Minstrel Guide

(I did not expect that my post on the other thread would get so long so I just post it in an extra thread. Guide is prolly not complete so if you have anything to add feel free to post)

General explanation how to play minstrel:
Fullgroup:
Your job is to annoy your enemies group as much as possible. So it doesnt really matter how much damage you do. You use your dds, flute mezz, confusion to rupt/mezz people. Your stun to break peoples abilities and shut them down for few seconds. (Maybe tickle a purge out of them) In close combat you kill snare your enemy get away and run to next enemy. Your pet is to break your cc, rupt enemies and try to let the enemies waste time on (trying) killing it. If you can manage dd assist on debuffed target. You have to demezz too.
Smallman:
Your job is almost the same as in a fullgroup but based on your setup you prolly have to concentrate more to mezz people with flute mezz in case your Sorc can't get it out or you dont have sorc. You are not doing that much damage but you have less targets to rupt so maybe spare your dds and wait for a low target to dd it down before the enemy heals it. You have to demezz too.
Solo:
Pussy mode:
Be on distance 700 range distance, dd your enemy, send your pet on enemy, wait till dds up again do 180° dd and do another 190° to run away again. Repeat till enemy is down. If enemy gets too close use your stun to get on distance. If he purges try to snare it, if you cant get your snare out sos. If you need health mezz the enemy, pet on passive and play health regen.
Fair mode:
Mezz pets if available. Go in close melee hit the enemy first and then let your pet attack so that you hit the bubble and your pet strikes the enemy with full damage.
Try to use your style abilities as good as you can. For example try to use 39 thrust side-stlye to haste debuff your enemy. In close combat just dd and anytime your enemy, side-strafe to get better abilities out. If you see you are at low health snare you enemy get on distance and let your pet fight and get back into fight when you enemy is at low hp. The other way is to mezz him, pet passive and health regen song.
Stun your enemy at the beginning of the fight and hope that he purges, then fight for a little bit snare him and mezz him. Then wait till he gets out of mezz and reapply stun which he can't purge anymore.
Additionally you can get out of combat with the mezz or the snare to use First Aid after 10 seconds.

Which Race?
Highlander (with 80 base con) has 94 more HP than a saracen (with 60 base con) with level 50 and more strength and has 5% cold resistance which is good against mids. (STR 70, CON 70, DEX 50, QUICK 50, rest 60)
Saracen has more dex so your demezz cast is a little bit faster and you have +5% heat resistance which is good against hibs. (STR 50, CON 50, DEX 80, rest 60)
Briton is average so if you can't decide chose that race. (all stats 60)
Damagewise there is no big difference between those races. If you play good it won't matter.

Starting Stats
As a minstrel you don't do much damage with your melee styles so it worths more to add points in your defensive stats. Slash damage is 100% Strength and Thrust damage is 50% Dexterity and 50% Strength

• Strength - More damage on Slash and Thrust
  
• Dexterity - Faster Demezz and more damage on Thrust
  
• Charisma - More shout damage
  
• Quickness - Faster swings for snare mainly
  
• Constitution - 4.6HP (?) per Constitution point
  

Highlander - 10 Dex, 10 Quick, 10 Con | 10 Dex, 10 Quick, 10 Char | 10 Dex, 10 Con, 10 Char
Saracen - 10 Dex, 10 Quick, 10 Con | 10 Str, 10 Dex, 10 Con | 10 Str, 10 Con, 10 Char
These are just examples so decide for yourself what fits best for your playstyle.

Slash
Slash styles:

• Side Slicer (21 Side-Style) - 0 to hit bonus, 60% slow for 12 seconds. Good to get out as a sidestyle
  
• Amethyst Slash (29 Anytimer) - 20 to hit bonus and good damage. This is your main dmg style
  
• Back Slash (39 Back-Style) - 15 to hit bonus and more damage than Amethyst Slash
  
• Diamond Slash (50 Follow-up Anytimer) - 20 to hit bonus and best damage

Slash specs:

• 50 Instrument - 30 Slash - 33 Stealth : High stealth for stealth groups or as solo to run away and go into stealth and get away
  
• 50 Instrument - 37 Slash - 25 Stealth : Better weaponskill and you can still climb. So best for keep taking but you lack more stealth
  
• 50 Instrument - 39 Slash - 21 Stealth : Good backstyle dmg but you can't climb
  
• 44 Instrument - 50 Slash - 8 Stealth : Really good follow up style after Amethyst Slash but you miss red pom song, highest alba which is really important and your level 50 instant dd. No stealth at all

Thrust
Thrust styles:

• Sting (8 Anytimer) - -15 Defense bonus and not 10 hit bonus only but about the same damage as Amethyst Slash
  
• Beartooth (15 After Block) - 6 second style stun. Even if your blockrate is low it is good to get it out on det classes if possible
  
• Tranquillize (18 Anytimer) - 0 to hit bonus and really low damage
  
• Pierce (29 Back-Style) - 15 to hit bonus less damage than Basiliskfang and 6 damage bleed for 35 seconds (!)
  
