Curse

actionjack · May 09, 2006, 06:57 AM // 06:57

Class name: Virtuoso / Bard / Ministrello

Unique Weapons:
A Virtuoso can use a special type of equipment call Musical Instruments. There are 3 types, Drum, Erhu, and Pipe, with different skills associated with each one. All of them will be 2-handed, and have no inherent attack power, but will have various mod attach to them (+energy, +armor, etc) See more below for more details.

Energy: Should have decent energy (25-35 range, depend on armor set), and 3 pipe of energy regen.
Armor: Very low armor. Same as a Monk.
Look:
I would go with a combination of a Gypsy type of look, mix with Mid-eastern themed belly-dancer cloth (With lots fabric and stripes of silky cloths). I especially like Raggie’s Dancer class’s look.

Premise:

As a Bard class, it is given that they will be king of the AoE Buffs. They use mixture of Dance, Song, and Playing Instruments for most of their skills. But not only can they buff their allies, they can also de-buff/harm their enemies, and distract them.

Attributes:

Refinement (Primary): For each rank in this attribute, it allow you to move at 3…36…45% of movement speed while casting or dancing. Also skills that improve the use of music skills.

Heroic Epic: Skills mostly deal with team or self buffs. The Drum Skills are included here.

Tragic Classic: Skills mostly deal with de-buffing and damaging enemies. The Erhu skills are included here.

Sensuous Romantic: Skills mostly deal with districting and interrupting enemies. The Harp skill are included here.

Specials
Dance: Consider as a stance, but with additional requirements. Can only use one dance stance at time, and will end prematurely if moved or used attack skills (but can still cast spells or use Melody Skills). Design with low recharge time to allow spamming use.

Song: Work much like an Enchantment, usually require 3 …1 arrow of energy regen to maintain (depended on attribute ranks). Can only sing one song at once. While singing, you can move, attack, and use other attack skills. Song skills will end prematurely if got interrupted (singing is like a very long casting), use a shout, or cast a spell. Design with long recharge time but also longer duration. (also note that if playing a Pipe Instrument, you will not be able to sing songs or use shouts)

Instrument: Instrument skills must require having the corresponding instrument equipped to use/play. Instrument music can be stop if the player is knock down. While playing an instrument, all you spell casting will take twice as long. Have lot bigger radius of effect than song or dance. While playing a Instrument, you can only move at walking speed.

Tone Skills:
Skills find in the Refinement attributes. Those skills can be used while playing a Instrument or Song, with boosting effect.

What’s a Erhu?
Erhu/Harp: Erhu is a Chinese bow string intrument. I like it since it add more ethinic favors, as well as it usually has a very sad tone. (can be replace with a harp if needed though). A two hand instrument.

Skill Examples:

Heroic Epic:

Dance of Nice Swords:
10e | 1 c | 15r: Dance: For the next 6-12 seconds, each time you are hit in melee, you deal X damages back to the attacker, and they start to bleed for 5 seconds. (Up to 9 attacks)

Dance of Flashing Blade:
10e | 1 c | 15r: Dance: For the next 6-12 seconds, you deal X damage to all enemies near by.

Dwarven War Song:
15e | 2 c | 45r: Song: Require 3…1 arrow of energy regen to maintain. For duration of 30…45 seconds, you and all nearby allies will gain Adrenalines faster.

Hearty Drunkard’s Song:
15e | 2 c | 45r: Song: For duration of 30…45 seconds, you and all nearby allies will reduce the effect of any conditions on them by 33%.

March to War:
15e | 3 c | 30r: Play Drum: All nearby allies will gain +X% faster movement speed.

Heroes Advantage:
25e | 3 c | 30r: Play Drum: All nearby allies within range of effect will gain +1…3 attribute levels.

War Beats:
15e | 3 c | 30r: Play Drum: All nearby allies within range of effect will gain +X more damage in melee.

Booming Beat:
15e | 1/2 c | 30r: Drum Skill: All nearby foe are knock down. All your Drum Skills end and be disable for the next 12…6 seconds.
--------------------------------------------------

Tragic Classic:

Dance of Unbearable Sacrifice:
10e | 1 c | 15r: Dance: For the next 6-12 seconds, each time you take damage, all nearby allies will gain +X health.

