Ranged has lower DPS due to full uptime but all other jobs also have full uptime

[Lastelli]

the problem with the current balance is that uptime optimization can be completly (and i mean completly) ignored and melee still end up on top compared to physical ranged, thats even ignoring the fights where it really just means "sit on the bosses ass" but of course that is different and fair. "we (melees) have to work so much harder" would maybe have more of a ring to it if you couldn't just skip the "working harder" alltogether and still end up ahead.

I just know that now that I'm a MCH main, I feel way less pressure compared to when I was a melee. I don't give a damn about where the boss is, when it's going to teleport or move or turn, I can safely execute mechanics without having to worry about my uptime, I can be my BLM target for AM and help him maximize his uptime, I can take care of other bait mechanics and help my party's rdps as a result, I bring the best mitigation tool and I have a better view of my surroundings, which increases my awareness of mechanics and minimizes my chance to make mistakes.

Having experienced pretty much all dps role (and most dps jobs) in a savage raid setting, I strongly support the devs' current idea of jobs balance where physical ranged dps are lower than other dps by 5-10% rdps, and I strongly believe that, unless DNC, BRD and MCH are given something to work with in terms of positional requirements, they should stay this low and a double physical ranged dps comp should be heavily discouraged.

So let me ask you. What is it that you want for ranged dps, exactly? Do you want the dps gap to be almost completely closed while still maintaining the current mobility? You do realize this isn't going to happen no matter what, right? Why not ask to increase the skill ceiling for the role in exchange for a higher dps output? That seems the most logical thing to do to me.

Or, gain rDPS that is reliant on party damage, that way their damage contribution is relative to everyone's uptime.

DNC and BRD are set, just buff their buffs rather than direct potency.

MCH: turn Wildfire into a party mechanic.
Instead of gaining 200 potency for each weaponskill you use, change it to something like 160 potency for each weaponskill you use, plus 10 potency for each weaponskill/spell your party members use on the target.

I don't dislike your suggestion for wildfire, but I believe dps buffs should be kept at a minimum to prevent some jobs from becoming the de facto undisputed kings in an optimized scenario. That's not healthy for the overall balance, especially since damage buffs optimization is extremely trivial in this game and amounts to little more than buffs stacking windows, so as long as you're executing your rotation properly, you're already optimizing party synergies as well in most cases. The only exception to this was BRD's Foe Requiem, but regrettabley it was removed.