Bards need a buff

[Akesis]

It's not even the lowest by that big of a margin.

Not that big of a margin? Please show me a parse of a BRD competing with a 470-500 dps MNK. Too high? How about a 450-480 dps SMN. still too high? Now that BLM's got a buff, how about a 450+ dps BLM. no? I have seen parses of DRG's in the 450's + also. Please show me one (non photoshop) BRD pulling anywhere close to those kinds of numbers in a raid.

45 dps+ is a HUGE margin.

[Kamifubuki-Yoakesetsuri]

Not that big of a margin? Please show me a parse of a BRD competing with a 470-500 dps MNK. Too high? How about a 450-480 dps SMN. still too high? Now that BLM's got a buff, how about a 450+ dps BLM. no? I have seen parses of DRG's in the 450's + also. Please show me one (non photoshop) BRD pulling anywhere close to those kinds of numbers in a raid.

45 dps+ is a HUGE margin.

Of course a DRG can pull 450+DPS
If you want to do so much dps why don't you become a mnk then? unless you want to give up your usefulness you won't be getting a buff in damage.

[Akesis]

Of course a DRG can pull 450+DPS
If you want to do so much dps why don't you become a mnk then? unless you want to give up your usefulness you won't be getting a buff in damage.

I never once said a BRD should do more dps then a "non-useful MNK/DRG". I said that there shouldn't be such a huge difference. DD classes are DD classes. Support is support. There are no support class in this game.

15 dps is a large margin... top end FC's sit people (and sometimes discharge them) for this kind of disparity within their respective jobs. Our 1.5 "useful" support abilities are not make or break a fight good. Do they come in handy? Sure. Are they required? No. Every one of these fights are tuned to be killed without a BRD in the party. I could live with bottom of the list, sometimes in the middle because of our "usefulness". However, please justify a 45-85 dps difference between DD's.

[Sleigh]

Not that big of a margin? Please show me a parse of a BRD competing with a 470-500 dps MNK. Too high? How about a 450-480 dps SMN. still too high? Now that BLM's got a buff, how about a 450+ dps BLM. no? I have seen parses of DRG's in the 450's + also. Please show me one (non photoshop) BRD pulling anywhere close to those kinds of numbers in a raid.

45 dps+ is a HUGE margin.

I think you're neglecting Foe's contribution to DoM in your party. Foe's can be quite a decent sustained buff if played constantly, and it is by rights attached to BRD if talking about class balance and justification for bringing a class.

Also, BRD can do pretty close to those 450s that DRG/SMN/BLM can pull if buffed with DRG. If you buff BRD DPS, discounting all their other major advantages outside of their low-ish damage not counting Foe's, DRG BRD BRD caster will become a pretty ridiculous comp and upset the current balance the DPS have, which is pretty good.