Quote:
Does the Bard still rely heavily on charisma?
Nope, there is no charisma stat in EQ2. Bards rely on AGI and INT for power. I think AGI is more important than INT, but I wouldn't swear to that. That would actually make dark elves one of the better choices for bards statwise (though starting stats aren't that important).
I've played an EQ1 bard, but not an EQ2 bard. From what I can tell, though, EQ2 bards are not nearly as difficult to play -- no constant movement like the EQ1 bards. In EQ1, the speed of your fingers limited the number of songs you could keep going at once. In EQ2, your concentration slots limit your songs. Most useful bard songs take up concentration slots. I've also heard that charm is quite different in EQ2, but you'd have to ask an EQ2 bard for a better description there. Oh, and no uber speed song...unless you pick dirge, and take their sprint-speed song training option at lvl 30. (pretty sure that's how that works...)
I've grouped my swashie w/ a troubador friend, and I can say his songs were really nice...they boosted my STR/AGI/STA by a decent amount, and bardic power regen meant I could basically spam my CAs all I wanted.