Thread: What's your favorite instrument?

My "youngest" alt is a minstrel. My main is a hunter, with a guardian, lore-master and burglar also on the list. Sometimes I get tired of running one type and switch to another for awhile. My minstrel is level 24 and I haven't played him much except for crafting, but generally I enjoy the class.

My question is, what is your favorite instrument for soloing? I'm a mediocre player of the "hit 1, 2, 3, then whatever lights up" style. So far I have only basic instruments, lute, theorbo and drum, though one of my other alts can craft instruments. So, in your opinion, what is best? And , in simple terms, what are the major differences in the effect of each one. Other than improved versions of these, is there an instrument I should be working toward getting?

Thanks everyone.

Early on drums are probably the best as they add to Coda damage, they also seem to be the easiest to come by on the AH. The rest add a trivial amount to healing or small amounts to anthem cost reduction, not really worth it compared to the increased ballad damage on drums. My favorite instrument just to play when standing around though is definitely the harp and I wish they would increase the volume a little of the threorbo .

ya at lower lvls drum seems the best for solo play, for group i did the lute, at 75 it dont matter as much what you use but the type of output on the instrument

My lvl60 minstrel has always used drums for soloing because of the increased ballad damage. For healing in groups either the lute (less healing power cost for long fights) or the theorbo (increased healing) are good choices.

Initially I used: Drums for DPS and Theorbo for healing.
Once I got sufficient Lorien rep post-Moria: Cowbell for DPS and Clarinet for healing.
70+: Exquisite Premium Cowbell for DPS and Exquisite Premium whatever-the-hell-I-feel-like of Conservation for 4y/3b healing.

Always use the best crafted you can get.

You might find the thread here useful.

Originally Posted by Binidj

70+: Exquisite Premium Cowbell for DPS and Exquisite Premium whatever-the-hell-I-feel-like of Conservation for 4y/3b healing.

Always use the best crafted you can get.
here useful.

Personally i got annoyed by the sound the cowbell made, just constant donk, donk, donk, donk, yell, yell, donk, donk so i got a premium flute of the battle singer, the stats are off by 1-2% so its not a huge loss

Is mayonnaise an instrument?

Originally Posted by CrimsonGrog

Is mayonnaise an instrument?

Only if you're fighting a ham sandwich.

I always thought the Exquisite Cowbell was an abomination committed against LoTRO. I mean seriously - for an April Fools joke sure - but for mainline minnie WS DPS? Yikes.

I ended up switching to the Exquisite Lute of the Battle Singer because the musical notes play at the same fast cadence as the donk-donk-donk of the cowbell.

I tried the other instruments like the Theorbo, Flute, etc.. but I swear the musical emotes took longer than they did with the Cowbell, and as a result I wasn't triggering my DPS moves as quickly.

As long as they don't give us Marshall amps in the game the point is kinda moot.

Drums otherwise

Originally Posted by Nerglor

Personally i got annoyed by the sound the cowbell made, just constant donk, donk, donk, donk, yell, yell, donk, donk so i got a premium flute of the battle singer, the stats are off by 1-2% so its not a huge loss

I agree, the Lorien one is (I think) a no-brainer but as you rightly point out at 70+ it makes very little difference (I actually don't use one myself, hate the sound as much as you) so I currently run with an Exquisite Premium Lute of the Battle-singer for soloing/DPS, an Exquisite Premium Harp of Conservation for healing, and (as a result of a genius idea elsewhere) Exquisite Premium Bagpipes of Conservation for Fellowships that I join as DPS but which then tell me to heal.

To be honest I'm not that crazy about the lute, I might pop by a Bard at some point and give the other instruments an aesthetic try.

Luckily for me I have a Westfold Woodworker alt.

Just like the elitist gits of lorien to force the cowbell onto dpsers.

Some fights using that thing I almost started to sound like the bbc's cricket theme. Just needed a hammond organ to join in.

Thankfully it's only 10 levels worth of tinky tinky rattle rattle clang before hitting the battle singer drum again. As I posted elsewhere I've a set of bagpipes for those groups I join as dps yet decide to change me to heals.

So the consensus appears to be that drums are best dps for solo at my level. And drums, getting better ones as I'm able to use them, continue to be good unless I need to concentrate on healing. Anyone disagree?

Thanks, everyone, for the responses.

Originally Posted by CrimsonGrog

Is mayonnaise an instrument?

No Patrick, mayonnaise is not an instrument. +1

And if you are soloing, drums drums drums, for reasons listed in previous posts.

I've been using the flute from the beginning. It fit with my minstrel's rp backstory, and I've gotten kind of attached to the sound. The difference in stats and effects isn't really all that great on any level instrument, and I'd rather have something that fits my idea of the character I'm playing and sounds good to my ears than anything else. Fortunately, the instrument versions at level cap allow you to play any instrument you like without people picking on you for non-perfect instruments. Not that I've ever given in to the "but you should use a clarinet for healing" people, but it's easier without that nagging (and they don't even notice if I forget to switch out my battlesinger flute for Orthanc T2 ).