Heartborken Sorrow:
25e | 2 c | 45r: Song: For duration of 30…45 seconds, all enemy within effect will reduce their attribute rank by 1…3.

Gray Sky Mourning:
15e | 2 c | 45r: Song: For duration of 30…45 seconds, all enemy within effect will reduce their attribute rank by 1…3.

Althea’s Pain:
15e | 2 c | 45r: Song: For duration of 30…45 seconds, all enemy within effect will suffer –3 hp degen. When this song ends (or if got interrupted), all effected foes will set on burning for 3 seconds.

Death of a Warrior Prince:
15e | 2 c | 45r: Song: For duration of 30…45 seconds, all enemy within effect will suffer X damage every second. If they attack with a melee attack, they suffer Y more damage per attack.

Broken Voice:
15e | 2 c | 45r: Song: For duration of 30…45 seconds, all creature within effect will not be able to start play any musical skills.

Bending Willow:
15e | 3 c | 30r: Play Erhu: As long as you are playing, all foe within its effect range will move X% slower.

Red Tear:
15e | 3 c | 60r: Play Erhu: As long as you are playing, all foe within its effect range will have 25% chance to miss. When this music ends, all enemy will suffer Bleed and Blind for 4…8 seconds.

Broken String:
5e | 1/2 c | 15r: Erhu Skill: Target foe will suffer X damage (ignore armor), and all your Erhu Skills end and be disable for the next 5 seconds.

Heart Breaking Screech:
10e | 1/2 c | 30r: Erhu Skill: All nearby Music type skill will come to an end.
---------------------------------------------------------

Sensuous Romantic:

Snake Dance:
10e | 1 c | 15r: Dance: For the next 6-12 seconds, all near by enemies are poison for T seconds. And the end of you this dance, you are poison for T seconds.

Dance of Wild Flower:
15e | 1 c | 10r: Dance: For the next 6-12 seconds, your singing or casting can not be interrupted.

Spin of Twirling Top:
10e | 1 c | 10r: Dance: For the next 6-12 seconds, you have 75% to evade all arrows and range attacks. For each evasion, you gain +1 hp regen.

Dance of Floating Wind:
10e | 1 c | 10r: Dance: For the next 6-12 seconds, you have 75% chance to evade all melee attacks.

Dance of Whirling Ribbons:
10e | 1 c | 10r: Dance: For the next 6-12 seconds, you have 50% of evading all magic attacks.

Siren’s Lure:
15e | 2 c | 45r: Song: For duration of 30…45 seconds, effected enemies will suffer X damage if they are not moving.

Audience’s Applaud:
5e | 1 c | 20r: Skill: You gain +1…5 energy (max of 20) for ever creature (friend or foe) target at you.

Seductive Lure
10e | 2 c | 20r: Skill: Target foe will uncontrollably move toward you for 2…4 seconds.

Bare Flashing
5e | 1 c | 10r: Skill: All skills targeted at you are interrupted. If it is a spell, the target will suffer Daze for T seconds. (effect both allies and foes)

Unsightly Flash (e)
5e | 1 c | 20r: Skill: All skills targeted at you are interrupted, and all foe target you will suffer X damages. If it is a spell, the target will suffer Daze for T seconds. (effect both allies and foes)

Fixed Gaze:
10e | 2 c | 20r: Hex: For the next T seconds, target enemy can target you only.

Piper’s Tap:
15e | 3 c | 30r: Play Pipe: As long as you are playing, all allie’s dance will last 1…4 seconds longer.

Joyful Event:
15e | 3 c | 30r: Play Pipe: As long as you are playing, all foe’s Tragic Classic’s attribute will decrease by 3…6 ranks.

High Pitch Whistle:
15e | 1/2 c | 45r: Pipe Skill: all nearby foe’s action are interrupted.
--------------------------------------------------------

Refinement (P)

Dual Vocal:
5e | 1 c | 30r: Tone Skill: Must use while singing a song. Allow you to sing another song with out ending the first one.

High Volume:
10e | 1/2 c | 10r: Tone Skill: The effect range of all your music skills are increased by twofold for the next 4…8 seconds.

Low Pitch
5e | 1/2 c | 10r: Tone Skill: All your attributes are decrease by 5 for the next 8…5 seconds, but you gain 5…15 energy.

