Dragoons - I don't see too many of them in the high end content

[Warrlordd]

I main a DRG, and all i can say is that a DRG can match and beat a MNK 9 times out of 10 at i90.
That being said there are very few DRG's that i see doing this, and very few MNK's that are able to be compared to.
It's just really really hard to play either class at such a high level, and most aren't willing to practice that hard for it.
On Twintania as DRG I'm always #1 DPS.
You just gotta know what ur doing and be willing to work for it

[Simurgi]

Thank you all for the constructive input. I play a MNK and PLD currently and considered DRG as a new challenge. Judging by the responses here, it looks like this class may be it. My only concern is the rotation length. Yes, I understand it is harder to be consistent. But, is having that much of a longer rotation actually fun?

[EasymodeX]

It depends how you perceive it. The 'rotation' when sliced into priority chunks is only 4 attacks long. Summarizing further, the chunks are only 2 decisions in complexity: (a) which 1-gcd filler, (b) which 3-gcd combo.

It's fairly simple but 24-step rotation sounds impressive.

[Renma]

This is also very true.

When I'm not playing with people I know (with a few exceptions where melee have an advantage, like Titan), you'll almost always see me running as a WAR or WHM (and recently BLM) instead of DRG. I know other DRG who do this too.

Pretty much this. Seems these days I only play my DRG once a week, for coil. Already have all the melee dps primal accessories so no need to run with DRG outside of coil when trying to gear alts. Plus a lot of parties on PF only reserve 1 slot for a melee dps (except for titan) and they usually fill up quickly.

I wouldn't say I'm always #1 in DPS on T5 but usually 1 or 2, always depends on who gets conflags, liquid hell, or dreads on them. Same with Titan, usually 1 or 2, depending on who gets gaoled, etc.

[MDraGc]

Hey Guys.. I guess it just depends on the region.. we, in Asia, playing on Japanese servers.. we get to see very few PF where the requirements are "Ranged Only".. what we see most is "JP Only" hahahaha.... but when we do see "Ranged Only" it is usually when English speaking players make a PF for Garuda EM.. they use the same strategy you guys use in your servers.. Japanese players got their own strategy.. [melee friendly in Garuda XM].. I've never seen any Japanese group using the 2-way Strategy.

Though.. At High end Content, the only fights that I find not melee friendly are only Ifrit XM.. and Garuda XM using the 2-way strategy.. and on my server [Tonberry].. it is usually Ifrit XM that melees would have trouble to find a pre made party to clear it.. since they only want 1 for their LB on the Final Nail.. tho We still got a lot of Dragoons in our server.. more than monks i believe..

But very very few are having troubles to clear high end contents with their melee classes... we DF everything.. I weekly clear all EM primals using DF.. i haven't tried with pre-made groups.. but I just like playing with the Japanese players.. even though I don't speak any Japanese.. they seem to be more tolerant.. patient.. helpful.. persistent.. with very few exceptions..

Note: I have had experience with English DF.. and aaarrghh.. mostly bad experiences.. - rage quit - insults - blames - rude - inconsiderate - .. theres always someone writing "..." "wtf" .. etc... that rarely happens with JP players [got a friend who can read Japanese]

[Hitome]

Eh would rather take my monk. I can only assume, from experiences I've had, that most dragoons I play with have no idea what they're doing.

[EasymodeX]

Most players have no idea what they're doing.

[Truefaith87]

Not sure if this has been mentioned or not yet, but was fiddling around and may of found a reason why people don't like DRG in their party formats, depending on fight. Take a quick peek at your magic defense, then compare it to even mnk/brd. It's usually about 1/3 less of the value. Doesn't sound like much, right? Now imagine that fact in fights that involve taking heavy magical damage, as opposed to more physical strikes. Let's use fights like garuda for example. She does TONS and TONS of wind based damage. DRG have lower defense in that case? DRG take more dmg, which means less heals the tanks need going onto said DRG. Perhaps this factor has something to do with the stigma on DRG, over other melee classes?

[PArcher]

SNIP

Its a dodging issue, not a defense issue

A good DRG will only get hit by unavoidables in any fight...which means they only get healed when everyone needs to be healed.

Taking Garuda EX...a DRG isn't going to be hit by Friction at all, and only will be hit by WW if they can't dodge. What else would they get hit by? The Unavoidable...which doesn't really matter in terms of healing.

Similar things in all fights.

[Warrlordd]

When I see a 'range only' group (which is pretty well slim to none on Behemoth) I just laugh because you know someone that obnoxious is unlikely to form and lead a group to success.