Class direction for 'support-oriented' classes (BRD, MCH, AST)?

[Kemonologist]

Do same other MMORPG give less new skill more than now and develop job trait system for improve old skill mechanic instead. When you pass level 60 cap you will get passive trait that will improve unique mechanics for each job same as WoW mastery and talent or GW2 trait system. I suggest WoW mastery, the passive ability that offering benefits appropriate to that spec's role and abilities by calculated from Mastery status such as Discipline Priest (Barrier Healer) increase increases size of absorbs, and to a lesser extent heals when Restoration Shaman get passive ability to increases healing done to targets on low health. However, they can use this ability when pass level 80 only. This will improve. Dev might revamp Det stat for do something like this. I think Det ability is to flat now. It only increase direct damage and healing same as Main stat. I think it should have some unique effect like Critical and Skill/Spell Speed. If we have this mastery in FF14, we can make det increse % of absorption for SCH, increase % of direct healing and HoT effect for WHM. For AST might be use WoW shaman mastery (that like Essential Dignity effect) plus increase duration of their buff.

Ref
WoW Mastery system
WoW Talent system
GW2 Trait

[Connor]

traits

This would solve a lot of problems regarding skill bloat and stuff, but I imagine it would simply be a vertical 'you get this trait or nothing' system as opposed to 'you can go this way or that way'. I don't know much about other MMO's and how efficient they are, but skill trees could be an interesting idea (Bards can split into dps or support, Paladins go defensive / utility or offensive). The main problem there is that it'd be incredibly difficult (maybe even impossible?) to balance them in such a way that you don't get 'you must have X traits/skills/etc or you're kicked'

And in terms of the actual thread question and traits themselves, would these be more weighted towards dps/healing or utility?