BLM should be the SAM of casters.

[Allyrion]

BLM should deal more damage than SAM. There's no discussion.

BLM = 0 Utility
SAM = Slashing Debuff. The fact that NIN is mandatory because its OP trick attack doesn't mean that SAM doesn't have utility. SAM should be another option to bring instead of NIN. NIN and SAM should compete for the same spot in a party because both provide Slashing debuff, SAM higher DPS and NIN higher supportive abilities.

And for people telling that BLM is ranged and should deal less damage than melee. BLM is the DPS that is the most punished by mechanics that require movement.

The Slashing debuff is pretty moot since you're leaving out that WAR brings it too. So for SAM to have any group contribution, you need DRK/PLD as tanks and no NIN.

While BLM has no innate utility, being a caster comes with some through the role actions - particularly Mana Shift and Apocatastasis. That doesn't make them better off for the caster slot but it does count overall when the melee role actions don't offer much utility.

BLM's AoE damage is a factor as well most likely but I wouldn't argue that it should be. AoE is fairly negligible for content where comp actually matters.

BLM should do similar damage to a Samurai on a dummy, and not much more or less. That I agree with. It's ranged advantage would be negated by casting being interrupted by mechanics.