Bard - they broke my job

[SlyRoyale]

Happy 3.X BRD reporting in.
The job feels a lot more in-depth and enjoyable than ever.

Everyone who's still whining about their 2.X casual mode BRD being taken away should really consider moving on.
It's obvious that SE won't bother "fixing" something that isn't even broken in the first place.

Positioning is a bit more important for BRD, which is one thing I like about the change it got. It forces me to be more aware of what's around me instead of just looking around all relaxed and hopping around with abandon. The fact that stance dancing is a (slight) DPS increase to sneak in an auto-attack every 15s or so is pretty neat, too. Not only that, the option to either stance dance or turn WM off for heavy movement periods gives you a little more to think about.

While I believe that BRD isn't as broken as others claim to be--either out of being used to pre-HW play style for so long or wanting mobile DPS with minimal limitations--I will say that it feels more awkward compared to before. The addition of cast timers do not let us react to Bloodletter resets or doesn't allow us to double-weave between GCDs without clipping into them. While 2.0 taught us that clipping into our GCD is bad, using oGCD moves that are 150+ potency before Heavy Shot at the cost of clipping into the GCD is a workaround, albeit awkward and goes against what we previously learned. The only thing that's broken is hard-casting Straight Shot with a Straighter Shot proc up, but it's possible to make the best of a less ideal situation since you can get a cast that won't be interrupted even when you move around.

Though, if you have the time to complain about how you're going to quit your "favorite" job over the span of 2 months - instead of learning to enjoy it - isn't gonna get far with any other DPS job.

Some people find it strange how BRD has to work harder to be at the same level as before and address some of the arguably legitimate issues with it. The rest are just self-centered drama queens who make a fuss over change. It's better to pay them no mind than to argue with them. They're more focused on themselves than the bigger picture.

Change in rotations and openers is a thing you should always be seeking if it improves your dps and WM is just that.
Especially after they've added the new HW abilities I've realized how simple and bare-bones the ARR BRD feels compared to other dps jobs.
And that says a lot about people who picked that version of the BRD as their "absolute favorite"; no worries though, I've also mained PLD because it lets me multitask while running my dailies.

Anyone who wasn't expecting any degree of changes only have themselves to blame. That said, I can say with confidence that I picked BRD not for how it plays but how much I connected with it. Instead of seeing BRD as just a physical mobile ranged DPS with support utility, I also see it as a performer who plays songs to bolster the party while providing a steady stream of attacks with bow and arrow. Thematically, I find that BRD is the job that best suits me and the play style and mechanics are the things I learn about the job. While it does feel more awkward than it did before, it does not detract from the enjoyment I get from being a BRD in the first place. Call me eccentric, but that is what I believe what separates a true BRD from the rest.

[kalasnikov]

Another "happy" bard that treats bloodletter as global cooldown. you want to spam some shadowbind with that, Or would you rather spam straight shot? I always find it those "enjoying" the new bard are usually are not capable of endgame or just simply cant play the job with its actual efficiency. Cast times only made it easier for bad bards.

[SlyRoyale]

Another "happy" bard that treats bloodletter as global cooldown.

It's actually that Bloodletter takes priority over Heavy Shot due to it being instant cast in WM and having a trait that resets its recast.

you want to spam some shadowbind with that, Or would you rather spam straight shot?

Are you bitter or something? I only remember using Shadowbind during T7 when I had to kite renauds for some groups, and just spamming Straight Shot is a waste of TP per potency compared to Heavy Shot. What you're saying makes no sense in the slightest.

I always find it those "enjoying" the new bard are usually are not capable of endgame or just simply cant play the job with its actual efficiency. Cast times only made it easier for bad bards.

I actually find that the most common complaint from bad BRDs is how they get their casts interrupted when avoiding AoEs they are targeted with because they don't want to take damage. 3.0 BRD is perfectly capable of doing endgame content, especially Alexander: Gordias (Savage). Multi-DoTing the Oppressors adds up, Rain of Death is used very frequently in The Cuff of the Father (Savage), having decent burst for the adds in the Living Liquid fight, and overall being able to support the party with resource songs and Foe Requiem. If anything, it's an adjustment issue to the changes and how well current BRDs adapt to them with their toolkit and how the job plays. Of course the bad players won't be able to progress, while the ones who have adapted are and some of them are farther ahead than most.

[RussW]

Totally ditched my bard and went nin. Easiest decision I ever made. I wish I could delete my soul crystal. lol

I dont think its broken I just think casting sucks. I didnt make a bard to be a caster.

[Reinha]

Totally ditched my bard and went nin. Easiest decision I ever made. I wish I could delete my soul crystal. lol

I dont think its broken I just think casting sucks. I didnt make a bard to be a caster.

How is NIN at level 60? I've been thinking about leveling another melee. I have a DRG at 50 but I'm not very keen on strict rotations. Just wondering if there's any flexibility in the rotation and how fast paced it is.

I heard that there are some issues with lag for ninjas but that might be resolved for EU when the servers are transferred.

[MayuraT]

Totally ditched my bard and went nin. Easiest decision I ever made. I wish I could delete my soul crystal. lol

I dont think its broken I just think casting sucks. I didnt make a bard to be a caster.

I don't main BRD but i have fun with BRD cause of the mobility and with this casting change i'm totally going to level it just to leave it collecting dust now

[Judge_Xero]

sidewinder is instant cast , but yeah we have been asking for EA and IJ to be instant cast , a way to store BL procs (up to 3?) and SS procs....no clue how to fix it because the game "works" like that.

i still feel like BRD was the last job and SE didnt have time , they had the plan , copy the MCH skills over brd ,and the animators didnt have time to give it proper and cool animations (compare SMN to BRD .... 1 feels like they worked hard on rotation and fun mechanics all while looking badass with that animations ...the bard in the other hand....ugh)

Thanks for the info. Finally got my BRD to 60 so I've had some time to adapt. I think I could live with just Iron Jaw being instant cast.

Since skill speed is half decent I think when we can stack enough it will address most of the issues with bard. It is just the dot clipping that is so brutal right now and especially if you have to dodge mid IJ fml.

[Sleigh]

Thanks for the info. Finally got my BRD to 60 so I've had some time to adapt. I think I could live with just Iron Jaw being instant cast.

Since skill speed is half decent I think when we can stack enough it will address most of the issues with bard. It is just the dot clipping that is so brutal right now and especially if you have to dodge mid IJ fml.

Might catch some flak for this but I think Iron Jaws is the whole core of the BRD skill cap in real fights. If it was guaranteed every time, regardless of the situation, you'd be able to forego a lot of the planning and foreknowledge needed to do well with BRD and fights would go back to dummy + slight CD adjustments per the fight, as BRD in ARR did.

Just my two cents. Iron Jaws may be annoying when you fail it, much like dropping Blizzard IV on BLM can be annoying, but well higher skill caps are fun.

[rappa]

Your cast times are 1'40-1'50 secs. Any aoe in middle of a cast let you finish iand move.

[aabe]

Your cast times are 1'40-1'50 secs. Any aoe in middle of a cast let you finish iand move.

Yeah pretty much
Someone said it earlier in the thread. "It might be one or two times in a raid night where I actually have to cancel a cast to dodge an AoE" and it's true.