For those who play regularly in Japanese hours, you do notice Bard is more popular within Japanese players.
I do agree with Shepppard that NA players like damage oriented jobs... the number of DRK, BLM, RNG proves that. JPs like shorter down time and chain 4 and 5s.
Partying with a Bard, not only requires a good Bard. It requires all party members to cooporate in terms of positioning and figuring skillchains. Lots of NAs are just spoiled with Refresh ;p (I love Refresh too as a WHM, but BRD can do just as well in that department when they are 55+)
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Amanada (Cerberus-Retired) (aka MaiNoKen/Steven)
-- Thank you for the fun times in Vana'diel
Art for the sake of art itself is an idle sentence.
Art for the sake of truth, for the sake of what is
beautiful and good — that is the creed I seek.
- George Sand
A designer knows he has achieved perfection,
not when there is nothing left to add,
but when there is nothing left to take away.
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry