Quote Originally Posted by Gruntler View Post
It's very obvious. In a PvE game, the object is to overcome the environment. One vector of balance must therefore be in the capability of overcoming said environment.
Quote Originally Posted by RylaBee View Post
Gruntler is IMO correct, that how the job is viable for prog is one of most important pieces in balance puzzle for PVE.
It's not correct for a very simple reason. You know what is an equally important if not more important part of prog? Meeting the dps check. Technically this is not a part of prog, but still before overcoming the challenge. And you know how each job's dps can be measured? With dps percentiles.

Again, not denying that prog is unimportant. But here lies the heart of the debate, that the "utility" of these powerful prog-heavy features come with an unjustified dps cost. How RDM has a reputation for being a "prog job" and is often swapped to a higher damaging caster when the damage is needed. Or how in the current Ultimate, death is extremely punishing and unrecoverable (for a good portion of the fight), rendering battle raises to have little value. Or how SMN is also able to provide a raise, albeit not as powerful, but also providing much higher damage output at the same time. There is a balance that can be achieved, but in whichever way, it's clear that putting so much value in prog and claiming it to be standard for balance is a misleading mindset.