DEV REQUEST: Remove cast bars to MCH & BRD

[RiceisNice]

You know I still don't get the argument, I haven't leveled either so please correct me if I am wrong. This is based on the mobility issue.

When there is no mechanics going on, your still anyway so why not embrace the stance to do more dps. If a mechanic requires you to move cancel stance and carry on pew pew 2.0 mode until mechanics are done then back to stance - as far as I can see there is no mobility issue, you should have been standing still anyway when there was no reason to move.

There is no problem with mobility, at least there isn't any worth talking about. Mobility shouldn't even be a factor considering casters and melee still outdamage bards in 2.0 despite the latter's un-restrained/free dps on the go.

The problem that most former-BRD mains (me included) is how the cast times interact with your traits and abilities, causing them to not function properly or work against it.

[Firesped]

I've started learning to play with WM, mostly because I feel the way SE designed it, intentionally or not, we have to keep it on all the time. there is a point you can start moving while casting. charging? I kinda feel that having a UI element to alert when buffs or debuffs are wearing off better would help but that requires SE to put on Addon support. And SE seems to be putting that on the backburner to everything else.

I feel the fix for WM would likely involve auto-attack. If SE can adjust it somehow so they can give that back to bard, it would appease many of the players. the lose of auto-attack is far too great I feel with the way bard was originally re-designed in 2.0. dps tracking is going to register any movement from bards as dps lose when WM is up, which we have to keep up all the time.

[Yosho]

Just got bard to 60, and enjoy using WM. I never moved much during 2.x while attacking anyway so the only difference to me is things take a bit longer to fire. No big deal. Adjust and move on.

[Mahri]

MCH main here. And the more I use Gauss Barrel, the more I like how it works. Actually, that statement applies to the whole class altogether.

I'm sort of a fan of stance-dancing. I like the feeling of being able to choose between mobility and power, because there are definitely moments in endgame content where one or the other is called for.

It's me, I am the Rifle Wizard.

[UltimateAoe2]

It's me, I am the Rifle Wizard.

If only Machinists had the options to use Rifles....
I would switch in a heartbeat from Bard.


....unless of course Bards had the option to use Crossbows.

then w_w;;

[Kore_Hyperion]

I think the cast times are fun. I'm not sure how BRD works, but at least MCH can still move and shoot while on a proc. So I can still move around a bit while shooting. Even so, I find it challenging and fun to actually think about where I'm standing, where I need to be, and timing the movement.

[Mahri]

If only Machinists had the options to use Rifles....
then w_w;;

Rifles, blunderbusses, musketoons, carbines, uh...whatever else they're called...



(this is how my retainers feel about me)

[FallenArisen0990]

Nah OP, you're gonna stand there like everyone else and DPS or turn off WM/GB and do your subpar DPS. This was fix I wanted for BRDs and I'm happy.

[Mahri]

Nah OP, you're gonna stand there like everyone else and DPS or turn off WM/GB and do your subpar DPS. This was fix I wanted for BRDs and I'm happy.

Are you referring to the fact that during 2.x Bards pretty much defined themselves by being the ones who ran around like annoying spazzes, frequently pulling aggro and preventing anyone except ranged (i.e. non-tanky) classes from helping out and actually getting the thing done?

Because yeah.

In light of that, Minuet is the most beautiful addition to FFXIV possible.

[Duelle]

Please redesign any cast times post-50 to reflect the play style of BRD originally as it was meant to be. I agree with the OP: this is a matter of play style. Keep bard a physical and mobile DPS with consistent but fast-paced damage please.

I feel it's important to point out that since 2.0, BRD has seen so many dev tweaks that it's got a permanent identity crisis. This has only made it worse. If you want to create a sniper-style, aiming technique in which we have to pause as a part of the job's role, that's fine, but make it represent physical+ranged+melee and get rid of this quirky casting dynamic. Even Ninja with their mudras are able to cast on the go as physical DPS.

Lastly, from a social standpoint running Duty Finder dungeons, there are too many other players who feel it's necessary to micromanage every aspect of your play especially as a DPS. It's already an obnoxious habit of those who'll boss you around on something like Mage's Ballad or Foe Requiem as if you haven't discerned enough about your own job for 50+ levels. Add to this the use of Wanderer's Minuet and associated skills and it's just a mood killer, a shot to morale, a downer, yes a mood killer!

As I've repeatedly said in the past, the true compromise between both sides would be to make the cast bars fill while moving (WoW's Steady Shot works like this). The only issue then would be that long-time BRDs would still feel the change in pace.

Another option would be to redesign of ARC to be in line with 3.0's BRD design. A general rule of thumb that works well enough is for the heavy damage shots to have the cast times, while DoTs and essentially filler shots being instant. Following this idea, Heavy Shot would get a cast time, Straight Shot would get a cast time (Straighter Shot procs would remove the cast time), Windbite and Venomous Bite would remain instant. Have Wide Volley and Quick Knock get cast times, but have Straighter Shot procs remove the cast time (obviously the proc would have to be renamed). WM would have to be changed to something else or still be required to use Iron Jaws/Empyreal Arrow, but not add cast times. Iron Jaws would have to become instant. Leave Sidewinder and Empyreal Arrow as is.

Yet another option would be to leave the 1-50 gameplay as is and redesign the HW abilities to be in line with how the job played 1-50. This is where it can get a bit messy, but there are several ways to go about it.