Brd opener

[SlyRoyale]

This is the rotation I use:

Windbite (Bloodletter) > Venomous Bite (Hawk's Eye + Blunt Arrow*) > Straight Shot (Blood for Blood, Raging Strikes) > Heavy Shot (Internal Release + Barrage) > filler (Flaming Arrow + Repelling Shot**) > filler until DoT reapplication

Here are some things to note about this rotation:
1) Filler means Heavy Shot unless you have a Straighter Shot proc. If you get a proc, use it then go back to using Heavy Shot until you get another proc or you have to reapply DoTs.
2) Bloodletter's recast timer may reset during the opener, which accommodates for such a situation. Quickly weave it in and go back to where you left off in your opener.
3) If you're using a HQ X-Potion of Dexterity, use it after Internal Release and before Barrage.
4) This is the most important point: this rotation lets you reapply your DoTs without having to sacrifice TP and DPS to clip them. This opener offers better DPS than the traditional Straight Shot opener.

*Blunt Arrow is optional if you need it for silencing duties, or your skill speed is too high for you to weave it in without being locked by the animation.
**Similar to Blunt Arrow, you have to be selective in weaving in Repelling Shot not only due to animation lock, but position as well. You don't want to jump into something that can kill you like lingering AoEs or death walls.

[Lemuel81]

This is the rotation I use:

please explain to me how the "traditional" way of opening up with straight shot before your dots, parses lower dps than your rotation.

And why would use use blunt arrow from the start. While im confused why so many bards dont bother using Blunt arrow and repelling shot. I have always used them at the bottom of my priority list. I don't know maybe im missing something, curious

This is what im personally using as a standard rotation. without pots and with BloodletterMisery always on cooldown

(Quelling strikes) pre pull (Internal Release) StraightShot (HawkesEye) Windbite (Raging Strikes)Venoms Bite (BfB) Filler Heavy Shot/Str. Shot procs (Barrage) and I will weave in Flame Arrow, Repelling Shot and Blunt between my fillers and procs. My dots generally are reapplied with less than 3 seconds.