Originally Posted by Jeb682

So the consensus appears to be that drums are best dps for solo at my level. And drums, getting better ones as I'm able to use them, continue to be good unless I need to concentrate on healing. Anyone disagree?

If you join a fellowship at all whilst levelling (and I'd recommend it whenever you can) you'll probably be expected to heal; so it's always handy to have (at your level) a Theorbo in your bags to swap-in to (a) reassure your fellowship (PR is king) and (b) give you a little bit of a boost to your abilities.

But always remember that this is your game; you play to enjoy yourself not to pander to what anyone else thinks you "should" be doing. If you have a preference for one particular instrument then use that.

The only instrument, low level, that I haven't tried is the flute. But talk about true to character, a flute just doesn't seem to fit my minstrel dwarf! But I may have my alt craft one to try. Those of you who are purists to role playing, please hide your eyes when my flute playing dwarf is near!

I added an instruments post to my 'Loot by Type' thread here. It's listed in alphabetical order by level and does not list stats specifically; however, you can mouseover the icons and see the lorebook tooltips. Hope it helps.

Harl

Personally being at level 75 I despise the clarinet and drum/cowbell simply because you were forced to use them coming up. So as you are leveling, drums/cowbell for dps, and clarinet/theobro for healing is the best way to go. At level 70 you get multi-output recipes and life is great. I personally love the harp, and think it's awesome to run around soloing baddies with a harp. Also I have a horn for dps as well. For healing I have harp and a flute.

Although this is what I use it is not the Best instrument you can have. See my post from a few months ago below.


I'm still waiting for the one instrument to rule them all.

This instrument when in War Speech adds to all skills 20 meter AOE 10 second stun + Guaranteed Devastate Critical hit.

When you walk into the room you don't have to use fear, your enemies will flee from your presence. All enemies are debuffed (+30% attack duration +50% miss chance -25% max morale -70% power +40% run speed (To escape)). Once you start the enemies are powerless to stop you.

On the downside if you try to heal your allies while in War Speech using this instrument they will cower in fear -5% morale and + 8 dread (Per healing skill used).

This instrument is not usable in Harmony stance.

In Melody you will have +25% outgoing healing -19% power cost, and all skills become instant cast. Your allies automatically gain +5 hope and +12% morale. The downside is that if you use any damage based skill you will heal your enemies for +25% morale and they will instantly flock to hear you play, enemies buffed +5% max morale +30% power +5,000 love for minstrel.

What is this all powerful tool that only the best of minstrels (or worst, not sure which) can wield? That can be wielded for such powerful destruction and such beautiful edification?

Only one instrument can be so powerfully wielded.





The Violin

Originally Posted by JaceGaiter

This instrument is not usable in Harmony stance.

If this happens and I can't play the Violin when Harmony healing I will find out where you live and play the Pibgorn outside your bedroom window every night for a year.

Might throw some bagpipes or cowbells into the mix too, just to spice things up.

I use excuisite premium lute for healing and the theorbo of the battle singer for solo. I love the stance when playing the theorbo, really leaning back and playing power chords.

My advice, don´t give a damn abu the stats, play them all!

I switch through all of them, depending which one I want to hear right now.

Originally Posted by Traur

I use excuisite premium lute for healing and the theorbo of the battle singer for solo. I love the stance when playing the theorbo, really leaning back and playing power chords.

Haha same here, in the Ettenmoors I use my Les Paul theorbo, and for heals I use a lute.

I use healing pibgorn or my dps flute i like the flute cuz its nice and quiet :P

For solo until L40, best are drums. Also, their sound is quite bass, neutral and bearable. The first L70 recipe I got was the clarinet, so I crafted myself a clarinet for solo dps. Soon I hated it: for a little while it was OK, but a few hours of killing with clarinet was unbearable. The best stats are in the "standard" L70 cowbell. Soundwise, it is just OK for me, but worse than the dums.

For healing I always loved the sound of the Theorbo (the best pre-RoI). Now I use either the standard L70 clarinet, which for me has the best stats (its sound is better for healing than dps, but I still don't like much) or a Theorbo of Conservation (that I keep loving, but with less appealing stats for me).

For music, I prefer lute, then harp and for a few songs (e.g. smoke on the water), the theorbo rules.

I've always thought the Harp had faster animations. It is all superstition though.

Originally Posted by Moneydie

Just like the elitist gits of lorien to force the cowbell onto dpsers.

Some fights using that thing I almost started to sound like the bbc's cricket theme. Just needed a hammond organ to join in.

Thankfully it's only 10 levels worth of tinky tinky rattle rattle clang before hitting the battle singer drum again.

This one go plunk.

LOL. I've got a drum for DPS and a selection of theorbos for healing - I tend to use the -power and -threat ones so I can spam my codas and BC (yep, spot the n00b minnie). I'm also a fan of harmony so the one with +healing AND +DPS is fun.

We might have to set up a BBC Test Match Special theme minnie band (the song, for you non-cricket lovers, is Soul Limbo by Booker T and the MGs). Cowbell, moor cowbell and pibgorn. Epic.