Bards, Checking In!

[Kali-Thydal]

Archer/Bard checking in, I can understand why they changed the abilities to be more dps focused but would prefer if they tweak the support side a little more. It's still a great class regardless.

[omniwaink]

The Bard songs look incredibly boring and unimaginative. I'd much rather they had cds and limited durations but be more powerful and varied.

For example, how about a song that lowers the GCD for burst phases? Or a song that slowly restores health? What about one that lowers allies' cds by 1 sec while active? Or Protect/Shell songs that you swap between for different phases or encounters? Unless running out of Mana/TP is a huge problem at the level cap, I don't see Bard songs being in high demand.

There's also a glaring design error in their range being 20y while bow skills are 25y. So not only will I have to move in closer just to debuff bosses, but it also necessitates raids to clump up together to maximize a song's benefits. Which will be awesome fun on bosses that do massive AOE attacks, like the video they just showed off of Titan.

Unless a fight is like 20 minutes long, who is even going to notice they are grouped with a Bard?

Oh well, just give us harps.

[Chadness]

Wannabe bard here. Not too sure about the supposed changes yet...still love the idea of the job, though.

[buccfan001]

A question to all Bards. Since its been confirmed that you are a dps class and you queue through the duty finder as a dps.

Do you plan to play songs much if at all? Or focus on "being #1" in some parse?

I plan on still playing Bard, but I'm not that happy about the changes. I wouldn't mind getting some Pugilist skills but we should still have Conjurer skills. Bards DPS want bad even with losing 20% attack power while singing. My biggest problem with the class still hasn't been addressed; Bard needs more songs. One that restores/increases HP, one to increase defense, and one to increase attack power.

[Pinklefairy]

I'm thrilled about Bard, even after the changes. I understand from a balance stand point that a full on support is a bit awkward, and I'm totally cool with being more damage focused as long as the Bard feel isn't completely derp'd.

[Genyi]

Now to discover if the seconday requirements have changed.

to answer your Q: BRD ='s ARC+PUG. you can pull skills from LNC if you lv. it.

hope this helps ^^

[Mint_tea]

What does everyone else think? Should Bard become more support-oriented? Less? Or is it fine the way it is?

Having loved my FF11 Bard and enjoying support roles, it's my opinion that the newest changes to Bard are a step in the wrong direction. My limited experience with Archer (lvl 35 in phase 3) from beta made the class already seem like a strong DD that would be able to hold up DPS with any other class. I understand that songs reduce dps but even so, it seemed like a reasonable trade off for their raid utility. If anything, I would have preferred seeing more spells or songs offering things like a single target vitality boost or PBAoE elemental resistance buff instead of a damage increase.

The outcry for a ranged DD should have been refocused toward Musketeer and Archer/Bard should have been left alone... I'm still excited to return to my old job, but those are just my thoughts.

[Raznel]

WOOHOO 19 levels wasted!

[Mint_tea]

A question to all Bards. Since its been confirmed that you are a dps class and you queue through the duty finder as a dps.

Do you plan to play songs much if at all? Or focus on "being #1" in some parse?

I strongly doubt there will even be a need for Bard songs until we're doing level 50 8-man dungeons, Primal FATES, or raiding. Requiring a Bard before that would have a negative impact on all other DD's trying to do the 4-man dungeons as they level. Personally I love the support utility Bards had back in FF11 and even though we're nothing like that now, I'm still eager to sing my groups to victory.

[buccfan001]

to answer your Q: BRD ='s ARC+PUG. you can pull skills from LNC if you lv. it.

hope this helps ^^

Can you provide your source?