Maybe RDM need....

[Duelle]

I guess to start, stances wouldn't really work without a full redesign of the job. Granted, this could work assuming we wanted to just finish ripping off Bloodborne by making the RDM stances correspond to weapon modes like the trick weapons from that game (instead of holding the sword like a decoration and then remembering its supposed to be used like a staff). Sword swung with the main hand while the crystal in the offhand is used to cast weak spells, then bringing both together to cast bigger spells. Of course, this means melee would have to play a bigger role in the design, but thems them breaks.

In the short term, the job could use potency boosts to stuff already in place. I'd probably replace Enhanced Displacement (Displacement and Engagement should have the same potency, otherwise you're punishing the player in situations where they can't jump away) with a trait that boosts Verfire/stone/aero/thunder. Of course, the potential issue with this is that RDM DPS output becomes very dependent on procs (Jolt II vs boosted Verfire/Verstone). I guess we could lower Acceleration's cooldown to 30s to help with this.

The more roundabout way of buffing DPS output would be to increase mana gained per spell cast to increase the frequency of the enhanced melee combo (since that is supposed to be the burst phase). Doing this, however, would require increasing the threshold for discrepancy between black and white mana (the current threshold is a difference of 30 between black/white mana; you'd need to increase it to 40 or 45).

Frankly speaking, I don't agree with the notion that utility somehow inflates RDM's value beyond its intended role. Whatever applicable taxes should not lead to the gap in DPS that we're currently seeing. So I'm gonna have to say that I don't think Vercure and Verraise should be locked away as the OP is suggesting.

[Capn_Goggles]

Ehhhhh it depends. Maybe attaching it to the damage they deal and then giving them a focus target mechanic. Everytime they deal damage they heal the focus ally target, or just the nearest ally if none. Combine this with Embolden just being All Damage and I'd say that makes a pretty compelling case.

I don't think RDM needs more utility, I think the utility RDM offers needs to be a lot better. Verraise is fine since it's good for learning fights and is clutch in casual content; vercure is an absolute lame-duck excuse of an ability since you're sacrificing DPS for a crappy two-bit heal in an expansion where oGCD healing is absolutely bonkers, and Embolden is pointlessly restrictive and the decay on it is completely unnecessary while not actually making the ability itself more interesting. At the end of the day the most important things for a DPS job are if it's enjoyable to play and if it brings the damage, all of the other stuff is just garnish.

[Katie_Kitty]

It seems the live letter confirmed upcoming potency buffs for "ranged" in 5.1. Anyone think RDM isn't gonna get screwed out of buffs and left in the dust behind everyone else?

[Akiudo]

It seems the live letter confirmed upcoming potency buffs for "ranged" in 5.1. Anyone think RDM isn't gonna get screwed out of buffs and left in the dust behind everyone else?

from what i've read in live translations they confirmed "slight potency" buffs, so expect all ranged to gain 1-2% dps so our melee overlords only reign supreme by 8% through the board after sam and nin get elevated to monks level....

[Zyneste]

from what i've read in live translations they confirmed "slight potency" buffs, so expect all ranged to gain 1-2% dps so our melee overlords only reign supreme by 8% through the board after sam and nin get elevated to monks level....

Well they said Ranged. Ranged is the actual name for BRD/DNC/MCH as a role. SMN was specified as seeing changes. RDM might not even. #doomsayingcuzimprobablynotwrong

[Katie_Kitty]

from what i've read in live translations they confirmed "slight potency" buffs, so expect all ranged to gain 1-2% dps so our melee overlords only reign supreme by 8% through the board after sam and nin get elevated to monks level....

I'll take anything at this point. I just don't want to see physical ranged buffed alongside a smn rework/buff that leaves my favorite job as the absolute weakest one in the game and I fear that may happen.