In 4.0 can we please get rid of caster bars on physical ranged jobs?!

[Sandpark]

Just give Bard an actual instrument, keep them cast type job and add ranger the mobility based bow user. Discussion over.

[lulunami]

3.0 Bard is the epitome of unfun. I do not know how SE managed to make a job more clunky to play than SMN with its unresponsive pets. 2.0 Bard was a better designed job with unique, enjoyable play-style characteristics.

It is always a mistake when the most popular job in the game becomes the least played job in the game. RIP Bard.

Gameplay feel is very important. There is a reason why lots of Counter-Strike 1.6 players disliked Counter-Strike: Source, and it was the feel of the guns, the movement, and the projectiles. The game was 99 percent the same, but that 1 percent difference was glaring to them. Do not make the game feel bad to play.

[DreamAngel-Ren]

I'm quoting this for truth, because it is. It's the utter truth and I agree with it 100%! It's why I am in favor of all the jobs getting some reworking. But, if I may, the reason why I, myself, an particularly flustered about the change to Bard is this: When you play DRG and NIN, you are still playing melee DPS, when you play BLM and SMN, you are still playing magical ranged. Bard went from being Physical Ranged to, despite still doing physical damage, Magical Ranged and that's got my knickers in a pretty big bunch since I really, reaaaaaally wanna play Physical Ranged, not Magical. T_T

However, BRD/MCH aren't using magic, the casting bar is there as a way to make their ranged damage stronger.

[DreamAngel-Ren]

You miss the point entirely - its not about running around aimlessly, but rather PLAYSTYLE - Brds and MCH play and have certain PLAYSTYLE form 1-50 but then at 60 the PLAYSTYLE gets hammered away. IF Yoshi wants to follow through with making the lv 60 and up skills for job to feel like they did from lv 5; therefore the cast bars must be removed and potency of WM/Gb reduced to make up for the gain of auto attacks for balance.

What playstyle? I'm lost.
To me, auto-attacks don't really do that much damage since it's automatic; it's there to get your target's attention or if you're not performing any attacks at all.

[LillithCale]

However, BRD/MCH aren't using magic, the casting bar is there as a way to make their ranged damage stronger.

Which could have been done by making it a buff, rather than a stance that adds a mechanic to the class that didn't exist until now ^^;;

I'm not really sure why it's such a difficult idea that someone would be put off by coming into a class they thought was physical ranged and end up having to deal with cast times? I don't want to deal with cast times, I don't want to cast arrows, if I wanted these things I would have rolled BLM, ya know? I get why it's done but on a personal level, it doesn't jive well with me and I would really be quite happy if it disappeared. If it doesn't, ah well, what am I gonna do? I'll continue trundling on and keep trying my best to get better with WM but I don't think I am ever going to be happy about it. Bard now is not the class I wanted to play when I first started this game.

Also, as a note regarding your Autoattack statement above: Auto attacks are around 20-25% of your DPS. You can check out the math and such here

[myahele]

I do find it quite ironic that the most mobile ranged dps in 2.0 became one of the least mobile in 3.0; even SMN is more mobile than a BRD.

[AngelyLowell]

I agree that WM is a bad ideia for a moving class like Bard.

I know (and undersdand) they did that to increase BRD damage, but there is other ways to increase Bard's DPS and sacrificing other things than mobility.

For example, if WM is active, Bard can't use others song, so he/she loses his/her support ability to be a full DPS class. And in a time of need, deactivate de WM to be used as a support class.

[DreamAngel-Ren]

I get why it's done but on a personal level, it doesn't jive well with me and I would really be quite happy if it disappeared. If it doesn't, ah well, what am I gonna do? I'll continue trundling on and keep trying my best to get better with WM but I don't think I am ever going to be happy about it. Bard now is not the class I wanted to play when I first started this game.

It's fine that you're not comfortable with it, but I just think WM shouldn't be removed because as of now, a lot of BRDs are use to it by now. It takes practice, but if you're still not satisfied, just keep it off.

[FunkyBunch]

However, BRD/MCH aren't using magic, the casting bar is there
AND their ranged damage is stronger.

FIXED.
The two things didn't need to be associated with each other.
There was no reason the Ranged Damage increase HAD to be tied to a tether. I was GOING to play BRD when I started the game, then I heard about the casting situation at 60 and I switched to BLM.
Then I switched to NIN because I'm sick of cast bars on DPS.

[DreamAngel-Ren]

For example, if WM is active, Bard can't use others song, so he/she loses his/her support ability to be a full DPS class. And in a time of need, deactivate de WM to be used as a support class.

You can still play Mage's Ballad, Foe Requiem, and Army's Peon while WM is activated.