support jobs

[Morticous]

If the Ranger job was implemented at the same time then they would have nothing to complain about since the DPS Bards would rather be Rangers anyway and would already have it at 50 assuming it's an ARC job.

Thats exactly what i was trying to say.. You would rename BARD to Ranger and then create a new role named BARD and have it be a support job.. You would have to move some of the support songs old bard would have to new bard and give old bard new skills... but thats it.. NOthing to complain about.. you still have your level 50, its just DPS and its named Ranger.

[Moheeheeko]

WTB time mage with buffs, debufs, and gravity dps spells.

[LunarEmerald]

WTB time mage with buffs, debufs, and gravity dps spells.

gravity, demi? You can't have demi with bosses.

[mythicrose]

gravity, demi? You can't have demi with bosses.

They'd just be reworked to X potency spells with a graphic. Probably adding "heavy" to targets where applicable.

[Masekase_Hurricane]

Why would they need to add ranger ? All they need to do is change your base class to the same level playing field as your job. That way you could choose to play Archer and be a ranged DD @30 or you switch to bard and stay as it is currently but add more songs. Give them both different limit breaks support if on Bard Damage limit break when on Archer. Could see the same with other jobs give Marauder the ability to be a DD instead of a tank @30. This way at 30 you are opening up two different jobs come 30.

[Morticous]

Why would they need to add ranger ? All they need to do is change your base class to the same level playing field as your job. That way you could choose to play Archer and be a ranged DD @30 or you switch to bard and stay as it is currently but add more songs. Give them both different limit breaks support if on Bard Damage limit break when on Archer. Could see the same with other jobs give Marauder the ability to be a DD instead of a tank @30. This way at 30 you are opening up two different jobs come 30.

Because what I was suggestion makes more sense with their current model. What you're suggesting would mean classes would need to be rebalanced.

Silvanoshi's got the right idea.

[Gesser]

Time Mage Plox.

And Calculator.

[Silvanoshi]

Calculator would be interesting, Gesser. My thoughts...

Calculator could be DPS or Support.
Weapon could be an unrolled scroll with complex math on it.

3 Calculation Modes available. TP, MP, HP Mode. (Think Oaths for Paladins) Triggers no Global Cooldown, no cost, no reuse timer.

When active, abilities play off of the numerical value currently displayed. Example:

Basic Magical Attack - Muddle.
Potency 140. If used with a calculation mode (TP, HP, MP) and if that value is an even number, deal 180 damage.

AE Magical Attack - Mind Melt
Potency 100 to all enemies around target. If MP is an odd number, does 200 damage.

Rather than make this another spellcaster, lets make it interesting and have random effects come into play. CHance to Buff party with X. Chance to Debuff Enemy with X if one, two, or even all 3 numerics (TP, MP, HP) meet criteria such as being an even number.

So on so forth. Values that can be used are basically -> If HP/MP/TP Less than/More than, do more/less damage.

It could get quite risky too if that Calculator wants to burn sprint to get 0 TP for more powerful spell effects... It can be used as offensive rather than defensive. Example: If TP less than 30%, a spell does 3 x more damage or dot lasts twice as long.

[Lithera]

Support classes can be a tricky balance but done right they can fit right in with the current roles. The problem of them becoming indispensable is dealt with pretty easily if the added DPS output from the party from their buffs/debuffs plus their own DPS comes out close to the same DPS the group would get if they swapped in a true DPS, or if replacing a healer with said support class buffed defense/cures enough to make them equivalent to having a second healer. This would be why it's better to refer to them as hybrid rather than support. RDM would fit well in this. Could even use "stance" type abilities akin to Oaths or Defiance to help with this which would effectively swap them from Healer role to DPS with certain buffs/debuffs only available under certain stances or even certain cross class skills only available under specific stances. DRK could have a similar hybrid role as tank/DPS.

[CrAZYVIC]

I think the Support jobs can work, if they share Slot in the duty finder with DPS. I repeat only in the "Duty finder", in the FC/Party finders, this jobs will cause more sorrows than joys.

Support jobs will do 1/2 damage of a real DPS class, limitating the damage their weapons and buffs.

The negative aspect of this.

1.- The support jobs will cause longer waiting timers in all the content.

2.- The support jos will STEAL spots to the DPS in party finder and end game Free companies.

3.- How many times a terrible pug bard or corsair, joined to your End game group in FFXI, auto earning one spot in the main ally?. People were there years working hard, was removed in order of get the new "Support job guy". So please avoid real support jobs in this game =/.

Red mage = Healer & small Debuff capabilities = Healer Role
Dancer = DPS with a Small Healing capabilities = DPS Role
Blue mage = DPS 100% or Tank 100%
Corsair = DPS with small buff capabilities = DPS role
Geo = DPS with Small debuff capabilities = DPS role