Why be a Bard over an Archer?

[Rosencranz]

Why?

Why you ask?

FOR THE FANCY DRESS OF COURSE! D:

And even for the simple fact that an archer in endgame must be a bard to do his job properly. <3

[Deelo]

Just no. I really hope nobody reads this and gets ideas. There are enough gimp archers/bards out there.

[Fiosha_Maureiba]

I think now with the Lancer sub and Pugilist sub, the Bard has more damage potential than it did before with the Conjurer sub.

Rain of Death has been the big one for me. It reduces the enemy's damage by 10%. You're helping the tank take less damage, indirectly helping the healer conserve MP and take less enmity, delaying the time you will need to put on the Mage's Ballad, which in turn, allows you to maintain 100% damage instead of 80%, making the battle end just a little quicker. And the battle ending quicker conserves everyone's TP and MP just a little. Even more TP conserved if Quick Nock procs.

[arctic]

I've actually been hearing from my Free Company members that every so often they'll pick up a pug that's playing archer over bard. This really is a thing. I sure as heck don't get it.

[mjk]

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.

What level are relic/af/af2?

If they're 50 only, I'd say 30-49 as archer is the way to go...

[Dixa]

What level are relic/af/af2?

If they're 50 only, I'd say 30-49 as archer is the way to go...

for levelling sure. when i level i stay in arcanist so i get a 5th dot and protect from cnj while still having access to a tanking pet combined with chocobo dps companion.

in a dungeon you are being a selfish prick if you aren't bard, especially if you are the only archer. too many fights where toggling mana song can be make-or-break for all but the most organized pre-maded groups. the only thing you are giving up is a cross class heal - which shouldnt matter given the base mind stat of archer and your tiny mana pool - and a damaging limit break. you don't need a damaging limit break. monks/lancers/thm/summoner have them and you can only fire off one every couple of minutes.

[Happybandido]

Why teh person a couple posts above says lancer? isnt the secondary class pugilist?

[Vizarie]

Why teh person a couple posts above says lancer? isnt the secondary class pugilist?

yes but bards have access to pug and lacer skills only (ofc not including archer)

[LunarEmerald]

What level are relic/af/af2?

If they're 50 only, I'd say 30-49 as archer is the way to go...

Normal AF is better than any non endgame archer clothing and you can get 4 pieces of that at 45. There's no reason not to be a Bard at 45+

[tonsillitis]

im still wondering if i go bard or just pure archer... as far i understand bard is for group play and arch is for solo play. i may be wrong. but heck ill try to go full archer..

still dont know what to do how to be bard or what so ever.