Bard 7.0 wishlist

[mallleable]

1. Songs no longer require a target.

This should help bring BRD in line with the other two physical ranged dps in terms of ease of use for being able to work around times when a boss becomes untargetable at odd times. Also what would be cool is if songs received upgrades to their names, and animations to reference previous expansions. Like The Wanderer’s Minuet could become Heavensward themed, Mages Ballad could become Stormblood themed, and Army’s Paeon could become Shadowbringers themed. Radiant Finale already feels Endwalker themed so I want the other songs to follow suit.

2. Bring in the half cast mechanic from pvp into pve.

The half cast mechanic that pvp BRD has is brilliant. It really adds weight to each shot like you are taking the time to fully draw the bow string, and aim each shot. It adds a good layer of complexity to positioning while not restricting movement too much like you are a magical ranged dps. A skill like Repelling Shot would feel way more valued if players had to be a little more considerate of their positioning while playing BRD.

3. More instances of damage like Barrage.

Another mechanic I want to carry over from pvp to pve is how Empyreal Arrow works in pvp. How it works in pvp is that there are three charges, and any time you use Powerful Shot (Burst Shot in pve), it reduces the recast time by five seconds. When Empyreal Arrow is used, it uses all available charges, adding a hit for each charge consumed like a mini ogcd Barrage. I want more instances of damage like this occurring throughout BRD’s rotation, not just during two minute burst. I would like Refulgent Arrow to be reworked to be a gcd version of pvp Empyreal Arrow except with a stacking buff. And make sure Shadwobite can be used with the same buff as Refulgent Arrow.

I feel like BRD’s damage needs to be a little more upfront, and not so spread thin like it is now, and having mini barrage-like attacks could help. Thematically I think this style of burst damage is appropriate because as a bard you amplify your allies attacks through music, and as an archer you can amplify your own attacks by ‘loading’ multiple arrows. BRD also needs more different buttons to press besides Burst Shot over, and over again.

4. More unique party buffs.

BRD should get the ability to increases movement speed for themselves, and their party. A movement speed buff could be either added to an existing buff like Battle Voice, Radiant Finale or Troubador. Or it can be an entirely new button. BRD could also be allowed to use peloton in combat with a trait. I feel like a buff like this would feel a lot more visceral than the usual healing or mitigation buff as well as help alleviate movement restrictions if it gets half casts.

5. Cut one or both dots.

Currently, BRD has two dots, each with their own separate buttons to apply them. And those two dots are maintained by a third button, Iron Jaws -- and Iron Jaws is neither an archery nor music skill. What is essentially one dot takes up three action slots on a hotbar, and two debuff slots on an enemy. It's redundant, and bloated. I do feel like there is value in refreshing a debuff at the last second that adds good busyness to the job, but this style of gameplay can be handled by just one dot skill. Cutting one or both dots will free up hotbar space for new actions.

Overall, I think BRD needs just a bit more feel-good firepower in Dawntrail. BRD uses a bow, and that should feel lethal. BRD also uses music, and it should feel as impactful as the game's soundtrack.

[DRKoftheAzure]

I would focus on the Archer base class first and give it more Archer abilities, especially at the lower levels.

[Rithy255]

Not a heavy bard player but I enjoyed playing the job so here's what I hope in general.
Firstly for physical ranged in general Leg/foot graze be reworked or do something different, it feels odd that ranged jobs have that sort of utility that really doesn't do much in most content, I just think ranged role actions need some updating in general, I'd also like the warden's paean having another effect, I like that it's a niche use ability that can be useful but It would be nice if it had a small "additional effect" (maybe some sort of mitigation or even regen if you were feeling spicy) So it had a general use case and some niche application.

Extra: As you've mentioned a speed boost would certainly fit bard, I also agree with no target songs, I disagree with you're DOT point though as I like bards damage overtime, I don't really think either needs to be took out personally.

I think Phys ranged strayed a bit from the "utility DPS" jobs they were originally designed for (even mentioned they provide support on the job guide)... I think Phys ranged in general can't really be performing better then melee/caster by default, so adding utility would at least give more reason outside the "1% buff" for phys ranged jobs, although I think phys ranged should be more closer then they are right now considering boss hit box sizes and all.

[mallleable]

Not a heavy bard player but I enjoyed playing the job so here's what I hope in general.
Firstly for physical ranged in general Leg/foot graze be reworked or do something different, it feels odd that ranged jobs have that sort of utility that really doesn't do much in most content, I just think ranged role actions need some updating in general, I'd also like the warden's paean having another effect, I like that it's a niche use ability that can be useful but It would be nice if it had a small "additional effect" (maybe some sort of mitigation or even regen if you were feeling spicy) So it had a general use case and some niche application.

Extra: As you've mentioned a speed boost would certainly fit bard, I also agree with no target songs, I disagree with you're DOT point though as I like bards damage overtime, I don't really think either needs to be took out personally.

I think Phys ranged strayed a bit from the "utility DPS" jobs they were originally designed for (even mentioned they provide support on the job guide)... I think Phys ranged in general can't really be performing better then melee/caster by default, so adding utility would at least give more reason outside the "1% buff" for phys ranged jobs, although I think phys ranged should be more closer then they are right now considering boss hit box sizes and all.

Yeah, I do think physical ranged role actions need another pass. I think I would want to cut Foot Graze, and give Leg Graze a second charge, and either bring back Hawk's Eye in a reworked form as like a Reassemble that all phys ranged can use (there would likely have to be some potency rebalancing to accommodate this) or give all phys ranged an Addle/Feint clone, and give buffs like Troub/Tact/Samba unique additional effects.

As someone who dearly misses dot procs like in Shadowbringers, I don't hold too much attachment to them. I have come to realize that it's not the dots that I miss, it's having procs scale with the number of enemies that can be hit which I think can be achieved through other means like having like having procs scale off of weaponskills successfully delivered -- like how Bloodwhetting works. Even the gameplay of refreshing a countdown timer at the last second can be achieved though other means like perhaps Stormbite granting a haste buff or replacing dots with a Hunter's Mark like skill or even making song uptime maintenance a bit busier. If BRD keeps any of its dots, I would some kind of extra interaction with other parts of its kit -- like do something with Sidewinder, and lean into the snake references BRD has going on, otherwise they can go.