Is bard in a bad spot right now?

[Aiscence]

bard is in fact in worst spot currently, machinist out damage them. dancer out buffs them. they have extremely boring kit. only really gets exciting 50+. they do the worst dps out other 2. dancer has limitless scaling thanks rng and massive raid wide buff

Ehhh not true both in rdps and adps they are never last (second from last but yeah) and best rdps for TEA, as a ranged ofc. But in any case, all 3 ranged are just a mile away from the other dps with shit buffs anyway.

[CKNovel]

bard is in fact in worst spot currently, machinist out damage them. dancer out buffs them. they have extremely boring kit. only really gets exciting 50+. they do the worst dps out other 2.

Share your source please.
On mine, that you shouldn't speak about, BRD takes the lead on TEA and sometimes beat the DNC. But is more often above MCH.

That is considering latest savage Tier and TEA which is where you can get the most consistent data.
Unless anyone can correct me with logics and facts, not their opinion.

Granted DNC has busted buffs that needs nerfs/balance/removal but your potential is not limitless, you are limited by mathematics.
I don't have to hire an Harvard Astrophycist to explain that you will mostly fall in the average when it comes to RNG. You may have a "good RNG" but will never get the perfect RNG.

[HappyHubris]

I've been asking about dps jobs to my dps friends and they are kind of acting like bard is sort of 0.9 of a dps. I thought bard was a good dps to have with the buffs and all but I guess not?

I wouldn't worry about it. Pick what you personal enjoy the aesthetics and playstyle of. FFXIV isn't challenging enough for people to drop DPS over small % differences.

[Aeliott]

I'm suprised some mention the rotation, when it was widely praised as one of the best designed jobs in Stormblood, and rotationally nothing has changed except the addition of Apex Arrow; which while not the most fun skill ever doesn't particularly change what's fundamentally the same rotation as in Stormblood. Not saying SB Bard was flawless, but it does confuse me when this is brought up.

Gripes mainly stem from what was essentially them being shifted a bit away from the support identity they're known for; with MCH as the selfish ranged, DNC as the high support ranged, and BRD somewhere in the middle. That and a combination of the physical ranged role seeming less essential in Shadowbringers, with the removal of party MP/TP support which was previously quite invaluable. Casters are so strong that in optimal play, the damage from having 2 could overcome the 1% party deficite for not having the role present.

It's not a huge deal, since the balance in this game is still very tight, and it's not like phys ranged are a burden or anything (hell, cleared TEA with both DNC and MCH in the team). But it does feel like the whole point of the ranged phys role has been lost somewhat. They logically can't have as much damage as casters, but they've also lost most of their supportive features apart from DNC. Even Machinist is traditionally supportive in other FFs, I don't know why the whole role can't split some really useful damage buffs between them. At least if things like resource support are no longer necessary.

[aveyond-dreams]

It would be nice if Bard were actually a Bard and not an Arcane Ranger.

[Eric-Twinkletoes]

Oh dear; reading all these posts is really bad! I've just hit level 36 with my bard (I'm a new player and just thought the bow would be cool!), is there a case for just staying as an archer?

[aveyond-dreams]

Oh dear; this is really bad! I've just hit level 36 with my bard (I'm a new player and just thought the bow would be cool!), is there a case for just staying as an archer?

Nope. Staying as an Archer in 30+ instanced content is considered griefing by many. The base classes are nowhere near as useful as full jobs. I would love for there to be a dedicated Archer/Hunter class in this game and for Bard to be its own thing.

[Easayia]

Take everything people say about DPS differences with a grain of salt. In terms of balance this game is more balanced then most MMOs out there. ( And its to an extreme level) The difference in DPS is not as high as you would think. If you like Bard Play Bard. No ones going to shame you for playing it let alone as your main. ( If they are you need new friends) Every Job can do the content. Bards also getting a few nice changes with End walker one being another party wide buff ( similar to current Astros Divination) and 2 new skills and many Quality of life changes to make the kit feel even better. ( personally even now I like it plenty which is good because all they did was add to it.)

[Easayia]

I wouldn't worry about it. Pick what you personal enjoy the aesthetics and playstyle of. FFXIV isn't challenging enough for people to drop DPS over small % differences.

Exactly this the % differences are so small every job is viable if you like it play it. Bard is fun if you like it play it. Not all jobs fit everyone's playstyle.

[Grimoire-M]

Honestly Bard’s problem is that it’s support buffs feel too passive to be impactful and procs have this feat or famine nature to them thanks to their RNG that makes me wish they’d increase the Repertoire proc rate during Minuet only.

I’m fine with it’s dual aspects of Poison Ranger/Wind Magic Musician but I agree its songs need more impact. Coda does NOT accomplish this in my opinion. I would have vastly preferred a fourth song to align with raid buffs as opposed to the current iteration’s extension of the current song phases. I also kinda miss snapshotting. The mechanic for Coda could have more potential for fixing up the Voice gauge with an oGCD that consumes it for damage, ideally with a musical animation.

Though even if none of that got attention, Rather than ruin the job with another culling rework I’d rather add to their support kit or upgrade some actions to have a more musical feel to them. Ballad strikes me as a window where that could be possible by upgrading Bloodletter/Rain of Death during it.