Bard in the party... thoughts?

[Knahli]

I was never drawn to support classes but I certainly found appeal in Bard for the same reason, especially when Heavensward rolled around and we got a new skill.

[JoelStrife]

Bit of an update for those who're interested

I'm now lvl 60 with BRD, i207 (and counting) and absolutely love the class.

It's by far the most enjoyable role for me and i can see myself maining it for a little while to come.

[Maero]

Grats and very glad to hear you enjoying it

[Jetstream_Fox]

I love seeing a bard in my group

Then I change my mind because he won't ever sing songs at the right time, if at all, so I'm stuck with no tp on a massive aoe pull as a melee dps because I was counting on the bard to play their job

Invigorate do you use it? Maybe I'm misunderstanding but why would you be using melee aoes? They're nothing but tp drains you should just be single targeting. Paeon is more geared toward tanks who can't get tp back quick, then it's usually used as a last resort if many people have to be revived. Ballad and Foe are the only two songs that truthfully have any real impact on the entire party.

[AskaRay]

Invigorate do you use it? Maybe I'm misunderstanding but why would you be using melee aoes? They're nothing but tp drains you should just be single targeting. Paeon is more geared toward tanks who can't get tp back quick, then it's usually used as a last resort if many people have to be revived. Ballad and Foe are the only two songs that truthfully have any real impact on the entire party.

If the party is mostly melee (and your healer isn't doing anything), then Paeon is the way to go.
I frequently will use it if it's me + a melee and the tank's pulled like fifty mobs. They just melt away.

[Jim_Berry]

BRD does have the lowest DPS of all DPS classes (as of 3.2 IIRC MCH passed it) but BRD utility is always appreciated when it fits with the other members of the team.

The sad part about playing BRD, is that the community knows BRD has the lower dps. However, it becomes stressful when they say an 1100 dps BRD is a sucky BRD, thus maybe killing TC's morale on the job later.

[Maero]

I actually think the community is more excepting of Bards, at least in my view.
Sure there is still a large population of bad Bards but i have noticed far more better ones now.
Machinists on the other hand i rarely see around so perhaps they are not wanted?

[enthauptet]

I actually think the community is more excepting of Bards, at least in my view.
Sure there is still a large population of bad Bards but i have noticed far more better ones now.
Machinists on the other hand i rarely see around so perhaps they are not wanted?

At least over here everyone wants a MCH because double melee composition.

[Berethos]

Have WAR tank using Berserk? pre-cast Warden's Paean, saves the healer from Esuna / Leeches / Exalted Detriment.

No more pre-cast actually - 45 second cool down, instant cast. Used to deal with pretty much the same things as before, but it's reactive instead of proactive now.

[AskaRay]

No more pre-cast actually - 45 second cool down, instant cast. Used to deal with pretty much the same things as before, but it's reactive instead of proactive now.

No, precast as in, cast it before the status effect comes up, instead of waiting for the effect to pop and casting it.
It's better to precast and have the effect never hit then "timing" it to hit as the effect starts (since WP blocks the next status ailment OR cures one status ailment).