=============================================================================== Ragnarok Online † Bard & Dancer Ensemble Support Guide † Version 1.20 Written by: Dikiwinky =============================================================================== Update : 09/22/04 (0.92) - Refined faq structure. 09/24/04 (0.95) - Corrected some typos and info. - Add leveling guide. 10/11/04 (1.00) - Levelling map update (Episode 6 monster patch) - Add Bard / Dancer quest. 11/03/04 (1.10) - Add Vit Build and some knowledge corrections. 11/13/04 (1.20) - Add some updates (thanks for correction emails). =============================================================================== I. Table Of Contents =============================================================================== I. Table Of Contents II. Bard & Dancer Notes, Pros & Cons III. Stat Point Allocation IV. Skill Point Allocation V. Leveling Guide VI. How to Become a Bard / Dancer VII. Skills VIII. Equipment IX. In Action X. Contact XI. Thanks and Credits =============================================================================== II. Bard & Dancer Notes, Pros & Cons =============================================================================== Bard and Dancer is a 2-2 job class that follows Archer, a support class with specialized capabilities to play songs and dance that can greatly help their party / guildsmen when played. Because we can't take all of Bard / Dancer skills, we should choose what our Bard / Dancer type is and select a good proportion skills for our character. There were several type of Bard & Dancer: - Solo Bard / Dancer Focuses on solo dancing and singing skill for support, some people modified it a bit to add some offensive skill like Musical Strike or Throw Arrow to add some attack ability. - Ensemble Support Bard / Dancer Focuses on ensemble or combination skill, this type explore all of Bard / Dancer class advantage. Good for support, leveling and even PvP and WoE. For Ensemble Support Build, I'd recommended you had already have an ensemble partner (a bard or a dancer) from a very beginning. Syncronized skills and it's level will be optimizing the effectiveness of this build. I myself create a bard character while my girlfriend create dancer, if you find it's a bit hard to look for a match partner, try to make appointment with some players or your guildsmen. When you've decided to become a dancer or bard, it's better for you to dedicate your character as a support character as Priest class. If you want an Archer based offensive character, I'd very recommended you to take Hunter class than become a Bard or a Dancer. Pros - Pretty rare character (in number) than another characters. - Has cool songs while playing their skills (get your speaker ON ^_^). - Has an advantage of long range attacks with their bow as well as Hunter class, and yes they also had the most ultimate offensive bow skill: Double Strafe. - Has the most sexiest looking (for Dancer). - Has pretty good flee (for AGI DEX build). - Strong character in PvP mode (for VIT DEX build). Cons - Hard to find a party in early levels, most people think it's better to have a Hunter in their group than a newbie Bard / Dancer. - Need quite large amount of zeny for arrows and good equipments. - Often accused for skill abused charge. I'm still not sure is it true that Bard / Dancer skills quite burdening the server, some people said it's worse than Wizard's Storm Gust and Lord of Vermillions. In short: some RO player hate Bard / Dancer class. =============================================================================== III. Stat Point Allocation =============================================================================== The most basic build for Bard/Dancer is the DEX-AGI Build or DEX-VIT build, and as support character we also had to increase our INT. DEX (Dexterity) Most important stat for any Archer based class. It determines how hard you hit, as well as how accurate you are, it's all about bow damage. It also decreases the casting time of Musical Strike / Throw Arrow. AGI (Agility) Determines the attack speed and flee rating. Archer based class has a long range attacks, but we need this to handle monster's attack and speed up our bow attack speed. VIT (Vitality) Determines maximum HP and HP regeneration rate, and also makes healing items heal more. INT (Intelligence) Determines our max SP and increases our SP regeneration rate, also affected our magical defend/attack point (MATK/MDEF). As support class we need a large amount SP. Since Archer based class don't have SP regeneration skills, we need to alocate INT. But don't investing too much at this stat, we still can depend on SP boost equipment, SP healing items or priest's magnificant. Recommended starting stats: STR 1 AGI 9 VIT 1 INT 9 DEX 9 LUK 1 AGI-DEX build ============== Recommended final stats for Bard & Dancer Ensemble Support: (With Bard / Dancer Lv50 job additional stat point bonus.) STR 1  +2 AGI 95 +7 VIT 1 +3 INT 25 +5 DEX 80 +18 (10 from Owl's Eye skill) LUK 1 +4 With this build, we have a good flee, it's very helpful to dodge attack from monsters while hunt or from other player while PVP or WoE. We also had better attack speed, and it's extremely helpful while attacking with bow. VIT-DEX build ============== Recommended final stats for Bard & Dancer Ensemble Support: (With Bard / Dancer Lv50 job additional stat point bonus.) STR 1  +2 AGI 9  +7 VIT 95 +3 INT 25 +5 DEX 80 +18 (10 from Owl's Eye skill) LUK 1 +4 With this build we'll have a large amount of maximum HP and HP regeneration. Our character will be strong as VIT Priest/Knight, very helpful at PVP or WoE and this build solve ensemble cast handicap (if we're hitted by enemy and our HP decreased 25% in one blow, our song will be cancelled). But it was very difficult to solo hunt with this build (bad flee and slow attack speed). Beside the additional stat point bonus from job change, there'll be more stat points left, you can use it for INT if you