Trying to choose one (Bard or Machinist)

[Israacf]

So after spending 2 weeks trying to find a main, I found out I wanted to support my party while also being a ranged dps, so it's narrowed down to mch and brd.

I just wanted to ask bard and machinist players what they think about their endgame, how it holds up, mostly, is it fun? Any pros or cons?

Also, your thoughts on animations, gear and stories would be appreciated

Thanks!

[Rikkustrife]

Both are fine in endgame, are wanted for support, and do good damage.

Bard is fun, but wanderer's minuet has some issues, it doesn't flow well with some of bard's abilities.
Machinist is better, since it was designed from the beginning with gauss barrel in mind, so it flows a lot better.
I like bard's animations, aside from ironjaws, and the casting animation during wanderer's minuet makes no sense.
People seem to have issue with machinists animations as well, so it seems pretty even there.

They share the same gear, except for AF gear.
Bard AF



Machinist AF

'

There is a lot of other cool sets, but they would all be the same whichever you chose

[Snowaeth]

MCH is stronger if you can have a full physical comp and on single target bosses.
BRD is a must if you run a 2 mages comp.

Overall both are decently equal and most groups are not to picky about one or the other if the player is good.

MCH is slightly more bursty where the BRD is a bit more sustained. Bard performs better on double/tripple target fights where the targets won't instantly explode.
MCH has an easier time when it comes to tp/mp recovery skills due to instant casts on turrets and the regen can be slightly more than BRD's since it can be buffed for MCH too where BRD can't buff the regen on themselves.
BRD regen songs take 3sec to cast.

MCH can have movement on demand, where BRD movement is dependent on RNG (You don't want to drop WM/Gauss unless it's absolutely needed) so MCH slightly edges BRD in that department.
MCH probably has a bit higher skill cap to it over BRD as the timings are tighter, but in return MCH buffs align better, so the skill cap for both lies in slightly different spots and one might have an easier time with mch over brd depending on player.

[seekified]

Basically my stance on the subject.

Nah, both jobs are quite fun, even if I do still feel that bards need some minor changes to make Wanderer's Minuet flow better with their skillset. Absolutely loving MCH though, pretty high-pace job with lots to do most of the time but very rewarding and very flexible.

[Israacf]

Thanks guys, the only thing setting me back from Mch is aesthetics and the clunky animations (Slug shot I'm looking at you).

I've been main healer for 2 years so I don't mind the "lack of mobility". People have been telling me to play machinist because bard is outright inferior and not as fun to play, so I don't know, I'm confused.

[OneWingedSora]

MCH is stronger if you can have a full physical comp and on single target bosses.
BRD is a must if you run a 2 mages comp.

Foes is actually better even with a single mage.

http://pastebin.com/qQTwe237

Credits go to Eliroo/Lavieh for that pastebin.

[Geardagas]

Both are fine in endgame, are wanted for support, and do good damage.

Bard is fun, but wanderer's minuet has some issues, it doesn't flow well with some of bard's abilities.
Machinist is better, since it was designed from the beginning with gauss barrel in mind, so it flows a lot better.
I like bard's animations, aside from ironjaws, and the casting animation during wanderer's minuet makes no sense.
People seem to have issue with machinists animations as well, so it seems pretty even there.

Wanderer's Minuet is perfectly fine. Better than fine, actually. Get to 60 then try it out.

OP, pick whichever one you like. They are very similar. I feel like bard is better overall because of Requiem, but i'm also very biased.

[Snowaeth]

Foes is actually better even with a single mage.

http://pastebin.com/qQTwe237

Credits go to Eliroo/Lavieh for that pastebin.

To begin with I said full physical comp which means no mage, which is pretty good for current meta (brd+mch getting that drg buff and mch buff or tripple melee).

Also that math, looks good on paper when you round up the numbers nicely and spread them around however.
In actual fights that are not on ez mode farm healers don't account for 10% together it's only one healer going ham at best.
Also the mages if equal skill levele would only reach equal % to the melee's with foe's not without so counting the mage at same % as melee is another flaw.
Skilled OT's (especially warriors) also pull very high numbers and if there is a DRG in party the MCH/BRD wouldn't be far from the mages either not unlike shown in that math example.

So what am I saying here?
MCH in a 2 melee comp is at worst equal to bard buff wise and at best will already outbuff BRD.
Let alone that Hypercharge does not use up MP, where any bard song does.
This means that any BRD that has to play any other song that foe's will cut into his foe's time where MCH can hypercharge then use regen during Hypercharges cooldown for both effective dps boost and regen where in BRD case the regen costs part of the dps boost.
This means that bard that has to play anything other than foe's will cut into foe's uptime unlike MCH with Hypercharge.

[FreeLancer4]

^
If you enjoy both then play both as they share gear and just change over depending on the party composition if your in heavy need of the dps increase. If you just want to bunker down with one then (assuming by "your party" you mean a static) choose which one best compliments your composition.

While I cant speak for bards, I do enjoy MCH. If my static didn't ask for my SMN id probably main it. If I had to put a bet down id wager that MCH is probably the more APM intensive of the two and as such will ask more of the player to play optimally. If skill required is going to affect your decision then you should take note of this point.

So far as endgame goes ive cleared A1 Savage on it multiple times with respectable dps. (Since week 1) Bard seems like the superior choice on A2 tho, as the smn + vun stacks + foe's equates to devastation. Cant speak for A3/4 Savage as were still trying to get that elusive ideal/perfect attempt on A2, the one where mistakes aren't made/people don't disconnect as we appear to have the dps requirement down.