Technically, SAM and RPR also have cast times. RPR's is very infrequent, but Iaijutsu is integral.
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We'll probably get a melee DPS and a ranged DPS, probably a caster ranged DPS.
They always have one melee and one ranged, and of the ranged options it's caster that has gone without for longest.
You lost me at "Sage is a caster, thus no casters are needed" which is a completely asinine argument even if you consider all ranged the same.
However, I do think you touched on the idea that one problem with this discussion is that technically rather than getting a new Job in an old mold, they could actually just give us an entirely new Role type, Such as a dedicated Int based Melee unit, or a new class that follows classic FF's Dark Knight of using their HP as a damage boost, and thus a Vit based DPS Job or something. Could go either something like a Berserker for Melee or a Blood Mage for ranged. Not actual class ideas just throwing out thoughts to illustrate the point. (Not saying they should remake Dark Knight or that it shouldn't be a tank, it is fine as it is. They can make a new class that uses the HP->damage logic is all)
Edit: I am aware that adding new class archetypes with new armour would broaden the loot pools and make it less likely for individual armour drops to happen for a given role.
Edit2: And take up more room in our Armoury Chest, causing more inventory woes.
Thematically I think “Hunter” would be a cool job that could utilize scouting gear . . Maybe something in the lines of a duel wielder who has melee and ranged capabilities who can combo between 2 different style weapons. Curved Sword/ whip ?! My hot take lol
Never mind that ‘melee that uses spells’ is already a significantly broad archetype and we have four examples of ‘pure’ martial classes in WAR/GNB/SAM/MNK and arguably DRG as well. It gets into semantics very quickly and it’s often better to err on current job/role design constraints rather than add new additions to that. A dexterity-based melee DPS is something that we need simply for making alt-jobs more feasible for everyone. We do not need more healers or tanks given how little distinction there is in what we already have, and there is more than enough room for a caster and ranged DPS given DPS have the only flex slot left. Any other ‘additions’ tend to be presented as Limited jobs due to their central themes focusing on customization.
I just want Geomancer so I can nuke things by ringing a little jingle bell.
blitzball as range dps