don't have SP boost equipment (such as footwear with Eggyra card), or use it to add some VIT or AGI. Just try to reach the recommended final stats, the allocation of the rest stat points is depend on your equipment. We don't need add more DEX, 80+18 plus additional 11-12 DEX point from Improve Concentration (plus Blessing and another support skill from priest, and from dexterous equipment) makes our final DEX: 80+30 ++ In early levels (Novice and early Archer) pump your DEX to 40. When you've get Double Strafe and Improve Concentration skills pump your INT to 15, use your SP regeneration speed for intensive use of Double Strafing and pump up your AGI to 45. After reach that stat, increase your AGI and DEX to 70. The rest is your proper adjustment. With this stat proportion formula and effective leveling map I've made it to create level 50 Bard / Dancer in one night (6 hours of playing) with solo hunt, it will be faster if you helped by another character with large level or if you had good equipment, or good hunt party. =============================================================================== IV. Skill Point Allocation =============================================================================== ------------- Archer Skills ------------- Lv.10 Owl's Eye Lv.10 Vulture's Eye Lv.10 Double Strafe Lv.10 Improved Concentration Lv.10 Arrow Shower Lv.1 Arrow Crafting / Arrow Creation Lv.1 Arrow Repel / Charge Arrow Lv.1 First Aid First Aid are pretty useful for early level, get it since you were a novice. If you don't want to wait for job level 50, you can turn into Bard at job level 40 and ignoring Arrow Shower skill. I myself considering Arrow Shower skill is nice for mobs, but not too powerful. ---------------------------- Ensemble Support Bard Skills ---------------------------- Lv.1 Extemporaneusness (Amp / Adaptation to Circumsates) Lv.1 Musical Lesson Lv.1   Encore Lv.5 Frost Joke Lv.3 Dissonance (Unchained Serenade) Lv.10 Assassin Cross of Sunset (Impressive Riff) Lv.1 Loki’s Wail (Classical Pluck) Lv.1 Eternal Chaos (Down Tempo) Lv.10 Poem of Bragi (Bragis' Poem / Magic String) Lv.3 Invulnerable Siegfried (Acoustic Rhythm) Lv.5 Rich Man Mr. Kim (Mental Sensing) Lv.8 Apple of Idun (Song of Lutie) or Lv.1 Extemporaneusness (Amp / Adaptation to Circumsates) Lv.1 Musical Lesson Lv.1   Encore Lv.5 Frost Joke Lv.3 Dissonance (Unchained Serenade) Lv.10 Assassin Cross of Sunset (Impressive Riff) Lv.1 Loki’s Wail (Classical Pluck) Lv.1 Eternal Chaos (Down Tempo) Lv.10 Poem of Bragi (Bragis' Poem / Magic String) Lv.10 Apple of Idun (Song of Lutie) Lv.5 The Sound of a Drum on the Battlefield -------------------------------- Ensemble Support Dancer’s Skills -------------------------------- Lv.1 Extemporaneusness (Amp / Adaptation to Circumsates) Lv.1 Dancing Lesson Lv.1   Encore Lv.5   Scream Lv.3 Ugly Dance Lv.10 Don't Forget Me (Forget Me Not) Lv.1 Loki’s Wail (Classical Pluck) Lv.1 Eternal Chaos (Down Tempo) Lv.10 Kiss of Fortune (Fortune Kiss) Lv.3 Invulnerable Siegfried (Acoustic Rhythm) Lv.5 Rich Man Mr. Kim (Mental Sensing) Lv.8 Service for You or Lv.1 Extemporaneusness (Amp / Adaptation to Circumsates) Lv.1 Dancing Lesson Lv.1   Encore Lv.5   Scream Lv.3 Ugly Dance Lv.10 Don't Forget Me (Forget Me Not) Lv.1 Loki’s Wail (Classical Pluck) Lv.1 Eternal Chaos (Down Tempo) Lv.10 Kiss of Fortune (Fortune Kiss) Lv.10 Service for You Lv.5 The Sound of a Drum on the Battlefield There's also an option to add some Musical Lesson / Dancing Lesson skill to increase the value (efectiveness) of musical / dancing skills, and add some additional damage while attacking with instrument or whip. You can substitute The Sound of a Drum on the Battlefield or Rich Man Mr. Kim with Lv. 5 Musical Lesson or Dancing Lesson. =============================================================================== V. Leveling Guide =============================================================================== Levels 10 to 15 --------------- Monster: willows, condors, savage babes Map: payon forest, sograt desert Levels 15 to 20 --------------- Monster: rockers, hornets, spore, small thief bugs, farmiliar Map: prontera rockers field, alberta, sewer/culvert room 1 & 2 Levels 20 to 30 --------------- Monster: pecopeco, poporing, snake/boa, wolf, mandragora, zombie Map: sewer/culvert, poring field, sograt desert, payon cave room 1 Sniping or long-range attack area: mandragora at north payon, stainer and horn at mjolnir bridge Levels 30 to 40 --------------- Monster: smokie, coco, martin, elder willow Map: payon dokebi field, coco field, payon cave room 2, Sniping or long-range attack area: hode at south morroc, agriope at mjolnir mountain Levels 40 to 50 --------------- Monster: hode, eggyra, thara frog, vadon Map: hode field, payon dokebi field, payon cave room 2 & 3, byalan island Sniping or long-range attack area: mummy at pyramid room 3, green male thiefbug at deepest sewer Levels 50 to 60 --------------- Monster: orc zombie, soldier skeleton, zerom, mummy, bigfoot, sandman Map: orc dungeon, pyramid room 2 & 3, assasin guild, sphinx room 1 Sniping or long-range attack area: mummy at pyramid room 3, green male thiefbug at deepest sewer Levels 60 to 70 --------------- Monster: orc skeleton, mummy, zombie prisoner, wraith, obeanue, marse, skeleton workers, hunterfly, aligator, wildrose Map: glastheim graveyard, pyramid, byalan room 4, coalmine room 3, glastheim prison, comodo Sniping or long-range attack area: geographer at juno (prepare you flywing to avoid aggresive monster) Levels 70 to 85 --------------- Monster: aligator, fur seal, galapagos, sea otter, sting, anolian, mountain goat, grand peco, kappa Map: glastheim sewer, kokomo beach (comodo), juno, amatsu To make your hunt more effective, try to maximizing your damage by using proper equipment such as elemental arrow and better bow. Since Bard / Dancer build based upon AGI and DEX (for AGI-DEX build), large AGI points gave us a better flee so we can use this as an advantage