I like that csr response though, because they probably don't know the answer, like any of us. The problem is none of it's ever been documented. You have to learn how it works from other players, and you hear all kinds of crazy things. I heard that group buffing takes twice as long, but it doesn't? Do instruments effect the buff, or songs (ie. would nalragon/virtuoso be most efficient)?Some say yes, some say no.Some people claim the lighting effects effect the buffs, other swear they don't.
Now, while leveling, I know the instrument effects the experience you get in a group, so you should always use the best oneyou can. Others claim you should always play the best song you can, too. Maybe this is true when you solo? It seemed to me songs didn't matter for getting experience, while grouped, to encourage people to group and play with lower-level musicians. Maybe there's a couple points difference, and to some, that's all that matters. The "in-thing" now with thepower-leveling musicians on my server is for everybody to play the best song they can, then rejoin the music group. This makes like 15 musicians all playingvarious songs at the same time, all out of synch, as they're thinking they're maximizing their experience. It sure sounds horrible, though. I used to listen to 'em, now I just go to the cantina and play solo to heal myself, figure they must not want my healing exp if they want to hurt my ears. It's pretty ridiculous, because they'll cap out on music experience before healing exp, anyway, but whatever, as I play for myself in the corner.
I wish the devs woulddocument it because there's been confusion since day one (to think I made people wait ten minutes, and then somebody'd get in line because it'd be faster than the supposed 15 or 20-min group buff).
The whole time to buff depending on variables is crazy, because it's too much guesswork. The variables should effect the strength of the buff, and the time should be a constant. Or give the entertainer at least asystemmessage when the buff time is done. Then again, it doesn't make much sense that flourish-spamming a song, and making it sound worse than when the flourishes are spaced nicely, makes for a "better buff." <<shrugs>>
With the new musician special-effects bots, maybe they should toss the flourishing affecting the buffs,and make it so that special effects will be the variable affecting buff-speed.