Bards viability now?

[Rajeme]

Bads and Machinists are two jobs that I cannot actually suggest to anyone. Level it if you wish but realize at present without substantial buffs you won't be pulling off anywhere near the numbers of a ninja.

And that isn't an exaggeration. You WILL NOT be pulling off anywhere near the same numbers as a ninja at any point in time.

I would find it very broken if Bard can pull the same numbers as a ninja even in the past, the present or the future.

[SovereignAegis]

I would find it very broken if Bard can pull the same numbers as a ninja even in the past, the present or the future.

As would we all. At present a ninja absolutely destroys everythinflg while also offering utility of its own. BLM, SMN, MCH and BRD all look like garbage compared to it.

If I didn't suck at flanking and positioning you can be sure I would be rolling a NIN right now.

[Kayote]

I dont know where everyone is getting this high demand for bards thing. Ive been asked for ballads a handful of times in my entire play time with this game and once with this particular Bard so far. I have taken the initiative myself here and there, when I notice, but I mostly use Peon for myself, thats it.

Maybe for early end-game raids in order to get the maximum efficiency but they should be taking as much variety as possible anyway. Nor have hardcore, min/max, groups like that ever been the majority group content in this or any game.

DPS is disappointingly low and to paraphrase YoshiP 'mechanics are clunky' ATM. I wouldnt expect a good better Bard until sometime after Alexander. We'd be lucky to get a tiny DPS buff before 3.1

[Lillia]

This. What SE did was drop the bard's proportional damage they do compared to the other DDs, but in people's eyes, this is just a massive nerf and claims of how the job is now dead. They never lowered their damage, they just increased the damage of other DDs more. Machinist also has the same treatment, they do lower damage in proportion to the pure DDs. BRD and MCH are support DDs, not pure DDs. It is still a necessity to have either one in raids.

every other class has a higher base dmg on their wep than bard/mch, tanks included. Not sure if SE did that intentionally though but that's also one of the inflicting aspect on the whole lower dps thing. :x

[Gilraen]

...but I mostly use Peon for myself, thats it.

Bards aren't affected by their own songs. You know that, right? The reason that Bard asked for Ballad was to keep their song going for far longer than if they were using their own MP. I've done this a few times for other Bards who were using Foe's. Makes it last for a long time, longer if Battle Voice'd. The only time I use Paeon is if a fight is going long and there's no casters in the party. Again, your songs don't affect you. Never have.

Well, except for Swift Song. But that's a special case. And Minuet isn't really a song, it's a stance.

[Pluvia]

As would we all. At present a ninja absolutely destroys everythinflg while also offering utility of its own. BLM, SMN, MCH and BRD all look like garbage compared to it.

If I didn't suck at flanking and positioning you can be sure I would be rolling a NIN right now.

At point you would want to wait for alex and see how the fights are if they're not crazy with disengages DRG/MNK win hands down the day of Ninja being king dummy dps is over

[Lewtskie]

Bards aren't affected by their own songs. You know that, right? The reason that Bard asked for Ballad was to keep their song going for far longer than if they were using their own MP. I've done this a few times for other Bards who were using Foe's. Makes it last for a long time, longer if Battle Voice'd. The only time I use Paeon is if a fight is going long and there's no casters in the party. Again, your songs don't affect you. Never have.

Well, except for Swift Song. But that's a special case. And Minuet isn't really a song, it's a stance.

Bard's songs do affect themselves, actually. In the case of Army's and Mage's anyway, though technically Requiem does as well but you don't deal magic dmg, so moot point, lol. Slap on Army's when you're low on TP and look at your bar you'll notice more ticks; one small and one large. The small one is Army's. The Mage's one as well. It's why it'll drain away a lot slower than the other songs.

[Kayote]

Bards aren't affected by their own songs. You know that, right? The reason that Bard asked for Ballad was to keep their song going for far longer than if they were using their own MP. I've done this a few times for other Bards who were using Foe's. Makes it last for a long time, longer if Battle Voice'd. The only time I use Paeon is if a fight is going long and there's no casters in the party. Again, your songs don't affect you. Never have.

Well, except for Swift Song. But that's a special case. And Minuet isn't really a song, it's a stance.

Well then BRD songs are even less necessary than I thought. You sure? Because I notice TP regens faster when Ive used it before. Not that I timed it. lol, dont remember ever being on the receiving end of a song so I wouldnt know the difference.

Bard's songs do affect themselves, actually. In the case of Army's and Mage's anyway, though technically Requiem does as well but you don't deal magic dmg, so moot point, lol. Slap on Army's when you're low on TP and look at your bar you'll notice more ticks; one small and one large. The small one is Army's. The Mage's one as well. It's why it'll drain away a lot slower than the other songs.

Oh ok, good. Thought I was going crazy for a second there.

[AskaRay]

Well then BRD songs are even less necessary than I thought. You sure? Because I notice TP regens faster when Ive used it before. Not that I timed it. lol, dont remember ever being on the receiving end of a song so I wouldnt know the difference.

I play Paeon for myself all the time when AOEing. Songs definitely affect yourself... only one I haven't noticed is Requiem because bards don't have any magic.
And if you really haven't ever been on the receiving end of a song, just as a bard next time to sing for you so you can see the difference. Not that hard...

[Waeksyn]

Guys, Brd is dead and MCH is a still birth. They can't even put up numbers as good as a WAR. When your DPS class is out damaged by the off tank, there is something wrong. SE's official response indicates that they may make some adjustments such as make WM quicker to apply. Great, now we will stance dance, putting WM on only to use abilities that require it only to take it off immediately thereafter. However, they also say that they will NOT make changes to increase the DPS of brd.

It's dead.