in melee encounter with monsters. Check the flee chart below before you hunt: 87 Poring 89 Fabre 91 Lunatic 93 Picky 93 Willow 95 Drops 95 Roda Frog 95 Santa Poring 96 ChonChon 97 Condor 97 Eclipse (Miniboss) 99 Savage Babe 99 Mastering (Miniboss) 100 Toad (Miniboss) 103 Rocker 103 Spore 105 Hornet 105 Plankton 105 Dragonfly (Miniboss) 107 Kukre 110 Desert Wolf Puppy 110 Zombie 111 Ambermite 112 Creamy 113 Martin 113 Poporing 115 Muka 115 Marin 115 Tarou 116 Familiar 120 Steel Chonchon 121 Coco 122 Wolf 123 Andre 123 Deniro 123 Pecopeco 123 Poison Spore 124 Smokie 125 Bigfoot 125 Golem 125 Pierre 126 Stainer 128 Mandragora 128 Goblin (Axe) 128 Orc Zombie 130 Boa 130 Megalodon 130 Pirate Skeleton 131 Yoyo 134 Goblin (Mace) 134 Hydra 135 Vadon 136 Eggyra 136 Thara Frog 137 Argos 137 Marina 138 Elder Willow 138 Orc Skeleton 138 Orc Warrior 139 Anacondaq 139 Dustiness 139 Goblin (Hammer) 140 Vitata 140 Wormtail 141 Caramel 143 Giearth 143 Goblin (Knife) 143 Santa Goblin 143 Savage 145 Horn 145 Magnolia 145 Zerom 147 Kobold (Hammer) 148 Kaho 148 Skeleton Worker 149 Flora 149 Soldier Skeleton 150 Vocal (Miniboss) 151 Mantis 151 Metaller 152 Bongun 152 Ghoul 152 Swordfish 154 Vagabond Wolf (Miniboss) 155 Hode 156 Munak 156 Scorpion 156 Verit 160 Cornutus 160 Cookie 160 Sasquatch 161 Sohee 163 Desert Wolf 163 Frilldora 163 Marse 163 Strouf 166 Angeling (Miniboss) 168 Kobold (Axe) 170 Goblin (Chain) 170 Myst Case 170 Ghostring (Miniboss) 171 Mist 172 Marc 173 Horong 174 Whisper 175 Matyr 175 Requiem 176 Brilight 177 Argiope 181 Hunter Fly 182 Drainliar 182 Dokkaebi 185 Obeaune 185 Golden Thief Bug (MVP) 188 Choco (Miniboss) 188 Punk 189 Deviace 190 Marionette 190 Sandman 192 Mummy 192 Edgga (MVP) 193 Jakk 193 Nightmare 194 Phen 194 Skeleton Prisoner 195 Isis 195 Zenorc 196 Reydric 198 Sky Petit 198 Marduk 198 Minorous 200 Cruiser 201 Cramp 203 Earth Petit 205 Chepet 205 Zombie Prisoner 206 Evil Druid 206 Khalitzburg 206 Mimic 206 Moonlight Flower (MVP) 207 Pasana 208 Bathory 208 Iron Fist 209 Kobold (Mace) 210 Stemworm 211 Wraith 214 Arclouse 214 High Orc 215 Maya (MVP) 220 Ninetails 221 Dark Priest 221 Mistress (MVP) 223 Alarm 223 Baphomet Jr. 223 Deviruchi 225 Orc Hero (MVP) 230 Anubis 232 Joker 234 Sidewinder 236 Archer Skeleton 240 Anolian 250 Executioner 256 Sting 263 Baphomet (MVP) 265 Orc Archer 270 Drake (MVP) 270 Osiris (MVP) 273 Penomena 283 Wanderman 284 Rideword 285 Orc Lord (MVP) 286 Abyss Knight 305 Doppleganger (MVP) 317 Mysteltainn 322 Phreeoni (MVP) =============================================================================== VI. How to Become a Bard / Dancer =============================================================================== Bard Quest ---------- First step is flower quest, go to Comodo Island to find Wandering Bard ( a NPC who located at map: COMODO 211,155 ). He'll be asking you to bring him a special flower. you can give him one of these: - Hinale (dropped by white plant and rocker) - Ment (dropped by red plant) - Singing Flower (dropped by flora) - Illusion Flower (dropped by shining plant) - Aloe (dropped by flora and green plant) - Witherless Rose (dropped by wildrose, or buy from NPC at northeast Morroc) - Frozen Rose (from Old Blue Box, Old Purple Box or Gift Box) After gave him the requested flower, he'll ask you to go to Lutie and find out a complete story about Snowman. Second step is Lutie quest, go to lutie by clicking Santa at Aldebaran. And finish all of these quest in correct order (you can find the locations by navigating with it's coordinate, just using command " /where " to check your current location) : - Visit Snowman at XMAS 134,112 he'll talk about some people (and you should visit all of them) - Visit Debra / Christmas Girl inside a house at XMAS 165,174 - Visit Snowman again - Visit Peterson / Christmas Snowman at XMAS 117,304 near the vending machine - Visit Snowman again - Visit Hairy Uncle at XMAS 176,236 he'll ask you to bring him a stickymucus (dropped by poporing, hydra etc.) and a squid ink (dropped by marse) - Visit Snowman - Visit Mima the Old Lady inside a house at XMAS 27,103 she'll ask you to bring him the biggest salt in the world. - Visit Snowman (again!) and he'll give you the biggest salt in the world, the item will not listed on your item window. - Visit Mima the Old Lady again to give the salt. - Visit Christmas Clown near the large christmas tree in the middle of the map he'll explain to you about the history of Snowman who saves kids bravely from death - Visit the kids at XMAS 206,168 to hear their stories. - Visit Snowman (calm down, this is the last time you click this snowy thing) as an appreciation that you've knew all about his history he'll gave you 2 piece of cakes. Third step is singing contest! After wandering around Lutie, you should go back to Comodo to report your progress to Wandering Bard. As the last test he'll ask you to repeat his sing, simply by re-type the blue lyrics exactly as it's typed. If you missed even a single character, you should repeat another (stupid) songs. Bonus step. After those long and boring quest, we had an opportunities to get some equipment from the Wandering Bard. Bring him some items and he'll gave you a musical instrument: - Violin (60 Trunks) - Mandolin (60 Barren / Fine Grained Trunks) - Harp / Lute (60 Solid Trunks) Dancer Quest ------------ First, talk to a girl named Snowtora (at COMODO 180,153) then talk to Comodo Theater's NPC at COMODO 193,151 (near Comodo's kafra) and you'll be teleported to Comodo's Theater (your friends can watch your dancing test by clicking this NPC). Second step, talk to Dancer Test NPC named Ale to sign up the dancer test and she'll ask you to bring some item, there were 3 possibilities set of items: (Item Set 1) 20 Stickymucus + 5 Redpot + 3 Jellopy + 1 Non-slotted Shoes + 10000zeny (tem Set 2) 5 Earthworm peeling + 1 Non-slotted Boots + 10000zeny (Item Set 3) 2 Clamshell + 5 Yellowpot + 20 Jellopy + 10 Blackhair + 1 Non-slotted Sandals Back to Ale and