Idea: Split Archer into Bard and Ranger

[DestinovaTrueblade]

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.

If it doesn't have Bard's support abilities, they definitely would not be competing for the same spot.

[Aiselia]

It'd be better/easier to just increase the damage boost of WM to where you're actually matching the DPS of a "pure" DPS but make it so you can't play Ballad/Paeon during it so that you act like a pure DPS for the 95% of the time when you're not pushing your limit in progression and don't need the regen songs at all (like pretty much every dungeon outside of whatever the current very end game is at the time).

Then when you do actually need Ballad/Paeon, since you wouldn't be able to play it with WM, you'd take a severe DPS hit for the duration the song is up so you're not all OP and junk, giving everyone infinite TP while thrashing the DRG's DPS.

[Rhaja]

But then you still don't address the main issue; they want to run and gun and not be punished for it.

[DestinovaTrueblade]

It'd be better/easier to just increase the damage boost of WM to where you're actually matching the DPS of a "pure" DPS but make it so you can't play Ballad/Paeon during it so that you act like a pure DPS for the 95% of the time when you're not pushing your limit in progression and don't need the regen songs at all (like pretty much every dungeon outside of whatever the current very end game is at the time).

Then when you do actually need Ballad/Paeon, since you wouldn't be able to play it with WM, you'd take a severe DPS hit for the duration the song is up so you're not all OP and junk, giving everyone infinite TP while thrashing the DRG's DPS.

Nice idea, they can buff the turret damage for MCH to balance it out, since their support is tied to it.

[Xerius]

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.

I don't understand where you're coming from. You're comparing Ranger to BRD, and saying we won't need it because casters will have to compete with the spot? All DPS are competing against all similar DPS for those slots already? How would this mess up the meta? Ninja didn't mess up the meta when it was introduced because of TP generation/taking a melee DPS slot.

[Eloah]

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.

This is basically the idea behind the reason why we have Ninja and Bard over Ranger and Thief. Certain Jobs in the Final Fantasy universe have almost the exact same purpose, or are merely name swaps for one another. This helps explain why they merged certain jobs for XIV. Just rememebr in yhe first ever FF game you start out as a Thief but upgrade to a Ninja, same principle. I remember giving a listing of all FF games and how some either had a Thief or a Ninja, and those with both kept their skills vastly different. Though, I will admit, merging Archer/Ranger with Bard does seem a tad strange, but within the lore of this game it does make sense, I guess, lol.

EDIT: Here is the post I made in the other thread regarding Thief and Ninja within the FF Universe.

While the idea sounds nice, I doubt it would work. A Theif just wouldn't fit I a game like this. Most of the time Ninja is an upgrade to Thief, or they are just merged together.

I had some time so I compiled this list, lol?

Games where Ninja is an upgrade for Thief
Final Fantasy I
Final Fantasy V (Because the abilities can be customized)
Final Fantasy XI (Though it was optional, the common thing to do was sub Ninja onto Thief to aid them with the skill base they already had, similar to XIV now)
Final Fantasy XIV
Final Fantasy Dimensions (Both jobs have their usage, but because of customization, Ninja will be used more than Thief; though it should be noted that only half of the playable cast gets Ninja)

Games where they are seperate but equally viable
Final Fantasy III (mostly because the abilities couldn't be customized)
Final Fantasy VI (Locke and Shadow both have value to the party because of customization)
Final Fantasy XI (Because this game had no gathering/crafting classes Thiefs provided the additional out of combat skills to aid in those kinds of tasks)
Final Fantasy Tactics [every game] (Thiefs and Ninja each have different usage, though it should be noted, Ninja is unlock by using Thief)
Bravely Default (Each job has its purpose and each one can use the others moves.

Games that have only one, usually combining them
Final Fantasy IV (Edge is a Ninja but has Thief skills)
Final Fantasy VII (Yuffie is classified as a Ninja, but is played as a Thief, though because of customization anyone can be a "Thief")
Final Fantasy IX (Zidane is a Thief, and while technically a Monk, Amarant has some classic Ninja/Samurai moves)
Final Fantasy X (Rikku is the only Thief, though anyone can learn Steal, Mug, and Use, she is the only one who can steal from machines to kill them)
Final Fantasy X-2 (There is no Ninja Dressphere only a Thief)
Final Fantasy XII: IZJS (The Shikari job mimics a Ninja)
Final Fantasy XII: RW (The Ninja is a class available only to Sky Pirates, ie this games Thieves; though it should be noted they are only classified as thieves, its not the Job they hold in battle.)

[Warlyx]

I don't understand where you're coming from. You're comparing Ranger to BRD, and saying we won't need it because casters will have to compete with the spot? All DPS are competing against all similar DPS for those slots already? How would this mess up the meta? Ninja didn't mess up the meta when it was introduced because of TP generation/taking a melee DPS slot.

that because DRG sucked back then , and Mnk was top DPS and had DK that was awesome to have in coil....Ninja took the drg spot

now drg has BL and top dps

Ranger not gonna happen , MCH and BRD share gear and share the ranged dps with regen skill spot ....WM was supposed to bring BRD dps up to be on par with caster dps so we didnt feel like were just mana batteries....but dps wise we are in the same spot as we were before WM...so we lost movility and gained nothing in return.

we can only hope that by 4.0 we a way to customize jobs

[Anova]

The Gauss barrel makes sense, especially for machinists who want to charge their attacks for more damage.

I'd want to change wanderer's minuet simply because the bard feels too similar to the machinist as it is now. My concern is that if we do go the opposite direction where wanderers minuet makes the bard more mobile, it might make the bard preferred because of its mobility unless the machinist is doing something else like aoe splash (similar to how blackmage and summoner differed in 2.x).

[Maero]

The Bard class is not broken, just bad players that still refuse to learn the changes ...
Ranger is not something that will ever be added

[Noelzzz]

Why do people see branching jobs as a bad thing? I'm pretty sure for jobs with the same role it can works actually pretty well, just see them as if were another spec. How can people say that branching jobs will play the same? Do you know that going on we will get only jobs skills? if you play this game with a decent knowledge of the job you know how much a class can change with just 5 jobs skills. For me Ranger and Thief must be in this game, they are iconic jobs and will add variety. I dont understand why, instead of trying to get a better game, people answer with "no"