Returning player new character

So I just got the game again and played a THM before but only made it to 30 and it was on an na server because of the initial server problems at launch so I'm starting fresh on an eu server ended up on Cerberus apparently a good eu server anyway back on track;

I came from a game called tera before and enjoyed playing a harder class that took skill to achieve good dps albeit it being low in there due to class restrictions on that game. I was looking at BLM or SMN I like the idea of seeing big numbers but also like the idea of playing a harder class and being noticed as a skilled dps. I was just wondering if anyone could fill me in on either classes the information I've found are either inconclusive or outdated. Just in general wanting to know views of who have played them

Cheers!

I'm not an expert but every class has its special point to optimize its DPS.

monk - keep greased lightning stacks up/time buffs/positions
dragoon - time the jumps/buffs/positions
ninja - time mudra effectively (mudra lags)/TP management
blackmage - when to move to dodge and still have a top dps/manage AOE and single target rotations
bard - use of songs effectively/TP management/buff timing (combining them effectively)
summoner - optimizing petuse (garuda or iffi? swift switch midfight?)/keep dots up/mana management in longer fights

Classes like blackmage, dragoon and ninja give you easy high numbers, while bard with a proper setup gives you a lot of crit procs (its meant to be support calss but can still be top up in raids). Summoner only shows high numbers with Fester as it is DOT based and my experience is it is a hard class to manage. Monk is according to people I seen a tricky class to master with keeping stacks up. As said I'm not an expert that can give much info tho.

If you was semi dps classes you can also try scholar which is heal/dps or warrior which is tank/dps. optimizing dps on these is a part of endgame raids as well.

Hope some DPS can give you more input

PS: Welcome to Cerby :)

Kinda what Werhusky said...

Well, nobody knows how things will change for the expansion, but right now, the 2 jobs you were looking into (BLM and SMN), might not entirely suit your needs...

You want big numbers, I don't know if you mean high DPS or actual high numbers popping up, but BLM has the big numbers coming up, while doing middle of the pack DPS. Although, they are not the most hard job to play... It's not as easy as some people make it out to be, but you will get a hang of the rotation in no time at all, and once you have practiced the movement (you want to stay still as much as possible, cause you can't cast most of your spells while moving), it really isn't too hard.

SMN on the other hand, are a lot more challenging than BLM, and people would acknowledge you if playing it good, but they also don't have much big numbers... It's a DoT based job, with Fester being their only big numbers spell at all pretty much. Their DPS is too low at the moment too, but I doubt that's going to be the same in the expansion.

If you really want those big numbers, and have some challenge doing it, NIN or DRG is for you... They both have high DPS, high numbers and they are tricky to get the most DPS out of them. Some people might argue that NIN and DRG isn't so hard, but I very rarely see any melee DPS at all actually, that gets up to the numbers you would expect from them. After all, how hard a job is to play, should be "measured" when you get those bigger numbers, not just get through your rotation decently.

Look out for NIN though, if you have higher ping, or ping spikes, I don't recommend NIN actually... it's too hard using their mudras effectively.

Although MNKs doesn't get as big numbers, they are at the top when it comes to DPS (maybe sharing with NIN), and they are very challenging for a lot of fights. Easy rotation, but hard to apply in many fights.

I agree with what is being said.

BLM has easiest rotation, but is a pretty difficult class to master as it requires you to think outside the box. Learning the fights, saving procs for movement when you know an attack is coming, using all the tools you are given to move as little as possible.

Monk is easiest Melee rotation, but one of the most difficult jobs due to positional attacks and having to maintain stacks. In fights where the boss never moves, jumps, teleports, or any break in the fight, Monk is top DPS.

Dragoon is hardest rotation With tons of abilities off the GCD, but very few positionals and no need to keep up any stacks. Good for fights with lots of phase changing and untargetable enemies.

Ninja is kinda in the middle of the two. Somewhat complex rotation, some OGCD abilities, 1 positional, and good raid utility.

