Bard needs some love too.

[DoctorPepper]

Why would that matter though?

Everything between the highest DPS (MNK) and lowest DPS (BRD) is just fluff as far as content balance is concerned. (i.e. Bosses will be weak enough for parties with bards to kill properly, but not weak enough for monk parties to cheese.)

Using that logic, why does it matter that DRG isn't up to par with MNK or NIN?

Why does it matter that BLM wasn't up to par with SMN/DRG before their buff?

Why does it matter that PLD flash didn't give as much enmity as overpower prior to their buff?

The only answer I can give you is balance. BRD was 100-150 dps lower than the other DPS classes pre-2.4 which is already a massive gap (approximately 25% lower dps) and that gap is not getting any smaller I assure you. I can't give you up to date data at this point since people are not geared up in the new stuff yet.

People seem to think that the request is for BRD to become the highest dps in the game but the fact is, most bards are fine with being the lowest dps job. They are not fine with being the lowest by 25% or higher which is the case at the moment.

[Exstal]

The only answer I can give you is balance. BRD was 100-150 dps lower than the other DPS classes pre-2.4 which is already a massive gap (approximately 25% lower dps) and that gap is not getting any smaller I assure you. I can't give you up to date data at this point since people are not geared up in the new stuff yet.

In what alternate reality is this true?

[DoctorPepper]

In what alternate reality is this true?

The reality where other dps in the raid group are equally geared and are playing their jobs properly, what do you want me to say? I've seen enough parse data to call that the average. Feel free to post some opposing data if you have any but I'm not going to go digging for parses just to prove you wrong so suit yourself. I'm open to new data but right now I'm calling it based on my own observations so go ahead and enlighten me.

[LunarEmerald]

In what alternate reality is this true?

Yeah. Bard dps is about 50 lower.

[CGMidlander]

Using that logic, why does it matter that DRG isn't up to par with MNK or NIN?

Why does it matter that BLM wasn't up to par with SMN/DRG before their buff?

Why does it matter that PLD flash didn't give as much enmity as overpower prior to their buff?

The only answer I can give you is balance. BRD was 100-150 dps lower than the other DPS classes pre-2.4 which is already a massive gap (approximately 25% lower dps) and that gap is not getting any smaller I assure you. I can't give you up to date data at this point since people are not geared up in the new stuff yet.

People seem to think that the request is for BRD to become the highest dps in the game but the fact is, most bards are fine with being the lowest dps job. They are not fine with being the lowest by 25% or higher which is the case at the moment.

DRG has lesser damage and an absence of utility.
BRD does not lack utility, and has a place in pretty much any party as a result.

BLM's damage buff was not strictly necessary, but helped shore up BLM's damage in movement-heavy scenarios. (Which BRDs are not affected by, btw) It also came with a change to Apoctastasis, making it actually useful.

[RiceisNice]

,,,

While I'd agree that bard is a bit behind compared to other dps classes, I can attest the difference isn't that huge. I've never seen my damage output lag that far behind in any encounter that wasn't T8, less every single party I've been in had shmucks.