True Support Class even possible...

[Aenomaly]

given the size of groups being so small is a true support class even possible int his game. I really dislike the size of groups, they tried to force a ff mechanic that imo didn't work. Yes we get it the groups were primarily a size of 4 in many of the ff games, but that just made things so much more cramped. Not to mention dd have a harder time getting groups if they had 3 dd per 1 tank and 1 healer groups would go quicker.

Back to my point, given the size of groups is there really any place for a support type class? I for one love support classes, and healing classes. I would pick up a support in a heart beat. I dont know i just wish they had larger groups and in doing so this would allow for more flexibility within character types.

aeno

[TaalAzura]

1 Tank, 1 healer, 1 DPS, 1 support.

see no issue here.

[AyaneKiwara]

I dont know about pure support. More support than bards are, sure. If you consider how many timed boss fights there are in the 4 man dungeons, such as demon wall and the last AK boss, you just need to make sure that a group with 1+ support class can clear those reasonably, even if its just cutting it really close. So as long as you balance the encounters and the dps for support classes well enough that 4 man content is doable with them, they could be a big help for 8 man content.

[amnie]

it really depends on the type of support. if you take a support like the captain in LOTRO for example, it might work. massive buffs to healing for the healer, buffs to dps for the dps, off-tanking if need to and on top of that debuffs on the enemy? yes please. absolutely.
I loved constantly having to make sure all my buffs and debuffs were up. give me!

[Noata]

Support is a role, not a class, and it is filled by a different variety of CC, Buffs, Heals, Debuffs, and inherent benefits of a class, (range, HP, Speed, etc)
When someone says a person is support, it just implies they can "support" the party. in reality all classes have support elements and may even be called on due to this. support classes in other MMO's are often bundled into a healer as support is situational. Bard is a good example of a Support DPS, they have a versatile move set and an LB that can save the party. you could say they are a DPS class that often fills a support role in situations requiring it.we have a good setup right now.

[Imagene]

In it's state now, I don't think that bards can be considered support class. But I do suspect, that when the release a true support class (probably in the next major expansion) that the role of bard might change. Of course, archer will have a more dps orientated class like ranger. (Actually, would it not be cool that musketeer and archer both end up Ranger as a job option - so you pretty much keep your class skills - but gain 5 Ranger skills)

However, I do think that how support (since they will still bring their own DPS to the table) functions is that their skills buff the rest of the 3 members to make up for the difference in DPS.

Say for example, a support class deals 80% the damage of a true dps class. between, the tank, the healer and the DPS. A support class would be required to add another 20% DPS. Of course, the overall capabilities of a party is not restricted to damage dealing, as such, a support class could also buff the party in other ways.

[Peptaru]

In it's state now, I don't think that bards can be considered support class.

Say for example, a support class deals 80% the damage of a true dps class. between, the tank, the healer and the DPS. A support class would be required to add another 20% DPS. Of course, the overall capabilities of a party is not restricted to damage dealing, as such, a support class could also buff the party in other ways.

That is what bards do now . . . how are they not support?

[ZephyrAM]

Yoshi mentioned a 'hybrid' role in the most recent live letter (I believe is where it was), so something similar could be incoming. Though what exactly will be a hybrid of is up for debate.

But he wanted two of each role in a full party: 2 tanks, 2 healers, 2 dps, 2 hybrid.

[Duelle]

That is what bards do now . . . how are they not support?

They're DPS with raid cooldowns. Very much akin to an enhancement shaman in WoW. And that's not a bad thing.

@OP: "Support" doesn't work in trinity-based MMOs.

Yoshi mentioned a 'hybrid' role in the most recent live letter (I believe is where it was), so something similar could be incoming. Though what exactly will be a hybrid of is up for debate.

But he wanted two of each role in a full party: 2 tanks, 2 healers, 2 dps, 2 hybrid.

I'm still hoping that was along the lines of "warrior players didn't research enough" rather than a legitimate peek at what's to come.

[Inflorescence]

Yoshi mentioned a 'hybrid' role in the most recent live letter (I believe is where it was), so something similar could be incoming. Though what exactly will be a hybrid of is up for debate.

But he wanted two of each role in a full party: 2 tanks, 2 healers, 2 dps, 2 hybrid.

To elaborate for those that didn't hear about it, he mentioned it in the context of hybridizing class roles. So the "Hybrid" would hybridize Tank/Healer (pllllllzzzzzzz), Tank/DPS, or Healer/DPS. (e.g. not based on classes, like a WAR/PLD hybrid, or BRD/BLM, etc.) Or so one would assume.

I think I worded that confusingly. He said it like there were new classes that were going to hybridize Tank/Healer/DPS, not an opportunity to hybridize current classes.