Balance Changes #4

Disagree with all the minstrel T.T.
I think people just complain about it because it has been a common and popular complaint since ancient times.
The 3 speed classes have their own unique feel.
The Skald obviously has frontloaded damage (aided by AotG) to run better with Midgard melee trains, and can perform well solo.
The Bard has more group utility in their heals (and now root) to play better with the typical Hibernia group setups. More geared toward small-man and more, not so great solo.
The Minstrel has their pet to provide utility in a way other than the healing that the Bard provides. Can also perform very well solo when played right.

Bard & Minstrel both Cure Mez, Skald doesn't.
Skald & Bard have resist songs, Minstrel doesn't.
Skald gets Determination, Minstrel and Bard don't.

For CC:
Bard - gets root, AoE mez, single target mezz, and an instant cast amnesia with 2000 range... Both mez spells have 1500 range.
Skald - gets single target mez and snare, both insta cast... Snare has a range of 1500, mez is 700.
Minstrel - gets stun, AoE mez, and single target Mez pulse... Both mezzes have 1500 range, stun is 700.

Other:
Minstrel - Can get stealth & climb walls. Climb walls is pretty useful but many don't spec much into stealth at all. Especially 8mans or minstrels that zerg. (Already mentioned pet above)
Bard - Heal, Group Heal, Cure Disease, Cure Poison, Weak Resurrection, Base AF Buff, Base Str Buff, Base Con Buff, Base Dex Buff, Spec AF Buff (which all will have as they need to spec Nurture for speed)
Skald - Basically just more melee damage.

All share SoS, and Ameliorating Melodies (if they choose to get this).

In return for their RED CON (Le gasp) pet they have more that they need to manage than the other two classes. The skill ceiling is higher. Skald is arguably easier to play than Bard which is arguably easier to play than Minstrel.
Skald groups are often lead with a Healer out front for CC purposes, while he plays a secondary role their. Fewer keybinds, as they have fewer skills and no pet to manage.
Bards lead the group and manage main CC, then often pull back to do any healing necessary before checking if more CC is needed up front.
Minstrel most often leads groups and focuses on main CC, then needs to manage their own instants (like a bard & skald) to interrupt as necessary, while at the same time keeping track of their pet and what it is doing (if they want to make use of the, le gasp, RED CON and not just have it be a pretty pet accessory). They get no casted heals or cures so they need to be up near the front more with their groupmates to be useful (which means more risk - need to play the distance game constantly).

Well you could argue that playing the distance game and managing a pet are easy as an experienced player. I argue that not everyone is experienced and not everyone has played a speed class before, or a class that leads an 8man out front, or even a pet class even though this game is so old. Some people are/were intimidated by the pressure of the role, others just may not have had any interest in it for a long time but finally decided to try one.
My point is that not EVERY Minstrel is gonna be god-tier at manipulating their pets to cause mayhem like all you whiners make it seem. While on my Healer I've run across horrible Minstrels and Bards. On my BM I've seen plenty of awful Skalds and on my Sorc I've seen plenty of poor play as well. Just as much as I've been owned by some really good play.
If you want 3 identical speed classes across the realms and are okay with killing the class diversity across the realms just come out and say it already because I suspect that is the ONLY thing that would make you all happy at this point.