A support/brd solution

[WhiteWindHD]

I posted a solution back in beta that Had some good responses / feedback. Seems like a good time to bring it up again. Please note that I do not play a brd and have zero problem with their current dps

My solution was to give support character archtypes stances that allowed them to switch between damage dealers or support.

Example: brd stances ( could not be changed on the fly, either locked while inside dungeons or on a significant cooldown. )

The damage stance would leave a bard as is dps wise, eliminate the -20 damage debuff to them and allow them to cast 1 song with 50% of its power.

The support stance would allow the bard to cast/upkeep two songs with a static 20% dps lose.

This allows support characters to fill a dps role in 4 man content 15-50 where support type characters are not needed, and a support or dps role in end game 8-24 man content as the group requires.

This system could carry over to multiple jobs yet to be released and would add that support role dynamic back into the game. Giving this option to current brds would allow them to still play the character how they want.

dps stance allows dps limit break while support stance offers healer limit break

[Genevive]

I like and I support it. Adjustments to classes like this will make the game more enjoyable and add another layer of strategy to battles. Would be nice if SE can get creative as opposed to just reducing overall dps.

[Kismet]

I think BRDs should be a support class. That's it. They should introduce a new ranged damage class such as Marksmen, Ranger, etc. Bards have traditionally been a support role in games. I actually like the idea of four (4) class archetypes in MMOs and the only one I can think of that did it "right" was Rift. You have the standard tank, healer, and damage, then you have the "pure" support that brings unique utility to the table (such as current BRD songs).

[Leraje]

I would like to see some support and healing skills which orientate through TP usage for the Bard
I don't mind the coming nerf because i didn't start the Bard for his damage or his mobilty. The priority for me was the unqiue support he delivers for the party

[Lecreuset]

Can hardly call us bards right now. We have 3 songs. Swiftsong doesn't even count because regular archers can use it lol

[WhiteWindHD]

Can hardly call us bards right now. We have 3 songs. Swiftsong doesn't even count because regular archers can use it lol

Yeah, I was a huge fan of the old brd, this is why I figured my solution would or could fix the issue. The current song roster is some what lacking for sure.

[Zheri]

I think BRDs should be a support class. That's it. They should introduce a new ranged damage class such as Marksmen, Ranger, etc. Bards have traditionally been a support role in games. I actually like the idea of four (4) class archetypes in MMOs and the only one I can think of that did it "right" was Rift. You have the standard tank, healer, and damage, then you have the "pure" support that brings unique utility to the table (such as current BRD songs).

The reason it worked in Rift but will absolutely not work in XIV as it stands now is party size. In a group of 6, there are enough other people that the support abilities have a significant enough impact to be worthwhile while not being completely broken in larger group settings. By going with a base group size of 4, SE has pigeonholed any support-type class into doing comparable damage to a true DD which means minimizing the support aspect so they are not terribly OP in larger groups.

[WhiteWindHD]

The reason it worked in Rift but will absolutely not work in XIV as it stands now is party size. In a group of 6, there are enough other people that the support abilities have a significant enough impact to be worthwhile while not being completely broken in larger group settings. By going with a base group size of 4, SE has pigeonholed any support-type class into doing comparable damage to a true DD which means minimizing the support aspect so they are not terribly OP in larger groups.

Which is why I believe my solution would work and add some more flavour to end game, more options for future jobs, more party diversity without changing those current players who want to dps as a brd.

[NeonC]

Stances are a slippery slope in my opinion, people will just want their main class to have everything. Support just has no primary role in this game, so what they need to do is target the main abilities that are essential in battles and spread them among all DPS in a practical manner.

[Nooblet]

So you're going to add more things that end up with almost the same result, just less flexibility.

If you want to nerf their damage.. you should nerf everyone else so they run out of tp and mp. Then bard will be using songs. /sarcasm

The way it was designed was that bard can do good dps.. and when using support abilities, they do lower dps... which is exactly what we have. Our dps is certainly not too strong, I believe most are not opposed to a few skills having a cast time so we can't run around 24/7 uneffected.

Anyway I think your idea is pretty pointless.
Bard is dps with option to do some very minor support at the cost of lowering their dps. Which is exactly what we have. They just have a little too much mobility, and other classes have a lack of silence (or atleast a lack of a good one ogcd)