Slight SAM modification to increase it's raid viability and DMG potencies

At this point doing a rework of SAM (including Potency buffs) would be quite a boost, but quite an undertaking to balance. However, one idea that I've been playing around with in my head is a single boost to a certain skill. I'd recommend a trait at lvl 65ish for SAM that does the following

<title>: Increases the slashing debuff from Yukikaze by X%.

The idea being a simple boost to DPS similar to how DRG enhances BRD and MCH DPS. Now this also means that WAR and NIN are still viable, but the slashing debuff the SAM brings being stronger makes them a good choice for certain comps.

I like this idea, it would at the same time give a slight increase in utility and in personal DPS. Someting like 2 or 3% would work well.

SAM Slashing debuff should be it's own debuff instead of being shared with the WAR and NIN, not just "increase the slashing debuff", otherwise it'll be constantly overlapped by the WAR and NIN debuff because of the debuff limit.

Another solution....

Thinking to FFXII, Samurai had a lot of magic support. So perhaps there could be an effect from Yukikaze that not only applies the existing slashing debuff, but also applies a magic vulnerability up on the enemy. This would be an asset to healer, paladin, ninja, and caster DPS, as well as provide something unique.

I'm not sure on the aspect of increasing magic damage. BLM currently needs something of that sort so I'd see that more being on their level. But I do see where you're coming from. Even if SAM just boosted CRT in addition to other things on the target such a buff would instantly make them loved by tanks. SAM is ultimately a selfish DPS, however that doesn't mean that they can't apply support skills. I would just focus their support skills on ones that actively help them

Another idea is a skill that can be activated to increase the potency of certain party buffs on the SAM for a period of time. This would be amazing with party sync

I feel like you'd just replace the Bard or Machinist with a Monk, and then you'd have two PDPS set ups but still discouraged balanced or caster set ups.

I think in the end there is truly no way to purely balance an mmo. The devs can only do their best and hope it works. Dispite the earlier statements though I do think it's more than fair to expect all the classes to be viable for all content without making a very specific comp to bring them in.

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Originally Posted by Zyne

I'm not sure on the aspect of increasing magic damage. BLM currently needs something of that sort so I'd see that more being on their level. But I do see where you're coming from. Even if SAM just boosted CRT in addition to other things on the target such a buff would instantly make them loved by tanks. SAM is ultimately a selfish DPS, however that doesn't mean that they can't apply support skills. I would just focus their support skills on ones that actively help them

Another idea is a skill that can be activated to increase the potency of certain party buffs on the SAM for a period of time. This would be amazing with party sync

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It would be stretching it at that point, but if they were to go the route I suggested, they could always recode at least the sen skills to be magic damage, then it would benefit the samurai and add party utility.

No more debuffs that increase damage based on slashing or whatever. Piercing debuff alone is bad enough.