Should the Casting Timer be removed or reduced for better DPS output?

[Kaliesto]

When I look at RDM, and BLM specifically that I can't help but wonder that they could probably do more damage in various duties, but having to stand still to cast is what is holding them back most of the time.

It seems rather problematic in the newer content as well (I've heard some complaints about BLM Rotations).

People like to crack jokes at BLM alot because their rotation gets ruined because how high speed the fights have been lately, and more different types of AOEs and such.


Now maybe I might be ignorant about all this because I'm not a Magical Main persay, but its just what I've heard lately since last year.

Maybe the long recast timer was a mistake for Magical DPS?


Or Alternatively

Let Magical Ranged DPS Cast while moving so that way they don't have to facetank everything and be able to handle AOEs better.

[Veis_Alveare]

This would make BLM soooo boring.

It relies on managing its casts and movement tools to be fun, if not it would literally be a macro-able job.

[Kleeya]

The dps an experienced player can do would not go up with more mobility, since all the spells would have their potency reduced accordingly to compensate the fact that they are easier to cast. That's why bard or machinist have a lower dps output than most other jobs.

This would only change the performance of less experienced players, but some people would then complain about how the game is becoming more and more easy and for casuals XD

[LolitaBansheeMeru]

This would make BLM soooo boring.

It relies on managing its casts and movement tools to be fun, if not it would literally be a macro-able job.

blm is already boring its almost 90% buffs with hardly any spell changes lol like hell the damn thing has more buffs than any tank or healer has to pop on cd for stuff

[WhiteArchmage]

Casters can do some huge numbers and the trade-off for that is that their gameplay requires them to stand still for most of that time. This is true of every caster in every MMO.

Especially for BLM, the thing that makes the class interesting and hard to play is knowing when you can turret and when to save your Swiftcast/Triplecast.

The opposite side of the coin is Physical Ranged. They have lower overall DPS BECAUSE they are so mobile and don't have positionals. If their DPS were on-par with the other DPS they'd be absolutely broken, as would be casters if they weren't constrained by their cast times.

[MariaArvana]

Casters can do some huge numbers and the trade-off for that is that their gameplay requires them to stand still for most of that time. This is true of every caster in every MMO.

Especially for BLM, the thing that makes the class interesting and hard to play is knowing when you can turret and when to save your Swiftcast/Triplecast.

The opposite side of the coin is Physical Ranged. They have lower overall DPS BECAUSE they are so mobile and don't have positionals. If their DPS were on-par with the other DPS they'd be absolutely broken, as would be casters if they weren't constrained by their cast times.

The 'casters do way more damage because of their planted gameplay' holds up right until you realize SMN has so much movement utility it may as well be a ranged DPS, while doing roughly the same level of damage as BLM (depending on fight.)

(Ruin 4 is stackable x 4, egi-assaults are instant GCDs x 4 on very short cooldown timers, Dreadwrym Trance gives you a short duration of instant cast Ruin 3 if it lines up with movement mechanics, Ditto for Phoenix Trance having all its GCD moves being instant, Swiftcast for one free movement cast every 60s, and Ruin 2 if you have literally none of the above.)

[Khalithar]

Faster cast time? Sure it would allow casters to more consistently get their spells off in high movement situations.

On the other hand, you'd still have to wait for the GCD to finish even if the spell does go off. That would make it feel like you have more downtime not casting anything no?

Plus once you learn slide casting the movement/casting issue is mitigated somewhat already.

[DPZ2]

Or Alternatively

Let Magical Ranged DPS Cast while moving so that way they don't have to facetank everything and be able to handle AOEs better.

So, basically, turn BLM/RDM into BRD/DNC/MCH, complete with a reduction in damage that is a distinctive part of that "moving" bit?

[Chasingstars]

I mean you can move. Its called: slide casting. Essentially with the last half a second of casting time, you can move your character while still having the cast go off. In exchange for having very good DPS, you need to be more aware of the fight and its mechanics so you can properly place yourself in safety zones.

Essentially that is the risk/reward of being a caster.

[Shougun]

I think that would reduce the feeling of diversity significantly.

I would however think a single job being able to cast and move or something would be acceptable, which would increase the diversity. On that I think they can add other concepts too like halting a cast midway for some job might not cancel the attack but just launch it off earlier (charge attacks), or channeling attacks, casts within casts (for example you might imagine bard had a channel spell that allowed them to move at the same time, and during that period of playing their instrument you could play 'sets' of music as casts within casts which would either help your team or mess with the enemy - of course this would make the ranger/archer theme part of bard weaker since currently you can use the job gauge for that concept lol, this would be making bard actually play a song ), etc, things like that may add to the different feels to abilities and that would be good.

Also as an aside (on topic of spell use) hopefully SE looks at smart casting from MOBA games (LoL, HotS, DotA)- so we could have cool things like if you tap a spell it just hits your target but if you held it you could manually target and at release it fires off (meaning no multiple key presses but you get more options and streamlined experience at the same time).