BARD 2.1 change [requesting letter from the producer explanation]

[Danko]

Well, as there are no (and possibly never will be) full support roles I think our idea of "Support" and "DPS with good utility" coincide. They are not the best DPS but have great ability to support the party through a variety of skills, as opposed to say a Lancer who has no intentions of supporting anyone ever. lol

Aside from slow, stuns, +10% piercing damage for party and +10% HP healed for party?

There are no pure DPS classes. They all have support options.

BRD is not a support job. It is not a hybrid. It is a DPS.

The problem with BRD is not and never was its support options relative to its DPS being out of balance. The only issue with BRD DPS is its mobility being out of balance with other DPS during fights that are unreasonably difficult for melees to maintain up time.

BRD is already one of, if not the weakest DPS class in the entire game. And it certainly is not the only one with strong support options.

[Mekhana]

Aside from slow, stuns

Don't work in Coil at all.

+10% piercing damage

This debuff was made for the drg in mind, having a bard around is a bonus. (we do piercing damage fyi)

+10% HP healed for party

That's monk, a different job btw.

BRD is already one of, if not the weakest DPS class in the entire game. And it certainly is not the only one with strong support options.

"Support DRG."

[Sylari]

A question. Is the "bards lowest DPS in the game" comment regarding only normal play? How do songless bards stack up by comparison to their competition?

That's monk, a different job btw.

Isn't Mantra a cross skill?

[Viridiana]

Isn't Mantra a cross skill?

It is, but only MNK gets the +10% version.

[Etgar]

The thing is that below ilevel 70 they shine, however after this point bard seems to fall behind in damage. The thing they have is strong over all dps, good aoe, good 1v1, good debuffs, them songs, silence, and movement.
I never get out dpsed by a bard, he has more utility however so still good to bring.

[GodzillaMagnum]

How can people even say bards are support when the only support abilities they have are in their songs. By and large they are an offensive damage class. I wouldn't mind some bard nerfs once whatever other job class for archer comes out and we can choose to excel at DPS or go in favor of songs but right now I think bards are fine, especially since we are still out damaged by summoners by a huge margin and black mages are pretty close to our damage as well while offering AoE. If anything buff Melee dps and leave the rest alone.

[xcifux]

All opinions are based on the pve model. Just understanding that simple fact means that there should be no nerfs involved. If anything buff other classes. Pve is about getting the job/encounter done. Nerfing any class will just make it harder for everyone to clear content. Yes if something is blatantly op it should be fixed, but all I see are issues other classes have that should be addressed.

[LaughingOctopus]

For all the bards out there,

We actually do a lot of dmg. These DPS meters are simply rubbish. Flaming Arrow it self is not counted in FFXIV APP and its +80 dmg DoT. If a brd do their DoTs correctly with Buffs we might out match a BLM without even counting Flaming Arrow. A lot of people are saying BRD is faceroll job. A lot of people are simply idiots. You do not need people's approval. Chill guys. Remember that the idiot will need Ballad soon. In the end Nerfing BRD means Nerfing Coil's groups because 99.9% of groups has a brd in them. If the nerf is very bad they will change it back.

Cheers!

[Danko]

The only thing causing a BRD to out match a BLM is a discrepancy in gear, skill or both.

[LaughingOctopus]

I doubt it, the BLM that I am considering is extremely skilled. Also, he is 12/13 iLv90 too. High DPS on a BRD is not easy my friend but doable. Have faith !