gave all of those requested items, then go to NPC named Borwaju. She'll ask 10 questions (at least you must give 8 correct answers to passed this test), the questions is all about Comodo, Dancer Job and Skill and also about Music and Dance. After passed the quiz test, go to the backstage and start your dancing test. The test is a kind of mini game (have you ever played Dance Dance Revolution?) you just have to follow the row of directions and follow them by clicking the direction panels (for example: left-left-up-down-right). Hint: just click the direction panels by your pointer mouse fast! don't bother with your character that will walk in panic and wild to another direction. =============================================================================== VII. Skills =============================================================================== Archer Skills ------------- [Owl's Eye]---------------------------------------------------------------- Increase dexterity (Passive Skill) [LV]  [Skill Level Effect]  [SP]  1    DEX +1                -  2    DEX +2                -  3    DEX +3                -  4    DEX +4                -  5    DEX +5                -  6    DEX +6                -  7    DEX +7                -  8    DEX +8                -  9    DEX +9                - 10    DEX +10               - [Vulture's Eye]----------------------------------------------------------- Increases Range and Hit (Passive Skill) Requires: Level 3 Owl's Eye [LV]   [Skill Level Effect]   [SP]  1 Range and HIT +1             -  2 Range and HIT +2             -  3 Range and HIT +3             -  4 Range and HIT +4             -  5 Range and HIT +5             -  6 Range and HIT +6             -  7 Range and HIT +7             -  8 Range and HIT +8             -  9 Range and HIT +9             - 10 Range and HIT +10            - [Improve Concentration]--------------------------------------------------- Raises agility and dexterity Requires: Level 1 Vulture's Eye [LV]       [Skill Level Effect]      [SP]  1   +3% AGI and DEX for 40 seconds   25  2   +4% AGI and DEX for 50 seconds   30  3   +5% AGI and DEX for 60 seconds   35  4   +6% AGI and DEX for 70 seconds   40  5   +7% AGI and DEX for 80 seconds   45  6   +8% AGI and DEX for 90 seconds   50  7   +9% AGI and DEX for 100 seconds  55  8  +10% AGI and DEX for 110 seconds  60  9  +11% AGI and DEX for 120 seconds  65 10  +12% AGI and DEX for 130 seconds  70 [Double Strafing]--------------------------------------------------------- [LV]    [Skill Level Effect]     [SP] 1-10  Double Attack and Damage x2 15 [Arrow Shower]------------------------------------------------------------ Requires: Level 5 Double Strafing [LV]   [Skill Level Effect]   [SP] 1-10     Shoots 9 arrows       15 [Arrow Repel]------------------------------------------------------------- Non attribute attack that pushes an enemy back 4 cells (Quest) [LV]        [Skill Level Effect]        [SP]  1   Attack power 150% of normal attack      (Casting time 1.5 seconds)          15 [Arrow Creation]---------------------------------------------------------- (Quest) [LV]          [Skill Level Effect]        [SP]  1   Use items you have to create arrows   10 Bard Skills ----------- [Encore]------------------------------------------------------------------ [LV]                [Skill Level Effect]                 [SP]  1 Allows you to do the musical/dancing skill you used    1    again for only half the normal SP usage. It's a must for any type of bard. [Musical Lesson]---------------------------------------------------------- Increases physical damage of Musical Instrument class weapons and the value of Playing skills (Passive Skill) The additional attack is not too useful, and even the additional value of playing / musical skill is not affected too much. The reason to take this skill is just to open the "Musical Strike" skill. [LV]   [Skill Level Effect]   [SP]  1     ATK +3 -  2     ATK +6 -  3     ATK +9 -  4     ATK +12 -  5     ATK +15 -  6     ATK +18 -  7     ATK +21 -  8     ATK +24 -  9     ATK +27 - 10     ATK +30 - [Musical Strike]---------------------------------------------------------- Use a Musical Instrument to shoot arrows with might Attack property is affected by the type of arrows used Works only with Musical Instrument class weapons. Coming very handy, while casting musical skill we also can attack our enemy with this skill, but it has less damage than Double Strafe. Requires: Level 3 Musical Lesson [LV]         [Skill Level Effect]        [SP]  1 150% Attack (Casting time 1.5 seconds) 8  2 175% Attack (Casting time 1.5 seconds) 8  3 200% Attack (Casting time 1.5 seconds) 8  4 225% Attack (Casting time 1.5 seconds) 8  5 250% Attack (Casting time 1.5 seconds) 8 [Dissonance]---------------------------------------------------------------- Causes certain set amount of damage after certain amount of time has passed to all enemies within area. The skill will cause damage 11 times (3 seconds will pass between each damage) in all. Lasting time : 30 seconds, use 1 SP per 3 seconds. Pierces defense. We take this skill just to open another skill, but sometime it's a bit fun to kill some mob through the wall on labyrinth map. Requires: Level 1 Musical Lesson and Level 1 Extemporroneous [LV]      [Skill Level Effect]     [SP]  1   40 Damage Duration: 30 seconds 18  2   50 Damage Duration: 30 seconds 21  3   60 Damage Duration: 30 seconds 24  4   70 Damage Duration: 30 seconds 27  5   80 Damage Duration: 30 seconds 30 [Frost Joke]-------------------------------------------------------------- All monsters and players within whole screen may get frozen randomly. In normal maps, only monsters are affected but in PvP zones, all players could also get frozen, there're less possibility for our own group to get frozen, there is no damage done, and the freezing will kick in after 3 seconds since skill starts. Very useful for PVP / WoE. Requires: Level 1 Encore [LV]   [Skill Level Effect]   [SP]  1    20% Chance