This whole Meta Party thing is hurting me. x_x

[Bourne_Endeavor]

For solo numbers ACT/fflogs are 99.X% accurate, but for party contributions they're not as perfect because battle logs don't record dot damage and the server only sends a combined tick in the data packet, so it's impossible to tell the exact damage each dot did or whose it was, what crit/dh and what didn't. We also know from pvp that SE does have their own damage calculation system, so it's fair to assume that they have the more complete data.

It's questionable if they know how all the possible party setups interact with each other though, as there's some evidence pointing towards physical ranged classes being possibly underestimated (SSS dummy numbers). It's also possible that the numbers are skewed on purpose because of some undisclosed design philosophy. We just really don't know.

I am aware, though ACT remains incredibly close in how it estimates DoT damage. Regardless, the person I quoted has claimed the meta simply doesn't exist. This inherently implies jobs like DRG and NIN—known for their staggeringly high utility buffs—do not actually provide more, all because Yoshida used broad terms in asserting no one job holds a "major advantage," which, itself, is somewhat subjective due to interpretation. If we are to believe they have data that directly contradicts the meta, it's utterly idiotic on their part not to release this information as nothing Yoshida says will have any impact over ACT and FFlogs.

Unless a 5% piercing buff, a 15% crit buff up for 8.33% of the time, and a 5% damage buff up for 16.67% up from the time can contribute 750+ DPS by themselves atop, a DRG is no longer necessarily going to be more efficient than an equally skilled BLM.

DRG does offer nearly that amount, especially due to how much of BRD's damage is rooted in Crit. Those numbers only increase with both physical ranged hence the year long prevalence of DRG/NIN/BRD/MCH. They all circle buff one another. Granted, BLM is far better off now than it has been in a while. SAM, on the other hand, is borderline useless.

Another factor regarding Meta preference is the inherent safety net. An average BLM offers nothing whereas a comparably average DRG at least increases BRD/MCH's damage. Therefore, it's a safer gamble to take the DRG.

Now I will agree people overstate just how beneficial meta jobs are. BLM, for instance, is in a pretty strong spot right now. That being said, it's equally disingenuous to claim those utility jobs aren't better because, statistically, they are.