Bard Song Adjustments on the Test Server

[Sigfreid]

As a BRD that actually uses Etudes, I must confess this is adjustment disappointing, however that being said Pianissimo does exist so there isn't a real issue, as a career Bard will make it work, just this means the already limited space on the macro sheet is taken up by another line by Pianissimo for each Etude.

Would of been nicer for a Job Ability to turn single target songs into a AOE, making Threnody hit a area of mobs would be useful for keeping a group of mobs slept or making them weak to a element for a party of BLMs to -aga them down, I'll go back to dreaming.

[Annalise]

Etudes should probably get a bit of a boost as well. Boost spells from White Mage cap at +25 Stat. Boost spells also take up their own slot, whereas etudes take up a song slot.

That being said, since you're sacrificing a song slot, etudes should be a bit stronger than a boost spell as far as balance is concerned. Typically, most people don't use them because you're giving up a much greater boost for something minimal. Perhaps even keep the Tier I etudes about the same as boost, and the Tier 2 stronger but decaying.

I could see if Dextrous Etude had a boost, and someone had a 99 Harp and a White Mage with high enhancing magic skill (Using Boost-DEX) in their party perhaps throwing an etude into their mix for capped DDex for critical hits... but as it stands etudes are pretty lackluster and unbalanced.

[Sigfreid]

Etudes should be a bit stronger than a boost spell as far as balance is concerned. Typically, most people don't use them because you're giving up a much greater boost for something minimal.

Swift and Quick Etudes give a huge gain to a COR's Wild Fire and Logical and Spirited are a more beneficial bonus to a WHM nowadays than Ballad.

[Monchat]

Swift and Quick Etudes give a huge gain to a COR's Wild Fire and Logical and Spirited are a more beneficial bonus to a WHM nowadays than Ballad.

actually double march is is even more beneficial to WHM nowadays than ballads. I completly forgot that etude's stats decay over time, if at least they fixed that. As someone mentionned, an etude takes a song slot so if you get an etude you do not get your march. 2xmarch on any melee pretty much doubles its attack speed, a 2xetude will be at best in the 10% damage increase.

...so yeah, for melees, this update will be almost useless: only usefull to bards with daurdabla 99 when melee are capped on attack and accuracy, in which case you do double DEX song to try to break the dDEX tier. Nukers will still use 2x ballads, healers 2x march...

[Annalise]

actually double march is is even more beneficial to WHM nowadays than ballads. I completly forgot that etude's stats decay over time, if at least they fixed that. As someone mentionned, an etude takes a song slot so if you get an etude you do not get your march. 2xmarch on any melee pretty much doubles its attack speed, a 2xetude will be at best in the 10% damage increase.

...so yeah, for melees, this update will be almost useless: only usefull to bards with daurdabla 99 when melee are capped on attack and accuracy, in which case you do double DEX song to try to break the dDEX tier. Nukers will still use 2x ballads, healers 2x march...

DDEX is the only thing I could think of as well. And even then, Etudes are far behind WHM Boost spells which are more potent (and boost spells take up their own slot and don't waste something, similar to how a barspell has its own unique slot and a carol doesn't.)

[VoiceMemo]

OK is it just me or does this not seem like an improvement. Years ago Etudes were AOE, and changed to single target. Yes it's slightly different by AOE around target but that does not seem different enough. Does this mean the initial change was a mistake? Before BRD 2hr was 5 min long, reduced to 3 minutes. Mazuraka used to give hate to all party members it landed on and allowed BRD to tank, which personally I had alot of fun tanking as BRD.

What about massacre elegy? SE said they were giving it to us but we still haven't gotten it. Many other things have priorities over changing etude BACK to AOE as it originally was.

[Dekar]

While I like this update, I sincerely hope that there is more planned for the next update for BRD.

[saevel]

Okipuit,

Would it be possible for the devs to look at removing the weakening over time of the etudes from BRD? That is mainly the reason their simply not ever used. Wouldn't be much of a buff if it goes away rather quickly.

[Reain]

Pianissimo will still make songs single target. The change is that when you use Pianissimo to make the song single target it will now half the casting time of that single target song.

E.g. If you do AoE march the base casting time is 8 seconds. If you Pianmissimo March one person the base casting time will be 4 seconds.

[Okipuit]

Pianissimo will still make songs single target. The change is that when you use Pianissimo to make the song single target it will now half the casting time of that single target song.

E.g. If you do AoE march the base casting time is 8 seconds. If you Pianmissimo March one person the base casting time will be 4 seconds.

Correct. This Pianissimo adjustment is going to be implemented in the test server update planned for Oct. 26th. We are also going to lower the level that you obtain Pianissimo from 45 to 20.

Okipuit,
Would it be possible for the devs to look at removing the weakening over time of the etudes from BRD? That is mainly the reason their simply not ever used. Wouldn't be much of a buff if it goes away rather quickly.

Noted. We'll see if I can get any insight from the development team regarding this mechanic. If we receive an update, we'll be sure to let you know~