Advice...

[Seabhacgra]

I just wanted to solicite some advice from you all. Right now I'm torn between which I enjoy more.. my Machinist and my Red Mage. The way I see it here are the pros and cons.. you tell me who you'd prefer to play and which you'd prefer to have in e raid/dungeon,.. thanks!

RDM - Pros: Doing better on DPS now and somewhat mobile with a heal and a rez to
salvage groups in a clinch and look great with really good surviviability.
and now doing more DPS than Machinist.
Cons: still penalized a bit too much for having a heal and rez but I wouldn't have
it any other way, should be doing better DPS.

Machinist - Pros: ok DPS, very mobile and great burst DPS and looks good as well.
Seems to play alot smoother and cleaner, for me, than RDM.
Cons: for a selfish DPS job, they really should be doing much more DPS,
I'm hoping SE will realize this eventually and fix it. Only 1 semi useful
utility with the same affects of Shield Samba and others on a very
long cool down

Let me know what you think and before you answer, yes I have fun with both, but I prefer to focus on one. Also basically wanted to know your opinions.. thanks!

[MitsukiKimura]

There is no class meta now that all DPS classes have been buffed and etc. I still find it hard to believe RDM can beat a Machinist with it's 50% proc on it's skills. Only question you have to ask yourself is which you enjoy playing more.

[Neela]

There is always a cls meta - just because u don’t need it atm doesnt mean there isnt „the one comp“ which beat them all. just sayin

[Maero]

I cannot tell you for certain as i also like them both. I hated Machinist up until this expansion, now it is actually fun. I do not play it enough to tell if it needs buffs and what not.
Red Mage was absolutely junk beginning of this expansion, thankfully we did not need to wait 6 months like in Stormblood for changes.

And yes for once i agree with Neela, lol. There is always compositions that is better then others.

[Silverquick]

There is no class meta now that all DPS classes have been buffed and etc. I still find it hard to believe RDM can beat a Machinist with it's 50% proc on it's skills. Only question you have to ask yourself is which you enjoy playing more.

Well I really wouldn't be, I actually, in pure DPS outdamage my SMN in pure Single Target damage. With an RDM you are literally talking 620 potency damage per normal Dual Cast.

The reason that doesn't hold in actual game is that much like with BLM... training dummy meets reality...

I may be able to do a ton of damage with RDM, but in actual Instance play... my SMN comes out on top, because while me and the BLM, RDM are running around dodging mechanics going "Oh crap, Oh crap, O Crap!!"... My SMN still has a good 200 potency worth of DOTs (+ pet) ticking away all the while... and can give pet commands for Egi Assaults resulting in Ruin IVs all on the move.

[Hysterior]

I would choose a job based on fun TBH. Pick whichever is the most fun for you to play.

[Noitems]

If you play a job you enjoy, you'll not only have a better time learning the rotation and maximizing on dps but you'll also have more fun doing it in the process.

So pick what you enjoy and you'll be fine.

[Karshan]

Well I really wouldn't be, I actually, in pure DPS outdamage my SMN in pure Single Target damage. With an RDM you are literally talking 620 potency damage per normal Dual Cast.

The reason that doesn't hold in actual game is that much like with BLM... training dummy meets reality...

I may be able to do a ton of damage with RDM, but in actual Instance play... my SMN comes out on top, because while me and the BLM, RDM are running around dodging mechanics going "Oh crap, Oh crap, O Crap!!"... My SMN still has a good 200 potency worth of DOTs (+ pet) ticking away all the while... and can give pet commands for Egi Assaults resulting in Ruin IVs all on the move.

Not to be mean, but maybe you're not playing well your summoner in the first place. On a dummy SMN is easily doing 1k more if played well...

Uptime is a non issue at high level, every class manages 99% uptime. However what you describe is indeed of prime importance for someone who just wants to play casually though.

So to the author I think the answer is rather there : if you play casually, pick a class that allows you easy uptime and will less affect your DPS. In a 100% uptime situation, MCH and RDM currently have similar DPS (resp. 14k5 and 14k7, yes rdm is a bit better), but if you can't manage 100% uptime and for instance have to break casts etc, you'll feel weaker as a RDM.

I do agree that mch is almost a selfish DPS (way more than bard and dancer at least) and as such feels underwhelming. Not asking for blm/sam levels but a bit closer to 15k2 would be appreciated.

I find it comfier (and for the team as well) to prog as RDM though, his flow being quite laid back allowing you to focus more on mechanics, while MCH has wildfire and overheat to watch.
Although when raiding with another group with no RDM I didn't find it as needed as I thought, there are still evenings where we could have spared a lot of time (wiping where we wouldn't have with a rdm).

[Xia_Thas]

MCH plays great but considering it's only Party Utility being Tactician it's DPS is abysmal. I'm waiting to see if SE gives it just the tiniest of dps buffs to make it more appealing.

[Silverquick]

Not to be mean, but maybe you're not playing well your summoner in the first place.

I hardly think its me.

Any Summoner is going to be hard pressed to keep up 630+ average potency of single target attacks unless they're playing absolutely perfect with no DoTs falling off and always hitting every trance in perfect timing.

That said at present I'm only 77th on both Jobs SMN/RDM as I go through Shadowbringers and do not have Phoenix Enkindle yet, but I don't think its going to make much difference.