3 roles at Lvl 70...what next?

[KaivaC]

So I finally got my SAM to Lvl 70. Of course, I have to gear it up because that is the intended role for me to finally do O3S and O4S. I've gotten my DRK and AST classes up to where I want them to be now. While I'm in the midst of grinding out tomestones and starting the Omega runs on SAM, I was curious about ranged DPS. Rather than looking all over the place on what the ranged DPS are like, I was hoping to turn to you guys, the players, to tell me the pros and cons of each ranged DPS. I am partial to RDM and MCH, largely the latter, but I want to hear how they are in regards to current endgame content. Thoughts and helpful advise are welcome.

Thank you.

[Vexander]

BLM is the SAM of Ranged.
RDM is excellent for Progression but probably won't be useful once groups are on farm status.
SMN is a good balance of DPS and utility, a bit more DPS than RDM with a bit less utility, and less DPS than BLM with more utility, but it needs a lot of help and may get drastic changes as patches roll out.

I've heard BRD is in every way superior to MCH right now and that MCH is in a VERY bad place.

[FaileExperiment]

BLM is the SAM of Ranged.
RDM is excellent for Progression but probably won't be useful once groups are on farm status.
SMN is a good balance of DPS and utility, a bit more DPS than RDM with a bit less utility, and less DPS than BLM with more utility, but it needs a lot of help and may get drastic changes as patches roll out.

I've heard BRD is in every way superior to MCH right now and that MCH is in a VERY bad place.

I'm leveling my BRD right now and compared to my MCH, it just feels better to use. If that makes sense. The only thing MCH has going for it is the aesthetic, if it appeals to you.

[Rawrz]

Play whatever class you want. If people block you out, It's probably because their hyperfocusing the meta and aren't entirely optimal themselves. Did a V1s as a rdm in a parse group. The DRG was balanced 63% of the fight while I was 0%. I still outdpsed him as the highest DPS as a RDM. [Went on to do the same thing in v2s.]

The DRG kicked a 95+ percentile mnk, when he meant to setup for Nin only. Wed had Ninjas doing less DPS than the tanks (who happened to be godly) all night. If he had let the mnk bring brotherhood and his high personal dps, his dps would have went higher than what trick provides.

Play what you like and be good at it. You'll do better than someone trying to play a class just because its cool or meta.

RDM Pros:
High utility.

Interacts well with many classes, brd=foes, healers=general mp, physical=embolden, mnk=brotherhood chakras, drg=piercing bonus to ogcd skills.

Able to save yourself with vercure. [Rarely but the control is nice. ]

Healer or 3rd Raising for prog or slip ups.

High mobility manipulation with displacement and corps and dual cast procs.

Lots of weave time.

RDM Cons:

expected to raise, so you lose a gcd if a healer dies.

Boss can go invulnerable during long setup melee combo into finisher.

If you suffer lag, dual cast might not proc.

[Rokke]

I've heard BRD is in every way superior to MCH right now and that MCH is in a VERY bad place.

MCH actually does more DPS than BRD now, 4.0 BRD is just infinitely more fun to play than 4.0 MCH