[pennylain]

Ello, wee bit new but I've been stalking this thread for awhile ^^;

umm~ one trick I learned (as a taru at 1024/1768res, using wind instruments) is that if you tilt the camera all the way up until you can just see someone's feet, you'll hit them. If you can't see their feet, you won't. Obviously there are some variations as you level up, but the feet is a good rule of thumb.

Also, regardless of whether or not you have a military harp, macroing one in for finale is a great way to keep string skill up. I remember having problems with string skill at lower levels; not many useful harps. Another thing is if there isn't a real need for a threnody (no blms/rdms), and you have extra time, switch to a harp and spam threnodies.

From my own limited experience, the difference between harps and wind instruments isn't just range, it's also accuracy i.e. in general a Sorrowful Harp threnody will be more difficult to stick than a Piccolo +1 threnody. A song that's sung with a +2 intrument gives your songs a greater length and potency obviously, but another song sung with a lesser intrument won't overwrite the +2 song until some amount of the extra length of time the +2 intrument gives you is up, as well. Hence, if you cast Valor Minuet IV, then III, and run back and immediately ballad the mages, you won't get both ballads.

I'd really like a section on merits. o.o

Another thing worth mentioning is that for the first 50ish levels of bard all of the scrolls can be bought fairly cheaply from npc, and that buying from the AH is a ripoff.

[daniph]

I'm not entirely clear on what you said Pennylain. Can you explain in more detail? About the +2 instrument overridding?

My instruments are +2 and higher so my knowledge on that is a bit weak.

Assuming all instruments are of the same quality I'd like to add the songs behave in a FIFO pattern, First in First Out. I think many of you know this but thinking a little harder I will give an example of how this peice of information is used.

You have a PT that has melees asking for Minuet and Madrigal, however you also have a RNG in that pt. and he stands relatively close to the rest of the group.

You want to give all the melees Minuet and Madrigal but also the RNG doesn't need Madrigal, might as well give him a useful song like Prelude.

Because of the FIFO system. It is also important to know the order in which you will be playing your songs. They are asking for Minuet and Madrigal but. I play them as follows:

Madrigal -> Minuet -> Prelude

The reason being. I want to play the songs that help more of the party first. And I need to consider a means to give the RNG Minuet & Prelude not Prelude & Madrigal, which would be the case if I played the Songs Minuet -> Madrigal -> Prelude.

Bards are like HQ engine oil. Your pt is the engine. You are supposed to optimize your PTs efficency at any temperature. Yes sometimes it is more work but They will remember you for it and you'll get the most xp out of your time with that pt. being a RNG,MNK,Burn, or regular pt.

[Naliba]

For some reason it isn't just FIFO, although imo it should be. The song with the least time left is the one that gets erased. As I'm sure you know, +2 {song} adds around 25 seconds to the songs duration. Thus, if you sing a song for which you have an HQ instrument, and then immediately follow it with a song without the matching instrument, the first song will still have 130-135 seconds left, and the second song will only start with 120 seconds left. The next time you sing a new song it will override the song with the least time left, which is actually the one you just played. That's how +2 songs can override normal songs, but you can just sing a debuff or two in between them to fix that problem.

[hardcorescooter]

If I'm looking for songs I use mysterytour because it has locations as well as descriptions.
Here's the link if you'd like you take a look:

Mysterytour

(Just click on "Scrolls" on the left hand side and then go to "Bard")

[octoberasian]

pennylain :
From my own limited experience, the difference between harps and wind instruments isn't just range, it's also accuracy i.e. in general a Sorrowful Harp threnody will be more difficult to stick than a Piccolo +1 threnody. A song that's sung with a +2 intrument gives your songs a greater length and potency obviously, but another song sung with a lesser intrument won't overwrite the +2 song until some amount of the extra length of time the +2 intrument gives you is up, as well. Hence, if you cast Valor Minuet IV, then III, and run back and immediately ballad the mages, you won't get both ballads.

Is this true?

I have a Sorrowful Harp (Threnody+3) in storage, and I'm planning on replacing my Piccolo +1 (Threnody+2) when I get to the level to equip it.

So, should I keep the Piccolo?

[Naliba]

I've heard a couple people say that, but I doubt it's true. I've never seen any evidence that horns are more accurate than harps (unless of course they have underleveled string skill).

edit: So...if anyone is actually reading this, wind has been pretty much proven to be more accurate.

[Banigaru]

Updated, finally! a new chapter or two ^^/

[maraku]

Uggggg were gona get Nerfed now:(
nice guide thow:p

[BryanCarthell]

I'm a BRD15/WHM7 and I just got out of one of the most horrible XP parties I've ever been in. >.<

But the reason I'm posting here is that I'm never sure which songs I should be using.

