This new bard play style blows.

[ShaneDawn]

I do agree on party significance being a problem, especially since it seems like their support capabilities needs a buff somewhere. Otherwise, Bards/Machs will perceive themselves and others will be perceive them as being weak when they could very well not be.

Probably yeah, but for example Disembowel used to be a real gain when paired with a Bard and was what made Dragoon a real contender with MNK/NIN before the expansion as Bard was pretty much a guaranteed slot on any raid team.

I feel like if the only redeeming feature of the said support classes will be the MP regen (and TP regen and maybe Foe's Requiem to a slight extent), the whole classes will feel very underwhelming everywhere else except the hardest raids where mp/tp regen are a real issue. I think that bard/machinist could do with more class synergy perks than just the Foe's Requiem to make them a valid choice in the dps race.