to freeze     12  2    25% Chance to freeze     14  3    30% Chance to freeze     16  4    35% Chance to freeze     18  5    40% Chance to freeze     20 [A Whistle]--------------------------------------------------------------- Increases all players who are within your range's FLEE and Lucky Dodge. Total FLEE bonus given will depend on Musical Lesson and your AGI, and total Lucky Dodge bonus given will depend on Musical Lesson and LUK. Requires: Level 3 Dissonance All Level Skill Duration: 60 Seconds [LV]     [Skill Level Effect]    [SP]  1  1% Flee and 1% Perfect Dodge  24  2  2% Flee and 1% Perfect Dodge  28  3  3% Flee and 2% Perfect Dodge  32  4  4% Flee and 2% Perfect Dodge  36  5  5% Flee and 3% Perfect Dodge  40  6  6% Flee and 3% Perfect Dodge  44  7  7% Flee and 4% Perfect Dodge  48  8  8% Flee and 4% Perfect Dodge  52  9  9% Flee and 5% Perfect Dodge  56 10 10% Flee and 5% Perfect Dodge 60 [Assassin Cross of Sunset]------------------------------------------------ Increases attack speed of players in a range Cannot be used on players who are already using Two-hand Quicken or Adrenaline Rush. Requires: Level 3 Dissonance [LV]      [Skill Level Effect]     [SP]  1  11% ASPD Duration: 120 seconds  38  2  12% ASPD Duration: 120 second   41  3  13% ASPD Duration: 120 second   44  4  14% ASPD Duration: 120 second   47  5  15% ASPD Duration: 120 second   50  6  16% ASPD Duration: 120 second   53  7  17% ASPD Duration: 120 second   56  8  18% ASPD Duration: 120 second   59  9  19% ASPD Duration: 120 second   62 10  20% ASPD Duration: 120 second   65 [A Poem of Bragi]--------------------------------------------------------- Reduces casting time and the delay of those skills It also adds casting time reduction to Suffragium Wizards always request this skill for their Storm Gust and Lord of Vermillion, and any other long casting skill (also Priest's) Area: 9x9. Requires: Level 3 Dissonance [LV]                       [Skill Level Effect]                 [SP]  1  Casting time -3% and Delay time -3% Duration: 180 seconds    40  2  Casting time -6% and Delay time -6% Duration: 180 seconds    45  3  Casting time -9% and Delay time -9% Duration: 180 seconds    50  4  Casting time -12% and Delay time -12% Duration: 180 seconds  55  5  Casting time -15% and Delay time -15% Duration: 180 seconds  60  6  Casting time -18% and Delay time -18% Duration: 180 seconds  65  7  Casting time -21% and Delay time -21% Duration: 180 seconds  70  8  Casting time -24% and Delay time -24% Duration: 180 seconds  75  9  Casting time -27% and Delay time -27% Duration: 180 seconds  80 10  Casting time -30% and Delay time -50% Duration: 180 seconds  85 [The Apple of Idun]------------------------------------------------------- Increases max HP of all party/guildsman in a range Also restores a certain amount of HP per 6 seconds Playing Area: 9x9 square. Uses 1 SP every 6 seconds. Requires: Level 3 Dissonance [LV]                     [Skill Level Effect]                   [SP]  1 +7% Max HP and +20 HP every 6 seconds Duration: 180 seconds   40  2 +9% Max HP and +40 HP every 6 seconds Duration: 180 seconds   45  3 +11% Max HP and +60 HP every 6 seconds Duration: 180 seconds  50  4 +13% Max HP and +80 HP every 6 seconds Duration: 180 seconds  55  5 +15% Max HP and +100 HP every 6 seconds Duration: 180 seconds 60  6 +17% Max HP and +120 HP every 6 seconds Duration: 180 seconds 65  7 +19% Max HP and +140 HP every 6 seconds Duration: 180 seconds 70  8 +21% Max HP and +160 HP every 6 seconds Duration: 180 seconds 75  9 +23% Max HP and +180 HP every 6 seconds Duration: 180 seconds 80 10 +25% Max HP and +200 HP every 6 seconds Duration: 180 seconds 85 Dancer Skills ------------- [Encore]------------------------------------------------------------------ [LV]                [Skill Level Effect]                 [SP]  1 Allows you to do the musical/dancing skill you used    1    again for only half the normal SP usage. [Dancing Lesson]---------------------------------------------------------- Increases physical damage of Whip class weapons and the value of Dancing skills (Passive Skill) [LV] [Skill Level Effect] [SP]  1    ATK +3     -  2    ATK +6    -  3    ATK +9    -  4    ATK +12    -  5    ATK +15    -  6    ATK +18    -  7    ATK +21    -  8    ATK +24    -  9    ATK +27    - 10    ATK +30    - [Throw Arrow]------------------------------------------------------------- Use a Whip to shoot arrows with might Attack property is affected by the type of arrows used Works only with Whip class weapons Requires: Level 3 Dancing Lesson [LV]         [Skill Level Effect]        [SP]  1 150% Attack (Casting time 1.5 seconds) 8  2 175% Attack (Casting time 1.5 seconds) 8  3 200% Attack (Casting time 1.5 seconds) 8  4 225% Attack (Casting time 1.5 seconds) 8  5 250% Attack (Casting time 1.5 seconds) 8 [Ugly Dance]-------------------------------------------------------------- Does regular damage into the SP of targets in a range Dancing Duration: 30 Seconds Requires: Level 1 Dancing Lesson and Level 1 Extemporroneous [LV] [Skill Level Effect] [SP]  1   10 SP every 3 seconds 23  2   15 SP every 3 seconds 26  3   20 SP every 3 seconds 29  4   25 SP every 3 seconds 32  5   30 SP every 3 seconds 35 [Scream]------------------------------------------------------------------ Stuns all characters including players and monsters in a range Requires: Level 1 Encore [LV] [Skill Level Effect] [SP]  1    30% Chance to stun   12  2    35% Chance to stun   14  3    40% Chance to stun   16  4    45% Chance to stun   18  5    50% Chance to stun   20 [Humming]----------------------------------------------------------------- Increases Accuracy of party/guildsman in a range Dancing Area: 9x9 square Uses 1 SP every 5 seconds. Requires: Level 3 Ugly Dance [LV]          [Skill Level Effect]        [SP]  1   +2% Hit Rating Duration: 60 seconds   22  2   +4% Hit Rating Duration: 60 seconds   24  3   +6% Hit Rating Duration: 60 seconds   26  4   +8% Hit Rating Duration: 60 