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

[Wavaryen]

snip.

That is fine and I agree with you. It should be said caster elements to the class, instead of calling it a blm. so I just take it that is what they mean.

[Raist]

That is fine and I agree with you. It should be said caster elements to the class, instead of calling it a blm. so I just take it that is what they mean.

That is pretty much the point that seems to bug a lot of people. You have to stop and cast now on BRD. You can't move or it interrupts you---so in that respect it very much is like a BLM, WHM, SMN--any casting job that has a casting bar that can be interrupted by movement and thus nullifies your damage output in that instance.

BLM is also convenient for demonstrations in that it also got a sort of stance-dance mechanic added as well---but in contrast it wasn't a gimmick that sort of re-wrote the mechanics of the job. The new "stance" for BLM was a straight modifier to it's damage output--with really no strings attached other than the timer and it enables higher tiered spells of the same elements we've always used before. It doesn't really affect how we play the job other than making us focus more on our rotation. We don't have to discern/fret if we can cast now or wait to do it later--at least not any more than we always had to in the past. That is just second-nature to playing a BLM at this stage of the game. What they have done to BRD is force it to start thinking along those terms now---to think and play like a BLM when WM is up.

That is NOT what many people signed on to BRD for, and that is likely a large part of the backlash. Won't lie...the casting time does irk me a bit. But what really sticks in my craw is how I have yet to see it really pay off for me. One shouldn't have to level up and unlock additional skills to start reaping the benefits of a skill intended to trade off a core mechanic of the job (ability to strafe/run-and-gun at the drop of a hat when needed) for the promise of dramatically increasing one's DPS. There should be a pay off right away....and there doesn't appear to be a substantial enough payoff until you further develop the job.