At What Levels and For Which Classes is Gameplay Too Shallow, Too Complex, or Perfect

As per title. Discuss if interested.

I've been on something of a hiatus for awhile due to real life shenanigans so I can't comment on too many classes... However if I had to pick a class I'm not fond of it'd be pre-70 MCH at this point in time, especially sub 30 where I feel like the class is a chore to play. Now that SE seems to have settled down on making drastic changes to MCH with every minor patch however, the class feels pretty nice to play at 70. On the opposite end, I feel like WHM probably plays the best it ever has right now with the addition of Thin Air and though I find the Lily system pointless I've been having an absolute blast leveling it on my alt after stepping away from the class in 3.2. BRD is in a similar spot though I've only just dipped my toe back into it.

As for SCH... I'm really not sure how to feel about it, though I could say the same of SE as well. It feels like they really don't know what to do with the class since this is the second expansion in a row where our capped level skill basically sits and gathers dust on our bars. I still love the class but I'm not entirely sure the people in charge of balancing for it feel the same.

I really am enjoying WAR at 52 now that I have Deliverance. I'm sure I'll like it in the future as I get more moves as well but as someone new to tanking in general I feel like this skillset is something I can manage while still having to push myself if I want to contribute DPS.


BRD at 70 for me feels absolutely perfect. It's maybe the only job I can say that about. The extended debuff timers have really come together with Barrage/Raging Strikes and the songs to a point that I feel like I can't ever go full autopilot like I can on a healer. There is always something to think about and I love it. WHM is my main but I think BRD might be the most actual fun.

SAM is boring up to Hagakure and the jump to gameplay after Hagakure is so big that I feel like unless I play it more with someone parsing me I won't ever fully understand it. Priority systems are great but two competing resource gagues that interact so much gets confusing fast.

DRG is sooooo boring at low levels. I'm 20 right now and it consists of Heavy Thrust upkeep and a 2 hit combo. One move (Impulse Drive maybe?) literally has no point because it doesn't combo with anything and spamming it is a potency loss over executing the 2 hit combo. Every 60 seconds I get to buff a Vorpal Thrust with Life Surge.

Cool thread idea. Might help people research things they're thinking of leveling and get through dead zones like the first 20+ levels of DRG.

This is a good idea for feedback.

I know there's been many a complaint about how the classes feel at low levels, and how some jobs after the revamp no longer feel 'complete' back at 50/60/whatever level.


I do recall that AST is a bit annoying at level sync 50 content since their aoe skill isn't until 52...

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Originally Posted by TaranTatsuuchi

This is a good idea for feedback.

I know there's been many a complaint about how the classes feel at low levels, and how some jobs after the revamp no longer feel 'complete' back at 50/60/whatever level.


I do recall that AST is a bit annoying at level sync 50 content since their aoe skill isn't until 52...

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That's my main issue with MCH honestly. The job doesn't feel right until you get Gauss Barrel, but because they introduced the Heat Gauge even that can be a chore without access to Cooldown at 62. The class is a BLAST when you have your entire kit available but the way they introduced and then balanced the new mechanic just makes everything before then feel somewhat empty.

Bard is a very, very backloaded job. It feels awful to play until you get Wanderer's Minuet/Pitch Perfect at 52, where you finally have a proper song rotation to use. Their unique support is mostly backloaded into 50+ too. Hell, I think Bard actually learns more skills between level 50-70 compared to 1-49, if you exclude role actions... I actually want the devs to switch Wanderer's Minuet with Battle Voice in terms of the level where you learn them, so that Bards don't walk into Level 50 content feeling like a literal third of their 'rotation' is missing.

But I suppose Bard needs SOME downside considering they're pretty much the one job that can be described as absolutely perfect in terms of overall design at Lv. 70. The only thing that feels off about them is how Army's Paeon works, and it's only because it's underwhelming compared to how amazing the other two songs are, while many jobs have far worse design issues.

EDIT: Bard learns 14 skills from 1-49, and 12 from 50-70. Pretty close. Hmm.

Dragoon is awful until the 40s range, though it remain rather dull pre-60 now due to losing Ring of Thorns and Geirskogul's lengthily recast time now. Granted, this only impacts its AoE rotation. From a single target perspective, it feels pretty decent as early as level 50 and complete by 60. The Stormblood additions feel like a nice compliment to an already solid arsenal rather than an overhaul. My only personal gripe is Dragon Sight as I am not a fan of having to use a macro so I don't lose uptime. Overall though, I'm quite happy with it.

MNK feels complete at 56 after Elixir Field as everything else after that adds nothing enjoyable to the job.

Being a BLM main, I guess I really can't complain. The basic rotation is kind of simple to downright boring for me until you get Enochian, but at least it's pretty steady until you get that mechanic change. And once you do, oh lord, am I grateful for the SB changes. Once you get it, Enochian used to be a glorified buff until 58 where you got Bliz IV, but post SB it's just. Up. All the time. Always. Which used to be the main hassle of this mechanic but now it's gone. I'm really grateful that they left it mostly as-is even with the 60+ additions, where they bothered to at least address some issues with the job mostly regarding mobility, like the teleport back to the ley lines which if used smartly is a lot more than just an increase in mobility but also helpful with abiding certain mechanics, and oh lord Triplecast. Quad-flare also deserves a mention here, especially followed by Foul.

-BRD could for sure would be better if they gave the songs closer together, I mean ya I get it but its not until 70 where it really feels like a support dps job.
-RDM feels good all the way from 50-70. I feel like it could use a DoT skill or two to manage. Dia (1-3) comes to mind.
-Sam flow well all the way to 70.

I think the "problem" with RDM and SAM is that all the other classes have had things tacked on over the years. That had added clunckyness that people mistake for challenge. There is a difference between challenge and flow. It's obvious that the team wants the game to flow like RDM or SAM does, unfortunately merely tacking things on will not fix clunkyness. Especially as they add more DDR style raid/boss fights. The last thing that is needed is clunkyness.

They revamped the job system. They should look at the skill system now.