Machinist Needs Mobility and DPS Mitigation/Helaing Option

[Reka_Aia]

In the lead up to 5.0 new Machinist was positioned as “the selfish dps” and this hasn’t exactly panned out as promised. At least to me, a serious (but rather mediocre) machinist player who is almost finishing an ultimate - there’s very little reason for a raid group to consider bringing us when all 3 phys range perform somewhat similar in terms of DPS output but bring way more party support to the mix. Now I know support is Dancer’s whole deal but hear me out.
Support Abilities
Support abilities lost by MCH:
- Old hyper charge (throwing wrench) 10% less DMG delt by target
- Pallesaid (role action) - additional single target mitigation often used on Tankbusters.
- Refresh / Old Tact - Made redundant with Lucid Dreaming and TP removal.

I’m not going to direct compare DNC and MCH because that’s not fair but MCH should at least be on par with support of BRD if our DPS isn’t going to match SAM/BLM.

BRD has:
- restored built in crit buff party wide
- Minne single target
- Tact/Samba equivalent.

Either boost MCH dmg to the levels of BLM or restore at least one of the two lost actions - Pallesaide or DMG down on target.

Movement Options

Dancer is the undisputed leader of phys range when it comes to mobility. Not only do they get to attack while moving but en avant- as well.

BRD has repelling shot which has no place in their rotation but it still provides some movement in a pinch.

Solution? Grappling hook!

Lack of self heal options

Right now MCH has one charge and that’s it.
Dancer has curing waltz which benefits the entire party and could be used in a pinch but isn’t optimal to do so.
Black mage gets mana wall.
Melee get the absurd amount of healing of bloodbath and eyes open.

Honestly MCH (and to a lesser extent bard) kinda get the short end of the stick here.

Solution? Second wind has charges OR MCH gets deplorable shield on self

[CKNovel]

Breathes in
No.

Mobility?
MCH is already one of the most mobile jobs with no casts or limited range, you have sprint and it's enough.
If you don't have enough time to place yourself for a mechanic, try to visualize your next position before moving.
Hell, the community has been justifying the ranged poor DPS, including MCH, because they are the most mobile jobs. And you ask for more mobility.

rDPS support?
While it's true that there is barely any MCH in speedkill due to DNC being better than other ranged in this context.
Speedkill is a niche content and just consumming the content until there is not an ounce of content left.
In any other content, MCH outDPS BRD and DNC when it comes to single target.

Self healing?
The healer community would slap you for this suggestion.
Healing is the healers job, bloodbath, curing waltz and second wind exists to complete the missing healing if you get low rolls or your healer is simply too short.
Healing abilities on DPS is not meant to sustain themselves. Also, Eyes Open is used to DPS, not to heal yourself.
RDM has Vercure but it's never used to actively heal.

Rather than "mediocre", I guess you have a massive misunderstanding about the game, its mechanics, its numbers and the job roles.
There is no need for anything you ask, Hypercharge was a rDPS buff that increased damage taken by the target for 30s.
Dismantle was the throwing wrench. Palisade was a physical mitigation, as most Tank buster were magical, it wasn't often used in such cases. Sometimes it was much more efficient against bosses Auto-Attacks

[Cetek14]

Machinist is already mobile. DPS output is OK. It needs some love from design and "fantasy" perspective, because it's a soulless husk after 5.0 "rework".

[ItMe]

Lack of self heal options

Right now MCH has one charge and that’s it.
Dancer has curing waltz which benefits the entire party and could be used in a pinch but isn’t optimal to do so.
Black mage gets mana wall.
Melee get the absurd amount of healing of bloodbath and eyes open.

Honestly MCH (and to a lesser extent bard) kinda get the short end of the stick here.

Solution? Second wind has charges OR MCH gets deplorable shield on self

You say MCH needs a self heal, but... not really.
If you're in a party the cleric should be the one healing you. You've got a tool to help, but ultimately MCH doesn't need to be able to take care of itself in a party.
It seems like your suggestion is more pointed towards party-less open content, but even still I'd disagree that MCH needs more healing.

Your suggestions also sound like they're stemming from the notion that MCH is considered a "selfish DPS," but without any of the perks the other selfish DPS get. But I also don't understand how more self healing = being a more selfish DPS. I mean, look at NIN. It's not selfish by any stretch and on top of the support focused melee role actions (second wind and bloodbath) it also comes with Shade Shift. Why? melee has more heals because it's going toe to toe with the enemy.
You mentioned BLM too. It has something nifty because it's gameplay involves it standing still.
MCH on the other hand... if you're standing still you should reassess what you're doing. Their kiting gameplay is intense and gives them far more survivability that most people realize. Check out some deep dungeon solo runs for tips and ideas.

[RootBeerWiz]

Tbh I feel like MCH is fine for the most part, i just feel as if it needs to get some damage buffs, I feel as if you don't gain enough from having a MCH over BRD or DNC. Otherwise I think its fine

[Equitable_Remedy]

So, dancer?

[LeonKeyh]

It seems like you enjoy playing Machinist and just want it to be the best job and nobody can fault you for that, but looking at what you're looking for objectively, MCH in it's current "identity" doesn't need any of it. Don't get me wrong it (all ranged physical) need to really be looked at and made to be more fulfilling (IMO), but these things you're asking for aren't even the things that I would hope that a complete ranged physical rework would give to MCH.

All ranged physical jobs are EXTREMELY mobile. Some are more mobile than others, as you pointed out, but the last thing that any of the ranged physical jobs need is more mobility. In fact, the overall mobility of the jobs combined with the generally simplistic gameplay actually creates jobs that, unfortunately, have a fairly low skill ceiling and keep them from being enjoyed by people that like really mastering jobs. For long term satisfaction, I feel like we should be asking for MCH to have more complexity that allows for stronger play if you learn to play it well.

As for healing, you're missing an extremely important reason why the classes that you are talking about actually have means of healing, and it goes back to mobility outside of the physical ranged jobs. Melee have self heals because the range requirement and positional requirements of their abilities make it more difficult to continue to do damage while staying out of AEs and likely cause them to take more damage than ranged physical. BLM is the same way, most of these jobs with self heals are immobile jobs. MCH (and the rest of the ranged physical jobs) makes it easier to avoid avoidable damage because of their mobility.

[Mykll]

Healing is the healers job, bloodbath, curing waltz and second wind exists to complete the missing healing if you get low rolls or your healer is simply too short.

But I like being a Lala.

[ForteNightshade]

I do think Machinist needs a slight damage boost, though I actually prefer it going the support route and having the physical as a whole all provide some measure of utility. That, or simply scrap the whole "mobility tax" and bump up all their damage. It simply isn't justified how weak any of them are relative to Melee and Casters. However, this isn't a problem unique to Machinist.

As for movement. Repelling Shot shouldn't even be on your hotbar. It's completely worthless. So in that sense, only Dancer has a movement skill, but really, does it matter? All of them can run around for free.

[Nothv13]

I do think Machinist needs a slight damage boost, though I actually prefer it going the support route and having the physical as a whole all provide some measure of utility. That, or simply scrap the whole "mobility tax" and bump up all their damage. It simply isn't justified how weak any of them are relative to Melee and Casters. However, this isn't a problem unique to Machinist.

As for movement. Repelling Shot shouldn't even be on your hotbar. It's completely worthless. So in that sense, only Dancer has a movement skill, but really, does it matter? All of them can run around for free.

Sure get rid of the mobility tax, just throw in strict tight rotations, positionals, and perhaps a couple cast times.