Bard Questions

[Zempten]

Hi guys, hope you can answer these questions for me. Thanks a ton ^^

1) Monster Signa is something I have set my sights on and I will be getitng it soon enough. The real question however is that when I use my RDM ( lvl 65) and sub a BRD will the +8 CHR still help ? Also if I put in a few rings that add in CHR , would that help some? ( I'm aware I can't wear instruments if I have BRD sub and that I can only put 1 song on each person )

2) Does anyone have a direct formula as to how CHR will effect the songs?

3) If you do BCNM 40, would you guys suggest RDM sub for Fast Cast? Or is the blink from WHM sub just way too important?

4) Also would you suggest wearing spell interuption minus type equipement in BCNM type situations? Or does Aquaveil already suffice?

5) Also for instruemnts do you find a 1 difference big? For example, would you find Siren's Flute better then the Flute +1? As in do you find that requiem has a big enough difference by using the Siren's Flute rather then the Flute +1? So generally do you feel instruments that are better then other instruments by just +1 making a big difference in the PT? or a minimal difference? or no difference at all?

Thanks all for your help and see you guys around.

[RuneGrey]

1) The Monster Signa is pretty much fluff - if you can get your hands on one, great! You'll find that it adds a very maginal benefit to how well your songs work, and will make it so that you take a big chunk more damage when your tank doesn't provoke very fast and the monster aggros you from your songs due to a pull off a missed ranged attack!

...That's a bit sarcastic, but something that has happened to me a good bit. The tigna is nice to have, but not by any means necessary. If you're good on cash, by all means get one - if you're finding funds tight, sell the thing and stock up on +1 insturments.

2) There isn't much of a forumla for it - your singing skill effects your songs more than Charisma does, from what I've seen. The main focus of Charisma is how many resists and partial resists your going to get trying to land Requiem, Threnody, Lullaby, and Elegy on IT XP monsters, and the simply +5 bonus from Enchanting Etude is more than able to make up for any nasty differences.

3) BCNM 40 is pretty much more about your skill with Lullaby than any real subjob combinations - I prefer WHM because I can cure myself much better, and blink is really handy. Again, you don't need it - if you know what you are doing here, you can go in naked and do just fine. WHM simply has more cure potential if things go south.

4) Don't need to worry about spell interupts. I've been chunked by a Kraken about 3 or 4 times when casting Lullaby on it, and got the song off just fine. I've been blitzed by crawlers and other various double attack monsters when the tank doesn't provoke fast enough, and still cast madrigal with no problems. The reason Bard is so popular in BCNM 40 is that songs are NOT interuptable short of Stun or Sleep, plus the not so minor issue of 0 MP cost.

5) Here is the big thing - you want the biggest +song bonus you can get for your songs, as they dramatically increase the duration AND effectiveness of your songs when cast. Bards are the Lords and Ladies of equip macros - you will be carrying seven or eight different insteruments on average, and swapping between them to sing whatever song they offer a bonus for. Simply look for the highest bonus you can find in regards to a certain song, and aim for that insturment if its at all within your price range. Generally you CAN pass on Flute +1 - it only offers a +1 song bonus, but if you've got the cash, it always helps. A Cornette +1 is a much better earlier buy for the Minuet +2 bonus on it. But you want to get as many +1 insturments as you can, or the ones that offer the most bonuses on your songs (Military Harp, Mary's Horn, etc all offer unique bonuses on certain songs) up until if you someday get your fully upgraded Relic Horn and its universal +2 song bonus.

[Zempten]

Thanks for the reply ^^

I only plan on bring bar to subjob with my RDM and for my LS BCNM 40, so not planning on Relic Horn. Thanks a lot though ^^

[UnnamedGalka]

4) Also would you suggest wearing spell interuption minus type equipement in BCNM type situations? Or does Aquaveil already suffice?

You don't need to worry about this one. Unlike every other type of spell, songs cannot be interrupted by physical attacks. In BCNM40, for example, the mandragoras can launch a dozen successful headbutts into your crotch and you'll still finish your Lullaby without a hitch, provided you're not slept, paralyzed, etc.

[RuneGrey]

In BCNM40, for example, the mandragoras can launch a dozen successful headbutts into your crotch and you'll still finish your Lullaby without a hitch, provided you're not slept, paralyzed, etc.

I think a dozen successful headbutts would pretty succesfully interupt your playing Lullaby.

...after all, you would be DEAD at that point, which is pretty successful in interupting just about any skill or attack imaginable. ^^

[UnnamedGalka]

I think a dozen successful headbutts would pretty succesfully interupt your playing Lullaby.

...after all, you would be DEAD at that point, which is pretty successful in interupting just about any skill or attack imaginable. ^^

Nah...not if you're a Galka ^^

[Zempten]

hahaha

Okay, I get the point. Thanks for the information guys.