Improvisation

[LynxDubh]

Since Improvisation still works the same in DT, it should just be buffed.

PCT has a 10% shield that is the same cooldown or lower, double the power of a base Improvisation shield, equal to the power of a full ~12 second channel, all for half the effort and not being beholden to ping issues.

I'd like the base power for Improvisation to at least be in line with Tempera Grassa. But if there's a chance of a rework while keeping the channeled factor in play, here's my armchair suggestion:

Improvised Finish
- Creates a barrier around self and all nearby party members. Damage absorbed equals 10% of maximum HP of target.
Duration 30s
-Reduces damage taken by self and nearby party members. Damage reduction increases with stacks of Rising Rhythm.
0 Stacks: 5% damage reduction
1 Stack: 6% damage reduction
2 Stacks: 7% damage reduction
3 Stacks: 8% damage reduction
4 Stacks: 10% damage reduction
Duration 20s

Or go with HP recovery by healing actions with the same numbers. Or what's probably better, pivot the HP regen into the Rising Rhythm stack. Make the regen potency scale off that and make the baseline decent.

EDIT:
After chatting in the thread and ruminating on it I think I'd prefer Esprit generation to more mit. It would flow better into being both a damage gain and a mitigation utiility.

Improvised Finish
- Creates a barrier around self and all nearby party members. Damage absorbed equals 10% of maximum HP of target.
Duration 30s
-Generates Esprit upon execution. Esprit generated increases with stacks of Rising Rhythm.
0 Stacks: 10 Esprit
1 Stack: 20 Esprit
2 Stacks: 30 Esprit
3 Stacks: 40 Esprit
4 Stacks: 50 Esprit

[Reinhardt_Azureheim]

You have Shield Sambra at -10%/-15% + Curing Waltz + Improv. Don't you think adding extra damage reduction on Improv is a bit much when the other two Phys Ranged only have two tools? Pictomancer also doesn't really compete with phys ranged - it's the casters that should be worried if anything.

[LynxDubh]

You have Shield Sambra at -10%/-15% + Curing Waltz + Improv. Don't you think adding extra damage reduction on Improv is a bit much when the other two Phys Ranged only have two tools? Pictomancer also doesn't really compete with phys ranged - it's the casters that should be worried if anything.

After stewing on it a bit, I do think swapping the shield and regens would be better. The stacks would go towards the healing potency of the regen and have the shield be static.

But I'd say it's fair for DNC to have another utility over MCH. It's the ranged that's supposed to be more supportive. BRD has 3 supportive tools as well though, Troubador, Nature's Minne, and Warden's Paean.

[Reinhardt_Azureheim]

After stewing on it a bit, I do think swapping the shield and regens would be better. The stacks would go towards the healing potency of the regen and have the shield be static.

But I'd say it's fair for DNC to have another utility over MCH. It's the ranged that's supposed to be more supportive. BRD has 3 supportive tools as well though, Troubador, Nature's Minne, and Warden's Paean.

Can definitely see the shield be the baseline application and the regen instead being boosted. However, you do have more utility than MCH already. MCH has Dismantle + Tactician, you have Curing Waltz, Shield Samba and Improvisation. Curing Waltz is nothing to scoff at.

And I would not exactly call Warden's Paean to be on a support tool level as all the other tools because it's basically just ogcd Esuna, which gets less use per expansion than Improvisation per raid cycle. In terms of AOE mitigation/support/healing tools, there is currently almost-parity in amount with DNC being one ahead and variety in the 2nd tool (debuff mitigation VS boosting group healing VS direct AOE heal in a small radius for stacks).

[CKNovel]

MCH and BRD got extra support because DNC was just too bonker to hope competing with.
We have around one time where Warden's Pean is use per expansion, let's not count this as utility.

DNC has Samba, Curing Watlz and Improvisation. It doesn't needs any other buff that would give it another edge in the ranged role when it's been the best ranged since its introduction.

[Valence]

You do realize that asking "this other job has X, why my job doesn't have it too?" is what constantly leads to homogenization right? And secondly, we already have way enough mitigation and healing in the game already. Fact is, healing/mitigation traditionally attached to the rphys role is just not needed those days. We'll take it because it's there and it's free, but it doesn't define the role as you think it does, in my opinion.

If anything it's PCT's tempera grassa that should be nerfed to the ground.

[LynxDubh]

You do realize that asking "this other job has X, why my job doesn't have it too?" is what constantly leads to homogenization right? And secondly, we already have way enough mitigation and healing in the game already. Fact is, healing/mitigation traditionally attached to the rphys role is just not needed those days. We'll take it because it's there and it's free, but it doesn't define the role as you think it does, in my opinion.

If anything it's PCT's tempera grassa that should be nerfed to the ground.

The thing is DNC already had this. It's just been in such a weak state that its barely worth using the 0 stack version and nearly never worth using the channeled version. But the optimizing of the little support and healing tools we have is fun. I just want the supportive role DPS to have something substantial, even if it's on a long cooldown and a pain to use, it's fun.

And I'd be down for Tempera Grassa to be nerfed. But it didn't feel right saying another class shouldn't have nice things.

[Valence]

Gotta disagree with you as the 0 stack version gives a party regen, and while it's not literally the moon, it's still something that helps. You can use this weaved between two weaponskills and it will happily do its work after.

[LynxDubh]

MCH and BRD got extra support because DNC was just too bonker to hope competing with.
We have around one time where Warden's Pean is use per expansion, let's not count this as utility.

DNC has Samba, Curing Watlz and Improvisation. It doesn't needs any other buff that would give it another edge in the ranged role when it's been the best ranged since its introduction.

You have it backwards, MCH got extra support because DNC and BRD both were more popular than it. Now that MCH got the wrench (what I most wanted for it to get back from its HW kit) it is equally valued if not more in circles for its superior dps compared to BRD and DNC.

Warden's problem revolves around encounter design and is actually rather functional, while Improvisation suffers from both encounter design not catering to it and not functioning well for a support ability. And you know what, I want Warden's to be used more, it's also fun. Let BRDs have more usage of their interesting buttons too.

[LynxDubh]

Gotta disagree with you as the 0 stack version gives a party regen, and while it's not literally the moon, it's still something that helps. You can use this weaved between two weaponskills and it will happily do its work after.

It is at best a 500 total regen, which goes down if you are using the shield prior to meaningful damage. Not really something I would be excited for with a lvl 80 capstone. In order to really get a good regen you need to channel it, which is almost never worth it over getting in a Standard or Technical during downtime. And during that channel the healers will have already healed everyone to full.

Honestly, I'd also trade the Rising Rhythm for Esprit gain again paired with the X% shield. As long as it would keep the ticks at 5/10 per tick and not rely on allies standing in it. Then you could have mit and some damage incentive for what little downtime you get nowadays. Or have the Rising Rhythm give Esprit per stack. 0-10 esprit, 1-20, 2-30, 3-40, 4-50 or so.