: Decrease Mana, Int, Wis	Unknown	Kunark
58	Niv's Harmonic	Unknown	Party: AC	Unknown	Kunark
58	Jonthan's Inspiration	Unknown	Self: Haste, Strength, Absorb Dmg Shield, ATK	Unknown	Kunark
59	Denon's Bereavement	Unknown	AE: Poison, DD, Stun, Decrease MR	Unknown	Kunark
59	Solon's Charismatic Concord	Unknown	Party: Charisma	Unknown	Kunark
60	Kazumi's Note of Preservation	Unknown	Party: Divine Aura	Unknown	Kunark
60	Angstlich's Assonance	Unknown	Target: Decrease Attack Speed, DoT	Unknown	Kunark
60	Composition of Ervaj	Unknown	Drain Mana From Target (Max: 350)	Unknown	Velious

Skills

Combat Skills

Level	Trained	Skill	Cap Until 50	Cap Above 50
1	No	1 Hand Blunt	200	225
1	No	1 Hand Slashing	200	225
1	No	Bind Wound	150	200
1	No	Defense	200	252
1	No	Hand to Hand	100	100
1	No	Offene	200	225
1	No	Piercing	200	225
10	Yes	Dodge	125	155
17	Yes	Dual Wield	210	210
26	Yes	Instill Doubt	100	100
53	Yes	Parry	75	75
58	Yes	Riposte	75	75

Musical Skills

Level	Trained	Skill	Cap Until 50	Cap Above 50
1	No	Singing	235	235
5	Yes	Percussion	235	235
8	Yes	String	235	235
11	Yes	Brass	235	235
14	Yes	Wind	235	235

Casting Skills

Level	Trained	Skill	Cap Until 50	Cap Above 50
10	Yes	Meditate	1	1

Miscellaneous Skills

Level	Trained	Skill	Cap Until 50	Cap Above 50
1	No	Alcohol Tolerance	200	200
1	No	Beg	200	200
1	No	Fishing	200	200
1	No	Sense Heading	200	200
1	Yes	Swimming	75	75
12	Yes	Forage	55	55
17	Yes	Sneak	75	75
20	Yes	Sense Traps	75	75
24	Yes	Safe Fall	40	40
25	Yes	Hide	40	40
30	Yes	Disarm Traps	100	100
35	Yes	Track	100	100
40	Yes	Pick Lock	100	100

Bard Song Merchants

North Freeport

• Lysric Loresinger - Song: Chant of Battle, Song: Chords of Dissonance, Song: Hymn of Restoration, Jaxan's Jig O' Vigor, Song: Jonathan's Whistling Warsong, Song: Lyssa's Locating Lyric, Song: Selo's Accelerando
• Inisis Trimpet - Song: Anthem de Arms, Song: Brusco's Boastful Bellow, Song: Chant of Battle, Song: Chords of Dissonance, Song: Denon's Desperate Dirge, Song: Denon's Disruptive Discord, Song: Denon's Dissension, Song: Fufil's Curtailing Chant, Song: Jonathan's Provocation, Song: Jonathan's Whistling Warsong, Song: Largo's Melodic Binding, McVaxius Berserker Crescendo, Song: Tuyen's Chant of Flame, Song: Tuyen's Chant of Frost, Song: Verses of Victory, Song: Vilia's Verses of Celerity

Kelethin

• Beleth Streamfoot - Song: Chords of Dissonance, Song: Hymn of Restoration, Song: Jaxan's Jig o' Vigor, Song: Jonthan's Whistling Warsong, Song: Lyssa's Locating Lyric, Song: Selo's Accelerando
• Astar Leafsinger - Song: Cassindra's Chorus of Clarity, Song: Hymn of Restoration, Song: Purifying Rhythms, Song: Psalm of Warmth, Song: Psalm of Purity , Song: Psalm of Cooling, Song: Niv's Melody of Preservation, Song: Psalm of Mystic Shielding, Song: Elemental Rhythms, Song: Guardian Rhythms, Song: Psalm of Vitality
• Serilia Whistlewind - Song: Angstlich's Appalling Screech, Song: Cinda's Charismatic Carillon, Song: Crission's Pixie Strike, Song: Kelin's Lucid Lullaby, Song: Kelin's Lugubrious Lament, Song: Solon's Bravura, Song: Solon's Song of the Sirens, Song: Syvelian's Anti-Magic Aria

South Qeynos

• Topala Xenem - Song: Alenia's Disenchanting Melody, Song: Cassindra's Chorus of Clarity, Song: Elemental Rhythms, Song: Guardian Rhythms, Song: Hymn of Restoration, Song: Niv's Melody of Preservation, Song: Psalm of Cooling, Song: Psalm of Mystic Shielding, Song: Psalm of Purity, Song: Psalm of Vitality, Song: Psalm of Warmth, Song: Purifying Rhythms
• Lysric Loresinger - Song: Chant of Battle, Song: Chords of Dissonance, Song: Hymn of Restoration, Jaxan's Jig O' Vigor, Song: Jonathan's Whistling Warsong, Song: Lyssa's Locating Lyric, Song: Selo's Accelerando
• Chalea Volesga - Song: Anthem de Arms, Song: Brusco's Boastful Bellow, Song: Chant of Battle, Song: Chords of Dissonance, Song: Denon's Desperate Dirge, Song: Denon's Disruptive Discord, Song: Denon's Dissension, Song: Fufil's Curtailing Chant, Song: Jonathan's Provocation, Song: Jonathan's Whistling Warsong, Song: Largo's Melodic Binding, McVaxius Berserker Crescendo, Song: Tuyen's Chant of Flame, Song: Tuyen's Chant of Frost, Song: Verses of Victory, Song: Vilia's Verses of Celerity

