I chose BRD for swift gameplay, if I wanted to cast I would have chosen a Mage.

[Velhart]

I am sure Yoshi-P is going to respond about the new playstyle, design philosophy, and the recent change in some manner in the live letter tomorrow. I am fine with how it is now, my only real gripe and still kind of is the damage output. I don't mind casting at all.

[Maero]

Absolutely. We can change stances to adapt to the fight. Can a BLM/SMN swap to lesser DPS for instant casts? No (unless they wanna spam Scathe lol), so we are still in fact more mobile than the other ranged DPS. Nothing has changed in being the most mobile DPS on the field.

Amazing someone that actually knows, so for that i thank you

[Zyrusticae]

The fact that we have YET ANOTHER 23-page thread on this topic is proof positive that the current status quo is completely unacceptable.

You folks can defend it in any way you like. The fact remains that a significant proportion of Bard players do not like the change and are jumping ship for other jobs (or jumping out of the game entirely, for that matter). THAT is a problem.

[Velhart]

The fact that we have YET ANOTHER 23-page thread on this topic is proof positive that the current status quo is completely unacceptable.

I wouldn't go that far. This is something that happens in any MMO when a class undergoes a change. Some will welcome it, some will detest it and switch jobs, and some will not care and adapt. Right now there are as much who like it as those who don't. It is a split issue right now.

[myahele]

You're not forced to switch it on. If you want to run around like a headless chicken the choice is there.

[SendohJin]

You're not forced to switch it on. If you want to run around like a headless chicken the choice is there.

most of us try to be good players.

[Duelle]

I wouldn't go that far. This is something that happens in any MMO when a class undergoes a change. Some will welcome it, some will detest it and switch jobs, and some will not care and adapt.

Depends on the change and whether there was prior discussion within the community about it. It would have been one thing if BRD players had asked for casting times on their abilities in exchange for a damage boost all through ARR. the discussion would turn out very differently and you'd have people giving suggestions on how to improve it while others would be content with what was given to them.

This was in essence a change no one asked for implemented in a way that is a copy-pasted mechanic with MCH with no cohesiveness to the gameplay BRD mains know and love.

[Verius_Nox]

Absolutely. We can change stances to adapt to the fight. Can a BLM/SMN swap to lesser DPS for instant casts? No (unless they wanna spam Scathe lol), so we are still in fact more mobile than the other ranged DPS. Nothing has changed in being the most mobile DPS on the field.

This completely. As I said earlier in this thread, as a black mage, I don't have any ability to switch to instant cast fire iv's. Bards and Machinists can adapt to movement heavy fights, a luxury black mage doesn't have.

[Brundlefly]

My BRD is still at 50, so take this with a grain of salt, but when I read the update notes for WM and Gauss, I was under the impression that they were implemented for this very thing, especially now that they are instant with 25(?) second recast timers. Throw on WM/GB to burst with the attacks that require it, take it off until your skills come back off cooldown, repeat.

Correction: 15 second recast timers, which is the same as empyreal arrow base. With some skill speed, empyreal arrow does drop time off CD. Also WM would be back up in time for refreshing DoTs with Iron Jaws. Rotation now is a bit difficult, but practice makes perfect.

[TThibi]

I saw what SE was trying to do early on, think of bard as a mobile ballista ok that's exactly what it is, in strategy games the tanks roll around doing light damage to targets while on the move, for this example Starcraft. The tanks tickle they do more damage than little guys but less than you'd think. Then they switch to Siege mode, suddenly they bring out the big guns and damage takes a huge upswing. This is Bard's siege mode don't like it continue tickling mobs, wanna do something meaningful Siege mode is intended to make your feathers hurt.