Bard as a healer?

[Ayalu]

No, I do like the current bard using martially inclined archer feats, and I don't understand what's the problem. I even find the bow-harps weapons kind of unique and interesting creatively speaking.

Its not a problem talk, its just a friendly conversation about if the "Bard" Fantasy would be suit a different execution.
There are no demands or anything.

[Zeastria]

I do think instruments and songs could fit as a healer theme.
You have something called "Sound Healing".

[Rithy255]

I feel as if ff14 healers kind of bland where they all have to be "mages"

Personally I would have loved a sort of ninja like healer or a holy knight healer (green paladin lol).

Not against the "mage" look (i play a lot of black mage lol) but all 4 healers somewhat play into that, leaves little room for more interesting designs.

[Ayalu]

I think part of that is that the only "mundane" healer in FF is the Chemist AKA Doctor, Salvemaker or Item Master. Otherwise it just White Magic used for healing or Summons.

[Ramiee]

I agree 100%, even better if Bard would share EXP with DPS version of Bard same as Summoner and Scholar

If that system worked well I would be on board with it, maybe it was the plan if SCH and SMN worked out well. But yeah not a fan of that happening.

[Ayalu]

Also the Devs ignore already that the Stories of the Class and the CLass that exist are so far distance from each other that these stories can become confusing.
Astrologian would be a good example for that as they speak about the different signs and effects or when the Scholar unlock quest told me about the different abilities of fairies.
Summoner faces similar problems....they realy would need to adjust them at some point.

[Taranok]

I do think instruments and songs could fit as a healer theme.
You have something called "Sound Healing".

LOTRO actually has this as a class, named Minstrel. It fits more with their "Morale instead of health," system, but it was also an extremely fun fantasy back in the day.

If at all possible, I'd definitely like it if Archer were forked, with modern Bard going over to ranger and Bard bard turning into support. However, the devs need to fix their encounter design philosophy to even allow for this. Healer and tank design is a joke, and the joke is so bad that even DPS are starting to get wrapped up in the awful encounter design problems. Though if they do this, they need to also make Bard bard no longer use bows. Summoners using books has caused annoyances to say the least, and it would be nice to fork the classes in such a way as to make the 2 classes use different weapons.

[Raikai]

No, I do like the current bard using martially inclined archer feats, and I don't understand what's the problem. I even find the bow-harps weapons kind of unique and interesting creatively speaking.

The problem is that the idea of Bards using music in a magical way is what people are used to in the FF franchise... And the mix between a martial archer and a bard doesn't sit well with some folks, myself included.

It's a matter of personal taste, honestly. I also think the BRD fantasy would be better realized as a DoM than a DoW, and the archer could benefit much more evolving into something like Ranger, adding archery to nature survival skills.

[Tunda]

LOTRO actually has this as a class, named Minstrel. It fits more with their "Morale instead of health," system, but it was also an extremely fun fantasy back in the day.

If at all possible, I'd definitely like it if Archer were forked, with modern Bard going over to ranger and Bard bard turning into support. However, the devs need to fix their encounter design philosophy to even allow for this. Healer and tank design is a joke, and the joke is so bad that even DPS are starting to get wrapped up in the awful encounter design problems. Though if they do this, they need to also make Bard bard no longer use bows. Summoners using books has caused annoyances to say the least, and it would be nice to fork the classes in such a way as to make the 2 classes use different weapons.

Let them use the same weapon like summoner and scholar but with different stats.

[Connor]

The problem is that the idea of Bards using music in a magical way is what people are used to in the FF franchise... And the mix between a martial archer and a bard doesn't sit well with some folks, myself included.

It's a matter of personal taste, honestly. I also think the BRD fantasy would be better realized as a DoM than a DoW, and the archer could benefit much more evolving into something like Ranger, adding archery to nature survival skills.

This; Bard is practically the only existing job in Final Fantasy XIV with absolutely no resemblance to the traditional job in Final Fantasy. Even Sage you could reduce to ‘uses attack and healing magic equally’ which in theory is true of XIV’s version as well. But taking a traditional support/healer mage job and turning it into a physical damage dealer with no remnants whatsoever of what it’s actually based on, doesn’t seem like the vibe to me.
Doubly so when they then pair it with an entirely separate class it’s literally never been associated with in any Final Fantasy bar this one. Like, yes Edward can equip bows in FFIV, but I highly doubt anyone is going to associate him with a bow and arrow because he’s a Bard. So can Rosa, but they aren’t exactly smashing Ranger and White Mage into one job, so why is it ok to do that to Bard?

As a note, I’m well aware it’s far, far, faaaar too late for Bard to change to ever actually be a Final Fantasy Bard, and not a hideous Yoshida (tm) Bard, but I can still dream!