Soft Tone:
5e | 1/2 c | 10r: Tone Skill: You gain +3…5 arrows of energy regen for the next 5 seconds, but your AL will be decreased by 40, and reduce the effect range of all your music skill by two.

Key Note:
5e | 1/2 c | 10r: Tone Skill: All your primary profession’s attributes will increase by 1…4 for the next 3…6 seconds.

Resonating Echo:
10e | 1/2 c | 10r: Tone Skill: End all you Music type skill right now. After it ends, its effect will still linger on for 4…8 seconds.
------------------------------------------------------

Balancing Issue:

Be sure to remember that for most part, you can only maintain one song, dance, and instrument at same time. Each of those skill type have their own pros and cons, suitable for different situations. Dances, to keep it in constant use, usually need lots energies, while Songs are very easy to interrupted, which puts you in trouble if that happens. Instruments, while very good for its effect, usually would take you out of the battle because of its need to use a two-hand instruments. Added to the Tone Skills, and I think lots kind of build can come from it all.

Builds

In comparisons, I would say it is close to a Mesmer/Monk/Ranger.

-A full Virtuoso support would be a powerful allies. And if found one on the other team, would be advice to take them out first.

-A dancing ranger or assassin might make a good build that would keep them alive lot longer.

-War Singer, with Wa/Vir, could be a next generation of Wamo.

-Any caster could benefit from taking some defensive Dance moves, as well as supportive Instruments. Can take further advantage of Vir’s primary, and making your casting more flexible with the ability to move.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Well, thus concludes this concept class. It’s a version 2 from my old Bard class. Went a bit overboard with all that skills, but there are just so many possibilities that could be added. Its tiring, but I do enjoy it. Feed backs would be appreciated. Thx for reading.

CC Listing
CC
Replies to CC?

keyblader319 · May 14, 2006, 10:40 PM // 22:40

hmm sounds a lot like my bard, or what i was going at. i DO like the idea of the erhu because i was thinking the bard weapon should be more like a harp. id like to see how this unfolds.

BahamutKaiser · May 14, 2006, 11:09 PM // 23:09

I realy like the idea for the class, and I realy hate the title of bard.... but hey, the class idea is good.

I could see the dances being very useful for someone who wants to hold their ground, it could be used as an effective defensive/diversion technique allowing you to hold a location without being so vulnerable to attack, but at the same be increasingly vulnerable to DoT, which would be a great counter. The instruments sound like good off hand items, I realy think they should have a wand or some sort in their attack hand, It wouldn't be totaly unusual to shoot attacks out of a magical harp or lyre, but it would be a bit silly.

It would also be nice if they had some trumpet skills which would cause them to produce a concusion instrument when used and play a special effect, with a mountpiece instrument it would take up instrument playing as well as your breath, so it could have a stronger single effect rather than having a seperate song and musical effect.

I think the cloths strongly resemble Elementist females, almost exactly like female Aeromancer gear, and Both the Elementist and Ritualist females do a form of belly dancing, for a class which is going to be dancing, they should have many dances, and although a gypsy type outfit would look good, I think they should excersise a great diversity of fashions, being in the "entertainment buisness" kind of requires a good wardrobe. Dancing is going to have to work for the Male characters as well, so designing them to all look like feminin seduction dances would be a bit.... how do you say, deficient. I would suggest some more speed dancing, acrobatic dancing, and elusive dancing.

The effects seem quite a bit overpowered IMO, yes your character has to dedicate their movement and can only use one of each, song, music and dance, but the combination of all 3 allows them to put a great deal of effect on the field, so they shouldn't be too powerful, and I don't think allowing the ability to reduce enemy attribute rank is a good idea, it could work, but it can do alot more damage than simply lowering the effect of a certain skill, some skills require a certain amount of attribute to even be used, or trigger significant improvements based on 1 point difference, even reducing the enemies attribute rank by one point should be an elite, and no more than one if at all. It would be much better if this class had attribute raising abilities for his own party, because it can only improve thier skills, and most likely not break any of their techniques.

Being able to maintain powerful effects at once on a large area is extremely potent, expecially in 8 and 12 man teams, assuming they don't make larger battles in the future, I would be very careful about proposing skill powers, Anet would have to do some serious balancing to make it work fairly.