Bard is easiest dps class in my opinion. Can move while attacking and rotation pretty straight forward. But a must have in 2.0 raid content due to utility.

SMN is weakest DPS currently. They have alright utility and decent numbers, but with the problems they have with MP, makes them not quite as effective in long fights. If they die at all, they are pretty useless the rest of the fight. They have a battle raise, but again it's a high MP cost so only used as a last resort. And to be clear, this is mostly in Final Coil. In normal content summoner is fine and any issues it has will be addressed in the xpac.

Learning proper rotations, knowing the fight and having exceptional uptime is key for high dps numbers. Don't let others fool you, each DPS isn't all that hard to play well, certain jobs just tend to attract those less inclined to actually try to min/max, which gives an illusion of being more "difficult". If you possess good button mashing and aren't prone to panicking, you'll achieve high dps on all of them.

BLM is without question the ideal caster, at least until the expansion. It has access to self damage mitigation to reduce the need of movement, a gap closer of sorts to reduce movement time, and the ability to reduce magic dmg on a PT member. Assuming cross classes are lvled it also has access to STR down Virus and E4E. Move less cast more, this comes with learning fights to anticipate when/how you should handle mechanics for optimal uptime. That aside figuring out/reading up lil tips will increase DPS. (Not a BLM expert, so I'm not aware of all of them)

SMN is the current underdog. While it is possible to pull off respectable DPS, against others of equal skill you will fall a little short. Some would have you believe SMN has decent utility, but I would argue the opposite. SMN pets have no other Party utility other then being a damage soak for certain abilities, two of them do have stun, but its a dps loss and a interrupt at best. The Summoner itself has access to Super Virus, E4E, and In-Combat Resurrection. All mage classes have access to E4E, so besides having a shorter cooldown, isn't all to special. The Super Virus additionally reduces INT/MND, but the current endgame won't have you needing to use this all to often, and when it is needed, SCH has it readily available. You will be hard pressed to find endgame groups that do not run with a SCH. Lastly the In-Combat Resurrection, while it certainly isn't bad it isn't very noteworthy, as deaths are unforgiving in most of the endgame.

SMN continued...

Achieving exceptional DPS on SMN calls for a few things. DoTs. Keeping them up when appropriate and when to reapply. Keeping your pet alive and attacking, often times when things go invulnerable, the pet will derp and not attack anything until given a command to do so, as well as proper ability use, mostly Garuda and proper contagion use. Weaving oGCDs/Fester after either Bio or Ruin II. Melee. When applicable stand in melee range and smack the enemy. Casting. Like the blm, less movement more casting. Since the SMN can weave in Ruin II they have a little more freedom of movement and like the bard will likely handle more movement sensitive mechanics.

FreeLancer, you can edit previous posts to add to them to bypass the character limit.

MNK - Keep all stacks of your effects up. Greased Lightning, Twin Snakes, Dragon Kick, Demolish, Touch of Death (until TP becomes an issue). Highest sustained 1v1 dps.
BLM - Never stop casting if possible. Maximize Astral Fire time and use, as well as proc use. Highest single attack damage in critical hit Fire III's, as far as I know.
DRG - Time your bursts, mow down things hard with them if you do it right. Most lethal burst damage.
NIN - Don't waste a Ninjutsu window, be ready to use utilities (especially Goad) at any time. Most overall helpful dps-based utility.
BRD - <Blunt Arrow> <Just used it.>, never assume the DPS you lose with a song is more important than the utility it grants. In Ballad / Paeon's cases, learn how much is enough to avoid too much, as that CAN be a loss. Incredibly good burst dps with cooldowns.
SMN - Look up three posts.

Oh thanks, was not aware. Forgive the mild spammage.

S'alright. Happens all the time. It's a stupid restriction, really.

Thanks for all the quick replies, I think for what it is worth im going to stay as a caster, seems a bit easier with the controller as im used to pc controls so still getting used to being optimal. I think im going to go black mage and then level a summoner after seen as you can change jobs freely here I think i might do that to mix things up a bit. Thank you for all the replies and information and sorry for the late reply!