Are BRD/MCH A Sub DPS Class (Support DPS) or Are They Just DPS Now?

[MomoOG]

TL;DR Currently:
BRD = Support + DPS
MCH = DPS

Longer Explanation:
If you look at the categories on the sheet, BRD and MCH are “Ranged Physical DPS” they generally do less damage than melee DPS, I assume because they have the advantage of long range attacks and mobility. SE wanted to give people a reason to play a lower DPS job beyond just the range advantage, but not equal the damage output of say BLM and RDM. So they gave BRD a bunch of extra buffs the party could benefit from (not just the TP and MP refresh which I agree hardly gets used now.) MCH on the other hand has diverged and offers no such support outside their cross role abilities. Some are assuming this means that MCH is supposed to be more DPS. However MCH is currently trying to carve out an identity again seeing as how BRD can put out damage with less hassle than MCH and MCH has to use more complex rotations to put out the same damage. The many MCH threads you will see for a while are to help suggest MCH as being THE premier Ranged DPS or offer a different kind of support apart from bard (like becoming the debuffer class instead.)

Support wise, aside from shared role abilities Bard can:
+2% Critical Hit rate for the party. (Potentially more damage)
+15% Direct Hit rate for the party. (Potentially more damage.)
+ Heal a party member with a song
+ Remove a debuff with a song
+ depending on a song being played can: Increase HP by 15%, Reduce physical Vulnerability by 10%, or reduce magic Vulnerability by 10%

Support wise, aside from shared role abilities Mechanist can:
+ Lower a targets damage by 10%
+ Knockback a target (but do no damage)

Yes I get all of that. My main point was that in ARR BRD did not compete other dps classes for a raid spot because of its unique access to tp/mp refresh abilities. I dunno what the situation was in HW. I get the impression from some people that they think the same situation applies currently for BRD/MCH. This seems to be erroneous thinking because from what I can tell BRD/MCH simply compete with all dps classes for a raid spot now.

For example when it comes to MCH dps/support abilities, most people simply compare it to BRD like some how they are their own separate category.