Bard Guide by Fiye

CAUTION!
	This article is a personal guide. Information expressed in this guide is one player's opinion and may be more opinion than fact. Strategies and information contained herein may not work for everyone. No non-minor changes should be made without consulting the author. Changes or questions should be discussed on the talk page.

Welcome! Welcome to Fiye's Guide to a Bard. Excuse me for some of the things that may be laying about here, but this is still a work in progress. As I continue to progress further, you shall find yourself looking at much more information that will be worthwhile to read. Also, do note, right now I am a 53BRD/26WHM. While that may not mean much, in due time, it'll grow. Page Edit Requests Grammar/Spelling mistakes Page format (Would love you if you could format 3.1.# into two, or three columns. Right now it is just bigger than it needs to be. Things to do Format list of Songs (Maybe even rearrange in alphabetical order) Add in a list of equipment to be used. Guides to song usage {Please Forgive me} I've been busy as of late. Mostly since HNM stuff took over (And I leveled an arseload of jobs to 20+). Anyways, work shall be continued as soon as I start work on finishing up AF, get Bard prepared for the last grind, and finish up everything. Details of a Bard Your job will be to keep everyone buffed. Whether that means making them hit the target more often often, casting refresh on them, or even making their attacks hit harder. Oh, not to mentioned the missing detail about pulling for parties as soon as you get your hands on Foe Lullaby. But, in the end, you'll find yourself at level75 very quickly, and have more merit points than you'll know what to do. I'd recommend this job to anyone looking for a quick learning experience about the functions of a party, or to someone who would want to hit endgame quickly. So that they may have funding for more expensive jobs Things to Note --To be redone-- Buffs --To be redone-- Debuffs --To be redone-- Skill Ups --To be redone-- Exp Parties --To be redone-- Sax on the Beach A job of the Bard is to know his or her songs. What each one will do, and what benefits they'll bring. Not to mention you must know what instruments to bring to bring out the most of the song. In other words. Don't bring a flute to a rock concert. [This section will be rewritten] Song Types, their instruments, and variations Minne Minuet Improves Defense. Knight's Minne, Knight's Minne II, Knight's Minne III, and Knight's Minne IV A Maple Harp +1, Harp, +1, or +2 will improve the Minne line of spells. Improves Attack. Valor Minuet, Valor Minuet II, Valor Minuet III, and Valor Minuet IV A Cornette, +1, or +2 will improve the Minuet line of spells. Paeon Requiem Regen Army's Paeon, Army's Paeon II, Army's Paeon III, Army's Paeon IV, and Army's Paeon V An Ebony Harp, +1, or +2 will improve the Paeon line of spells. DoT Foe Requiem, Foe Requiem II, Foe Requiem III, Foe Requiem IV, Foe Requiem V, and Foe Requiem VI A Flute +1, +2, Siren Flute, Shofar, +1, +2, or Requiem Flute will improve the Requiem line of spells. Pastoral Threnody Barpoisonra Herb Pastoral Nothing will improve the Pastoral line of spells. Weaken's target to a certain element. Light Threnody, Dark Threnody, Earth Threnody, Wind Threnody, Fire Threnody, Ice Threnody, and Lightning Threnody A Piccolo, +1, +2, or Sorrowful Harp will improve the Threnody line of spells. Madrigal Mambo Improves accuracy (Not Ranged accuracy)) Sword Madrigal and Blade Madrigal A Traversiere, +1, or +2 will improve the Madrigal line of spells. Improves evasion Sheepfoe Mambo and Dragonfoe Mambo A Gemshorn, +1, Hellish Bugle, or +1 will improve the Mambo line of spells. Lullaby Operetta Puts an enemy to sleep. Foe Lullaby (Single Target) and Horde Lullaby (AoE) A Mary's Horn or Nursemaid's Harp will improve the Lullaby line of spells. Barsilencera Scop's Operetta and Puppet's Operetta Nothing will improve the Operetta line of spells. Etude (Tier 1) Ballad Enhances one of your party member's stats. Enchanting Etude (CHR), Spirited Etude (MND), Learned Etude (INT), Quick Etude (AGI), Vivacious Etude (VIT), Dextrous Etude (DEX)), Sinewy Etude (STR) A Rose Harp, +1, Mythic Harp or +1 will improve the Etude line of spells. Refresh Mage's Ballad and Mage's Ballad II Only a Storm Fife, during Assault, will improve the Ballad line of spells. March Prelude Haste Advancing March and Victory March A Royal Spearman's Horn, Kingdom Horn, San d'Orian Horn, or Faerie Piccolo will improve the March line of spells. Improve's a party member's Ranged Accuracy Hunter's Prelude and Archer's Prelude An Angel's Flute or +1 will improve the Prelude line of spells. Aubade Finale Barsleepra Fowl Aubade Nothing will improve the Aubade line of spells. Dispel Magic Finale Only a Military Harp will improve the Finale line of spells. Guide to Dispelling Effects Read it! Very handy to know what to dispel. Carol Mazurka Improves resistance against elemental attacks. Light Carol, Earth Carol, Water Carol, Wind Carol, Fire Carol, Ice Carol, Lightning Carol, and Dark Carol A Crumhorn, +1, or +2 will improve the Carol line of spells. Improves speed of character movement. (Does not work with aggro, or in dungeons) Raptor Mazurka and Chocobo Mazurka Only a Harlequin's Horn will improve the Mazurka line of spells. Elegy Gavotte Slow Battlefield Elegy and Carnage Elegy A Horn or +1 will improve the Elegy line of spells. Increases resistance against Bind Goblin Gavotte Nothing will improve the Gavotte line of spells. Capriccio Fantasia Increases resistance again Petrification Gold Capriccio Nothing will improve the Capriccio line of spells. Increases resistance again Blind Shining Fantasia Nothing will improve the Fantasia line of spells. Elegy (Tier 2) Hymnus Increases a party member's stat. (Decays over time) Bewitching Etude (CHR), Logical Etude (MND), Sage Etude (INT), Swift Etude (AGI), Vital Etude (VIT), Uncanny Etude (DEX), and Herculean Etude (STR). A Rose Harp, +1, Mythic Harp or +1 will improve the Etude line of spells. Grants the effect of Reraise on entire party. Goddess's Hymnus An Angel Lyre will improve the Hymnus line of spells. Round Virelai Increases resistance against Curse Warding Round Nothing will improve the Round line of spells. Charms target Maiden's Virelai A Cythara Anglica or +1 will improve the Virelai line of spells. What to Get A bard's equipment focuses on two main things. An instrument that adds +<Insert Song Here> and +CHR. If you can manage to keep those two things as high as possible, you will be set for the rest of your bard career. However, there are two secondary things to keep an eye on as well. +MP and +Haste%. While the two may not be as important, more MP to help you cast Stoneskin, Blink or any Cure while you're /WHM or being able to cast songs faster can be a life saving attribute. Whatever path you decide, may you be successful with it. Equipment Location <Item Name>(Level)