• Basiliskfang (39 Side-Style) - 5 to hit bonus good damage and a 34% 20 seconds long haste debuff
  
• Wyvernfang (44 Follow-up Anytimer) - 10 to hit bonus good damage and a 60% 27 seconds long snare

Thrust specs:

• 50 Instrument - 44 Thrust - 8 Stealth : Prolly only viable thrust spec for a minstrel. You need the snare on a minstrel most likely. 44 thrust gives you a lot of utility because you have 27 second snare which is badass. You have the 39 Side-Style which is easily to get out and which debuffs your enemys haste for 34%. The after block is rarely to get out but if you do so it rocks. Problem with that spec is that your anytimer sting sucks and your anytimer tranquillize has low hit bonus to get the snare out.
  
• Every spec below 44 thrust will be worse than slash spec in my opinion.

Basic Information:

• If you are mezzed, rooted or ichored don't release pet immediately. Tell your pet PASSIVE & HERE to get close to you and then release it. It will break your CC.
  
• If you snare your enemy don't hit it with anything because it breaks your snare. You can use confusion still without breaking it.
  
• Your stun shout will last for 0.5 seconds on a det tank so don't stun det tanks.
  
• If you released/lost your pet it will deal less damage for few seconds.
  
• Playing speed while SOS is running will break your SOS.
  
• If you use bleeding styles your enemy won't be able to get snare/root for that duration. That's why I didn't list any bleedstyles.
  
• Your Ablative-Song stacks with ablative buff
  
• Don't overextend too much. You will either die or you will be too far away to demezz your friends or use SOS for them
  

Realm Abilities:

• Long Wind (Basic)
  
• Tireless (Basic)
  
• Purge (Basic)
  
• Speed of Sound (Basic)
  
• Ignore Pain (Good to have almost basic)
  
• Mastery of Concentration (Really nice to have to demezz)
  
• Ameliorating Melodies (Good to heal group if everyone is damaged)
  
• Avoidance of Magic (Nice to have)
  
• The Empty Mind (45 seconds increased resistances to all magical damage)
  
• Mastery of Focus (If you have points left)
  
• Wild Power (Set to 1 to have 3% crit chance on dds. You can go higher if you want to)
  
• Wild Minion (Stronger pet, prolly good for solo)
  
• Frist Aid (To get extra heal power for less points on lower reuse timer when out of combat)
  

There are a lot of abilities so if you got the basics it is most likely based on your playstyle.


Pet recommendation:
First it is to say that every pet is equal besides specials like casts, styles and weapon. Following table will give you quick overview.



The pet hit a level 50 cleric with 635 AF. (no AF Buff)
Albion:

Cyraeth - 49-51(Lifeleech proc)

Ellyl Guard - 49-51 (One-Hand & Two-Hand, can style)

Padfoot - 51-55

Ellyl Champion - 52 - 55 (Two-Hand)

Ellyl Sage - 51-55 (Can cast a fire bolt without a break and heals you for 250 if you drop below 50% HP)

Hoary Worm - 51-55

Piper Fairy - 51-56

Barguest - 56-58

Midgard:

Fylgja - 49-51

Enhorning - 49-52

Mature Wyvern - 54-57

Frost Stallion - 51-55 (Can proc if it strikes an enemy)

Fore Lich - 56-60

Hibernia:

Granny - 48-51

Dullahan - 50 - 55 (Two-Hand)

Gan Ceanac - 51-54 (Can style)

Far Darocha - 51-55 (can mezz your enemy)

Cruiach Demon - 55-57

Levian-al - 54-57

Mindworm - 55 - 60

Levian - 60-62 (heat resistant, weak to cold)

Finliath - 57 - 62 (cold resistant, weak to heat)

Ellan Vannin:

Mature Wyvern - 53-57

Vannin Earth Elemental - 54-57

Giant Vannin Fly - 53-57

Animus Giant - 53-65+

Charm resist table:

RR4/RR5:

58: 50%

59: 60%

60: 80%

61: 100%/90%

62: 100%

RR6/RR7:

59: 50%

60: 60%

61: 80%

62: 100%/90%

63: 100%

RR8/RR9:

60: 50%

61: 60%

62: 80%

63: 100%/90%

64: 100%

RR10/RR11:

61: 50%

62: 60%

63: 80%

64: 100%/90%

65: 100%

Armor resist table: