New player... Archer for now need some advice.

[Recklessfun]

OK so I just started playing about a month ago.... I've always been a huge fan of any kind of ranged dps in an mmo so archer got my vote when I started playing this. Having alot of fun so far and I'm lvl 35 right now about to start the other stuff on my way to becoming a brd. I know I've seen all the stuff that a brd will never be top dps and it's more of a dps/support role which I've never really done.

So I do wanna eventually do end content raiding and was wanting to know if I'm doing the right course with sticking to doing a brd or should I change to something else that would be better raid viable? I mean I wanna be a good dps player of course but also help others as well

[Canadane]

Not sure what you mean by raid viable. Support roles are sought after for their recovery skills. Being top DPS isn't everything.

So yes you're kind of a support role as a bard (and Machinist) but it's not like you're not pushing out numbers either. You kind of just toggle the restoritive ones on and off as needed, it's not something that'll always be running (only Foe Requiem and Wanderer's Minuet are like that, which only increase dps). If you like that calss, first get it to 60 and see if you still like it, then consider it.

[Recklessfun]

OK cool I guess I'll see how it goes after 60 then... I just meant raid viable like the sense of my class would definitely be thought of bringing to the road instead of a different class. I don't know what other buffs/debuffs other classes have compared to mine and which would better. But yeah I guess I'll worry about all that when I hit 60....im just bad at thinking ahead too much..

[SeriousxSarcasm]

Good BRDs are highly desired in raid content, so you don't have to worry about that lol. Got a Dun Scaith run where we had 3 BLMs, 1 SMN and a BRD. Bard was able to increase the party DPS ridiculously high even if his own numbers took a cut. So all depends. They have some of the best utility and their numbers are nothing to sneeze at, but if you have the burning desire to be top DPS then I guess you could switch. I was actually thinking of switching to BRD once I get it leveled if I still like it at 60 lol.

[Recklessfun]

So u can choose anything to play but have to lvl it from scratch? And I don't really have the burning desire to be top dps but I would like to be the top half at least lol. I really do like that I can still move and cast though. Still trying to figure out my rotation a bit even though I don't have all my spells yet.

[Frizze]

Any DPS is viable in a raid environment. At the high end, player skill makes a much bigger impact then class differences*. Monk is considered top individual DPS by many, but a poorly played monk wont even be out damaging the healers or tanks in their groups. Many(most?) statics run with one support DPS to boost everyone while still contributing decent damage. Any static with a BLM or SMN(and probly RDM come june) is going to be ecstatic to add a good BRD. You can help with regen if mana/tp get tight, and Foe's Requiem is giving all your casters(including healers) a 10-20% boost in damage, all while you do your own damage too. You should do fine.

*Subject to change if they mess up class balance at some point in the future.

[SeriousxSarcasm]

Yup. <3 Except the Heavensward Jobs start at level 30. I would recommend giving all the classes a try and then sticking with one to get through story.

Bards can do a lot of damage on their own (I've seen a lot out-DPS most casters), but it's mostly their support songs people are keen on lol. And just to warn you, the "moving and casting" won't last. I know a lot of people quit Bard once they get to higher levels because they hate having to stand still for the higher level skills.

I would recommend looking up a rotation/opener guide, if you're unsure. There might be one in the DPS forums (it's where I found mine for Summoner), but google will probably have something.

[Lambdafish]

Two things to add:

- All classes in this game are viable in raid, however managing optimal setup is something that could be worth learning if you are interested in it (for example, BRD and DRG are great together). If being optimal doesn't matter to you then I would suggest not getting sucked into the viability debate and play whatever job you want in raid. Also, stormblood is in 3 months and things will change drastically anyway, so don't get attached to the way your class plays right now.

- If you want to see how BRD works at endgame, do Palace of the dead in quarrymill.

[Rongway]

Got a Dun Scaith run where we had 3 BLMs, 1 SMN and a BRD. Bard was able to increase the party DPS ridiculously high even if his own numbers took a cut.

If he was singing Foe Requiem, his numbers didn't take a cut. Foe Requiem increases all magic damage done by anyone whether they are in the party or not, with no damage decrease to the singer. It should be on as much as possible, and during a 24-man raid, ASTs should be showering a Requiem-singing BRD with all the Ewers instead of burning them for AoE.

[SaitoHikari]

Bard is a fairly easy class to play but super hard to optimize. But once you've mastered being able to juggle your support options AND pull off high DPS at the same time, everyone notices.

In my own raid team, I've somehow ended up as top DPS even though my experience as a raider is far lower than the others in the team. Bards right now seem really broken if played optimally.

Right now, just learn how your skills work and how they interact with each other. You want to take special note of Venomous Bite, Windbite, and Bloodletter/Rain of Death later. This is especially after you get the River of Blood trait at Lv. 48.