Quote Originally Posted by Evergrey View Post
DPS have more or less always in most games had the biggest freedom since they are more straight forward when it comes to what they do, which is dealing damage.
Healers on the other hand in other, especially in other games where there can be healers who have more utilities like buffs, debuffs, single target heals, group heals can excel over other healers depending on what might be more saught after for certain encounters.
I can almost certainly expect that if FFXIV had more of a difference between jobs we would see Meta setups when it comes to group compositions.
DRK was fairly excluded in a lot of endgame content during times when DRK was considered far inferior compared to other tanks, as an example.
And if I'm not remembering things wrong, when there was a clearer definition between pure & shield healers groups wanted 1 of each in their composition, not 2 of the same. Meaning that there was those that was shown the door if they already have one of them in their group already.
And that a DPS can survive having different complexity. I see how well that went for the VPR.

Ofc, these are simply my own opinions of the current state and where it feels like it's heading.
Your point about when pure and shield healers were more defined leading to people picking two of both isn’t really in line with reality because everyone knew double shield healer was an overpowered combo, it would have been the strongest if not for AST’s scaling buffs

Regardless a meta already exists, whether more job variety would lead to a harder meta is up for debate but the meta already exists, if the point of the beige design is to avoid a meta they’ve already failed. Go into a speedrun or ultimate high end prog group and you’ll be laughed out of the party as a WHM or a MCH for example