Minstrel is the only class I don't have up to 55+...

I'm basically trying to get a poll of what it is like with the current state of the minstrel (whether is faster or shorter than usual) to try to level from 0-65.


I've played almost every class in the game and due to being dissapointed by pvmp and needing a break I want to try to level a minstrel.

Compared to a captain (my most recently leveled alt) which ones levels faster solo. Will I be sitting there running the same old quests and skirmishes wanting to kill myself because of the slowness of the minstrel? I really hope not since I want to have a minstrel to find groups easier than on my hunter/burglar/champion

After level 20 when you get War-speech, I found leveling my Mini to be incredibly fast. Much faster than leveling my Captain I would say.

Combat with a minstrel is crit based. If your skills crit MOB encounters will be over in seconds because minstrel's crit for a ton. If not you have enough sustained DPS to kill a few MOBs with your ballads. If your heavy hitters don't crit it won't take long to kill a MOB. . . just longer.

It's all burst tactical DPS.

For me, levels 1-20 were painful. I used to joke that I had to play the entire Stairway to Heaven to kill one neekerbeeker. ;) 20-35ish were much better -- War-Speech really makes a huge difference. 35-40 were a bit tough, but that's true for all classes, there's basically a universal lull in that area where pretty much everybody has a hard time levelling. 40-47 have been a breeze, especially 45+. Haven't ventured into Moria or hit the 50+ areas yet, so I can't speak to those. It really helps to get your class deeds done -- Unrelenting (which makes your cry crit most of the time) & Battle Hymn (which buffs your ICMR and does big dmg) are real game-changers and make your life much easier and the kills go much faster.

Overall, while a Minstrel levels obviously slower than a dps class (i.e. Hunter, Champ, RK), it's really not that much slower once you get War-Speech and there are obvious advantage that make up for what you lack in speed. Basically, if you can make it through the first 20 levels life gets a lot better....but those first 20 are pretty harsh, you'll do a lot better if you can find a levelling partner.

Personally, I've found leveling the Minstrel easier than leveling the Hunter (despite the dps, the Hunter's lack of survivability makes it a real challenge), but slightly harder than a LM -- but I'm just backwards like that. ;)