I don't want to be an envoy. I just want to spew my comments on power. I want to show how everything's been systematically downgraded, to the extent that power costs no longer reflect actual "power" of an ability.

These are our bard abilities (ignoring the specialization of music and assuming glamours) that take power and their associated power cost. The following are abilities one might use in combat.

maze (10) - has been somewhat downgraded
tripleflash (10) - downgraded to 50% of its old usefulness just recently
illusoryself (5) - downgraded since implementation
maelstrom (5) - downgraded since implementation
octave (3) - has its own problems irrelevant to this discussion
perfectfifth (3) - upgraded since implementation (yay)
colorspray (3) - downgraded since implementation, and only applies in group combat
blankchord (4) - only applies in group combat, and only works on deaf enemies
rainbowpattern (2) - downgraded since implementation
flare (2) and fascinate (2) - was originally one skill that cost 2 power
discordantchord (variable) - requires octave to work
music-targetted power ability (3 in my case)
powerspikes affliction (2 power)

The following are our abilities that require no power to use:
blanknote (which you can only do if enemy is deaf)
hypnotic pattern (which you only do once per enemy)
music afflictions aside from powerspikes (which are immediately cured without octave)
colorburst (which has been downgraded)
deadlypattern
acrobatics attacks (forwardflip, backflip, jumpkick)

My point is the following. All the tweaks to the bard class since glamours was released has made fighting effectively under power constraints unreasonable. Most of our skills that require NO power to use have been downgraded or require certain conditions be met (like octave or they have to be deaf). Perfectfifth + octave + fascinate + flare is 10 power. Afterwards, we cannot re-hinder effectively, since flare+fascinate takes 4 itself. Rainbowpattern is less effective, but it still costs two power. Mazing or tripleflashing renders a bard pretty ineffective for a good deal of time. The power cost of our skills no longer reflect their actual usefulness in combat.

My suggestion is one of the following. Either give bards a skill that SPEEDS up power transfer from reserves, or lower some of the power costs. As a side note, also, make octave instantaneous or allow a bard to reenter a room within a certain window to prevent octave from falling (it's 3 power)

Idea:
Skill Rainbowpattern
Problem: Since the new changes, the 2p is too heavy. Bards are already heaved down with power costing attacks and with the recent changes, a decrease in power would be great.
Solution: I'd honestly like to see that it no longer cost any power, but would accept 1p.

Comments (names left out):

Bards are fine, despite the changes. 2p is -not- too heavy. If you are complaining about being too 'power heavy' as a class, play Celestine/Nihilist/Moondancer.

Having played a Moondancer before, I've found that the power cost to be about the same except for the times when I ended up using the power. As a Moondancer, the initial deffing up and the first rounds of doublewhammies drained me pretty quickly in comparison to bards who have to perpetually keep using 2p throughout the fight. It might sound biased, but I support any little power tweak that bards can get, even if it's just moving the 2p costs to just 1p.

(me) I use WAY more power as a Cantor then as a Celestine. Way, way, way more power.

Rainbow pattern is fine at a 2 power cost. It is not like the skill can be easily removed by anyone, besides Illusionists.

(me) I just tested it, it does 1 affliction and 500 damage (out of 5600) every 15 seconds while I'm not blind, and it fires 5 times. Rather crappy.

I don't think that's that crappy. I think 2p is appropriate for a skill that works that way.

but do keep in mind that the entire point of power is not being able to do everything.

perpetually keep using 2p throughout the fight.

whoever this is.. know little about bard combat.. we CANT perpetually use 2p.. 2p for what?

Most of the glamour skill needs afterimage to be active for it to work.. and flare only lasts so long.. meaning you have to re-flare again for things like transfix to work decently..

Mostly it becomes a choice between a skill like maesltrom or going for transfix/perfectfith.. or octave..

and most bards get drained to 0 at the first 20-30sec of a fight.. heck, if the opponent is determined enough to run away.. you can waste 50p easy and not go anywhere..

Initial deffing should not to be included in the discussion of actual power usage during comabt conditions I think. the power cost at defup is irrelevant as you can wait until it power is full again. Whereas during combat you do not have that luxury..

This is one of the real reason why I was attracted to tarot in the first place.. the power cost is just too high sometimes..

The point of power is indeed so you can't do everything, but I listed the things you CAN do without power. Read that list and tell me if you expect anyone to do anything in a fight with those as your bread and butter.

- The faerie godmother's homicidal rampages have been quelled

Major ehhhhhhhhhh.

No fusion for anyone? Not even a slipstream ability to autopilot people to bubbles to make up for the fact only commanders can make practical use of aetherspace? No ANYTHING? Glide doesn't cut it. This was the major problem with aetherspace to begin with and it still exists. Either everyone should have easy access or no one should - it shouldn't require transing one of three mutually exclusive specs.

Fine, then remove it from commander and watch actual aetherspace usage plummet. But don't have only ONE spec able to access it.