How do i increase my dps as a brd?

[DeathFiend]

As a long time bard, I have found some macros to work perfectly in any situation. Also, because how macros work, it makes it easy to fire the right skill at the right time.

Obv, the main macro all bard should have is:
/micon "Blunt Arrow"
/ac "Blunt Arrow"
/p Used Silence on <t> <se.5>

Then to keep buffs up as much as possible and still pound out DPS without "human" error:
/micon "Heavy Shot"
/ac "Internal Release" <me>
/ac "Heavy Shot" <t>
Note: I keep IR on HS since it should be the most used skill.

/micon "Straight Shot"
/ac "Blood for Blood" <me>
/ac "Straight Shot" <t>
Note: SS should always be up, but not spammed, unless crit proc. So using BfB here is perfect since the 25% debuff during phases where you take damage isnt good.

/micon "Venomous Bite"
/ac "Raging Strikes" <me>
/ac "Venomous Bite" <t>

/micon "Windbite"
/ac "Hawk's Eye" <me>
/ac "Windbite" <t>

For VB and WB, it just helps to have the least used CD on them since you will need to use them at a moments notice.

FYI, I have found that using CD with GCD skills only gives a 0.5-1 sec delay between the two, so by human standards... thats a bit faster than having you constantly move your mouse to the right skill or pressing the right combination of buttons on PS3 controller.

Everything else, should be used situational such as Quelling Strike, Bloodletter and Barrage. Always use BL and Barrage as soon as they proc.. Always. Quelling Strike should only be used at the beginning of a phase change so that the tank can build aggro properly.. never should be used during max dps phase. If need to use during max dps phase.. then get a better tank.

Other skills like Rain of Death and Flaming Arrow should really be used at the beginning of a phase. This actually helps slows your DPS enough for tank to build own aggro. Repelling Shot and Silence should never be a go to skill for more DPS. BL should proc more if your DPSing right, so using those skills basically waste 3-4 secs which you could have 2 procs of BL already. If your in a bad situation and you need to jump then use Repelling Shot, other wise, keep it on CD.

Also, (For everyone NON-Bard) songs are not required from start to end of a battle. The amount of DPS I lose just to make your attack a tiny bit more potent does not equate. I go from 230-240 DPS to 200-210DPS with song up. I personally play Mage Ballad w/ Battle Voice when Healers only have less than half MP. Only play foe req during Max DPS phase when there are 2-3 DPS casters or if WHM can spam Holy. Otherwise, why waste my own MP to get +10 DPS for a single caster? Then I'm out of MP and the Healers have no MP either. WAUT DO? If you say bring potions... buy them for me then. Oh, and never ask me to play Army's Paeon... seriously, learn to maintain your TP or get better gear with less Skill Speed.