Quote Originally Posted by Lyth View Post
The distinction between 'physical ranged' and 'magical ranged' is arbitrary
I feel this is a gross oversimplification of the problem at hand. 'Physical Ranged' and 'Magical Ranged' are in-fact two different categories on the whole. Let's use Bard and Black Mage as an example. Bard is a simplistic DPS class that can upkeep 100% uptime from ANYWHERE, with largely negligible input from the player beyond rolling their GCD. Black Mage is a class that requires extensive fight knowledge to plot out your lines, where and when you can use transpose, and how best to use your movement resources as to maintain uptime during movement mechanics.

This is the reason Ranged and Magical are different categories. SMN belongs in the Phys Ranged category, I'd even dare say, to make my point even clearer. A decent portion of BLM and RDM's complexity comes from mapping how they approach fights to maintain optimal uptime. This is not a facet of gameplay phys ranged have, at all. That is why BLM and RDM should do more damage than the Phys Ranged role, and Phys Ranged should be focused on providing group support. However, with Machinist having no support and poor damage to show for it, I'd be in favor of a return to eld. Give Machinist Gauss Barrel and Ammo back, so we can thereby make it have to take this facet of gameplay into account again and in turn make them stronger.