Musketeer: Lore-based Job Idea
First off, I love MCH. All its strengths, all its flaws. I enjoy playing it a lot.
Now then, I found myself thinking "it'd be great if MCH could use rifles or something", which led to the thought process of how all skill animations would have to be changed and how unworkable that would be (as opposed to WHM/BLM who's animations don't change whether one handed or two). Then I thought, "well why not a new gun class? One that uses muskets/rifles/2 handed firearms!"
Let's get it out there now: The following ideas are based more on lore and rule-of-cool, and likely will never be implemented. As such, enjoy them, feel free to add to them, provide constructive criticism, etc. But simply enjoy it for what it is.
Lore-wise, Lominsans and Ishgardians seem to be the only ones who utilize firearms besides Garleans (and Allagans, but let's leave them out of this for now). Ishgardians also obviously have a very heavy Lancer regiment (*cough*Ala Mhigans too for future ideas, SE*cough*). If you consider that [mild MCH spoilers ahead] Machinistry as a combat art was designed to be a national defense that the everyman of Ishgard could be capable of, why not then have the knights train the commoners over time to merge the arts? Train them up with 2 handed firearms fitted with bayonets and voila - the Musketeer is born, utilizing firearms at range, and the Lancer arts with the bayonet up close!
So you're saying a ranged. . . melee?
Essentially, yes. It's not unheard of. Look at Ninja. Throwing daggers and ninjutsu are essentially ranged attacks for a melee. Why not then the same in reverse? Granted, I'm not looking to see anything insane like Artillery Jumps (*writes down for later*) or something unreasonable. But a job that operates both at range, and has melee skills isn't impossible at all.
Alright then, what about the whole ranged/support thing? No one will play a job that does "support DPS" damage and still be expected to fight in melee range.
Simple. They're not support. Straight DPS. They shoot. They stab. Piercing buffs/debuffs. Stuns. DoTs. Conal/Column AoEs. Damage. No mess, all DPS baby.
Hmm. . . what about positionals or *groan* casting stances?
I would imagine the Musketeer to be as mobile as any ranged/melee, perhaps with a few (and I mean like 1 or 2) positional benefits. Rather than the standard front/rear/flank, how about at range/point blank? It's new. It's different(ish). But I wouldn't make it a make-it-or-break-it thing. No need to penalize the Musketeer that would PREFER to stay at range and fight. Allow perhaps a duration increase or the like for the intrepid foo. . . soldier that would go in for the kill. :)
As for a casting stance? Nah. Give em adequate damage and you won't need anything like that. No half-assed, baked-in "support" either to justify lowered damage either.
Ok, so let's be realistic, what would be the drawbacks? Ranged with melee strengths/damage would totally be OP.
Hmm, well Ninja is a DEX melee, and not terribly high on defense like Monks/Dragoons seem to be. That could be one. Positionals as a ranged becomes a whole new strategem to bear in mind (and would discourage run & gun ranged DPS practices anyways). The idea is that while a Musketeer isn't exactly frontline defense, a rifleman (talking real life for a second here) can still defend themselves in close quarters. Not necessarily where they shine, but they're not at a loss to be there either.
You're crazy.
Thanks. Wasn't expecting any dirty talk here, but. . . Hope you enjoyed the idea of it, however near-impossible it would be to ever see it in game. Have fun with the idea and build on it if you like!