Thoughts on Dancer as a Ranged DPS

[Layla-chan]

As a BRD main, I'm gonna try DNC and make it my main if I like it enough.

[Baxcel]

"Bard needs to stop being mandatory!"

SE: "So Dancer\\'s a Ranged DPS."

They're removing the piercing/slashing/blunt up buffs from the game.. Bards and Dragoons are already going to be less required..

Honestly since they weren't going to make a healer.. This should of been the first physical magic DPS class

[Kalise]

They're removing the piercing/slashing/blunt up buffs from the game.. Bards and Dragoons are already going to be less required..

Removal of these debuffs won't make Bard less required. Since they were ubiquitous because of their buffs (Passive crit buff from songs, Battle Voice and role action Refresh) and their unique debuff Foe Requiem.

Dragoons were required because you generally always wanted a Bard or a Machinist in the party for Refresh. Both BRD and MCH deal piercing damage but only DRG provided the debuff that improved their damage.
Hypercharge for 5% vulnerability debuff)

If anything, removal of Piercing debuff from Dragoon actually hampers MCH more since with their higher personal damage output, it affected them more.

So, if DNC is going to be competing with BRD/MCH... It could lead to some potentially big issues.

Such as:

If DNC is going to be a support DPS like BRD... It will need some support buffs/debuffs.

The issue is, if they get the same stuff as BRD, then it'll be a matter of which one has the highest personal DPS = the new mandatory job.

If they get different stuff to BRD... Then you have the possibility of BOTH BRD and DNC being mantatory (Especially since you no longer feel required to drag a DRG with you for Piercing debuff) due to the increase of party DPS.

If DNC is not made into a support and is more of a raw damage dealer like MCH, then it's going to be stuck in the same spot as MCH trying to be justified while BRD improves party DPS which makes it more desirable.

The worrying thing is how quickly things can turn into a "mDPS are irrelevant" situation. Given that they have to deal with uptime and DPS losses from not being able to use positional skills. Which has lead to DRG and NIN being the 2 mainly used mDPS because of their Piercing and Vulnerability debuffs respectively. Like, if things started to become BRD/DNC/SMN/BLM as the new meta, I wouldn't be entirely surprised.

[zferolie]

I was expecting/hoping it was going to be a melee healer, but I mostly just wanted dancer, so happy for that. I am expecting they may be more supportive then the machinist or bard, with unique support skills.

Right now I am trying to design an outfit I want to use for her. I am trying to make something close to a flamingo dancer outfit, but also with the Amon hat because I love that hat(still need to get it). Right now I am using astern Socialite dress as it looks the closest, with the Bunny pumps and Thanalarian pants for the leggings and underware. I was thinking the bunny bottoms for fishnnet but don't want the bunny tail. Any other fish net clothes in the game?

[Osmond]

Was quite surprised that it was going to be a ranged DPS, but not upset at the decision. Right now i'm curious on how this will deal w/ MCH since it lacking party utility other than a dmg debuff on the enemy. Unless 5.x series made it to where MCH can actually buff the party in some way via a overdrive ability(bishop's physical dmg buff/rook's magical dmg buff), you'll just see all just DNCs or BRDs in parties. MCH looks like it's in trouble.

[KageTokage]

I'm really hoping DNC uses scouting gear because I don't think BRD/MCH need more competition and NIN has had its monopoly long enough.

That and I'd like to be able to gear another DPS alongside my main class for once.

Was quite surprised that it was going to be a ranged DPS, but not upset at the decision. Right now i'm curious on how this will deal w/ MCH since it lacking party utility other than a dmg debuff on the enemy. Unless 5.x series made it to where MCH can actually buff the party in some way via a overdrive ability(bishop's physical dmg buff/rook's magical dmg buff), you'll just see all just DNCs or BRDs in parties. MCH looks like it's in trouble.

If MCH is lacking in support, they can simply crank up its personal DPS appropriately to make it like the BLM/SAM of ranged classes.

[Hustensaft]

If MCH is lacking in support, they can simply crank up its personal DPS appropriately to make it like the BLM/SAM of ranged classes.

That's the theory... and probably also the case in game. People just don't follow it in practice, because "OMG BUFFS!!!!!!".

There could exist a world where the optimal raid setup is MCH, SAM, BLM and SMN - simple because personal DPS outperforms whatever raid DPS Trick Attack and BRD-support provides. At that point noone needs a "physical ranged DPS/support".

That's also why the only classification for DNC that matters is "DPS". It's competing with all DPS spots for the optimal raid DPS. It being ranged, magical, physical, platonic, or whatever else you'd call it doesn't matter.

[Dralonis]

I'm actually sorta surprised but only because I didn't think they'd actually make a tank without a healer counterpart. I'm sorta happy though that I was right that they'd have dual chakrams as weapons. Been speculating it for a long time since it would be unique enough. Only reason I'd figure it would be ok for them to be healers was because they had a few heals here and there with their dances and didn't think they'd do 3 classes again but was wondering what they'd do about the lack of a 3rd physical range slot. I'd expect it to be easier since the new classes have been sorta like that. Also, less ping dependent. Probably how this 5.0 class changes will be.

Now to wait for Green mage/oracle hybrid for a healer with a hammer (sad it wouldn't be a viking with a hammer) and Geomancer with maybe a bell? As the 4th caster DPS. BLU being a caster dps I feel is only a "temp" slot on caster and will be under the limited job slot once they add BST and PUP. They've already said they think the idea fits them as a limited job more than anything else.

[Duskane]

im hoping its bard with not a basic play style
plus itll probably using scouting gear which will be nice

[BiffWellington]

I'm sure they'll want to set Dancer apart from Bard and Machinist in some way. My guess is, it'll be easier to play. Much like Red Mage is easier to play than Black Mage and Summoner.

I'd like that, myself.