seconds   28  5   +10% Hit Rating Duration: 60 seconds  30  6   +12% Hit Rating Duration: 60 seconds  32  7   +14% Hit Rating Duration: 60 seconds  34  8   +16% Hit Rating Duration: 60 seconds  36  9   +18% Hit Rating Duration: 60 seconds  38 10   +20% Hit Rating Duration: 60 seconds  40 [Please Don't Forget Me]-------------------------------------------------- Decreases moving speed and attack speed of enemies in a range All blessing skills will be cancelled by this skill Dancing Area: 9x9 cells. Requires: Level 3 Ugly Dance [LV]              [Skill Level Effect]                   [SP]  1  -3% Moving Speed and -2% ASPD Duration: 180 seconds   28  2  -6% Moving Speed and -4% ASPD Duration: 180 seconds   31  3  -9% Moving Speed and -6% ASPD Duration: 180 seconds   34  4  -12% Moving Speed and -8% ASPD Duration: 180 seconds  37  5  -15% Moving Speed and -10% ASPD Duration: 180 seconds 40  6  -18% Moving Speed and -12% ASPD Duration: 180 seconds 43  7  -21% Moving Speed and -14% ASPD Duration: 180 seconds 46  8  -24% Moving Speed and -16% ASPD Duration: 180 seconds 49  9  -27% Moving Speed and -18% ASPD Duration: 180 seconds 52 10  -30% Moving Speed and -20% ASPD Duration: 180 seconds 55 [Fortune's Kiss]---------------------------------------------------------- Increases Critical Rate of party/guildsman in a range Dancing Area: 9x9 square Requires: Level 10 Ugly Dance 1  +1% Critical Rating Duration: 120 seconds  43 2  +2% Critical Rating Duration: 120 seconds  46 3  +3% Critical Rating Duration: 120 seconds  49 4  +4% Critical Rating Duration: 120 seconds  52 5  +5% Critical Rating Duration: 120 seconds  55  6  +6% Critical Rating Duration: 120 seconds  58  7  +7% Critical Rating Duration: 120 seconds  61  8  +8% Critical Rating Duration: 120 seconds  64  9  +9% Critical Rating Duration: 120 seconds  67 10  +10% Critical Rating Duration: 120 seconds 70 [Service For You]------------------------------------------------------------ Increases max amount of SP of party/guildsman in a range for a short time Also reduces the amount of SP consumption of skills Dancing Area: 9x9 cells. Uses 1 SP every 5 seconds. Requires: Level 10 Ugly Dance [LV]                     [Skill Level Effect]                      [SP]  1 +11% Max SP and Reduces 13% SP consumption Duration: 180 seconds 35  2 +12% Max SP and Reduces 16% SP consumption Duration: 180 seconds 40  3 +13% Max SP and Reduces 19% SP consumption Duration: 180 seconds 45  4 +14% Max SP and Reduces 22% SP consumption Duration: 180 seconds 50  5 +15% Max SP and Reduces 25% SP consumption Duration: 180 seconds 55  6 +16% Max SP and Reduces 28% SP consumption Duration: 180 seconds 60  7 +17% Max SP and Reduces 31% SP consumption Duration: 180 seconds 65  8 +18% Max SP and Reduces 34% SP consumption Duration: 180 seconds 70  9 +19% Max SP and Reduces 37% SP consumption Duration: 180 seconds 75 10 +20% Max SP and Reduces 40% SP consumption Duration: 180 seconds 80 Ensemble/Combination Skills --------------------------- [Lullaby]----------------------------------------------------------------- Monsters around you in a 9x9 cell radius are put to sleep Boss monsters are not affected Requires: Level 10 A Whistle (Bard) and Level 10 Humming (Dancer) [LV] [Skill Level Effect] [SP]  1 (1 SP every 4 seconds)  20     Duration: 60 seconds [Mr Kim a Rich Man]------------------------------------------------------- Increases the EXP rate for all players within a 9x9 cell radius of the caster Requires: Level 3 Invulnerable Siegfried (Bard/Dancer). In rapid and hectic hunt environment, this skill is useless. There were better to grab your bow to help your party and get additional experience with fast killing than to cast this skill. Level Effect 1 136% EXP 2 147% EXP 3 158% EXP 4 169% EXP 5 180% EXP [Eternal Chaos]----------------------------------------------------------- Reduces all players and monsters (including party/guildsman) defense to 0 in a 9x9 cell radius around the caster. Requires: Level 1 Loki's Wail [LV] [Skill Level Effect] [SP]  1 (1 SP every 4 seconds)     Duration: 60 seconds   30 [The Sound of a Drum on the Battlefield]---------------------------------- Increases ATK and DEF of all players in a 9x9 cell radius around the caster. Lasts 60 seconds and drains 1 SP of the caster for the skill duration. Requires: Level 10 Apple of Idun (Bard) and Level 10 Service For You Level Skill SP 1 +50 ATK and +4 DEF 40 2 +75 ATK and +6 DEF 45 3 +100 ATK and +8 DEF 50 4 +125 ATK and +10 DEF 55 5 +150 ATK and +12 DEF 60 [The Ring of Nibelungen]-------------------------------------------------- Increases ATK power of Level 4 Weapons of all characters in a 9x9 cell radius of the caster. Lasts 60 seconds and drains 1 SP of the caster every 3 seconds. Requires: Level 3 The Sound of a Drum on the Battlefield (Bard/Dancer) Level Effect SP 1 +150 ATK 40 2 +200 ATK 45 3 +250 ATK 50 4 +300 ATK 55 5 +350 ATK 60 [Loki's Wail]-------------------------------------------------------------- Block all skill's casting including magic spells of monsters and players in a 9x9 cell radius around the caster Boss monsters are not affected Requires: Level 10 Assassin Cross of Sunset (Bard) and           Level 10 Please Don't Forget Me (Dancer) [LV]  [Skill Level Effect] [SP]  1  (1 SP every 4 seconds)      Duration: 60 seconds   15 [Into The Abyss]---------------------------------------------------------- Enables all party/guildsman the use of skills without items they require Such as Gemstones, Traps, etc Requires: Level 1 Lullaby (Bard/Dancer) [LV] [Skill Level Effect] [SP]  1 (1 SP every 5 seconds)     Duration: 60 seconds   10 [Invulnerable Siegfried]-------------------------------------------------- Increase resistance to the Fire and Water property for all players in a 9x9 cell radius around the caster Requires: Level 10 A Poem of Bragi (Bard) and Level 10 Fortune's Kiss (Dancer) [LV] [Skill Level Effect] [SP] Level Effect 1 + 40 Resistance 2 + 50 Resistance 3 + 60 Resistance 4 + 70 Resistance 