Most difficult DPS class to play?

[LetBloodline]

I believe some players are hugely exaggerating the difficulty of optimising blm dps while moving. They repeat is as fact without explaining what the difficulty is. It takes some practice but like all classes, because the mechanics of bosses are hugely scripted, once you memorize the fights it's just basically repeating the same thing. It can basically be broken down into the following steps

1. Can I totally circumvent moving totally? Notice how some blm stand away from plumes in titan ex, get assigned the least duties in t8, not stack for thermionic beam in t9 or leave it to other players to break vines in t6. For some reason it seems acceptable to do this which in itself mitigates many of their movement problems.

Try to do get max dps out of BLM while still doing your work and don't let do all the work to others. Sure if someone can't play well a BLM the rest of the party can take some load off but that is not "BLM is easy", it's "Said player can't play BLM well"

[Aurelle_Delacroix]

I main a BLM and while I have fun with my job and do it decently well I find that the upkeep and the mechanics for SMN are quite fun. All those poisons, Garuda's contagion, as well as weaving in Festers, Enkindles, and even having the capability to rez people make the SMN quite the useful DPS member. As for melee, I haven't played MNK much but I do have a DRG (not to 50 yet) but I do enjoy that as well. The combos are long and take some memorization as well as skill prioritization but I find it fun as well. (Though I most likely am close to being considered a lolgoon but eh, to each their own!)

As for Bard---that job is straight utility in my opinion. DPS can definitely be good however with it's song's and ability to full party rez with LB and even the DoT's it can dish out while still damaging on the move it's a pretty useful job. Not to mention silence. It's really just up to you. But I'd say SMN.

[Aaramis]

Judging by the Ninja video, they have a jump not unlike the DRG. Queue "lolNIN" banter when all the Ninjas jump and get nailed by an AoE...
On the plus side, DRG may get some sympathy after people realize it's the mechanics and not necessarily the people behind the keyboard.

[skaterger]

Try to do get max dps out of BLM while still doing your work and don't let do all the work to others. Sure if someone can't play well a BLM the rest of the party can take some load off but that is not "BLM is easy", it's "Said player can't play BLM well"

This is not what I said. If you read some of the posts here and on reddit, these are what some of the "top blms" are claiming to be doing.

[Maero]

I would say it may be a toss up between Dragoon and Monk for difficulty.
I have neither class but just from what i have read.
Bard is in fact the easiest and those claiming it is harder then blm, well you have the right to your opinion is all i will say

[ZaxLavayi]

I'll go wit SMN, because of the micromanaging.

[AlexPayne]

Depends on the person. I'm just fine with my SMN, but can't play BLM worth crap. Meanwhile, another guy in my FC can play BLM really well, but has a very hard time with SMN. Just a different rhythm to the gameplay.

[LetBloodline]

This is not what I said. If you read some of the posts here and on reddit, these are what some of the "top blms" are claiming to be doing.

Well everyone can call himself "top BLM" if in the fight they let do all the work to others and just stay put and fire

I call a "top BLM" the one able to deal with the fight and do his share and make that work affect the less possibile his DPS. He/She will have less DPS then scarecrow BLM? Sure but it's effectiveness in the fight and in the party is miles ahead of scarecrows BLM

Sure, why put a BLM doing the "homing missile" job or kiter in t7 job? Some jobs are just wrong for BLM but many others can be done without much problems

[EricCartmenez]

I have played as all but the LNC/DRG. PUG was dang hard! I won't say that BRD is hard, but I will say that there is a lot of finesse and cool stuff you can do. I'm the only DPS who can bring everyone back to life from a full wipe if on the 3rd limit break. I'm the only one who can give people TP and health. I can silence. I can drop 2 AOE's simultaneously. I love being a BRD. I also tip my hat to the THM's. I went to level 31 and I know there's so much more, but gosh, how hard a class to play! I think many of us forget the summoner. Maybe that's because most ARC go the patch of SCH. Heck, if you already have PAL, you can do both easily. The ARC/SUM is definitely a thankless job. My three favorites so far are WAR, WHM and of course, BRD.

[Inkarozu]

As much as I'd love to say Monk is the hardest (aka most skill intensive) class, sadly I'd have to give that to DRG

DRG share a LOT of similarities with how monk works, however though both have flank and rear rotations with a DRG if you do a move in the wrong spot (or if the mob turns before your move finishes) you will lose the effect you're doing the move for in the first place where monk will just lose damage and still maintain whatever buff/de-buff they were applying. Also DRG has more options of buffs and CDs to throw in during their rotation, where you fit them in can have a large impact on your DPS. They do have a bit less to worry about than monk though, as keeping up GL3 on monk can be difficult (or sometimes impossible so you have to plan your PB to get it back quickly) and have a much easier time AoEing than monks (which again requires good use of your PB).

The casters are both easier than the melees. I personally am not very good with Blm but the rotation isn't hard by any means, I just can't stand the long cast times and never got great and finding those nice windows were you can stand still to get everything you want uninterrupted. Summoner has a lot more options than Blm, but they have a ton of more mobility making them easier to utilize as well. I rather enjoy my smn and don't find it hard to play, but I'd like to say that it is indeed more challenging than blm.

Bard is hands down the easiest dps to play, yet a rather large amount of bard players still manage to be bad at it somehow. Anyone can play bard and do good dps with it, its the song management to help the rest of your party do their jobs better that makes someone stand out as a good bard player.

So from my perspective:
1. Dragoon
2. Monk
3. Summoner
4. Black Mage
5. Bard