Bard and TP management

[Aikaal]

I'm wondering how Bards manage their TP. I can barely make 5 minutes on a dummy without getting TP starve. I have my whole rotation down. I reapply my dots when there's 2 seconds left and I reapply straight shot when it drops. I take dots in priority over straight shot.

I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong or it's normal.

[RiceisNice]

Invigorate as soon as you drop below 600 TP. Unless you're AoEing you shouldn't chew through TP that fast before the cooldown finishes. Also refresh when it falls off (0-1 second remaining), otherwise you're wasting that last tick.

[RinchanNau]

It's not uncommon to get low on TP on BRD if the fight has no breaks or there are lots of adds to dot. Simply keep up your dots and the ss buff and cut out a few heavy shots while using every BL/ME proc. No need for paeon. After a round or two using that method you should be fine until your invigorate.

[Aikaal]

Mmmm, I'll keep in mind to refresh after 0-1 seconds. I always wait at 2 seconds. I'll make more tests. I don't like the idea of losing 150 Potency per 2.5secs... I'll take a look at it. I really want to improve my Bard. I think my rotation has minor flaws.

[Black91CRX]

Invigorate skill is a must for bard.

[Maero]

Yep Invigorate is a must for sure, only longer fights are a real issue and you can always use Army's Patheon if healers do not need Mage's Ballad,
but proper timing of invigorate and you should be fine

[RinchanNau]

It is mathematically not worth using Paeon if only you are low on TP.

[Aikaal]

I do use Invigorate at 600 TP and every CD x.x I forgot to mention.

[Ejell]

Just tell us how much Skill Speed your BRD has, it'll help!
You can try to not refresh your 3 "buffs" ("straight shot" and the dots) before they fade-off, but just after (timer at 1 or less), you'll earn 10 PT each time you do this trick.
You can also input "pauses" in your rotation to make your regeneration better, for example your dots fade in 2 seconds, wait 1 sec then refresh them, it's not a very dps loss, but it'll help your tp-managing for sure.

Remeber that only t8 requires a tp management (maybe t7 if you dont kite too) so it's not very important.

[RinchanNau]

I do use Invigorate at 600 TP and every CD x.x I forgot to mention.

I would recommendation getting below 600. I generally use my first invigorate when I hit 540 (or less) TP. I will be at 540 after a GCD, hit invigorate and get to 940, and generally before my next GCD the next +60 TP tick will happen and bring me to 1000. After that, in an extended fight, it would be whenever it comes off CD provided I am 540 TP or below.

Sometimes it may not be exactly 540 depending on straighter shot procs and stuff like adds adding to dot usage. but anywhere in the 500-540 range should be good. If you invigorate at 550+ you are likely going to lose a little TP depending on when the next tick happens. For instance, if you have 560 you will invigorate to 960 and the +60 TP tick will still only bring you to 1000. A loss of 20 TP.