This expansion looks very unfair for the DPS classes in general.

[AkashiXI]

Let's just go over some of the DPS classes again...



BRD: Relatively easy, has a lot of utility, very high DPS.


Why are easier classes blatantly overshadowing the most complex ones? Shouldn't it be the opposite? High risk high reward no?

Bard is not relatively easy, nor does it have "very high dps". While the rotation of Bard is straight forward, their very annoying RNG toolkit makes it so you have to be more reactive than passive. I can go further into detail on why that's frustrating, but I'll spare you the paragraphs unless you're curious.

Utility: of course we have it, we are supposed to. However, the utility we bring isn't nearly on the same level as it was in 2.0 or 3.0. Compound the fact that even more jobs possess raid tools and we are no longer a must pick (or even great pick, for that matter). I never agreed that Bard was a must have in raid, however it should be a niche that greatly benefits the group if you bring them, seeing they're the only support in the game (along with machinist). Now? I can name 3 or 4 compositions that are better without Bard or Machinist in it.

Damage: we are totally RNG dependent now, with an ability that guarantees a proc every 13-14 seconds. Ref Arrow with your Barrage? Only if you get a straighter shot! Pitch perfect for your opener? I hope you crit your dots! Seriously, our burst opener is the most inconsistent it has ever been. The worst part is that the job would be so much better if they did two things:

1) Made Refulgent Arrow an oGCD

2) Change Raging Strikes to Attack 10% to Crit Chance 20~25%.

[Galvuu]

Utility: of course we have it, we are supposed to. However, the utility we bring isn't nearly on the same level as it was in 2.0 or 3.0. Compound the fact that even more jobs possess raid tools and we are no longer a must pick (or even great pick, for that matter). I never agreed that Bard was a must have in raid, however it should be a niche that greatly benefits the group if you bring them, seeing they're the only support in the game (along with machinist). Now? I can name 3 or 4 compositions that are better without Bard or Machinist in it.

Most utility that's not Astro got slightly nerfed, and I'd argue the new Bard is more versatile (the HP troubadour buff is actually quite significant) in its utility.
"No longer being a must pick" is good. No job should be a "must pick". That said, BRD and NIN are still the most picked dps jobs by a mile. It is effectively a "must pick".

I haven't studied the new bard yet (casters first), but I'm sure it's actually quite hard. Bard has always been a rng heavy job (it was in 3.X). That said, it's still in almost every team, vastly overshadows its other counterpart (MCH) and is overall one of the current best dps jobs.

[Coldbrand]

If you think DRG is imbalanced to play unfairly youve never played NIN or MNK. DRG is probably the easiest class to manage out of the three.

...What? NIN is a cakewalk now.

[MiruWest]

...What? NIN is a cakewalk now.

And what class isnt now days? Hell what class was EVER really "hard"?

[Lastelli]

You have 2 jobs at level 70, DRG and SMN. And of course those two jobs are hard and punishing and the other jobs are a cakewalk...I guess next will be a "MNK dps is too low compared to SAM and it's too hard too play" argument while they're actually pretty close.

No, SAM is not noob friendly and the proof are the dozens of terrible SAMs in the game right now. BRD is a total gamble job, hell even its opener is random and based on refulgent proc. Not hard, but not easy and its dps is not so high. MCH is not hard at all. Punishing, yes, but hard? Not really. It's really easy actually but it needs a dps buff...however it's terribly clunky at level 60, it was almost painful to play to me. Meanwhile, hardcore players are saying that DRG is braindead easy right now so you know...opinions?

[winsock]

And what class isnt now days? Hell what class was EVER really "hard"?

I'd say BLM is pretty hard to play, just cause of movement and how unforgiving it can be. It does take a good amount of practice to be able to move properly and use cooldowns while not letting your DPS tank. The target dummy rotation is pretty straightforward, but its definitely not a job that that will be pulling good numbers in the hands of an inexperienced player.

RDM is a different story.

[LordMaitreya]

I need a source for this Yoshi claim.

Don't hold your breath because that never happened.

[Georashi]

And what class isnt now days? Hell what class was EVER really "hard"?

Machinist. We've been dealing with the RNG joys since inception, and Stormblood just got added another layer. With the new heat gauge, one mistake managing your heat and your DPS takes a nosedive for about 15 seconds as the barrel shuts of and has to get back to 50 heat.

[NoxLumina]

They really just played the wrong job to begin with then.

[Jas710]

This entire thread is wasted energy. I main MONK, MCH, and WAR, and they all seem fine to me. You guys are living in a bubble and not considering the synergy between all of the jobs in a group setting. Take a deep breath, go spend some quality time with different group configs, and then shut up.