Which job has the lowest skill cap?

[skaterger]

Before I go any further, I would like to clarify that I'm not trying to start a flame war between the classes. The reason I'm bringing this up is that I currently play a blm as a main, and for the most part I find the rotation to be extremely repetitive. I would like to believe that I'm a fairly competent player and trying to optimize my dps is something I truly find enjoyable. However I feel that blm doesn't allow me to do that as for the most part i am just watching for fs and tc procs while fire 1 spamming and refreshing thunder 2 when it falls off.

Because the rotation is so simple it's really hard to play your class well ( I know it sounds ironic but it really isn't). I guess what I'm trying to say is that there are very few small things you can squeeze in or change that can positively impact your dps as a blm. I have a dragoon @ 50 and a monk @45 and there are so many more buttons to press and dots and debuffs to keep up, not to mention positioning is also important for these classes to deal max damage.

I'm not ripping on the blm class.
It's aoe potential is awesome(quad flare anyone?) but I do feel it's one of the easiest classes and boring classes for me personally and considering switching mains to be more of am asset to my fc

I haven't really seen anyone suggest this but I hope se can introduce some more dynamic gameplay to blm instead of just hoping that the rng gods smile on us. Maybe add in a third "state" in addition to AF and UI or add in some combo system into the class. I don't see why it needs to only work for melee classes.

I reread my post and realized I haven't answered my own question. So from hardest to easiest

1) smn
2) mnk
3) drg
4) brd
5) blm

[Ooshima]

Battles in this game are rather scripted, so for "rotations" they tend to be repetitive.

Want some challenge, maybe play DRG/MNK.

[tOnni3]

Bard is the easiest job to play.
Reason
1. Can run and shoot.
2. Macro is considerably increase dps.
3. No positioning required.
4. Rotation is not complex ( Only keep 2 DoTs up, Straight Shot if proc and macro will do the rest )

[xEscaflownex]

Bard is the easiest job to play.

And yet, so many manage to play it (and BLM) terribly.

[Kitfox]

And yet, so many manage to play it (and BLM) terribly.

Nobody said playing DPS was easy. Just that some classes are easier. :P

[skaterger]

Bard is the easiest job to play.
Reason
1. Can run and shoot.
2. Macro is considerably increase dps.
3. No positioning required.
4. Rotation is not complex ( Only keep 2 DoTs up, Straight Shot if proc and macro will do the rest )

1) I would actually argue it's harder to dps while moving than not. As a blm, if I have to move during plumes, I know all I have to do is get to my destination then resume my rotation. I won't be pressing any buttons while moving cause I can't cast while moving. And technically blm can dps while moving using scathe but often times it's not worth the gcd.

2)Blm rotation is so simple they dun need any macros except perhaps the thunder II thunder I macro.

3) What positioning does blm need?

4) I think I touched on this already.

Honest question here cause I don't have a lvl 50 bard. If you use it macros mentioned above, will it output the same dps as someone who presses the buttons optimally 100% of the time?

[Kitfox]

Honest question here cause I don't have a lvl 50 bard. If you use it macros mentioned above, will it output the same dps as someone who presses the buttons optimally 100% of the time?

I don't play BRD that much nowadays but my personal experience is that if you can optimally press buttons manually the difference boils down to macroed abilities not getting queued. So in theory manual input would be better ever so slightly. Then again, there's different ways to use macros so I don't know how it goes in practice since personally I don't use macros, apart from a couple for party communication.

[Alcide]

2. Macro is considerably increase dps.

I don't know where this is coming from but I highly disagree.
You lose way too much control on your skills and priority, most of the times I would use a cooldown instead of a RoB proc and there are a few situations where I would hold on my BL (when I know i'm gonna have to silence on the next GCD or when I have a burst phase coming in a few secs).
It is true that bard is probably the one job were using macros makes less difference in performance loss, but still it isn't optimal and that's what makes the job boring, if you wanna push yourself it becomes quite interesting.

Back on topic, since you're currently a BLM I would suggest going SMN, it's still ranged but has much more mobility, it's rewarding and really fun to play.

[tOnni3]

Macro on Bard I was talking about is binding Heavy Shot with OGCD like Bloodletter or Misery's End.
With macro, it let OGCD skills fire off when it proc, just spam one button.

Yes, you can manually press those skill once you see them proc.
And the best way to maximize dps is manual, I don't argue that if you don't miss a single one.
But there is no 100% for human, macro helps in this case unlike other jobs.

You can dps while dodging aoe and pull off decent dps easily, that's why I said Bard is easiest job to play.

Edit : And I don't understand why you put SMN is hardest to play but BLM is easiest as they are both caster.