Bard really?

[Zehl]

You may be completely justified, I haven't seen many BRDs in my 2.0 parties, but in 1.0 they were how you described, and they were good to have around. BRDs can deliver the killing blow in a near wipe, they could Raise in a bind (I'm assuming they still can). They were good for getting chests in dungeons, flipping switches, etc. I think you have to enjoy being flexible, instead of playing it expecting to be some he-man of healing or duke of damage.

[Angaros]

You may be completely justified, I haven't seen many BRDs in my 2.0 parties, but in 1.0 they were how you described, and they were good to have around. BRDs can deliver the killing blow in a near wipe, they could Raise in a bind (I'm assuming they still can). They were good for getting chests in dungeons, flipping switches, etc. I think you have to enjoy being flexible, instead of playing it expecting to be some he-man of healing or duke of damage.

Raise - um ... no. We can't tap into the cnj/whm skill bar anymore. So no cure, no protect, no stoneskin, no raise
We can tap into the lancer and pugilist ones though, so there will be more dps - so more Ranger like than bard.
Range of songs was pretty big in phase 3, but the mana drain was too much. Haven't really played the job in group much, so I can't say if that has changed.
Basically, the 1.23 BRD is totally gone.

The BRD songs does help the party... somewhat. Though I can't tell when to cast Army's Paeon since I can't tell how much TP other party members have. Healers LOVE Mage's Ballad. I'm sure Foe's Requiem is useful, somewhat, though I don't like using it because it attracts every mob from all corners of the globe.

[UllrHellfire]

Raise - um ... no. We can't tap into the cnj/whm skill bar anymore. So no cure, no protect, no stoneskin, no raise
We can tap into the lancer and pugilist ones though, so there will be more dps - so more Ranger like than bard.
Range of songs was pretty big in phase 3, but the mana drain was too much. Haven't really played the job in group much, so I can't say if that has changed.
Basically, the 1.23 BRD is totally gone.

The BRD songs does help the party... somewhat. Though I can't tell when to cast Army's Paeon since I can't tell how much TP other party members have. Healers LOVE Mage's Ballad. I'm sure Foe's Requiem is useful, somewhat, though I don't like using it because it attracts every mob from all corners of the globe.

I agree and like dude said up top, most of the time MP and TP are FULL and you don't even need them, And with a MP refresh song I lose MP faster then I can give it.