How about a non-support ranged dps?

[Archaell]

Ok but this isn't Warhammer etc. Unless this new healer job were to have high defense...

Of course they would need better defense, but I imagine it something alongside melee dps.

...

There could be ways around it. For example the melee healer could build up resources in melee combat while having abilities at hand when they can't be in melee. They would of course need some range healing skills. For example the red mage could be based aroud using teleports to jump between melee and range. Or they could have a "dummy" to which the negative effects would be redirected and which could soke up some damage for them.

Melee healers are not entirely impossible, it would just require some development time and I believe it would be unique playstyle from the current ones, which makes it more than appealing to at least consider.

[Ashkendor]

I think if said healer had ways to mitigate those types of spells, it could work. Maybe a healer version of Hallowed Ground? Or even just something like "Reduces one melee ranged attack by 50%". If Dancer were the melee healer, then I imagine a lot of their mechanics would involve dodging. So that's another way around it.

Judgement Nisi is a DoT on the healer that spreads to people that you touch and puts a DoT on them as well. There's two different ones and getting people with the different DoT's too close together will kill you instantly if memory serves. Searing Wind does AoE damage and a knockback centered on the healer with the debuff. Even a healer version of Hallowed Ground wouldn't work on either one and Esuna doesn't remove them. The problem is their effect on the party, not on the healer themselves.

[Shurrikhan]

I think if said healer had ways to mitigate those types of spells, it could work. Maybe a healer version of Hallowed Ground? Or even just something like "Reduces one melee ranged attack by 50%". If Dancer were the melee healer, then I imagine a lot of their mechanics would involve dodging. So that's another way around it.

The problem is these are moves specifically meant to kill anyone near the healer, forcing them to max out their healing range.

[MilesSaintboroguh]

Make the red mage melee healer. Make the dancer melee support. And bam! You get a room for pure range dps class... beastmaster with a long whip could be interesting.

Don't you think a healer would want to stay away from the action instead of being in melee range that could get their face smashed in?

[16bitBounty]

Make the red mage melee healer. Make the dancer melee support. And bam! You get a room for pure range dps class... beastmaster with a long whip could be interesting.

I'll be crushed if the whip class ends up being a stupid beastmaster.

[Tanama]

I'll be crushed if the whip class ends up being a stupid beastmaster.

Which class would you prefer to have a whip?

[Shurrikhan]

Which class would you prefer to have a whip?

The AoE class. I mean, honestly, you give a job a whip and make it centered on itself or its weapon characteristics, rather than on a pet, and what else is it going to be? You walk in, whip in hand, and proceed to auto-attack 4 enemies at a time. "Hi. I'm AoE."

I believe it was called Flayer in the 1.x localization notes though.

[silentwindfr]

The AoE class. I mean, honestly, you give a job a whip and make it centered on itself or its weapon characteristics, rather than on a pet, and what else is it going to be? You walk in, whip in hand, and proceed to auto-attack 4 enemies at a time. "Hi. I'm AoE."

I believe it was called Flayer in the 1.x localization notes though.

even if whip can hurt, they are not the most efficient weapon for kill.... exept if you use a weird type of whip that are often unrealistic...

a whip will be used for cripples or restrain more than kill people.... then make it a weapon for a pet class seems legit.

[Nektulos-Tuor]

Wanna see what Bards get in EQ2 in the early stages of the games life that will make you cry because they are cool?

Don't kill the Messenger:
Increases the groups base critical chance by 12.5% (A song, no other cost besides your limited by how many songs you can have.)

Allegro:
Increases the groups base casting speed by up to 12.5%. (I think high ranked version talented also reduces all GCDs by 12.5% as well!)

Songster's Luck
Increases the groups base accuracy by 12.5%

Selo's Accelerando
A song that increases the movement speed of the bard's group. It suspends during combat.
Increases movement speed of the group by 25%. Suspends when combat starts.

Bria's Inspiring Ballad
Increases Mana Regeneration of the group by a great bit.

Riana's Relentless Tune
Increases Attack Speed of the group by 12.5%

Luck of the Dirge
12% chance to absorb '1' attack when hit by anything.

Don't you wish bards and machinists had these cool types of abilities?

[ChandraNoctis]

How about artillery? Heavy burst damage? No support skills but heavy hitting combos that need setup time and protection by the rest of the team? Kind of an anti support class.