Bard Damage Reduction in PVP

[RiceisNice]

I've seen Bards do excellently reliably, at least in the realm of damage throughout a match, but...



...I'd be somewhat okay with this. But I believe the reduction should be lowered (halved?), not removed completely. BRD/MCH cast times are low, so there needs to be a balancing factor.

It's not a problem with the cast time's length, it's that they have to stand still for it. The consequence esasperates the ranged penalty since they are supposed to be reactively moving to stay within sweet spot range. MCH can move with their shot procs, but their sustained damage is relatively low, requires ammo to be reliable, and their burst is tied to BtE and a reassembled clean shot.

[Vandril]

It's not a problem with the cast time's length, it's that they have to stand still for it. The consequence esasperates the ranged penalty since they are supposed to be reactively moving to stay within sweet spot range. MCH can move with their shot procs, but their sustained damage is relatively low, requires ammo to be reliable, and their burst is tied to BtE and a reassembled clean shot.

I got that. I think you misunderstood what I was saying. ...Or am I misunderstanding you? It is late, after all...

What I was trying to express was that it isn't exactly the same situation with BLM and BRD/MCH using WM/GB. Sure, they both have to stand there and cast, but - correct me if I'm wrong, as this is hearsay on my part - BLM cast times tend to be longer than BRD/MCH cast times. The damage bonus from WM/GB overcomes most if not all of the damage difference between BLM and BRD/MCH. Considering similar damage with lower cast times, removing the sweet spot entirely while using WM/GB would likely cause BRD/MCH to become a little too advantageous in PvP.

Assuming what I said above about cast times and damage is true, it would probably be safer (for the sake of class balance) to greatly reduce the damage reductions placed on the BRD/MCH while not in the sweet spot so long as WM/GB is up.

[RiceisNice]

...

The damage difference is applied after all said and done. Even with a 30% damage boost (and you're losing auto attacks on top of this, mind you), a 50% damage penalty (yes it's that high) will have everything hitting like wet noodles and the best you'll do is interrupt casts (which...auto attacks can do, and you can time your hits against their cast times without having a cast time yourself).

A BRD/MCH will not come to the same degree of damage as a BLM. Even with WM/GB included (as well as all the abilities attached), they're still doing comparatively less damage relative to the other classes who are using their 3.0 tool kits as they were in 2.0. What was a 10% difference in class damage output in 2.0, is still present in 3.0 if all classes were using their new skills.

[Dimitrii]

You were pretty lucky his blast shot was on cooldown. or at least i hope it was on cooldown lol

[distant-cubix]

I often don't bother with WM on bard in FL so I can maintain my movement, I wonder if the ability to use it would help boost my DPS, I still consider myself an interupter over a damage class and try to capture tomes and keep would be attackers off our one healer it we have one ������

[QCrimson]

Really ? First time I've heard of it.

[CeveArthu]

Really ? First time I've heard of it.

Then today is a learning experience

[QCrimson]

That might have been justified back in the day but it seems a bit extreme now :O

[Dimitrii]

I dont get why penalize them for being close anyway. They have no advantage and are often wrecked if people close in on them so may as well not nerf their dmg. Oh well. For brds/mch users sake maybe they will do something about it later.