Comparing rDPS gained from Reaper vs Samurai for varying jobs. Top FFLogs parse for each job was used for consistancy in skill/performance.

Buff job | rDPS from: Samurai | Reaper
Dancer - SAM: 1443.1 | RPR: 1169.0
Bard - SAM: 500.1 | RPR: 310.9
Ninja - SAM: 277.4 | RPR: 176.2
Scholar - SAM: 213.8 | RPR: 124.4
Astro - SAM: 515.2 | RPR: 488.2
Monk - SAM: 176.5 | RPR: 117.6

The rDPS given to a party of Tank/Tank/(SAM or RPR)/NIN/BLM/DNC/SCH/AST:
Samurai contributes 2449.5 to their party's raid buffs with an nDPS of 9861.1, totaling 12310.6 party damage contribution.
Reaper contributes 1957.8 to their party's raid buffs with an nDPS of 9241.1 and 424.7 from Arcane Circle, totaling 11623.6 party damage contribution.

An equally skilled Samurai brings up to 687 more dps to their party than an equivalant Reaper. By gauranteeing crits on samurai's biggest moves, it ensures at least the crit buffs aren't being sandbagged if a job other than Samurai is taken. Ideally Samurai's potencies will be adjusted to be 500 less dps than they are now but uncentralizing the need to have them in a party for scholar, dancer, and bard will go a long way towards ensuring all jobs remain competitive with one another.


I realize how long this post is and I apoligize, but I wanted to apply adequete reason and logic to combat the fearmongering I see going on right now. I implore anyone concerned over these changes to consider everything I've typed. I believe in time it will be seen as positive when the dust settles.