Bard should have been something like this...

[subteraneanbird]

why can't games have that 1-2% class? Just dont make them where you NEED em, but super useful if you have em in your party.

Because if you dont NEED them, then no one will bring them. Remember how many classes in XI were just not used in any serious context? That's no fun for anyone.

[ErBear]

Because if you dont NEED them, then no one will bring them. Remember how many classes in XI were just not used in any serious context? That's no fun for anyone.

There was use with every class in ffxi just had to utilize each of there strengths and bard in ffxi was one of the most useful jobs but you didn't need it. People just wen with the most efficiant as they do with any game, though I'm not that type of person I like to play what I play dispite what others want and still do all the content just fine. Example: I was a Thf/War, never subbed ninja.

[Warlyx]

There was use with every class in ffxi just had to utilize each of there strengths and bard in ffxi was one of the most useful jobs but you didn't need it. People just wen with the most efficiant as they do with any game, though I'm not that type of person I like to play what I play dispite what others want and still do all the content just fine. Example: I was a Thf/War, never subbed ninja.

hahaha yeah sure ppl didnt need bards.... i remember nights events cancelled because we just lacked support jobs.

if u never subbed nin as THF....

[LineageRazor]

There was use with every class in ffxi just had to utilize each of there strengths and bard in ffxi was one of the most useful jobs but you didn't need it. People just wen with the most efficiant as they do with any game, though I'm not that type of person I like to play what I play dispite what others want and still do all the content just fine. Example: I was a Thf/War, never subbed ninja.

This is not true. PUP was never accepted for any kind of endgame content; the only way your PUP would be involved in such content is if you created the group yourself, or your LSmates took pity on you. DNC was pretty much the same way, a great solo job but among the last to be invited to anything worthwhile.

Your THF/WAR would be a stain on the ground in the revamped Ark Angel fights. The AAs regularly use aoes that will one-shot even full ilvl 119 players (the current max) if they don't block the attacks with shadows. Of course, for that very reason, front-line jobs are rarely invited to those fights at all, as they need to sacrifice offense (from WAR and SAM subs) for defense (NIN sub); instead people invite only RNG (and SAMs who have sufficiently powerful endgame bows).

You're correct that a sufficiently determined niche job may be able to schmooze their way into whatever endgame activity they want, but don't delude yourself into believing that you're WELCOME there. People will always prefer you to attend on a so-called "useful" job.

[Shadex]

This is not true. PUP was never accepted for any kind of endgame content; the only way your PUP would be involved in such content is if you created the group yourself, or your LSmates took pity on you. DNC was pretty much the same way, a great solo job but among the last to be invited to anything worthwhile.

Your THF/WAR would be a stain on the ground in the revamped Ark Angel fights. The AAs regularly use aoes that will one-shot even full ilvl 119 players (the current max) if they don't block the attacks with shadows. Of course, for that very reason, front-line jobs are rarely invited to those fights at all, as they need to sacrifice offense (from WAR and SAM subs) for defense (NIN sub); instead people invite only RNG (and SAMs who have sufficiently powerful endgame bows).

You're correct that a sufficiently determined niche job may be able to schmooze their way into whatever endgame activity they want, but don't delude yourself into believing that you're WELCOME there. People will always prefer you to attend on a so-called "useful" job.

That is actually a failing of the game's designers not the classes. Tell the designers to stop making encounters only beatable through a single mechanic tied to a couple 'useful' classes as you put it. Maybe put some extra effort in and make encounters with multiple ways to success. Everything these days is just stack everything on the tank and either rotate through marks or AoE until the enemy is dead while making sure you are not standing in something bad.... *yawn* God when did designers stop giving a damn about their content?