To Bard or not to Bard

[Pocahawtness]

I started playing the game a little while ago, and soon discovered that my favourite role, Archer, is not really much of a DPS in FFXIV. The class mutates in to a Bard later on. Now this is something I am not really interested in.
What can I do? Am I better re-starting as a different class, or can I change my toon in to something else? I really do just want a pure DPS role, preferebly ranged.

[Oberon]

1. One character can have every combat class at once, so you don't need to reset.

2. Bard is just an Archer that can buff allies. You still use a bow and arrow for the most part it's just now once and a while you use a harp as well. The buffs themselves are largely passive so you'll still be shooting at people while jamming out.

3. If you're in the market for "pure" ranged DPS you're not in much luck. Machinist is slightly less support-y than Bard but it's hardly "pure." If you count Mages as ranged then Black Mage and Summoner would have you covered, though.

[Pocahawtness]

Thank you for the reply. I think I will contunue for a bit as an ARCHER albeit I doubt I will actually take on the support part of it. If too many people complain I will just leave the game, lol. As yet I really haven't got to grips with the game itself so I will try things out, like I say, unless too many people complain.

[Unholy Eve]

Originally posted by ｢C❤A｣ Pocahawtness:

Thank you for the reply. I think I will contunue for a bit as an ARCHER albeit I doubt I will actually take on the support part of it. If too many people complain I will just leave the game, lol. As yet I really haven't got to grips with the game itself so I will try things out, like I say, unless too many people complain.

If you don't pick up Bard at lvl 30, you will be shouted at.
If you don't use your support skills your a terrible player and will probably be shouted at or kicked.

People are to lazy at it is, if your refusing to use a good portion of your skills then I hope I never run into you.

[Kiana]

Most of the bard's party buffing is a part of their own damage rotation. Using songs has added benefits for the bard (like allowing more uses of their off global cooldown skills).

Using the TP/MP restoring role skills also cuts your enmity by half, which means you can keep shooting things without worrying about getting mauled. (It's handy in dungeons when the tank is pulling a lot of mobs.)

Plus the out of combat movement speed buff. Going faster = getting more done.

Speaking as someone with bard at 60 and machinist at 70: Using most of the support skills requires very little focus. Glance at the party list occasionally and hit the right button if anyone is low. It's easy, it's painless, and it's appreciated.

I've thrown quite a few commendations the bard's way when I'm on a healer.

[Deckire]

Like everyone says, Staying as Archer, just means you going to be a weaker Bard, the Job Crystal to turns you into bard will Increase your stats making you able to do more damage, and like Kiana said the Buffs also go into your damage, As they are OGCDs and have 100 Potency of Damage on use.

While you are not a pure DPS, from the Update, it had the best Revamp and is one of the most fun class/job to play through the game at the moment along side Red Mage and Samurai.

[Shadezzz]

If you have Heavensward/Stormblood, you can play the Machinist class which is more of a DPS class than Bard. But in the mean time you will have to play something else until you reach that area

[Pocahawtness]

Originally posted by Unholy Eve:

Originally posted by ｢C❤A｣ Pocahawtness:

Thank you for the reply. I think I will contunue for a bit as an ARCHER albeit I doubt I will actually take on the support part of it. If too many people complain I will just leave the game, lol. As yet I really haven't got to grips with the game itself so I will try things out, like I say, unless too many people complain.

If you don't pick up Bard at lvl 30, you will be shouted at.
If you don't use your support skills your a terrible player and will probably be shouted at or kicked.

People are to lazy at it is, if your refusing to use a good portion of your skills then I hope I never run into you.

I am at level 54 and no one has complained yet.

Why is there always one that has to be rude and “superior”? I can always improve my Bard skils but I am not sure it is so easy to improve interpersonal skills. Tell you what, I will practice my Bard if you promise to get out more an improve those social skills.

[Pocahawtness]

Originally posted by Shadezzz:

If you have Heavensward/Stormblood, you can play the Machinist class which is more of a DPS class than Bard. But in the mean time you will have to play something else until you reach that area

Oh good suggestion, I can look at that, thank you. I have just reached Ishgard so I can try it very soon.

[Oberon]

Originally posted by ｢C❤A｣ Pocahawtness:

Originally posted by Unholy Eve:

If you don't pick up Bard at lvl 30, you will be shouted at.
If you don't use your support skills your a terrible player and will probably be shouted at or kicked.

People are to lazy at it is, if your refusing to use a good portion of your skills then I hope I never run into you.

I am at level 54 and no one has complained yet.

Why is there always one that has to be rude and “superior”? I can always improve my Bard skils but I am not sure it is so easy to improve interpersonal skills. Tell you what, I will practice my Bard if you promise to get out more an improve those social skills.

Wait, are you saying you're a level 54 Archer? Because I find it very hard to believe no one has given you grief over that between level 30 and now. More than likely you were just ignoring chat. You have aboslutely zero reason to not become a Bard.

Originally posted by Shirayuki474:

Feel free to play whether you want just don't make later topics how unfriendly and toxic community is because you were kicked from party for ''no reason'' which is gonna start happening if you will try something else than random automatic duty finder.

Jobs are superior to classes.

...Jesus H Christ I agree with Shirayuki...

[Nico Yazawa]

Originally posted by ｢C❤A｣ Pocahawtness:

Originally posted by Unholy Eve:

If you don't pick up Bard at lvl 30, you will be shouted at.
If you don't use your support skills your a terrible player and will probably be shouted at or kicked.

People are to lazy at it is, if your refusing to use a good portion of your skills then I hope I never run into you.

I am at level 54 and no one has complained yet.

Why is there always one that has to be rude and “superior”? I can always improve my Bard skils but I am not sure it is so easy to improve interpersonal skills. Tell you what, I will practice my Bard if you promise to get out more an improve those social skills.

I sincerely hope you aren't a level 54 ARCHER, and you picked up the job crystal....

I knew they dumbed the game down for low levels, but jeez.

[Elazul]

Level 70 Bard here. Its an awesome class and you should get to know it at max level with all your skills before judging it. Also, ffs use the job crystal. Refusing to use skills or the job crystal is an auto kick in any party i'm in lol... and i'm sure pretty much EVERYONE in the game is going to agree on that point.

Also, this may be helpful (guide I found on the Reddit for Bard in SB) -
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UTCG3tqgWpTNjH8l_ch0yV3y9vqC_NAiKd4KkNH817M/edit

Original thread here: https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comments/6rzqcr/a_bards_life_in_stormblood_a_bard_guide_for/

This guide is also useful (has Bard and Machinist sections) - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qk6xCZJ6KjrXr0PeCtOM14ZF3DRIfVvWJOGRkOqjCNw/edit

[Nico Yazawa]

I don't think OP will be able to handle those guides, personally.

[Drakzen]

Don't knock it until you try it.

[Ryoku]

Originally posted by ｢C❤A｣ Pocahawtness:

I started playing the game a little while ago, and soon discovered that my favourite role, Archer, is not really much of a DPS in FFXIV. The class mutates in to a Bard later on. Now this is something I am not really interested in.
What can I do? Am I better re-starting as a different class, or can I change my toon in to something else? I really do just want a pure DPS role, preferebly ranged.

Bards are actually pretty high dps now if you get good at it.

[Elazul]

Here is a new guide I just found on the FFXIV Reddit. It may help as well.

Guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XAkAyAEwMr50wtfQTz-Vk1U4tdgfdfWg5nRIbKNNJk4/preview

Original thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comments/6w4nce/4x_bard_guide_by_aileena_and_cetonis/