I really really like the archer, but I don't want to be support

Hello, I am new to FFXIV and as such, I need someone to tell me why I should stick to playing an archer as opposed to another class.

Basically, I am really demotivated to continue leveling up my archer because when I look at end-game content (especially how it is described in the forums), it is clear that I will be focusing on singing rather than dps.

The thing is, I don't like to sing. I like to dps. I want to be brought in to a group because I am good at damaging the boss, not because my voice helps healers heal more often.

So, I started to level pugilist and gladiator to level 7, but, even though I enjoy the fact that I will be brought to groups for only my dps, I don't enjoy their playstyle.

Can someone relate a little bit to how I am feeling? Or am I the only one who feels that making the Bard as the only "job" for an archer is kind of forcing all archers to be support rather than let's say... giving archers two jobs - pure dps (higher dps output) vs. dps/support.

Try BLM or SMN. They are both ranged and have little to no support.

The great beauty of FFXIV is you can switch between any class. I agree that some content once you hit level 50 is a little tied to certain roles rather than allowing a player to concentrate upon what they prefer. However this is not all the content.

To make it far in FFXIV you need to progress all of the available classes to some extent - gaining valuable cross class abilities. I'd not focus upon what happens end-game until you actually reach end-game - the journey is more enjoyable if you look around at the scenery rather than at the destination.

Once you hit 50 on your main classes and jobs you may find that your outlook has changed totally.

BTW - Gladiator is not DPS, they are a tank so if you are expecting to DPS at a Gladiator you may be in for a shock. Try giving the Lancer a go instead of you wish DPS as Gladiator is a whole different play style.

Bard is primarily a DPS, with support options. It should be noted that singing doesn't keep you from attacking (It's a status you apply to yourself that buffs people nearby, though some songs do lower your DPS a little as a cost), and you can't sing full time due to MP costs. Give it a shot, it's not full blown support like a healer. Also, there's way more to the game than being top DPS on the parser. Having your group actually SUCCEED at their objective is kind of more important in my opinion.

With the next expansion, Ranger is likely to be the DPS Job specialization of Archer. This is only educated speculation. There has been no confirmation by developers on which jobs will make it into the game. The only thing we know for sure is that Yoshii said new Jobs will come with the first expansion, that he feels he has to include the Musketeer class because it already sort of exists, and that some type of 'scout' class such as Thief and/or Ninja will also likely be included since he feels the game is lacking in that way.

singing a song that only takes 3s of your time once or twice in a big fight is too much for you? a good smn or blm that uses eye for an eye/virus in the same fight has probably more support time than a brd

As someone who plays a bard. I actually do alot of damage, I am indeed largely DPS. I also tho can buff with my songs. I am not suppot focused, THo I don't understand why my limit break is a healing and not some giant arrow of doom.

Besides. Archer/Bard are considered a bit easy because I can basically run circles around an enemy and just fill them full of arrows while the other ranged DPSers, aka the Summoner/Black Mage require to stand there and charge up.

Your not limited. Archers/Bards are brought in BECAUSE they are damned good at damage, its just the Singing is a plus that alot of players love to take advantage of. ..At least thats what I think anyway. I'll admit to being wrong. I'm still learning the game myself somewhat.

Bard is an exceptionally good Damage Dealer job, with very good damage and a potential 100% uptime on their target (meaning, if you're good enough, you never have to stop attacking a target, even when most other jobs might be forced to stop attacking, such as when needing to dodge an AoE). Their "support" status only really comes into play with Mage's Ballad and Army's Paeon, which slightly reduce your damage output in order to improve nearby ally's MP and TP regeneration (respectively). These songs have a roughly 3 second cast time, after which you are free to return to dealing damage as the buff persists so long as you have the MP to sustain it. They also lack a damage-dealing Limit Break, but I can confidently say that having a Bard around to use the Rank 3 Limit Break: Pulse of Life has saved an otherwise unsuccessful boss attempt more than once.

If you try out Bard and still dislike it, the Musketeer is a class that will be released in the near future. Given that it focuses on the use of guns, it's fairly safe to say it will also be a ranged damage-dealing class like the Archer, and may better appeal to your tastes (though what job[s] will be attached to the Musketeer is still the subject of a lot of friendly debate).

bard is more dps then support ;/ yeah u have support based songs but rarely really need to use them, since the songs reduce ur damage most parties prefer u not using alot ;/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mohamed

The thing is, I don't like to sing.

---

You don't have to sing in real life as well ;)

Thanks guys.

Also not sure why people say bard is lowest dps. Just take fates for instance, I can tag and kill several enemies while other classes maybe only a few. Also you can always remain Archer, just remove the soul crystal when you get the bard job

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Maero

Also not sure why people say bard is lowest dps. Just take fates for instance, I can tag and kill several enemies while other classes maybe only a few. Also you can always remain Archer, just remove the soul crystal when you get the bard job

---

I see what you mean, but I don't think it's the correct way for me to approach this. Since Bard at level 50 is = to Archer at level 50 + Extra abilities I would just be less useful than a Bard since Bard has all the same skills as an archer. However, if sometime in the near future, Archers obtain a pure dps job then that would make sense - remove Bard crystal, insert DPS crystal and you become pure dps archer instead of dps/support.

But I've already made my mind that I will stick to playing Archer since I enjoy playing it. From what I've read on page 1 of this thread, there seems to be talks about bringing in a pure dps job for the archer so I can hope.

I agree with your points. I have a char in Phoenix with all classes worked so thought I would go back as blm again but fact is I really am enjoying archer/bard too much. I just moving all over while still attacking, like others said pretty much always up time to attack with bard

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Maero

I agree with your points. I have a char in Phoenix with all classes worked so thought I would go back as blm again but fact is I really am enjoying archer/bard too much. I just moving all over while still attacking, like others said pretty much always up time to attack with bard

---

same i nvr stand still lmao i like to run everywhere while killin bosses.. sometimes i run right into aoes tho ;/ but moving while attacking is prolly the best advantage for bard espiecally in pvp arena xD

People on these forums love crying "BARD IS SUPPORT" but seriously, its like... having ballad makes it suddenly not a DPS class? Bard is a fine and great DPS. It has about as much utility and support focus as any DPS class in WoW. You spend most of your time DPSing on Bard, and occasionally, if the healers run out of MP, you turn on ballad for a while. And Bard is completely competitive DPS, and very much desired - its common for parties to want multiple bards, just because they're the most mobile and versatile DPS.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mohamed

However, if sometime in the near future, Archers obtain a pure dps job then that would make sense - remove Bard crystal, insert DPS crystal and you become pure dps archer instead of dps/support.

But I've already made my mind that I will stick to playing Archer since I enjoy playing it.

---

If you have ever played final fantasy tactics, you'll know that the number of classes we have now, is only a small fraction of what there is yet to come. So leveling him up now as an archer is the correct choice. In the future, if there is indeed a pure dps archer class, which I'm more then sure there will be, you've atleast got a great head start.

Just like Final fantasy tactics, when u get tired of one class, you can just easily switch to another.

For what it's worth, you don't have to use songs all the time. Ballad is used typically when your WHM is low on MP, and you may want to use Requiem if you're loaded heavy with BLMs/SMNs in your group. When you're not singing, Bard puts up some respectable DPS numbers.