Why be a Bard over an Archer?

[Merix]

Bards have slightly increased stats over archers (not sure at 50, but at 41 its 11 dex), but lose access to a multitude of useful cross-class skills and a reduced number of them.

Archer/Bard XCS
Feint (LNC) 20% slow
Keen Flurry (LNC) 40% parry
Invigorate (LNC) Restore 400 TP
Blood For Blood (LNC) 20% DMG increase
Featherfoot (PGL) 25% evasion
Second Wind (PGL) Self Heal
Haymaker (PGL) 170 potency after evade 20% slow
Internal Release (PGL) 20% CRIT increase
Mantra (PGL) Increases healing received by 5% for self and party

[Merix]

Archer XCS
Cure (CNJ) 400 Potency heal
Stoneskin (CNJ) 10% max HP bubble
Protect (CNJ) Phy defence increase party wide
Raise (CNJ) Res
Foresight (MRD) 20% defense
Skull Sunder (MRD) Increased enmity for kite tanking
Fracture (MRD) DoT
Bloodbath (MRD) 25% dmg done is healed
Mercy Stroke (MRD) 200 potency below 20% hp nuke
Physick (ACN) 400 potency heal
Virus (ACN) Reduce target STR + DEX 15%
Eye for an Eye (ACN) 20% chance to reduce dmg 10%
Surecast (THM) No interrupt next cast
Swiftcast (THM) Instant next cast
Savage Blade (GLD) Increased enmity for kite tanking
Flash (GLD) Increased enmity for kite tanking
Convalescence (GLD) 20% increased healing received
Provoke (GLD) Increased enmity for kite tanking
Awareness (GLD) Can't be crit

[Merix]

From my experiences the extra DPS you gain from Marauders DoT and nuke, and the utility of being able to either tank, help heal, and party wide defensive cool downs outweighs the extremely situational abilities from Bard.

There is also the possibility of building an ARC as a ranged tank. Archer gets access to quite a few defensive CDs as well as multiple enmity skills.



PS: This 1000 character limit on posts is retarded.

[LunarEmerald]

Archer can't wear AF or AF2. Huge decrease in stats. Archer also can't use the relic weapon.
The MP regeneration song is very important endgame.
Bard doesn't lose any cross skill that's important for group play.

[LunarEmerald]

Cure: Useless for Archer's with their terrible mind stat.
Stoneskin: Useless for Archer's with their low HP.
Protect: Useless in dungeons because your protect doesn't add magic defense.
Raise: Useless in dungeons because your raise can't be used mid battle.
Foresight: dps shouldn't be getting hit period.
Skull Sunder: Why would dps want increased enmity?
Fracture: Kind of a waste of time. That dot doesn't have any synergy with your traits.
Bloodbath: This could be useful but second wind is good enough for emergency healing
Mercy Stroke: Misery's End is better because of the fast reuse time
Physick: Terrible mind etc.
Virus: Sort of useful but you should focusing on dealing damage not debuffing the enemy.
Eye for an Eye: Shouldn't be taking damage period.
Surecast: Useless.
Swiftcast: Useless.
Savage Blade: If you kite in dungeons when the tank is still alive, you're a bad player.
Flash: See above.
Convalescence: This would be useful.
Provoke: See above.
Awareness: Don't get hit and enemies can't critical you.

[Impendus]

Savage Blade: If you kite in dungeons when the tank is still alive, you're a bad player.

I agree with everything but this, sometimes, tank is baddy and have no choice... our ability to move while still making use of all our abilities makes this doable/handy at times, with the exception for ranged mobs

[Sleepwalker]

Giving up a permanent stat boost for a group of small and inferior utility skills seems like a bad move.

[Viridiana]

I agree with everything but this, sometimes, tank is baddy and have no choice... our ability to move while still making use of all our abilities makes this doable/handy at times, with the exception for ranged mobs

Depending how bad the tank is, the healer may have an easier time just healing you through the damage, anyway. I mean, you do have access to some defensive cool downs. . .

[Evari]

At least when soloing, I've found no reason to be on my Bard as opposed to my Archer. I am level 38 right now and Foe Requiem seems to be pretty much useless even in dungeons... The MP song is the only reason to queue on my Bard, but I have accidentally queued as Archer before (because I forget to change class) and ended up saving the day by having that damn lowbie conjurer heal. lol

[Eckoh]

From my experiences the extra DPS you gain from Marauders DoT and nuke, and the utility of being able to either tank, help heal, and party wide defensive cool downs outweighs the extremely situational abilities from Bard.

There is also the possibility of building an ARC as a ranged tank. Archer gets access to quite a few defensive CDs as well as multiple enmity skills.



PS: This 1000 character limit on posts is retarded.

you are so laughable wrong its not even funny