Why is BRD considered "support"

[Xanikk999]

I was leveling my bard and I just heard they were bad DPS at 60 because they were considered "Support" jobs by Square Enix.

This has me concerned because it seems to me bards were just singled out. Why? Because all DPS classes have some form of Utility besides just straight DPS. For example:

DRG have their piercing debuff and that new cooldown they got in heavensward that buffs crit.
Ninjas have goad.
Summoners have virus.
I'm sure monks and black mages have something too.

So it seems to me that the label of "Support" for bards is a little arbitrary. We have our songs but thats no different than any other classes utility. Why should we suffer lower damage because of that? We apparently aren't any more mobile at 60 either because of wanderers minuet.

Anyone agree/disagree?

[AlphaFox]

People who don't play as Bards consider them support. They can hold their own if the person controlling them knows what they are doing.

[Fynlar]

Simply put, I feel like most do it because it's a stereotype for bards in RPGs in general to fit a support role.

That and the fact that in FFXI, it definitely was a support role.

[Alahra]

MCH falls into the same category. The developers (for whatever reason) consider the MP and TP regen abilities of the two classes to be different from the utility-type stuff that other classes have. Army's Paeon and Promoted Rook are AoE whereas Goad is not (up until recently, BRD/MCH had the only option for AoE TP regen, in fact--AST can now provide this as well, but on a pretty limited and random basis). BRD/MCH also have the only way to provide Magic Vulnerability (Foe Requiem and Hypercharged Bishop).

Whether or not that's enough to warrant their DPS deficit, I don't know. Personally, I'm of the opinion that their DPS should be higher with Wanderer's Minuet/Gauss Barrel active than it is now (probably another 10% or so, but that's just a gut number).

[CosmicKirby]

A.) They, by design do comparably less DPS than other classes, although it's not more than 15% or so in optimal situations, (ie target dummy fights/Faust). Anyone who says they aren't, clearly hasn't compared same ilevel weapons between classes and noticed that, by design, BRDs and MCHs have less physical damage than others, ever healers.
B.) Yeah, MCHs are so similar to BRDs it's insane.

[AskaRay]

Because we "support" the party..
haha, sorry. Couldn't help it.

For real though it's because "the devs said so" and that's about it...


Psst you can be just as mobile if you know what to do. I'm gonna leave this thread now, have fun everyone in here!

[Kemas]

There's a LOT of bad bards and machinists out there- it was the same stigma in 2.0. I remember being recruited to multiple statics at a time because I was able to both push dps and use songs properly. A lot are drawn to the idea of being a straight dps or a straight support but brd is fully capable of doing both extremely well when played properly. I know a lot of that centered around brds opener in 2.0 and I presume the same holds true. I mistakenly chose to change my main to PLD for 3.0 only to be crapped on by SE but TLDR: play the job properly/maximize your full potential and you'll be one of the few proper brds.

Oh and PSA: foe's requiem is a good thing. :P

One more addition: MOST new brd and mch I have grouped with don't understand the value of AOE abilities and spreading that damage across groups of 3 or more- additionally, the application of DoTs to multiple mobs to help proc triggering. Let's hope these "bad brd and mch" read this... One can hope.

[Xanikk999]

For the amount of utility (which is negligibly different enough imo), 15% damage difference is unfair.

[Xanikk999]

Because we "support" the party..
haha, sorry. Couldn't help it.

For real though it's because "the devs said so" and that's about it...


Psst you can be just as mobile if you know what to do. I'm gonna leave this thread now, have fun everyone in here!

Then I will say I think the developers are boneheads. I don't see why they think our difference in utility is worth a 15% damage difference.

[AskaRay]

Then I will say I think the developers are boneheads. I don't see why they think our difference in utility is worth a 15% damage difference.

I have Opinions about that too... but right now, I don't mind too much. I can still DPS numbers that make me happy and I can support my team when needed.
Despite all the whinings when HW came out that "bards wouldn't be wanted, etc etc", it's almost every day I see an ad for a Brd/MCH in a static. So.

I'm fine playing the "wait and see" game.