5 + 80 Resistance [Ragnarok]---------------------------------------------------------------- Randomly do some of the most powerful skills in the game. All the random skills activated are area-based, and it will damage/heal everything, allies or enemies alike. It will do random skills 31 times in total before stopping. [LV] [Skill Level Effect] [SP]  1         Ragnarok        100 Duration: 60 seconds. Area: Screen. This skill cannot be stopped no matter what, and even if Bard/Dancer who used this skill dies in process, the skill goes on until 60 seconds of it is finished. Spells that can be randomly cast: Lord of Vermilion Storm Gust Meteor Storm Heaven's Drive Fire Wall Magnus Exorcismus Safety Wall Pneuma Sanctuary Poison Dust Grand Cross Land Protector This skill is currently disabled by Gravity, due to its potentiality of being abused. =============================================================================== VIII. Equipments =============================================================================== Since ensemble support Bard / Dancer frequently cast support skill which consume a bunch of SP, and while we're hunt with a bow we also intensively use double strafing skill, we need a lot of SP. So try to have SP boost equipment (add some INT) with good defend point (we're gonna badly hit while supporting other player just like happened to priest) and the last option is about VIT / DEX equipment or musical looking equipment. For PVP / WoE we can adjust our equipment by battlefield condition. Headgear -------- Apple o Archer: Dexterous, but it's DEF is 0. If your build has a large DEX I recommend another equipment for your head, or just try to upgrade it to +6 or +7 (DEX+3 DEF 0) Goggle: It's 5 DEF with one slot, try to upgrade or buy +7 goggles. As support character we need additional INT so fill it with elder willow card and you'll get +7 Erudite Goggle. (INT+2 DEF 11) In WoE most priest always trying to Silence us with Lex Divina, so we can fill our goggle with marduk card and you'll get +7 Peerless Goggle . (AntiSilence DEF 11) Or if you were bloody lucky person, whe you get Orc Hero card, you can use it on your +7 Goggle. (AntiStun DEF 11) Headset: With 0 DEF and minor function (reduce some curse possibilities), I choose this headgear just to add musical looking ^_^ , or use Joker Jester to get european middle-age/medieval bard looking. Others: Binocular (DEX+1), Poopoo Hat(reduce 10% attack from semihuman monster), Bunny Band (LUK+1 and add more cute looking for your dancer), Feather Bonet (exclusive, only hunter and bard/dancer class can wear it), Coronet (INT+1 DEF 1, mom.. I've killed osiris ^_^), etc. Armor ----- Tights: Try to find slotted tights, try upgrade (or buy) to +7 and you'll get 13 DEF and DEX+1. On it's slot you can use Baby Desertwolf(INT+1) or Rocker(DEX+1) Prepare another backup armor with elemental card for PVP and WOE, such as Marc Card (anti frozen), Dokkebi Card (wind armor), Swordfish Card (aqua armor) etc. Because there were possibilities we're being attack by Wizard's Stormgust, Jupitelthunder, Waterball etc. Coat: If tights is too expensive for you, try to find slotted coat (archer class can only wear jacket, adventure suite, coat and tights), try upgrade it to +7 and you'll get 12 DEF. Garment ------- Muffler: Slotted muffler with +7 upgrade now can be found on Morroc market, and we can fill it's slot with: - Whisper Card (mocking muffler, add your dodge and flee), good for hunting. - Raydric Card (immune muffler, reduce neutral attack), good for PVP or WOE. - Frilldora Card (enable cloacking skill level 1). Hood: If muffler has 2 DEF, hood only has 1 DEF. Since it's cheaper than muffler, it's more affordable. We can buy +7 hood (it's DEF equal to +6 muffler) with +5 muffler's price. Shield ------ Guard: Yup, while using musical instrument we can still use a guard, make it +7 and fill it's slot with Thara Frog card (Cranial Guard) and it will give us 10 DEF and 30% damage reduction from players / demihuman monsters. Shoes ----- +7 Boots of Witch, expensive footgear but it's worthed. Eggyra card for ensemble support Bard / Dancer is a must, we need a lot of SP. Accessory --------- Earring (INT+2) Wear a couple of this to add some SP boost. Healing Clip Clip filled with Vitata Card (enable heal skill level 1), good for hunt. Clip of Flash Clip filled with Yoyo Card (add perfect dodge), good for hunt. Nimble Clip (DEX+3) Clip filled with Zerom Card. Or if you can buy / find slotted glove, a pair of Nimble Glove is excellent dexterous accessories. Necklace (VIT+2) If your Bard/Dancer is not VIT build, wear a couple of this to add some VIT while WoE/PVP. Rosary (LUK+2 MDEF+5) While fight against a bunch of wizards in PVP/WoE, wear a couple of this to add your MDEF (magic defend). Musical Weapon -------------- Since ensemble support don't take the offensive musical skill we no need to choose musical weapon with largest attack such as guitar for bard (142 attack) or Rante for dancer (135 attack). Pick a musical weapon with three slots like violin for bard and rope for dancer, since it was level 1 weapon, it's not too hard to upgrade it to +10. We can use Andre Larva Card (INT+1) or simply find three Fabre Card (VIT+1 HP+100) because it's very hard to find Andre Larva Card (we can only get it from Old Card Album for now). Or there's a good alternative: buy a harp in comodo (INT+2 with 1 slot) Bow Weapon ---------- In my opinion, in RO there is no best bow, but there were plenty of better bow, depends on what is your target monster's size? what is your target monster's type? how large is your DEX? how good is your weapon upgrade? and what card that you have on your bow's slots? and what kind of arrow you used? So it's all about relativity and conditional, but I'll give a calculation and a way to find better bow for you: Good bows: > +7 Gakkung (2 slots) Damage: 100 (gakkung default) + 7*5 (weapon level 3 upgrade points) = 135 > +7 Arbalest (2 slots and DEX+2) Damage: 