#NerfBRD

[Bourne_Endeavor]

We also spoke about an idea where it ends up all five ranged jobs are fighting for both slots, as opposed to Bard having one slot, and the other four fighting for the leftovers. We can, and should nerf Bard, not just because of Machinist, but because something should be a red flag when Bard is in every conceivable meta assortment. Grimoire-M's suggestion of getting rid of Mana Shift and Refresh and replacing it with a magic variant of Goad, I think, would work best in that circumstance.

Yes. And you accomplish that by addressing why Physical Range are always valued over Casters. Nerfing BRD is irrelevant in that discussion. I'm not even against the idea of a small DPS loss hence my speculation BRD won't get the full 5% back when Piercing, hopefully, dies. But it isn't going to change the raid scene due to MCH's current gameplay being almost universally hated. You balance all five jobs by looking at what separates them. And that is currently how much better Refresh is than Mana Shift. If that isn't addressed, nerfing BRD by 1-2-5% won't make a lick of difference.

If Bard weren't the bread and butter of every static, Machinist would definitely be more popular. As is, Machinists who aren't being asked to switch to Bard, because Bard is better than Machinist in every way that matters, are already switching to Bard because their favorite job is sandwiched between the Casters, whom it can't be too much better than or it would enforce MCH/BRD again and BRD, whom is one of the best jobs in the game.

Then why did BRD command a similar lead in Deltascape? Or back in Heavensward, where MCH was flat out considered better at various points? MCH has been dead last since its release. I also never said MCH wouldn't be more popular, I said it's popularity would abruptly soar—especially not to the estimations put forth. Even in its heyday, MCH just hasn't been liked. The only way this gets rectified is if they overhaul the job come 5.0. Which should happen. People are demanding it now though. And while it would be nice, we know that won't be in the case.

[Dualgunner]

Yes. And you accomplish that by addressing why Physical Range are always valued over Casters. Nerfing BRD is irrelevant in that discussion.

Agreed. And as I already said, Grimoire-M's idea seems to fit that the best: ranged will have Goad and Mana Goad, Melee will have Goad, and Casters will have Mana Goad; this would fix a lot on its own.

I'm not even against the idea of a small DPS loss hence my speculation BRD won't get the full 5% back when Piercing, hopefully, dies.

Glad we agree.

But it isn't going to change the raid scene due to MCH's current gameplay being almost universally hated.

It will at least change the climate to not be 1/5DPS are Bards.

You balance all five jobs by looking at what separates them. And that is currently how much better Refresh is than Mana Shift. If that isn't addressed, nerfing BRD by 1-2-5% won't make a lick of difference.

How much better refresh is than mana shift, in addition to the ease one can weave through mechanics when uptime isn't even close to an issue where casters and melee have to measure where and when they stand to get the best uptime on the boss, absolutely bonkers burst potential, passive 2% crit buff on the whole party and increased DHit from B. Voice and increased flat damage from Foe's, a 30 second long mitigation tool that requires no target.

Then why did BRD command a similar lead in Deltascape?

Because Bard has been that good through the whole expansion. Bard's commanded a lead over every other DPS this whole expansion, I'd wager. Or are you insinuating that Bard wasn't the bread and butter back in Deltascape?

Or back in Heavensward, where MCH was flat out considered better at various points? MCH has been dead last since its release. I also never said MCH wouldn't be more popular, I said it's popularity would abruptly soar—especially not to the estimations put forth.

Its popularity wouldn't soar, you're right. But Bard right now is so good that 1 in every 5 dps uploads, of every DPS job, is a Bard. Maybe Bard doesn't need to be so good and powerful that it is the static-maker.