Bard (Final Fantasy XI)

Bards appear as one of the Advanced Jobs in Final Fantasy XI available to players once they reach level 30. The quest for bard is rather simple, and involves traveling to two of the corners of the world and learning of a sad story. After they complete this two part quest, the player earns the right to level as a bard.

Bards in Final Fantasy use three types of instruments; wind instruments, string instruments, and of course thier own singing voice. Their songs are generally positive in nature, effecting one or all party members. Their ability to effect pretty much any ally ability from damage, to accuracy, to evasion, and MP or HP regeneration makes them highly sought after. Bards have a much more limited ability to negatively effect their enemies with songs, but some songs do exist.

Bards in Final Fantasy XI may fight, though they generally do not have the time to do so. They generally are limited to wands, staves, light swords, and knives. In this version any creature can be effected by up to 2 songs by a bard, and singing a song takes 8 seconds. Since they have short duration, the bard tends to do nothing but sing songs ad nauseum.