Is Blm gonna be the only accepted range option now? :(

[ForteNightshade]

There will always, always be at least 1 viable class from every archetype, because having 1 of each archetype increases the group's DPS by 1% just for having it around. Unless an archetype is so bad that it literally drags down the entire party's group more than it merely existing raises the party's DPS collectively, then you will see every group running it. And a class would have to be pretty bad considering 1% represents something like 750 DPS by itself collectively to the group.

And as far as I can tell, Dancer, arguably the worst class in the game, isn't bad enough to justify ignoring them in favor of a slightly more optimal comp because of that 1% DPS increase it brings just by existing. The same increase BLM brings, SAM brings, GNB brings, and WHM, just for existing.

They changed the group buff to encourage diversity, and while classes certainly need help, that 1% collectively is still huge.

Just to emphasise how horrendous job balance is on the DPS side of things. The current top speed kill for Titan had 92,000 total rDPS. 1% of that is 920. Black Mage, currently, does 1,600 more rDPS than Machinist. In fact, the Black Mage in this log only parsed 76% yet contributed 550 more rDPS than the 99% Bard. Pragmatically speaking, it is straight up better to bring two Black Mages than any of the Range.

Now I don't say this to support locking out the Range. Frankly, I want it seen because I want to hope the dev team realizes how bad things are.

Never, ever, ever give the time of day to players of this game that lock out specific jobs. Unless you are absolutely pushing the envelope in terms of speed, you and the vast majority of people who play this game are very unlikely to be in a position where min-maxing party composition to this extent actually means anything.

I would rather play with people who are competent at whatever their preferred job is, and have a decent attitude while playing. Competence and a willingness to learn means far more than just having the right composition for 99.999999999999999999999 percent of the time.

Normally, I would agree. I still do... but dismissing this as merely ignorant players falling for the "meta" disregards how bad things actually are. A group running DRG/MNK/BLM/BRD can afford more mistakes than a group running SAM/DNC/MCH/SMN. Look at my reply above. A 76% Black Mage beat a 99% Bard, and by no small margin. That is absolutely absurd.