Bard questions - what role are we ?

[Attelia]

Is it nice to have a BRD or a MCH in higher level content? Sure. Is it mandatory? Hell no!

Is that true? I haven't done any challenging content, but I was under the impression healers and mDPS (if played optimally) were expected to fall low on resources on lengthy or challenging fights.

[Sleigh]

Is that true? I haven't done any challenging content, but I was under the impression healers and mDPS (if played optimally) were expected to fall low on resources on lengthy or challenging fights.

It depends on the fight. For MP, during progression you always want Ballad or its equivalent available, no matter what, but after it's on farm it's usually not needed (although it's still a situation where you'd rather have it available and not need it, rather than need it and not have it available). For TP, currently 3 of the 4 savage fights are TP sinks at one point or another and you will need TP song eventually or you'll lose a lot of raid DPS.

It doesn't really matter though. BRD (and MCH) DPS when buffed by a DRG isn't that far off from melee/casters. In some fights it's at the level of, or higher than melee, plus they buff caster DPS, so there's really no point to ever not bringing a BRD or MCH except in the strangest of comps.

[Kelevra]

BRD is a class that doesn't fall properly in the trinity but in a negative way that is not encouraged nor endorsed by the devs. It lacks any substantial contribution and is essentially a DPS class playing at a handicap for negligible bonuses. Until the devs realize this that the "Trinity" is more of a guidline rather then a "Law" BRD will essentially be lost in translation and WAR will continue to be the only true hybrid class in the game that can be both DPS and Tank roles.... Because ya know.... we can't have Hybrids in the game.... Where is my damn BLU already...

Every job in the game offers support. Your support functions aren't unique in themselves. You're just punished more harshly for some reason for using your utility than others.

This, so much.

Look, I get that ppl were pissed at how Bard had easy access to huge damage when 2.0 launched...and SE nerfed them as a result. But most of the other dps jobs (that were around with Bard when 2.0 launched) are more fine tuned now. Folks have gotten better at/more use to playing those jobs now to get the most out of them. That and some of them have utility support skills that are beneficial to the party (Drg with Disembowel, Battle Litany: Mnk with Dragon Kick, Mantra: Smn that can raise indefinitely if needed, Virus, Eye for an Eye, etc.) just as much as one of the Bard's songs (and don't incur a dmg penalty upon using some of them like a Bard does).

Bard needs to be brought up to being even with those other dps jobs again. I'm not saying nerf the other jobs. I'm not saying make Bard as broken and 'easy street' as before (I'm personally ok with the bulk of Bard dmg being gated behind Minuet---the playstyle could use some tweaks, but it does feel good to me). I just want ppl that play Bard correctly and to the best of their ability being able to contribute, somewhat, equal amount of dmg to the other dps jobs when they are also played correctly and to the best of their abilities.


...Square wants to keep introducing strict 'dps checks' into the game, but instead of allowing Bard to contribute equal amounts of dmg with some of the other dps jobs, they rather have someone like a Scholar/Warrior heal/tank less and do more dps

[DGladius]

Bard needs to be brought up to being even with those other dps jobs again. I'm not saying nerf the other jobs. I'm not saying make Bard as broken and 'easy street' as before. I just want ppl that play Bard correctly and to the best of their ability being able to contribute, somewhat, equal amount of dmg to the other dps jobs when they are also played correctly and to the best of their abilities.

But BRD and MCH dps is fine where they are right now and aren't detrimental to the group as shown in in their performances in savage. I've posted saying this before. There isn't a problem with their dps. For single target they won't make them do as much dmg as melee dps otherwise it would be OP.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...sLaoo/pubhtml#

[Kelevra]

But BRD and MCH dps is fine where they are right now and aren't detrimental to the group as shown in in their performances in savage. I've posted saying this before. There isn't a problem with their dps. For single target they won't make them do as much dmg as melee dps otherwise it would be OP.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...sLaoo/pubhtml#

With the exception of that one Bard, some of the stuff in that document suggests that putting Bards on equal footing with some of the other dps jobs...wouldn't be 'OP'