For Funsies: The Samurai

[Kabooa]

A friend and I were talking about the possibility of Samurai being introduced as a sword-based DPS class, and I'd like to share a more refined vision of the 'what if' we came up with for this staple FF class/job and how it could fit into FF14.
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The Jerb: Samurai
The Pre-Req: Similar to the HW jobs, Samurai is unlocked via expansion access/main scenario progression.

The Role: Melee Damage Dealer
The Themes: Sword Draw (Via Tactics) and Sword Tech (Via Cyan)
The Niche: Less mobile, more durable, steady damage with pre-planned burst.
Primary Stat: Strength

Equipment
Arms: 'Katana'
Armor: Chain (Dragoon equivalent)
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The basics
'Combo' Chains: Rather than follow a 1-2-3 combo system, Samurai instead utilizes a (in my opinion) more refined vision of Dragoon's 4th combo system.

Most of the Samurai Weaponskills will imbue the Samurai with a buff; This buff is determined by the weapon skill and is not random; For lack of lore appropriate names, this buff shall be referred to as "Rear", "Flank", and "Front".

Samurai Weaponskills have increased potency when being used according to the buff you currently have active, but do not gain increased 'combo' potency like most melee skill chains. This buff is consumed when a weaponskill is used and a new one applied.

Rear: Increases weaponskill potency by 50 and critical strike chance by 10%
Flank: Increases weaponskill potency by 50 and inflicts a DoT that lasts for 9 seconds.
Front: Increases weaponskill potency by 50. While this is active, the next attack that would deal damage to you is decreased by 50%.
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Sword Draw
Sword Draw is a modification of the Mudra System. As you build and consume Rear, Flank, and Front buffs, this is entered into a First In, First Out system.

These combinations are unleashed when activating the ability 'Sword Draw', an OGCD that uses the Queue and grants a boon to the Samurai/party in addition to being a bit of damage.

Example:
Samurai consumes Front, Rear, Front, Flank buffs in that order. The Sword Draw queue holds up to 3, and is entered accordingly

-1. Front
-1. Front 2. Rear
-1. Front 2. Rear 3.Front
-1. Rear 2. Front 3. Flank

Should the Samurai consume a Front buff again the order is

-1. Front 2. Flank 3. Front

Sword Draw buff examples:
All Sword Draws would include a single target attack of a base and significant potency

All 'Flank' (1, 2, or 3, doesn't matter): Increases attack speed by X% for Y seconds.
All 'Front': Reduce target's outgoing damage by X%
All 'Rear': Increase target's damage taken by X%

Front, Flank, Rear: Deal Sword Draw's damage in an area of Effect and inflict Slow 20%.

Rear, Flank, Rear: Apply Enfire to allies in a small area around yourself, causing them to deal additional damage on physical attacks.
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Sword Sheath
Sword Sheath clears the buff queue for the following benefits.

-TP Refresh effect while the sword is sheathed.
-Building potency stack for the next weaponskill, to a limit.

Sword Sheath ends upon using a weapon skill but will not stop your auto attack. Sword Sheath has two primary purposes.

1. Quick clearing the buff queue for a quick application of a desired Sword Draw, such as damage reduction or attack speed.
2. Down time during bosses or between pulls, recharging TP and ensuring they get a fitting welcome back with a Sword Tech.
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Sword Tech
Swordtechs are special weaponskills that can only be activated during Sword Sheath. These abilities scale significantly in power as the Sword Sheath potency stacks build, starting off incredibly weak but ending off fairly powerful; They are impractical to use in constant combat but when downtime is allowed or burst is required, these are the Samurai's go-to abilities.

Quadra-Slice: A four-fold attack against a single target, each strike dealing damage equal to X * Potency Stacks. (Auto activates the laugh emote. :3)

Cleave: A wide area attack, striking all enemies for X * potency stacks.
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Cross Classing
None. FF14's design has been straying away from cross classing and Samurai would follow that by being completely self contained, having its own boons for +damage, +crit, and +defense via its own buffs and Sword Draws.
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In Sum

This version of Samurai is aimed at being an engaging melee class with an emphasis on pre-planning sword strikes for the desired Sword Draw effects while allowing for a less rigid combo system.

Weaponskills would both have individual effects / higher potency and/or grant one of the Samurai's positional boons, ensuring that an active Samurai would be providing the greatest contribution to their party instead of Rear Rear Rear Rear over and over again.

Unlike the other melee classes, Samurai would trade instant-gap closers with the ability to increase their own durability by a significant amount if it is required, or if it is desired. However, the boon is not so extreme that a Samurai is able to completely tank out a boss in standard raids, and maintaining it would ensure the Samurai is sacrificing a great deal of their damage potential.

Sword Draw, Sword Sheath, and Sword Techs would be the 'play arounds' for the Samurai, differing for optimal use based on situation.