Do NOT make the same mistake as FFXI.

[Warp]

They're not "ineffective" they just require more strategy. Timing, positioning, reaction speeds, all play a large roll. You just have to think.

You give your fellow man too much credit!

[MeowyWowie]

You give your fellow man too much credit!

Unfortunately, I'd have to agree lol.

[Physic]

They're not "ineffective" they just require more strategy. Timing, positioning, reaction speeds, all play a large roll. You just have to think.

and for that extra work do you do more or less damage than the archer? because while i do enjoy reacting and dodging enemy skills, (which it is less, since Archer is probably more dps even with both of us just straight attacking all day, and definitely if i have to run from aoe while he can stand and continue to dps just under the glds hate threshold)

if at the end of the day all that work gives less actual dps, and utility to the group, i am still comparitively ineffective, and i have to work way harder at being so.

If they cant get creative with the boss ability to deal with ranged attacks, or deal ranged threats to people who dont have hate, then the only other thing i can see doing is increasing melee dmg so its actually worth all the risk, and skill full play to go in close.

[Verecund]

At least you have people using your /shout channel on your server...

On topic: SE fails at foresight once again.

[Dreadnought]

If you aren't aware, one of those bosses in the r45 dungeon has a moveset with slightly stacked odds against melee. It's tough out through it or go the easy mode, getting most of your party as ranged classes except for the tank.

im guessing *NUKING* isnt apart of the formula for damaging that boss is it?
sad to be a mage these days when all they are good for is buffing and enfeebling.
in most games, mages are used for direct damage just as often as melee and are almost never looked over.

[Oscillate_Wildly]

Some of these balance problems and small tweak problems that cropped up with 1.18 are kind of disheartening. I'd REALLY like to see a public test server so that SE can properly balance and tweak content before it shows up on live servers.

For once we agree. ;D
But yes, totally. A public test server for this kind of thing is...It's almost /necessary/ isn't it? After all it /is/ the battle system. Such drastic changes should be player tested, and no beta testing jokes please. D':
Not just that, but the new adjustments were sooo unfinished, they should have just left it at new icons for this patch and worked longer on the changes. :/

[kukurumei]

Considering how much time they said they "in the process of testing" during june and july it's sad.

[Defmetal]

They probably need to make changes to the bosses. This isn't a cry for it being too hard ... the strategy can remain the same, but for the ogre they would need to reduce its AoE damage or change its positioning to frontal only. If they don't do this, players will just continue to go all ranged attacks. That doesn't make this a challenging fight, it just excludes most classes from participating.

When your party setup starts to become 4 archers 2 healers 2 tanks, you have a content issue and/or a class balancing issue.

Any boss should, ideally, be able to be beaten with a proper strategy by a balanced party - IE 1 of each role, or 2 of each if a party of 8. Tank, Healer, Range DD, Melee DD (range DD can include spellcasters and whatnot), if your boss is forcing certain classes it's not that it's a hard fight, its that you balanced your classes and content poorly.

[Sigtyr]

It has to do with alot of things.

Archers will always be chosen over melee DD because they do the exact same amount of damage (Actually, they still probably do more) without getting struck constantly by point blank area of effect skills.

I honestly hope they do something about this soon, because I'm not putting up with the shit I put up with in FFXI for not playing the "right" classes.

[kukurumei]

They probably need to make changes to the bosses. This isn't a cry for it being too hard ... the strategy can remain the same, but for the ogre they would need to reduce its AoE damage or change its positioning to frontal only. If they don't do this, players will just continue to go all ranged attacks. That doesn't make this a challenging fight, it just excludes most classes from participating.

When your party setup starts to become 4 archers 2 healers 2 tanks, you have a content issue and/or a class balancing issue.

Any boss should, ideally, be able to be beaten with a proper strategy by a balanced party - IE 1 of each role, or 2 of each if a party of 8. Tank, Healer, Range DD, Melee DD (range DD can include spellcasters and whatnot), if your boss is forcing certain classes it's not that it's a hard fight, its that you balanced your classes and content poorly.

It's pretty easy to add in randomized AoE, or differ some debuffs. They just didn't think that far like always.

Heck even a throat stab skill can shake up a party of clothers.