This Bard stacking thing needs to be dealt with

[NeonC]

On thing I have learned from playing games competitively is to embrace a characters simplicity if it produces results. If you prefer to play a more complex class with more options you have to accept the likely possibility of failing to keep up with more stable characters but are far more rewarding when they succeed.

[Ascensi]

I really can't understand why it is so hard for people to wrap their heads around this. Currently 2x bard setup is best, because their dps, and songs.

Yes. bards do less dps than the other dps classes. IN OPTIMAL SETTINGS WHERE MOVEMENT IS NOT AN ISSUE MNK/DRG/BLM/SMN will all have higher dps. Once you get into Mobility, that is when Bard takes off. BLM and SMN cannot keep casting while trying to avoid mechanics, so their dps is significantly reduced. DRG and Mnk pull lower dps because of the same reason although their abilities are instant. People are complaining because Bard's mobility and utility, followed by high dps makes them an extremely versatile and much needed class, over most others.

The only reason why most raid comps take monk is because of their low cooldown Silence. Other than that, Monks wouldn't be needed. I have a monk at 45 at the moment and a warrior at 50, and both classes are subpar when it comes to endgame.

[Alexander_Dragonfang]

The solution is simple.

Bards should be turned into Support Roles, not DPS ones, they have to nerf their DPS while giving them better songs that actually increase the DPS of other classes. That way you also get rid of one DPS class and make the DF easier for everyone else.

Also songs should be modified to give less MP/TP but to increase also other stats, that way you stop the endless pool of MP for parties, which is straight down gamebreaking.

[PenutButter]

Maybe its not that people are Bard stacking but the fact that 80% of the population are Bards. Then again, that fact is probably also a cause for alarm that something is going on with Bards. For the love of god, stop rolling Bards. I know its tempting to roll an easy mode class but at least roll BLM. Too many god damn bards.

I've been hearing complaints about Bards, SMN, and SCH being imbalanced. Its probably due to the fact that these classes have not been tested enough before release. Arcanist is a new class and Bards were originally a support DPS (an idea that I loved) but since players were complaining that they do not have their easy mode ranged DPS class, Bards were quickly and recently changed to pure DPS.

[PenutButter]

/snip

How are you doing Monk endgame with as a 45 Monk? I can say from experience that Monks are the king of DPS at level 45 (except against SMN but that's another issue). I do see merits in your other points but since I have not done Coil and AK, I'll have to see for myself.

[Imoye]

Maybe its not that people are Bard stacking but the fact that 80% of the population are Bards. Then again, that fact is probably also a cause for alarm that something is going on with Bards. For the love of god, stop rolling Bards. I know its tempting to roll an easy mode class but at least roll BLM. Too many god damn bards.

I've been hearing complaints about Bards, SMN, and SCH being imbalanced. Its probably due to the fact that these classes have not been tested enough before release. Arcanist is a new class and Bards were originally a support DPS (an idea that I loved) but since players were complaining that they do not have their easy mode ranged DPS class, Bards were quickly and recently changed to pure DPS.

SE should be inspired by bard in Rift. Amazing spec (not a class, since rogues turn into bards through talents). You sing songs to keep buffs active (it's a rotation) you also have various healing/DPS spells along with 1 or 2 party cooldowns.

[PenutButter]

I must admit is is funny when someone who has yet to clear the top content says that the top guilds are "doing it wrong"

You know, since RathSkybreaker has every job at level 50, I think he knows more about how the jobs work than you (unless you have every job at 50 too, can't see your profile); and judging from what he said, he has done Coil as well. Not saying what you said can't be true, I'm sure the dps charts will change once mechanics get into the picture. However, I know for a fact through many many trials that a Monk who does his job right will easily beat a Bard in a tank and spank situation.

[Sajittarius]

this thread is funny... People complaining about 2xBRD parties should've been in 1.0 when it was 6xBLM parties all day ... I knew several people whose LS forced them to level BLM for end game stuff.

That being said, would be nice to see them add Ranger job and give it solid DPS (but no ballad/paeon etc), and give bard a bunch more songs (with less DPS). Then you would see 90% of the bards become rangers. Problem solved.

[Snowaeth]

I'd like to mention a little thing where people were saying that SMN can't burst a short duration fight, because their setup is too long.
SMN if prepared, does not need to use feast. (Yes feast is better, but if you need burst faster you use: Bio(or RuinII), Energy Drain, Aero(or RuinII), Energy Drain, RuinII, Energy Drain, RuinII.
This is the simplest 6-8 second rotation for burst dmg where Energy Drain is a 150potency off GC and RuinII an instant 80 potency spell on GC, allowing you to do all of this on the move.
If you had pre-stacked Aetherflow, you can do two of these rotations in a row.

This is 3x or 6x 230 potency hits (or more if you do the dots) on global cooldown, while on the move, with a stronger weapon than bards have.
And this does not calculate pet dmg, which can be double buffed for 80% pet dmg increase, virus, spreading of dots if target was near pre-dotted enemy, possible shadow flare that was already there and the big pet nuke.

[Trihuuger]

SMN is right up with bard in movement fights. Ahead if bard has to sing. W/o relic weaponry my 4 DoTs tick for 360 damage, plus pet nukes for 150 every however long that keep going while I run.