DPS=Damage Per Second

[Ryuko]

While I think everyone should always strive to do better, I do not like calling attention to minimum differences in DPS. It might be fun to 'compete' with your friends to see who can parse the highest DPS or overall damage, but you shouldn't take those numbers to heart. As long as everyone is within realistic range to each other, and you are doing what you need to do, it's fine. There are optimal rotations/abilities to use... and over time, you will perfect those.

I do not run parsers and if anyone in a party is running a parser, I cringe when they say they are 'parsing' a fight... Not because of my dps (I'm a smn and I know what I'm doing so I always come out pretty high), but because people who know they are being parsed tend to want to push themselves to top the charts. The unfortunate side effect of this is that dps who are trying so hard to push their full potential will likely stop dodging and get hit by AoEs.

As long as your DPS/damage is within an acceptable range of everyone else, I don't CARE who the TOP DD is. It's a team effort. Even a bard using songs for most of the fight will still have comparable overall damage.

I find that parsers will help you find 'serious' problem areas. I was once in a Titan where the tank was out-dpsing a SMN with a relic and full DL. Upon closer inspection, the person running the parser realized that the summoner wasn't using fester at all. It led to a discussion about why he wasn't using it, in which he told me it wasn't worth it and assured me he 'knew what he was doing'. That party ended up disbanding... but I hope the guy gave some thought to using fester.

[GilbertLapine]

Tbh, this kind of max/min won't matter until PvP becomes a thing, and given the community feedback on the thus-far-released Wolve's content, it won't be a big deal period unless SE pulls PvP Frontline off really, really well (fingers crossed).

My personal favorite class is BLM for lore, style, effects, and rotation, and I generally top out the DPS in my group, but it depends on the type of fight and what you find you're best at. For instance, BLM is one of the best classes to play poorly, which is why it often gets the rep of "2-button mash," since many players fail to even attempt at utilizing the support skills or max/min their DPS and regen cycles using different skill tiers and instant procs to hit the MP regen ticks. Most also fail to understand that in many situations, BLM can act both as a 2nd OT when things go majorly south, or as an additional support healer (yes, though rare, there are times when it actually makes sense for a BLM to heal instead of DPS -- though this should never be the case, stuff happens and BLMs often have the opportunity to put out a fire or two that would otherwise distract an embattled WHM or SCH). I also have never, ever seen another BLM use aetherial manipulation (teleport skill), which is a freaking awesome ability when you actually get the hang of it. Only mostly-worthless skills blms have are Lethargy (slow and heavy -- mostly a gimpy solo skill that gives weaker heavy than blizzard I) and Freeze (worthless, expensive bind skill with long cast time -- only ever used if mobs are sleep-resistant but can be bound, but even then.. it targets ground so unless you insta-cast its prob gonna miss in most imaginable scenarios where you'd need a bind).

/rant

Anyway, for the pure-DPS side of things, if you're more of a single-target guy, go MNK or DRG, if you want the freedom to do really well against single-targets but want to own AOE against persistent targets go BLM. If you like spraying AOE and want a hybrid-ish job that can fill some limited support, go BRD.

[Astrix]

MNK ALL THE THINGS!

[HumsterMKX]

As far as I know DD = Dmg Dealer, or Direct Dmg.

Example, Blm is a DD, Fire spell does Direct Dmg, Thunder spell does DOT Dmg. Both affect the Blm's DPS.

[Beurling]

DD (Damage dealer), and DD (Direct damage) are different things: former is a class role while the latter is a type of damage dealt. DPS (Damage per second) is a measurement of class damage and a nickname for damage dealing classes. Read Darkstride's post he said the rest.

All DPS classes in this game deal direct damage and damage over time, both melee and ranged.

[DistraughtKoala]

Don't like summoners... Deal with it.

[glim]

summoners are pretty fvcking strong right now.. if you see one beat you on enmity, you'd have to question yourself, what more if his pet contributed enmity to the summoner, when pet does 20-30% of the summoner's damage.

also, parsers are terrible for SMNs right now (ffxivapp and log rep, don't know bout the others), it just doesn't do justice, ive tested it extensively and there are a lot of things it doesn't track.

shadowflare
extended dots via contagion (it will parse as if there are no dots on the target)
dots with raging strikes (tracks as if the dots are not buffed)
doesn't track critting dots
doesn't track multidots ie. bane/tab target dotting (just parses as if you only have 1 dotted target)
doesn't track potted dots

[ICEMANxPRIME]

Oh... and I do love all the feedback so far!!! My title does say it all though guys, so let me add some more. DPS means Damage per second meaning the amount of damage output per each second or time. Which means DOT and DD are in a way different and the same. I love all the feedback on MNK's as well, I did not know a lot of people actually felt they were good. BTW I know how to play my class and like I said I love it, but I feel a BLM has more to offer with it's range and damage output. So please keep it coming!

[LostMK]

I love all the feedback on MNK's as well, I did not know a lot of people actually felt they were good.

How people "feel" about a thing is irrelevant, all that matters is data.

Monks have a current dps potential in the 300's, other classes do not...

[HumsterMKX]

Oh... .My title does say it all though guys, so let me add some more. DPS I love all the feedback on MNK's as well, I did not know a lot of people actually felt they were good. BTW I know how to play my class and like I said I love it, but I feel a BLM has more to offer with it's range and damage output. So please keep it coming!

Depends on you personally. I prefer Mnk, more control. When I play Blm, I feel so disengaged.

Mnk: Hmm... what should I do next? Blood for Blood + Infernal release? Or use 1 at a time. Maybe I should pop both then Prefect Balance.

Blm: BOOM MORE BOOM MUHAHAHAHA!! BANG! BANG!