Archer/New Player Advice

[sinfull]

Once you unlock quelling strike it will become your best friend I always use this ability before I use barrage and other damage and dex increasing abilities just so I don't rip hate. In later fights if you do get hate what I do is face away from the mob so that I stop attacking and let the tank get the mob back from me a little easier.
Speaking as a white Mage now with so many bards that I have seen around one key skill hardly any of them understand is the use of mages ballad, so many times I have to repeatedly ask for the Mages Ballad as I'm starting to run low on MP and none of them bother to cast as they are too worried about their DPS, which in certain situations the white mages MP pool is more important then how much damage you do. Generally when I'm on Bard I will use mages ballad when the whm's mp gets below 1.5k, and at 50 I use battle voice just for the better refresh rate it gives.

[RogueJawa]

Speaking as a white Mage now with so many bards that I have seen around one key skill hardly any of them understand is the use of mages ballad, so many times I have to repeatedly ask for the Mages Ballad as I'm starting to run low on MP and none of them bother to cast as they are too worried about their DPS, which in certain situations the white mages MP pool is more important then how much damage you do.

That kind of defeats the purpose of being a Bard to me. I've played tank classes in other MMOs and straight DPS classes, I wanted to do something different this time around so I thought the support role of a Bard would be interesting. I seriously considered going White Mage for a moment as I've always entertained the thought of being a healer.. but I don't trust myself with that much responsibility, so Bard seemed like a good way to bring something to the table besides damage.