I was using Madrigal + Mambo for a while, but then I started using Madrigal + Paeon II when the Damselflies started that Dark Sphere crap >.<

I pretty much left the Mages alone, focusing on the melee, and I even meleed a little myself; throwing in the occasional Requiem.

Am I doing things correctly or was our bad PT due to mistakes by other members?

[Cyleste]

Minuet. Most people are stupid and use sushi at level 15, even though it does nearly nothing for them then, so the attack bonus is pretty useful.

You subbed WHM for a reason, right? Backup curing (i.e. not just emergency curing) would also help your PT much more than meleeing. Dark Threnody for Blind I guess, if you have a NIN, will be especially useful. Hell, if your party is on the ball, you could begin pulling at that stage to up the exp/hr. I don't know if Bani mentioned this is in the guide, since I didn't read most of it, but BRD pulling is very efficient at nearly any level, even though it does detract from certain support healer duties.

Anyway, good work Bani. =/ I'm one of those "I'll race you to 75 BRDs!" and didn't really like the job endgame. ;; In my opinion, it's so much more enjoyable when someone else plays it but eh...to each their own.

It is rather fun/useful to skill up and duo random things though. And I can promise you, if you are a good bard, you will never ever be inactive, which I guess is a reason to play it if you have mild to severe ADD or just like being a control freak. =P

[Akoa]

hahahaha omg. >_>; I came here to read up on BRD before I take it to 75... Never thought I would take advice from Bani ~.^ :love rofl

[daniph]

Hey Bani~

Longtime. Good to see you keeping up with that guide. I agree with you on that skill verses chr deal. I usually just mix it up to play it safe like you.

"Making it count"
Keep in mind if you are really having trouble one can always play those 2 chr songs to boost ur CHR to help land something.

There is also a theory of using the therenody wheel to work ur way to the threnody you need as well (but not something i practice due to quick hate build up) to ensure you land.

"Keeping hate down"
Also another thing is during long fights where ppl are standing still like Fafnir I usually wait till I see the message Ballad has worn off or estimate when its about to wear off to keep that hate down. Mages shouldn't complain about losing.. a few mp during that time.

If it can't be helped like in a when you have to play songs for 2 parties at once (flipping between 2 parties in an alliance keeping 10 ppl with songs) or kiting, i just brace for the hit with stoneskin and blink. Being hume I can usually take a few hits from Wyrms without eatting dirt.

Keep up the good work ^^

I also wanted to ask here ... I feel that Elegy can wear down over time like the Etudes but no real evidence... anyone here know anything about it? It would explain how sometimes you can recast it on a mob and it just recasts and other times then you play it you get the "no effect" message.

[MaikeruSMN]

Ok... at the risk of sounding like a n00b...

I still don't understand the use of Opo-Opo Crown + Panamas. How is this "the best" for BRDs? I've asked a couple people and they tell me that "it just is." I really don't get it. Please explain it.

[Naliba]

With Opo Crown, Pamamas give +14 CHR, 50 MP and 50 HP.

[Tykkaru]

Banigaru :love
Could you give me the list for 800 MP? as Tarutaru BRD/WHM? ^^/
And... how much would the estimate HP be at?

[Banigaru]

Hmm I tossed this together a while ago but I think I still remember

Zenith Crown +50
Rep. gold Metal thing( from bastok CP) +50
Astral Earring or Death earring x2 - 35mp
Dalmatica 50
Zenith mitts 50
Tamas/Serket (ether or electrum) 80
Blue Cape 30
lvl 70 rse belt 30
Zenith slacks 50
Zenith pumps 50
Marron Glace 80
Merits 70
I think that's 700 + 194 base mp for tarutaru brd at 75

that's like almost 1000 mp O.o' Even without some of those expensive items you can still push 700-800 easily

[Maverikk]

Thats to much to read >.< wtf [red]([/red]I'm sleepy[green])[/green]

[Koul]

Nicely done @_@;; I wish I could've made the guide... i'm super good at explaining crap and junk... :3

[Tykkaru]

I will -so- try and get those equips. >.>;
Do you know how much HP I'll have? @.@a

[Koul]

Tykkaru :
I will -so- try and get those equips. >.>;
Do you know how much HP I'll have? @.@a

Just minus your current HP by like 300 give or take and that's about how much HP you'd have... so just judging from Bani's sig... mabye around 600ish HP or whatever....

really bad rough estimate I think