Archer & Bard Kiting/Group Roles

Do Archers and Bards kite mobs often? Also, what is a Bard's role in groups...just DPS?

Thanks!

Bards have songs that buffs the group and debuffs mobs.

No, in a group you don't kite. If you aggro mobs, you let the tank know and stay near him so he can get aggro back. Kiting only brings disorder to the group as tank classes have to be a certain close distance from the mobs to use skills.

You shouldn't kite.
If you agro a mob, then stand near the tank and STOP ATTACKING IT.
Fighting for agro is a pain in the arse. Switch targets to something that you have low enmity with so that the tank can pull agro off.

This is how this works. The tank is there to control the fight by mitigating damage to those who would otherwise not be able to in THAT SPECIFIC SITUATION. How tanks by and large do this is by holding the attention of the mob(ie Agro, short for aggressive attention) so that they can control direct attacks and also skilled shots or area of effects attacks from hitting and crippling the party and or raid. THIS DOES NOT SOLELY MEAN TANK MUST STAND, HAVE ALL AGRO, DPS, ATTACK WITH MAIN ROTATION, HEALERS HEAL TANK, WIN. I utterly detest anyone who thinks that is all there is to it, because what is the point. There literally is none, being able to follow that specific technique does in no way shape or form test or create a challenge. That simply is the foundation for how mmorpg's work for scenarios and engagements in general.

Now how it differs is the fact that things happen(Random Number Generator) that will throw surprises into the fight, and make you have to think around the situation. For example an Add(additional monster that joins the fight to assist the main target and/or Boss) spawns abruptly, no pre-determined timing, just being random, and has an ability that takes 4 seconds to cast, casts it randomly, if cast it targets a party/raid member and instantly kills them. The tank just doesn't take the mob, you can designate another member(based on whether the Add does heavy physical/magical damage, attacks quickly or slowly, and whatever other mechanics in the mix) to control the mob in whatever fashion is most efficient(timed stunning, timed interupting, slowed kite, incapacitation, etc) that way in case the Tank has to keep agro on other targets, mind positioning for crucial time frames, or any other thing that would overwhelm the tanks ability to MITIGATE damage, he is capable to do so.

I could go on in length of what I mean, but I will summarize it for you. Tanks stop sucking, if you are *Performing* your role well in whatever scenario you are in, 9 times out of 10 you won't be losing agro or having to have a character stop their damage output to get things back under control, specifically because most fights are curtailed under time, either by resources or by specific mechanics of that fight. Please stop assuming automatically that the dps needs to move to the tank, stand still and tab out to check their twitter while they wait for you to get agro again, then tab back in to focus the main target of the time.

I find it SO MUCH MORE FUN when things are chaotic as a tank, or any other role, when it's not the same damned rotation or fight being repeated. When you have to actually think, and when you do you feel so much more rewarded. Though I think it would behoove it all if they didn't fix the way rewards were given for said accomplishments....even WoW has the gearing system totally off, including their heroic mode system....they and everyone else sadly it seems, are bent on making money before creating truly engaging and awesome content.

Everything I have said applies to casuals and hardcores alike, and I really don't see any logic besides selfish ignorance against what I have said. Stating that now as I won't be coming back to this post. Yes there are dps who do not pay attention and focus the wrong target, time their actions incorrectly, yes. A lot of times though, the tank wasn't in total control, and in my opinion, tanks should be the leader and the person commanding.

how long before this stupid ass 1000 character count is increased, because it's becoming the pile that's overwhelming my ability to want to play this game.

One thing though, you can use your bind if a mob breaks loose and goes after your healer. That way the healer can move away without getting interrupted on his heals.

archer can pop a skill that reduce enmity on each hit.

normally if mobs/boss come after me i pop bind followed by quelling shot think the later skill reduces agro on mob/boss so easier for tank to grab agro