Ask Questions for Letter from the Producer LIVE Part XXIII!

[Asheilin]

Bard and Machinist dps is far lower then their abilities say they should be. Thought/Suggestion to follow. WM and GB do not increase their dps, it lowers it. Taking it off however locks them at level 50 + stats because 50+ abilities are only usable in the dps losing stance. They are doing less apparent % damage then bard was in ARR content before HW changes. This is bad. I see three options
1) Turn auto-attacks back on
This would help a great deal but personally I still feel is insufficient
2) Increase Cast-time potency a great deal
This likely would do the trick, but seeing the potency change vastly between stance on and off seems wrong too
3) Return auto-attacks AND give a mild potency increase to Cast-time actions
This makes the most sence for a couple reasons. firstly, They're using ranged weapons that auto-attack, there is NO reason they wouldn't take a pop-shot while reading a stronger ability if they have the opportunity to do so. Secondly, your plain of GB/WM giving them better damage but forcing them to Turret to do it means just that; You must stand in place to use any ability. Moving cancels that and you cannot cast again until you stop moving. They should auto attack. if mages had a ranged weapon and not use a melee weapon to channel I'd say they should too. Thirdly, if you really need to have GB/WM make auto-attacks do X% normal damage or normal potency but happens slower/less times then when not in the stance.