90 (arbalest default) + 7*5 (weapon level 3 upgrade points) = 125 > +9 / +10 Crossbow (3 slots) Damage: 65 (crossbow default) + 10*3 (weapon level 2 upgrade points) = 95 > +10 Composite Bow (4 slots) Damage: 29 (composite default) + 10*2 (weapon level 1 upgrade points) = 49 Small damage, but we can take good advantage from it's 4 slots Determining base damage for bows: For having each point in DEX: +1 For having 10-19 DEX: +1 For having 20-29 DEX: +4 For having 30-39 DEX: +9 For having 40-49 DEX: +16 For having 50-59 DEX: +25 For having 60-69 DEX: +36 For having 70-79 DEX: +49 For having 80-89 DEX: +64 For having 90-99 DEX: +81 For having 100-109 DEX: +100 For having 110-119 DEX: +121 For having 120-129 DEX: +144 For having every 5 full points in STR: +1 For having every 5 full points in LUK: +1 Every +1 upgrade (Weapon Level 1): +2 Every +1 upgrade (Weapon Level 2): +3 Every +1 upgrade (Weapon Level 3): +5 Good cards for bow: Size based > Desert Wolf Card (Gigantic) 15% more damages on a Small Sized Monster > Skel Worker Card (Boned) 15% more damages on a Medium Sized Monster > Minorous Card (Titan) 15% more damages on a Great Sized Monster > Drake Card (of Infinity) perfect damages on every sized monsters Form Based > Hydra Card (Bloody) 15% more damages on a Demi-Human Monster > Peco Peco Egg Card (Beholder) 15% more damages on a Formless Monster > Goblin Card (Clamorous) 15% more damage on brutes monster (animal like) > Scorpion Card (Chemical) 15% more damages on a plant Monster Element / Property Based > Santa Poring Card (Hallowed) 15% more damages on a Dark property Monster > Anacondaq Card (Envenom) 15% more damages on a Poison property Monster > Caramel Card (nsecticide) 15% more damages on a Insect-like Monster > Drainliar Card (Saharic) 15% more damages on a Water property Monster > Mandragora Card (Windy) 15% more damages on a Wind property Monster" > Orc Skel Card (Damned) 15% more damages on a Holy property Monster > Vadon Card (Flammable) 15% more damages on a Fire property Monster Others > Mummy Card (Ancient) Add Accuracy Rate by 20%" > Phreeoni Card Every attack will hit (except for Perfect Dodge) > Doppelganger Card (of Verserk) Faster-Attack all the time > Abyssmall Knight Card 25% more damages on boss monster Note: Additional damage percentage are various in every country. =============================================================================== IX. In Action =============================================================================== To attack monster while you're on a hunt (especially when solo) always use bow, not dagger or even musical instrument. And don't forget to select proper arrow with best fitted element/property, and always consume Concentration Potion to increase your attack speed (Bard / Dancer can't use Awakening Potion).Impress another player with our heavy use of Double Strafe ^_^ . On large hunt party (example: Turtle Island mob hunt party) with large number of melee character (Knight, Assasins, Monk, Crusader or Rogue), concentrate to support wizard (Bard: use your Bragi's Poem, combined with Suffragium from Priest) and priest (Dancer: use Service for You, combined with Magnificant from Priest). If your large hunt party has much priest or wizard, support melee characters with your Bard's Assassin Cross of Sunset while Dancer still use Service for You (but now for melee character, to support their SP consumption while using their offensive skills). Add some critical or HP thingies with Apple of Idun or Fortune Kiss is less recommended. While on defending castle (at War of Emperium), get a good position such as castle tower or entrance corner and create a group of Wizard - Priest - Bard and Dancer to defend the area. Support the area with Bragi's Poem and Service for You, if there's melee character approaching, switch to bow immediately (+7 Double Bloody Arbalest is fine) and attack them with Double Strafe. Another defend tactics is to create anti spell area on entrance, use Loki's Wail so their priest and wizard can't cast any magic skill. On under knight (or another strong melee character)'s attack, cast Eternal Chaos to destroy their defend so our guildsmen can easily attack them. For attacking formation, use your speed and healing items to circlying around enemies with Scream (Dancer) and Frost Joke (Bard), yes our party/guildsmen will'be affected too but their possibility to get stun or froze are smaller than the enemies, use one screen skill area as advantage, hide behind wall or any object so you can spell FrostJoke / Scream safely. This stun/freezing tactics also works for defensive formation. Frost Joke will not affect players with Unfrozen armor, and it's also has less possibility on players with high MDEF. Scream also has less possibility on players with huge VIT. =============================================================================== X. Contact =============================================================================== Email : dikiwinky@yahoo.com idRo (Loki) : Dikiwinky (retired powerhouse hunter), Made in Japan (vending merchant), Sanadamaru (happy bard) =============================================================================== XI. Thanks and Credits =============================================================================== = Thanks to Jath's Bard FAQ, Gigabahamut's Archer FAQ and Ragnafilia.com = Thanks to Gravity for making Ragnarok Online. = Thanks to • S m ü r ƒ • Guild (idRO, Loki server) and all of it's crew. = Thanks to my RO's wife, my ensemble partner and my real girlfriend: ~EuGeNe~ = Thanks to all friends: Ancella, ^FoRd^, Alegretto, SquareRif*, Sasimy = Thanks to www.Gamefaqs.com for posting this guide. = Thanks to all of you for reading this guide. =============================================================================== "In the land of sword and magic, a man with a bow is a king.
                   And I'm proud to be a musical king."
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