Part 78: Job Profile: Bard
Job Profile: Bard
In-Game Description posted:
Bards use their songs to enhance their party's performance. The effect of their songs varies depending on the harp they use.
Unlocked: Water Crystal
Weapons: Harps, Knives
Shields: No
Armour: Robes
Unique Command: Sing
Stats (Level 50):
Str 26 Agi 34 Vit 34 Int 34 Mnd 34
Stats (Level 99):
Str 45 Agi 63 Vit 63 Int 63 Mnd 63
Bards are a straight-up support class, and that alone makes them a theoretically interesting one in this game. Alone, a Bard is almost useless. You could, theoretically, use Knives as a weapon and have a piss-poor physical attacker that couldn't do anything else, but the Bard's actual intended use is singing. A Bard's songs are based on what Harp they have equipped (which means you have to buy every harp to really get the full Bard experience), with each song having a different support effect. There are five songs, but only two are likely to see any real heavy use; one damages all enemies, one heals all allies. Songs are good for support, but like I said, they really can't do anything alone, because their damage or healing is all percentage-based.
Only having one useful command, and that being based on percentages and strict level-based algorithms also means that all of a Bard's stats don't matter, with the exception of Vitality (which is middle of the road). Sing always triggers first in a round, which is nice, and the effectiveness of songs is based on job level alone, so you could theoretically get maximum effect at a low character level. On the other hand, maximum effect is only 9% off of minimum effect - a job level 1 Bard can hit all enemies for 10% of current HP, and a job level 99 Bard does 19%, for example. In the end, the Bard is a solid support class, but doesn't really have the chops to replace a dedicated attacker or healer. Some people still like them, and I can see why, but personally, they don't mesh with the kind of party I prefer.