No matter if you start in Freeport or Qeynos, there is a sound pattern you can use to advance your bard through the low to high teens for those times when you can't group; or for those who like to solo most of the time.
Pick your fights. Too many forget to use their tracking ability. Find the encounters in your area using tracking. Pick non-heroic encounters that are either white or blue, then scout the area stealthily to make sure you aren't going to get a nasty surprise from some other hostile wandering into your encounter area.
Soften Them Up. Alright, you've got your target scouted and picked. Start with Ailin's Keening Lament. It has a long casting time, so draw the target to you using this one. You'll definitely get its attention. If done from maximum distance, you will get to cast Piercing Shriek before it can close with you.
Close Quarters. Well here it comes, right in your face. Again, if you've engaged at the right distance, Ailin's and Piercing Shriek will have rattled them pretty well. The target is now in your face, just in time to get hit with a Cheap Shot. Ding. Stunned.
Time to give them the Quick Strike (or later, Walt's Stinging Blade). If you sequence it quickly enough, the target is still stunned and you can follow with Snare, which will slow the target and decrease its mitigation to magic.
Time to go to work on the target now by following up with Dirty Tricks, which will make your follow on attacks easier. Sparkling Blade fits the bill nicely at this point and Quick Strike/Walt's should be ready to follow. If you are fighting a tougher (white or even yellow) opponent, they still have a ways to go. By now you are ready to hit them again with Piercing Shriek.
Rinse, lather, repeat.
Practice Falling. This is probably one of the least developed skills and can prove to be a life saver for the soloing bard (or any class for that matter). While still developing your character on the Isle of Refuge, make use of the upper floor of the Mage Tower. Climb up the steps and jump over the edge.
Ouch.
But keep doing it and you will see your Safe Fall score begin to rise. Before you leave the Isle, make sure that score is maxed out.
In Qeynos, you can continue practicing this skill just east of the Frontier Farm in Antonica (in between killing wolves and bears). At level 17, you will have a score of 88, and most moderate falls (including from Griffon Towers) will cause you no damage (or little damage). An example: With a skill of 89, a bard jumping from a Griffon Tower will safely fall and take no damage, while a warrior of the same level will take 311 (give or take).
Handy skill to have if cornered in a tight spot with a ledge nearby. Just jump to safety and continue on your merry way.
For longer slopes, jump and while falling, use the keyboard or arrows to fall back against the face and jump again. If done properly, you can fall long distances without major damage.
Pick your fights. Too many forget to use their tracking ability. Find the encounters in your area using tracking. Pick non-heroic encounters that are either white or blue, then scout the area stealthily to make sure you aren't going to get a nasty surprise from some other hostile wandering into your encounter area.
Soften Them Up. Alright, you've got your target scouted and picked. Start with Ailin's Keening Lament. It has a long casting time, so draw the target to you using this one. You'll definitely get its attention. If done from maximum distance, you will get to cast Piercing Shriek before it can close with you.
Close Quarters. Well here it comes, right in your face. Again, if you've engaged at the right distance, Ailin's and Piercing Shriek will have rattled them pretty well. The target is now in your face, just in time to get hit with a Cheap Shot. Ding. Stunned.
Time to give them the Quick Strike (or later, Walt's Stinging Blade). If you sequence it quickly enough, the target is still stunned and you can follow with Snare, which will slow the target and decrease its mitigation to magic.
Time to go to work on the target now by following up with Dirty Tricks, which will make your follow on attacks easier. Sparkling Blade fits the bill nicely at this point and Quick Strike/Walt's should be ready to follow. If you are fighting a tougher (white or even yellow) opponent, they still have a ways to go. By now you are ready to hit them again with Piercing Shriek.
Rinse, lather, repeat.
Practice Falling. This is probably one of the least developed skills and can prove to be a life saver for the soloing bard (or any class for that matter). While still developing your character on the Isle of Refuge, make use of the upper floor of the Mage Tower. Climb up the steps and jump over the edge.
Ouch.
But keep doing it and you will see your Safe Fall score begin to rise. Before you leave the Isle, make sure that score is maxed out.
In Qeynos, you can continue practicing this skill just east of the Frontier Farm in Antonica (in between killing wolves and bears). At level 17, you will have a score of 88, and most moderate falls (including from Griffon Towers) will cause you no damage (or little damage). An example: With a skill of 89, a bard jumping from a Griffon Tower will safely fall and take no damage, while a warrior of the same level will take 311 (give or take).
Handy skill to have if cornered in a tight spot with a ledge nearby. Just jump to safety and continue on your merry way.
For longer slopes, jump and while falling, use the keyboard or arrows to fall back against the face and jump again. If done properly, you can fall long distances without major damage.
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