Erudin (Library)

• Altrusan Belstince - Song: Cassindra's Elegy, Song: Lyssa's Cataloging Libretto, Song: Lyssa's Locating Lyric, Song: Lyssa's Solidarity of Vision, Song: Lyssa's Veracious Concord, Song: Psalm of Cooling, Song: Psalm of Warmth, Song: Shauri's Sonorous Clouding, Song: Shield of Song

Highkeep

• Justin Rhymes - Song: Agilmente's Aria of Eagles, Song: Jaxan's Jig O' Vigor, Song: Melanie's Mellifluous Motion, Song: Selo's Accelerando, Song: Selo's Chords of Cessation, Song: Selo's Consonant Chain, Song: Tarew's Aquatic Ayre

Note: Instrument information marked with an (*) was pulled from an archive of EQ Casters Realm [1]. If you can confirm (or correct) this with in game information or experience, the help would be much appreciated.

Quests

• Aenia and Behroe
• Bard Reports
• Going Postal (Mail Delivery)
• Kilij Plans
• Fabian's Strings
• Vampire Teeth
• Lambent Armor

FAQ

Q: I've heard that Shauri's Sonorous Clouding eventually (at higher skill levels) acts as invisibility to undead as well. Is this true?

A: No, this is not necessarily true; however, it will work on some undead mobs, but these are few and far between. Shauri's Sonorous Clouding will never work as a reliable Invisibility to Undead.

Q: Is there a way to hot key a bards instruments so you dont have to go into the Persona screen to switch them?

A: Yes. First, get three open inventory slots (With no bags on those slots). Have your weapons equipped, and put two instruments in the empty inventory slots. Leave one of the slots empty. Now, go to a free hotkey page. An easy way to do this is by pressing shift+6, which will take you to the sixth page. Move your mouse pointer to the "Melee 1" slot in your inventory screen. Click and hold over the slot until the button pops up and is on your cursor. Drag the cursor over to the first hotkey slot in the bottom left of your screen. Position the cursor so the top left of the button is in the middle of the hotkey slot, and click your mouse once to set that slot to Melee 1. Repeat this process for Melee 2, the two instrument inventory slots, and the empty inventory slot. You will now be able to switch easily between weapons and instruments, without going to the Persona screen.

Q: Why can't I improve my brass skill with a Minotaur Horn?

A: The Minotaur Horn is actually a wind instrument.

Q: What is "Twisting" and how is it done?

A: Twisting, or Weaving, is the act of maintaining two or more song effects at one time. Here is how it is done: Start singing a song. After approximately 3 seconds, the song message will show, i.e. "Your feet move faster." At this time, immediately stop the song, and start another one. After another three seconds, you will get that spell message. Then you stop that song, and either begin song one again, or if you are quick enough, start a third song before repeating the rotation. Using this method, you can three song effects on at all times, and with a near perfect connection, sometimes almost four songs. As you grow used to the timing, you will be able to stop your song even before the message for it pops up, and still get the effects from the song.

Q: At what levels do my songs get better?

A: Many bard songs get more powerful as you level. Exactly how often the song gets better is dependant on that particular song. For example, Hymn of Restoration gets better every sixth level, and Brusco's Boastful Bellow gets better every other level.

'Q: Some players claim that Jaxon's Jig of Vigor, the level 3 song, increases mana regeneration for casters grouped with the singing bard. Is this true?

A: No, this is not true. The song will, at times, cause it to appear that the caster is gaining additional mana, but this is actually a bug caused by a speed up in the client refresh rate.

Q: I have a very high charisma. What songs will this help with?

A: Charisma will help with the bard's mind affecting songs, specifically: Kellin's Lugubrious Lament, Cinda's Charismatic Carillion, Kellin's Lucid Lullaby, Angstilch's Apalling Screech, Solon's Song of the Sirens, Crission's Pixie Strike, Solon's Bewitching Bravura, Song of Twilight, and Song of Midnight.

Q: Why are the effects of Singing Steel armor the same as or worse than abilities already granted to bards when other classes get useful effects or "new abilies" from theirs?

A: Part of the reason for this is the fact that bards can cast spells while running. This means that while casting a spell from an object, there is nothing that can interrupt the bard's casting. For this reason, many potentially useful spell effects could be overpowering for a bard.

Q: I have herd rumors that the bards charming song can charm pets. Are these rumors true?

A: In a duel with a pet caster they can, but otherwise no.

Q: Does Selo's stack with J.Boots or Spirit of Wolf/Spirit of Scale?

A: No, Selo's will not stack with any other movement speed increases. You must first remove Spirit of Wolf or a similar spell for Selo's to take hold.

Q: Does the Hymn of Restoration cause a druid's regen spell to wear off quicker? A druid told me that the Hymn's effects stacked with his regen spell but that when the song stopped playing his regen spell was taken off as well.

A: No, Hymn of Restoration will not decrease the duration of other regeneration spells, such as Regeneration/Chloroplast/Regrowth.

Q: Looking at the Creation Guide for the Bard, I noticed that they get a lot of skills at Level 1. A lot of those skills are not available to me, particularly in the area of languages. How can I learn these?

A: You don't have all languages available to train at your guild at level 1. As you progress in levels, more languages become available to practice. But, you can also learn languages by grouping with someone with the specific language you want to learn, and has a high skill in it. If they talk they talk enough, your skill improves. You don't have to add a practice point in a language to be able to learn it.

Q: Is it true the level 5 speed song gets faster every five levels?

A: Actually, Selo's Accelerando gets faster with every level.

Q: Where can I find a wind instrument for some of my songs?

A: You should be able to buy a Flute and/or a Minotaur Horn at any standard bard guild. Both of these will work as a wind instrument.