New Class: Minstrel (Radical Change to Bard Job)

[Saccharin]

I hate support classes/jobs/specs etc. In this game with the small parties it just doesn't work. The bard is the only support and that's basically limited in support. Giving each job support options is a much better and that's the way they've went.

[Kaethra]

I hate support classes/jobs/specs etc. In this game with the small parties it just doesn't work. The bard is the only support and that's basically limited in support. Giving each job support options is a much better and that's the way they've went.

I'm going to have to agree with this. Rift's Bard worked because it was a 5 man party and it wasn't a main healer. Everquest, the game known most for bards uses them in EQ1 and EQ2 as heavy support but uses a SIX man party (meaning with 3 DPS, the support increases their DPS much more than a single DPS would).

FFXIV has a 4 man system. You need a Tank. You need a Healer. Bard wouldn't be either of these. So that leaves DPS. Meaning it has to DPS. And when it has to DPS, what makes its attacks and abilities different from an Archer? You're shooting notes instead of arrows? That means its just an aesthetic thing, which really means it doesn't need a change.

Sorry to say but bards in FF have been historically well... bad (giving weak damage with buffs that can be given by Time/White Mages who do other things way better). And I'm getting the idea they chose Bard to go with Archer simply because they couldn't think of anything else. Maybe Ranger I guess, but that's a little bit on D&D territory (which is why Warriors aren't Fighters anymore, and Rogues aren't Thieves, its more generic). So they gave them a bow to go with the harp and even a harp bow and made them finally relevant. Expect to see future games sporting bow touting bards.

[Shougun]

I'm going to have to agree with this. Rift's Bard worked because it was a 5 man party and it wasn't a main healer. Everquest, the game known most for bards uses them in EQ1 and EQ2 as heavy support but uses a SIX man party (meaning with 3 DPS, the support increases their DPS much more than a single DPS would).

FFXIV has a 4 man system. You need a Tank. You need a Healer. Bard wouldn't be either of these. So that leaves DPS. Meaning it has to DPS. And when it has to DPS, what makes its attacks and abilities different from an Archer? You're shooting notes instead of arrows? That means its just an aesthetic thing, which really means it doesn't need a change.

Sorry to say but bards in FF have been historically well... bad (giving weak damage with buffs that can be given by Time/White Mages who do other things way better). And I'm getting the idea they chose Bard to go with Archer simply because they couldn't think of anything else. Maybe Ranger I guess, but that's a little bit on D&D territory (which is why Warriors aren't Fighters anymore, and Rogues aren't Thieves, its more generic). So they gave them a bow to go with the harp and even a harp bow and made them finally relevant. Expect to see future games sporting bow touting bards.

Bards being as they are now they're currently very DND like, but importantly OP isn't making a support class he is making a healer class.