Still to this day... (the dramatic game-play on BRD last expansion)

[Driavna]

A mobile ranged class is OP (even if you keep those cast bar while moving) because those classes don't have any drawback, so yeah, was the right thing to do.

[ErryK]

I hope they keep the cast bar. Makes you think about how you're going to use what skill, when and where.

[Daralii]

A mobile ranged class is OP (even if you keep those cast bar while moving) because those classes don't have any drawback, so yeah, was the right thing to do.

Depends entirely on the numbers and class/encounter mechanics, but you're right that having 100% DPS uptime at range with full mobility made them stand out during ARR, even with the penalties from songs in mind.

[Remus]

People still complain about this? Wow

[Jandor]

Why do people keep insisting that they needed cast bars to balance them? Bards were not overpowered in 2.X, the main criticism they got was that they were easier to play than the ranged magic users, at no point though was the meta 1x tank, 2x healer 5x Bards or anything like that.

[Paranoir]

The reason people keep on insisting they needed cast bars to balance is because it was stated by the devs themselves as to the reason for adding wanderers and gauss barrel. Unless you read all the interviews and the likes though, its not common knowledge. Bards could simply run non stop and ignore half the mechanics, unless they ran into the fire instead for some reason.

[ThirdChild_ZKI]

The reason people keep on insisting they needed cast bars to balance is because it was stated by the devs themselves as to the reason for adding wanderers and gauss barrel. Unless you read all the interviews and the likes though, its not common knowledge. Bards could simply run non stop and ignore half the mechanics, unless they ran into the fire instead for some reason.

That may be true, but how often were Bards running around non-stop? Especially when you look at things like Titan Ex where you stacked for mechanics, T10 where space became increasingly limited and positioning was important, or T12 where being out of position could wipe your party. . . The free movement was good, and I do somewhat miss it, but how much was it really necessary anyways?

[Katra]

I really dislike WM. It really was a poorly thought out gimmick that should not have been added. I still use it when in parties, but the unnecessary change in play style was, and still is, unwelcomed.

Given the change to BRD to make it play like MCH, I do believe there is a chance that some current jobs could receive some adjustments to their core play style. What change could be applied to MNK or BLM to make them fall in line with the upcoming jobs is tough to say, but at this point I wouldn't say a fundamental change is out of the question. For those who like the current MNK and BLM styles though, I really hope you get through this unscathed.

With that said, I'm ready for a new main, and I hope SAM or RDM can help fill the void.

[LineageRazor]

People still complain about this? Wow

Why is that so surprising? If folks hated it before, why should they have stopped hating it now just because time has passed?

I hated it before, and now. Adding the cast bar makes the job feel too much like just another mage. The mobility made it unique, gave it a feel none of the other jobs had. I understand that it may have been difficult to balance, and that such a change was inevitable, but that doesn't change my disappointment. Wanderer's Minuet (and Gauss Barrel for MCH) removed what, to me, made the job fun and unique.

[ErryK]

Why is that so surprising? If folks hated it before, why should they have stopped hating it now just because time has passed?

I could make a very dramatic comparison between this and what happened back in 1941-45 but yeah...