Idea: Split Archer into Bard and Ranger

[Xerius]

Greetings all,

So, I know there's been a lot of complaints about Bard and how they've broken the job, not in terms of how good it is, but how it feels to play. I've been trying to think of a solution because Wanderer's Minuet isn't going anywhere, so I thought, maybe they could split the job into 2 different jobs: Ranger and Bard. Bard would stay exactly how it is but Ranger would lose the ability to sing songs and gain mobility and dps.

Let me know what you guys think.

[VitalSuit]

No
/10 characters

[Cinicus]

I want Rng soooo bad! IDC how they give it to me.

[RiceisNice]

No. Aside from the issues that come from branching class (see SCH and SMN balancing), it does not change the fact that WM itself will still cause the class job that has it to play awkwardly if they still have archer's skillset.

It also does not work with the current meta on party composition. Unless you want ranger to compete with casters for the dps spot (which means no spell damage)

[DestinovaTrueblade]

That idea has been floating around since 2.0, the release of MCH pretty much killed it though.

[Xerius]

No. Aside from the issues that come from branching class (see SCH and SMN balancing), it does not change the fact that WM itself will still cause the class job that has it to play awkwardly if they still have archer's skillset.

It also does not work with the current meta on party composition. Unless you want ranger to compete with casters for the dps spot (which means no spell damage)

This wouldn't really impact Ranger though. Because Ranger would use DEX just like BRD. Ranger would also be full DPS, so it would just compete for the same spot BRD competes for now.

[Xerius]

No
/10 characters

That sure was some constructive feedback.

[Rhaja]

If it offer's no support songs like bard, then the party has no mage ballad or equivalent. Until it's outgeared the skills BRD/MCH bring are needed. So it wouldn't compete for a BRD's spot, but BLM/SMN.

[Alahra]

I have a feeling they consider Ranger to be represented by Archer, in much the same way that the traditional FF Thief is represented by Rogue. I really want to see Ranger and Thief both, if only to have access to proper Artifact Armor for them, but I don't think either case is likely.

[RiceisNice]

This wouldn't really impact Ranger though. Because Ranger would use DEX just like BRD. Ranger would also be full DPS, so it would just compete for the same spot BRD competes for now.

What? As of right now, BRD and MCH are guaranteed a spot in the current meta for their regen abilties. A ranger would not have this, so their spot instead would be a pure-ranged dps, akin to the casters.

This creates the problem in the current meta; If regen abilties are not needed, there's no reason to take a MCH/BRD over a ranger due to the latter's higher damage output. If they were needed, BRD/MCH sits comfortably on their slot.