why bards are hunters

[MsQi]

I've said it before, an Archer is not a Bard, a Rogue is not a Ninja, etc. They should develop base classes as separate jobs or each class should have 2 or more Jobs, like arcanist, summoner, scholar.

They keep trying to create new novel Jobs and it is clear it's getting harder to make something unique, especially if they stick with the throughput based trinity paradigm. I would be way into a primarily support based Bard, and more damage centered Ranger. I would love a true Rogue or Thief as well. However the game is just not deep enough in its current state to support such classes and with battle just being "maintain throughput while dodging crap". If we got a true Thief they would probably create some sort of fishbowl content where you can sneak around, pick locks and pickpockets, but it would have no effect in the world.

[Reimmi]

Not to side track this thread, but every time Theif gets brought up, I ask what it would do that isn't already covered by Rogue. Like...what would its job identity be within the combat system of XIV? No one seems to ever be able to give a legitimate answer. People seem to just want something called Theif but then can't define it.

Well, if viper wasn't made i'd say it could've been that with zidanes dyne abilities
bit late for that now, i think lol

[Valence]

Bards being archers as well in FFXIV is perhaps one of the worst job designs and aesthetics to ever exist in MMOs.

The potential of two full-fledged popular jobs has been reduced to nothing but an ugly hybrid and abomination that neither fully satisfies either. It's both laziness and lack of creativity.

I like the idea of archers that are versed into singing and all the bard arts. It feels unique and flavorful to me.

[Brandr]

If one comes from other franchises expecting to find exactly the same thing other franchises are doing, that's a L on your way of thinking.

The first Archers in FF, if I recall correctly, were in FF2 and it was just that: a dude/dudette with a bow and arrow.
In FF4 we had two of the most iconic: Rosa, archer and healer, and that damn spoony Bard, Edward.

As you can see, both support combatants.