Should Casters Prioritize Auto Attacks?

[T0rin]

Why would it take you 1-2 GCDs to get into melee range of something? I mean, obviously this isn't going to be something you do in every single fight, but there is damage to be had when someone judges a situation where it is an extremely minimal sacrifice of time to get into and be able to stay in melee range.

Damage is damage, and if it is free for the taking, why wouldn't you take it? Like everything else in the game, you need to be able to judge when it is wise to do or not do any given thing, in terms of maintaining DPS. If you can do it, and it is not a sacrifice to do it, you should do it. I'm not advocating anything else. But, that was the OP's question.. if you can, should you? And the answer is yes.

[Judge_Xero]

Someone should Parse the mage AA damage. Maybe if it's like 2k a minute it might be worh it.

[Eohi]

Someone should Parse the mage AA damage. Maybe if it's like 2k a minute it might be worh it.

Actually came here to ask what people here thought about mage AA as the Gamefaqs topic got pretty heated.

The ruin/2 and psycicks are there to illustrate how AA damage changes with cast times. DPS is from a minutes worth of hits.

SMN:
Titan Book: 49.28 AA Damage/3.36 delay
452 INT/ 182 STR/ 295 det
AA hits for 70~, 100 on Crit
Ruin hits for 170~, 270~ on Crit
AA only: 24 dps(18~ hits)
Ruin only: 80 dps (23~ hits)
Ruin+AA: 84 dps(23~ ruin, 6~ AA)(2.44 cast)
Psycick spam + AA: 11 dps (8~ AA)(1.95 cast)
Ruin 2+AA: 104(!) dps (23~ ruin, 18~ AA)(instant)

Overall if you spam a minute full of ruin 2 your auto attacks can add up to 1.4k worth of damage. While you'll never get that full amount due to reapplication of dots I'm sure you've all had those times where 1k in damage more would have meant victory.

[StouterTaru]

Someone should Parse the mage AA damage. Maybe if it's like 2k a minute it might be worh it.

I highly doubt it's anywhere near that for a blm; I once took down a level <5 mob as 50 blm with just melee, it took about 4 swings.

[Impurrrsive]

this is the first time i heard caster should do auto attack XD
really? i think i will try it, healing while hitting boss with my staff rather than stone it
dont want ppl to think i'm crazy or something

oops this is dps roles forum >.< should read it first but really?

[Cons]

I run in for 2 reasons:

1. Blizzard to stun/blind w/e

2. Miasma 2

[Madoka]

SMN can easily afford to get in to auto attack. My biggest problem is forgetting to right click the boss when I do think about it. But for us the damage is basically another DoT proc but on a longer timer

[Itseotle]

I know there are widely different variables at play, but as a DRG my auto attack is my single highest dps ability, contributing about 30% of my over all damage iirc.

[Akirakogami]

i don't have this problem

[Zoomie]

i don't have this problem

Do you give lessons?