@Anume stated recently that the intention is to move bards to be more spell(song) dependant and less melee oriented. Since I play A LOT of bards, I have a few questions.
No, no, and no.
I really enjoyed the new bards but always felt they were lacking in ways to make their songs more effective. On Radduik, there we about three songs possibly four that I used often. The rest seemed a waste of mana/time.
I never tested +spelllevel items because it' spelllevel not songlevel, so I would be MOST happy to see their songs buffed at the cost of their melee. If I wanted a melee fighter with unlockable damage I'd just roll a warmaster warrior with mace mastery.
Just please, PLEASE, keep them defensive enough to not be lag locked and unable to cast, thereby nullifying their spells.
Honestly I'd love to see some of their old songs return. Mystery of the Unicorn was great and offered amazing results depending on what it gave you. New songs would be great as well, or at least add something to he lesser songs. A King's Feast for example is pretty worthless, I'd rather it either wipe away hunger/thirst as if you had eaten something, or create food x 4 or based on amount of numbers within your group. Removing third attack and changing how their lores work may go in towards which songs they'll specialize in that makes them more potent rather than giving perks to boost specific things like haste and whatever else they add on.
I always felt bards should be the ultimate team mate support class. Would be interesting to see something like buffs that increase with the amount of people you have in your party, and even better if two bards were together you would duet songs to increase the effect.
2 bards at 35 can take on many end game mobs. +200 mana (out of combat) +200 health (in combat) or +400 moves per tic.
