we need a sword dps

[Brian_]

The only current role that actually gives Red Mage the room to perform its entire intended skill-set is healer. And, before someone says "healer? Red Mage is more than a healer!" Healers in this game are more than just healers, too. As a healer, Red Mage would be able to output decent DPS while having the flexibility to do so as either melee / ranged (given that there is no classification of melee healer / ranged healer). And, as a healer, they'd naturally have sufficient heals and party support.

As a DPS or tank, their impact in terms of party support and healing would need to be limited for balance reasons and they'd inevitably be judged purely in DPS or tank metrics. Some examples of this -- cross classed healing in worthless on BLM, SMN, and PLD. Clemency continues to suck. BRD and MCH have devolved into pure DPS classes despite their "support" role. A lot of utility has become marginalized in the pursuit of DPS.

Samurai I feel has a bit more flexibility. But, among the more iconic FF classes that aren't in FFXIV yet, there are very few that make sense as a tank and actually have a strong appeal to non-tank players. Meanwhile, there are a lot that could fit as a DPS. Given that there needs to be variety and balance to the three roles for the lifespan of FFXIV, it doesn't make any sense to make one of your rare few tank flavored jobs into a role that you have a surplus of options for.

[Colino]

Fencer > Red Mage pleaaaaase

The only current role that actually gives Red Mage the room to perform its entire intended skill-set is healer. And, before someone says "healer? Red Mage is more than a healer!" Healers in this game are more than just healers, too. As a healer, Red Mage would be able to output decent DPS while having the flexibility to do so as either melee / ranged (given that there is no classification of melee healer / ranged healer). And, as a healer, they'd naturally have sufficient heals and party support.

That's pretty cool actually, a melee fighting healer would be nice.

[Reinha]

That's pretty cool actually, a melee fighting healer would be nice.

I really want this. Be it Red Mage or Dancer. If they do end up making Red Mage into a dps I hope they can at least swap between 2 dps roles (melee, magic damage, ranged support).

[ADVSS]

I can get on board with this with a few exceptions - things like ifrit ex and alexander 4 - how would you make a melee healer work in those situations? I guess all their heals would have to be wide ranged. For the argument about dps not being able to heal, i mean if we were to make it a caster that relies on int as its damage stat, cleric stance would make some of the "useless cross class heals" somewhat akin to eos's embrace, nice spotty support heal. Honestly i can see dps or healer working better than a tank at this point, it could go either way and still have the elements to make it feel like its a melee caster that damages and supports/heals. I can also see the tank argument if you mix it with Mystic knight/Rune Fencer but i have to admit id rather have both implemented and would really like to see the tank slot filled later on with Mystic Knight. I'd also have to agree as id like SAM to be close to drg in gear as a dps, that it does seem much better suited to fending type heavy armor - And could fit the tank role a bit better without sacrificing too much of its identity

[aeoncs]

I really want this. Be it Red Mage or Dancer. If they do end up making Red Mage into a dps I hope they can at least swap between 2 dps roles (melee, magic damage, ranged support).

I'd really prefer it that way. It's kinda hard to convincingly sell the Red Mage as a main healer, at least lore-wise; their healing magic simply isn't powerful enough. A hybrid melee/ranged support DPS would make much more sense.
If RDM ends up being a healer anyway... well, it could still work I guess.

Personally I would like to see RDM as DPS, Samurai as Tank and Dancer as Healer.

[Reinha]

I can get on board with this with a few exceptions - things like ifrit ex and alexander 4 - how would you make a melee healer work in those situations? I guess all their heals would have to be wide ranged.

Their heals would be the usual range but their dps would be melee. They could perhaps be able to dps without Cleric Stance since they would have the melee range requirement to limit them. Or have their dps radiate miniscule healing on nearby targets (tanks) kind of how the fairy can still heal while a Scholar does dps. Obviously some bosses would allow them to dps very little in certain phases but if they had a stun or something they could be more useful on other bosses.

I agree Red Mage would not suit being a tank very well. A healing tank - Paladin, a magic tank - Dark Knight, and a dps'ing tank - Warrior, have already been taken and there are no more role mixing possibilities for Red Mage to take in the tank department.

[ADVSS]

I would really love to see dancer get implemented in this game somehow myself, i seen some ideas that were really good that were posted how it could work, healer seems to fit pretty nicely, for kicks id love to see a charm debuff(confuse) that would be hilarious in pvp

[DawgPilez]

why are all sword classes tanks. i think we need a sword dps class that will use a rapier

[Shippuu]

Allrounder here, so I dont mind whichever role we are going to get. But if SE were to only add 1 class, which role do you think this class will have? SE has shown so far that they will cater to the majority. We know that DPS players outnumber the Tank and Healer by alot. I doubt SE would release one class for the tanks or healer. Knowing SE they want make sure that majority of the playerbase plays their new class, otherwise it would be a waste ?

Do we really need another melee dps though? If you're looking at numbers and saying dps outnumber tanks you're counting all dps against them. But if you narrow it down to the population of players who play melee dps their numbers aren't anything special compared to tank players. If you look at official census data, tanks comprised 21% of job breakdown while melee dps comprised of 22%.

[Shippuu]

Why. Why Samurai tank. Why why why. Why take such an offensive character and throw them on the defence. We don't need another WAR.

Considering Samurai in Final Fantasy games have a strong history of defensive abilities and protecting others it makes absolute sense. They have had far more defensive/protective skills in past games than Dark Knight had, that's for sure.