So yeah, I actually advanced my wizard to a Bard... and now I'm abysmally horrible at PvP. I guess I'm used to ranged kiting playstyles like wind, TH, and GS.

Any advice on becoming an awesome PvP bard?

Here's phenyls how to pvp guide :P

Edited by Teddyz - Feb 09 2010 at 5:12am

^This is why I suggest that everyone (who's serious about PvP) has to use a meleer at some point -- it  helps you understand what they use when fighting.

As far as fighting as a bard -- well... it's going to be difficult because you don't have the range or speed (or power) that you're as used to. You have to figure out how to bait your opponent into making a mistake, and then punish them for it. That's how bladers (and other close-in types) work in high-end PvP -- we don't exactly have a lot of other options.


Edited by Zanaduz - Feb 09 2010 at 11:31am

well let's just get one thing out of the way first: it was always very hard to beat anyone equal to you in skill as a bard 1v1 before the patch; now it's extremely hard.

in free for alls or party pvp it's a bit different since people are always distracted. then it's totally possible to come out on top if you just play smart (and cheap). i admit the only time i ever kill people is by ksing, camping below platforms, or by defending myself from some rambo-er.

some obvious tips are
- platforms are fun to abuse - whether it's to stay under them and be a cheap, ice-spamming mofo, or to jump on top and spam heal (which is no longer possible after patch)
- people who try airskilling over your head are idiots and will get hit by ice fear II
- bubble bubble is the best skill ever for canceling bards using es, or bladers and meisters trying to finish their combo. the 2nd hit has no balance factor and will always kb 2 people.
- you can juggle with the 2nd hit of bubble as well and when that happens you get to rofl a little bit
- ice storm sucks. the only reason you'd ever use it is to laugh at low levels and one hit kill them.
- evil sound also sucks. forget what anyone says about following up ice fear or bubble with evil sound. all that will accomplish is maybe 200 extra dmg because there is a 95% chance that after the 1st hit of bubble/ice fear the guy will be ducking. and if you fight a cali player, you won't even get to follow up with evil sound because they'll be already out of your range and preparing a tasty airskill after you finish one skill.
- analyze your opponent mainly to see what their latency is. if they're west coast, follow up your attacks with ice fear I or II since they will almost always try to run after one full skill (because they can with cali connection!). if you follow up with ice fear, there's a chance that you'll trip the guy and that's always good.
- if the person you're fighting has average or bad latency, follow up your first skill with bubble II since that traps them foreverrrrrr (backdashing in a bubble is gg!)

Originally posted by Teddyz Originally posted by aerynz Holy Sound or Offense Sound? Can't decide. Offense sound is crap get holy sound

Get neither get sonic protection

So for my build, do you reccomend Stamina/Luck or Stamina/Magic? I hear a bit of both when I ask my friends for suggestions,

^It's hard to *not* get KBed by a well-equipped GS with ANY hit now, pretty much regardless of class. Maaayybe well-equipped Templars MIGHT be able to walk thru bullet walls (if they don't crit), but aside from them, no one else, really...

Also, fighting a bard as a blader is annoyingly difficult... one of the few instances where ES is the best skill to use -- as ES will prevent a blader from hitting enough times to skill cancel, even with the best of latencies.


Edited by Zanaduz - Feb 10 2010 at 1:36am

Originally posted by bongo17 bards are all about ksing, believe it or not. if there's a guy with low hp and they jump over your head, that's when you smile and use ice fear II. if you're on the yong gyoung map and you see people duking it out above you, just be a cheap bastard and ice them from below. that's how i came out on top in ffas when i was a noob bard with like 3k hp, and that's still what i do now.

ROFL!!! OMG thats so great!! my stomach hurts right now. xD

not everyone believes in the whole "gg" thing. i actually get annoyed when people beat me badly and say gg. it's like a taunt to me. to others, it might just mean good game, but i take it as "gg, i just destroyed you in pvp, have a nice day"

i know there are a lot of other people who feel the same way as me, which is why i never say gg no matter what the outcome is.

Originally posted by bongo17 not everyone believes in the whole "gg" thing. i actually get annoyed when people beat me badly and say gg. it's like a taunt to me. to others, it might just mean good game, but i take it as "gg, i just destroyed you in pvp, have a nice day" i know there are a lot of other people who feel the same way as me, which is why i never say gg no matter what the outcome is.

Wow, i definitely have never seen it that way.I'm probably not gonna say gg now because of that because that's a good point. Just ignore the little P.S. thing then.

Because you think they're trying to insult you. bla bla bla I could write more but I'm not going to lol

Originally posted by aerynz For the record, half the time you see Silhana it isn't me :\ I think some of you faced two of my characters at the same time in party pvp, lol.

I know who it is >:(

;p

Edited by Teddyz - Feb 14 2010 at 5:43pm