Modifications to Eye Gouge? Other defenses pondered?

[Brains]

Here's the deal - I generally dislike classes that can't hide or escape from PK fights because I'm not very aggressive and don't often initiate fights with others. However, that sort of leads to being hidden, elsewhere, or choosing to risk a senseless death because Protective Shield fell before you finished up your last sentence and some zerk happened to be waiting right there for it to happen, et al.

Now, I'm getting hooked on AR again (THANKS A !@#$ing LOT) and am kicking around a few ideas - shockingly, a bard would actually be keen for one of my favorites. The problem is, I have a horrible aversion to warriors (monks, berserkers, etc.) because they are often just sittings ducks unless one wants to train, train, train and constantly run for detects and other things.
Bards may be different in the sense that blindness can be used as one hell of a defensive skill/spell. As long as the aggressor is in PK range, one can protect not only one's self, but also whomever they may have been talking to to a fairly large degree.

Of course, Dav just loves Eye Gouge, and what he loves, can be prone to change. Okay, so it's somewhat cheesy and overpowered as hell against some/most classes, especially since it seems to be oft abused as of late. That said, I'm wondering if there are changes in works to remove it, and if so, what sort of trade-off will be made in exchange for its loss? I'd hate to pour a lot of effort into a character that, as a more-or-less pacifist will most likely be screaming "PK-bait" and have a key 'defense' removed, thus making me wonder why I even bothered to attempt to play a character with less than 100% skills, etc.

In short, changes for bards? Which changes? How soon?

[Davairus]

You realise bards dont have detects, right? Might as well make a ranger if you want something with no detects and hide. They are a durable class AND viable for pk if you choose to go that route. herb+call lightning kills warlords.

No bard changes planned for a while.

[marsd]

hmm, speaking of call lightning, how reliable is it? Besides swarm which only occurs after 36 hours..(or is it 24? been 2 years since I played ranger past 40)

[Brains]

As long as you remember to cast it outside in bad weather (control weather worse as applicable), it is as reliable as any magic spell. It's actually pretty damn good as long as you remember not to tickle Dagnir with it.

Dav:
I've played rangers. They are a solid class. I still have issues with druids having keen sight, as an aside.

[theobserver]

Just so long as you remember to only cast control weather once every tick, call lightning can work well. Nothing like using it to finish off a trash lighning bolt spamming dark knight at 17.

[Clifton]

Baer, Druids are Clerics of Nature... they should know whats going on in the Forest, no? If they can't see it, they should at least sense hidden/camo in forests

[Brains]