Claudia Starlight · Jun 09, 2006, 04:55 AM // 04:55

ooh for dances.. what if you got crippled? maybe you can't get interrupted, but to *interrupt* the dance, you have to cripple the dancer?

oh and for the title of the class..
umm..

Jongleur?
or maybe
Entertainer? (...)

EDIT: and some of the skills listed i THINK should be considered as Elites

Opeth11 · Jun 09, 2006, 08:09 AM // 08:09

Ooh, music!

The concept of this character is quite amusing, and I had fun reading it. It would be cool to suddenly pull out an Erhu on the screen, though it doesn't really fit battle too well. -_-

I swear, if each Refinement skill had a different note, I would make a character just to use 'High Volume' and then spam 'High pitch', 'Low pitch' and so on. Maybe I will even compose a song o.o

Slainster · Jun 09, 2006, 01:06 PM // 13:06

wow, thats quite impressive, well done on the effort if nothing else!

M C H A M M E R · Jun 09, 2006, 04:02 PM // 16:02

cool support class.

actionjack · Jun 09, 2006, 05:54 PM // 17:54

Yes, forgot about the music. When using their skills, not only will see the visual effect, but will hear the msuic effect as well, which would change or add to the background music. And a experience player will even know what music/song is being cast or play, by simply hearing it.

Erhu is a bit strange of instrument (its a string instrment) If anyone can find another "Sad mood" instrument that use two hand, let me know. (violin seem too modern)

Yes, its a support class.. but could also be a nice self-defense class, and even a interupter/attraction class... depend on the builds.

lyra_song · Jun 09, 2006, 06:12 PM // 18:12

RO's bard/dancer model really works well ^^ hotness... *cough* o.o anyways...

I like it, well written out.

Now i think existing skills would need updates to be able to counter it (ie make backfire work vs songs, etc) since you have so many new skill types

Ramy Consigon · Jul 16, 2006, 03:18 PM // 15:18

WOW. I like a lot. How come i just about love all of the ideas that you have.. You must have been on a plane or sumthing and thought of these in your spare time.. what put me over the edge of loving this is that you can use instruments. I would think that fi you could go to places and them buy instruments and have instrument upgrades like a B45 mouth piece or something. I say... "HOLY CRAP!" to this build bcuz i love it so much..

unholy guardian · Jul 16, 2006, 04:26 PM // 16:26

when the singing activation animations should be huge things like inferno, except like things golden flowers for stuff to heal your allies or buff them. And weird nasty purple sludge or something to de buff or hurt them? Eh idk, be kinda crazy looking though.

So your character actually dances right? That be cool, the one time you could actually bust a move in pvp :P

fiery · Jul 16, 2006, 04:53 PM // 16:53

I like it, very creative.

actionjack · Aug 08, 2006, 12:55 AM // 00:55

Giving it a bump for the CC Listing Vote, but more importantly, saw this concept art from one of A.nets art archieve over at the conceptart fourm that someone so kindly pointed out. Guess they do have a Bard in mind before, but got drop. But anyhow, enjoy the pic.

http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/xia/images/GW2Cha006.jpg

unholy guardian · Aug 08, 2006, 01:00 AM // 01:00

that's a good picture right there

DietDew · Aug 24, 2006, 02:17 AM // 02:17

That Is Some Sick Pedo Crap >>>> What A Joke A Bard???? Lol

SaosiN17 · Aug 24, 2006, 02:24 AM // 02:24

First of all there is already a bard in the game, Its called a Paragon. There will never be skills that reduce someones attribue. Only buffs that will self increase your own attribute, so you should remove that. You can't force a team to target only you, you have to remember guildwars is a pvp balanced game as well... This is just a bad version of some pve WoW agro control skill. Seductive lure is just plain ridiculous, you can not control people with skills in guildwars, When you think of classes remember to create them with the given game mechanics and pvp balance in mind... If they intended the game to be like WoW they would have given mesmers mind control, warriors provoke skills, etc.

Trevor Reznik · Aug 24, 2006, 04:49 PM // 16:49

There is no need for another bard class in the game. Paragons already function in that role, with 3 of their 4 attributes being party support shouts/chants/etc. Furthermore, even suggesting some sort of skill that would make the target attack you is completely ridiculous and has no place in GW. If you don't understand why, go back to WoW.