String Instrument testing + Lamia Harp "hidden" effect testing

[Antithesis]

So I decided to put this "hidden" effect of the Lamia Harp to the test. The myth is that the Harp has a larger range than other String Instruments. So I decided to try this out.

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/4...5224923rw6.png

This is my current String + Singing skill. Testing was done using the song Mage's Ballad I. The normal String Instrument of choice for testing before trying out Lamia Harp testing was Nursemaid's Harp.

Test show

Nursemaid's Harp:

Tested by singing Ballad after every "tier" (15" Yalms 16" Yalms, etc) Until I reached 20" Yalms. Now the Wiki stats that String Instrument Range is 20" but with Nursemaid's Harp this is what I got. When I reached 20" Yalms it didn't hit the target so I decided to go by the decimal value after that. I started at 19.5" Yalms and it still hit. From there I progressed. This is what I got:

19.5" Still hitting target.
19.6" Still hitting target.
19.7" Still hitting target.
19.8" Still hitting target.
19.9" Still hitting target.
20" Does not hit the target.

So with my current skill combination, Ballad I capped out at 19.9" Yalms. So then I decided to use Lamia Harp at 20" Yalms to see if it would hit the target and prove that it indeed had a hidden of effect of longer a range.

However sadly, the test proved inconclusive. At 20" Yalms, Lamia Harp did not hit the target with Ballad I. So for right now I am convinced this doesn't effect song range. Makes me a sad panda but oh well. I just wish I knew what and if this dam instrument had a hidden effect.

[zard1977]

Get moar buffer.

Thanks for testing though.

[Linktri]

Did you try it on an enemy target?

[Jingseng]

question... did you try this in a perfectly flat environment (eg, in town... making sure it's a flat part of town)...

Occasionally, ranges get wonky when the ground is uneven... I've been able to cast, on occasion, outside of the 21.x range (up near to 23)... and in some cases less, due to hills and crap

[Antithesis]

Yes it was a flat area. Just outside of the MH in Whitegate. No havent tested it on an enemy target. My current skill combined only allowed Ballad I to reach 19.9" Yalms so Im not sure, maybe Ballad I caps @ 20" Yalms while other songs go farther.

[Maxxthepenguin]

It's been tested false before

[Callisto]

holy christ it's like the Chris Farley Chippendale's skit

[Duber]

Thanks for testing, +1 inventory for you. I didn't really care about this harp anyway

[Shalafi]

Just like to mention that as a SMN I have noticed that I can command my Avatar at different distances depending on the target.
i.e.
Sarameya = ~21.8
Odin = ~20.4

The point is that I had always thought it was a fixed distance that a SMN could command his pet, but as my recent tests with various HNM this does not seem to be the case.

But, when you target something the system picks up the exact middle of the mob. but the ACTUAL attack distance will vary depending on the size of the mob. Sarameya being wider than Odin allows for commands from a further distance.

I would think that the same is true for BRD songs.

[kareface]

I've noticed this as well. Some targets you can cast on from farther away. When pulling in thickets, you can elegy the dragons from further then normal.

[Antithesis]

It's been tested false before

I didn't know it had been tested so I just decided to try it out.

[Asmoranomar]

Wow....this was proven false like...ages ago...

I'm usually the one debunking dumb or unproven rumors on Alla, but its kinda suprising to see it creep up on BG.

According to lore (or, i was there and it made me lol), the lamia harp 'range' theory was fabicated to increase the price and sale rate of the harp. Anyone who was trying to pawn one of would find a fellow bard looking to be ripped off and partake in an elaborate hoax in its 'range increasing properties'. The con would equip any stringed instrument and would play Ballad II, making note that the range wasn't quite far enough to hit a player a significant distance away. Then the con would equip the lamia harp and play Ballad I and 'Volia!' - people up to 20' could be hit with it.

Now - While I'm an avid user of string instruments, most of the playerbase is lolstring. Apparently increased range wasn't all that, and the demonstrations failed to entice buyers. Unfortunately, the rumors of its 'range extending properties' became somewhat of a myth and got passed around as lore.

So what was the con? If you noticed (and I made it very obvious, so you should have), the same song was never used. The range property of string instruments is based on the level of the song and the amount of string skill the person has. The lamia harp doesn't increase range, the con just used a lower level song that has a naturally larger range for lvl 75 BRDs.

I'm gloating a bit, but I've done much reasearch on this and its all on the otherwiki under 'String Insturment Skill' - go me.

Yes...i know how i sound...it was intentional, when your used to explaining this 20 times a day on alla, you kinda get into a routine.

Edit: oh, and about the range thing - everything that says a range of, for exampe, '20' actually mean ENDS at '20'. It was just easier doing it that way, rather than saying 19.9, 15.9, 14.9, 10.9, etc etc

[Antithesis]

I said before I didn't know that it was a false / proven wrong thing already.

[Asmoranomar]

I know, I just figured you'd might want to know/appreciate a bit of history behind this. The fact that you actually tried to determine something that took a few mins to test places you above the rest. Half the time I read about shit someone just makes up and throws it out there as fact, when it takes no time at all to test it.

Yeah...we get alot of that on alla.

[Max™]

Tested this at Kirin with a Brd friend once, found the same thing.

You can hit someone with A BALLAD, at that range, but not the same Ballad.