All physical range DPS are perfect now!

[Taranok]

Let's casually forget that playing a Machinist well is also prohibited on the entire east coast because of lag. If MCH didn't need to constantly double weave or, especially, single weave on a 1.5s GCD, then MCH would truly be perfect.

[YanderePrincess]

I would also be totally okay with that. Splitting archer's jobs into two (like SMN and SCH) and having one job be BRD and the other be ranger would be absolutely choice.

They definitely wouldn't do it that way. They're already trying to separate SMN and SCH completely. I am interested in the idea of Songstress as a healer, though.

[HyoMinPark]

They definitely wouldn't do it that way. They're already trying to separate SMN and SCH completely. I am interested in the idea of Songstress as a healer, though.

Songstress as a healer would be interesting.

[TcomJ]

Not Bard, it's so disconnected with its lore it's rediculous.

Battle Voice and Trabador don't count btw. That's so copped out.

[Neela]

in my world current Brd would get TA, buff Nin for dmg - there we go dnc & brd only support cls ingame - logical lore wise... but well, I love Brds I started as Brd in AAR like I do in all RPGs which offers Ranger/Brd cls. But I would be sad killing Brd completely for a Ranger cls... cause I liked it for the support part not for the sniping part... also a reason I moved to dnc as well - I miss my grp-utility and therefor lore of my old range cls. : /

[Hakuohsama]

DNC and the MCH rework really made this a mess for BRD players.

MCH is now the DPS King of the physical range dps.
Dancer got all the Buffs but has the lowest dps.
BRD has Battle Voice and 2 support skills which barely matter and dps whise between those two.

Wardens Paean and Minne should be buffed or removed for something else..
In Raids both arent usefull enough.

[Connor]

As others have said, I agree with the general sentiment that while Machinist and Dancer are very well designed now, I think the fact that they are so well designed just highlights the issues with Bard’s identity problems.

Can’t speak for others but personally I feel like the damage dealing kit is perfectly fine design wise (aside from Apex Arrow potency weirdness). As a Ranger type job it’s great. As a Bard though, it feels lacking

[RyoXander]

I am fine with DNC being the lowest DPS because it does have pretty amazing buffs, but it's DPS is still TOO low according to numbers some people have been posting. It needs to stay under BRD's but not as low as it is right now. Even the bonus raid dmg from the buffs aren't enough to bring it up to par with other DPS currently.

DNC also needs a couple of it's abilities revised. Specifically Curing Waltz and Improvisation. Both are relatively useless at the moment. There are several rare occasions where they do help, a tiny bit, but they both still suck.

I think BRD needs a few of it's support abilities back, even if they are mild compared to DNC's.

[Rika007]

Agreed with many others. I'm sure those who wanted a more Ranger based, less support more DPS oriented job, current Bard makes them happy. But the thing was, Bard was already a popular job as it was being that hybrid DPS/Support job. It was one of the most popular jobs in the game, and SB Bard where they really brought that support function to the forefront was one of the most well received reworks in the history of the game. Bard didn't need to become more of a Ranger to please players. They already were pleased. And there was already another less support more DPS option available in MCH that just received an amazing rework that many players are loving.

We already know there is no way they will split BRD off like SMN and SCH into RNG. They've made it very clear split classes will never happen again. And they are not going to retcon the lore of the job. Way too much work and would also tick off the players who identify with it after 6 years. The best hope is they toned back Bard's utility this expansion just to try and tone down the meta and give DNC it's time to shine, and will add to it's support kit in a more thoughtful way down the line. Especially with how great it's DPS rotation feels, adding more support next expansion instead of damage would be a great way to make sure a solid DPS rotation doesn't get messed up.

That and just give us a non castable Foe's back on like a 2 minute cooldown. That would probably make most support loving Bards very happy. Woudn't even be OP really. You would use it far less over the course of a fight then you did in 4.0 due to no refresh options for a second use or extended burst, and it would in no way make Bard's support anywhere close to as powerful as Dancers.

[Nerfworthy]

I partially agree that MCH/DNC are awesome. BRD could use some work in the "bard" department as it plays more like a pure ranger now.