Why is the next new job a melee DPS?

[SecretIsland]

I watched the expansion live event yesterday to get caught up with the game. Something caught my eye, and it was that the two new jobs would be a healer and a melee DPS respectively. I found it weird because currently there are four melee DPS, and three magical and physical ranged DPS. Are melee DPS more popular in this game? It seems weird to add a fifth job to a role when two roles are currently at three.

Edit: I could not respond to everyone because of the post limit but I have upvoted your explanations! Thanks a lot for explaining.

[MPK]

We have 4 magical dps :^)

[Jeeqbit]

Yoshi-P always wants one of the new jobs to be a DPS because DPS is the most popular role. Whether it's because they prefer dealing damage or because they are too anxious to tank and heal, it is the most popular role.

It's a melee DPS because they design Dragoon gear specifically for Dragoons, unlike most gear which is for multiple jobs, so it was time to make that gear useful to other jobs as well.

[GrassCuttingAuRa]

I watched the expansion live event yesterday to get caught up with the game. Something caught my eye, and it was that the two new jobs would be a healer and a melee DPS respectively. I found it weird because currently there are four melee DPS, and three magical and physical ranged DPS. Are melee DPS more popular in this game? It seems weird to add a fifth job to a role when two roles are currently at three.

I mean, there's also the fact that Physical Ranged and Magical Ranged combined are six classes under the overarching Ranged category, while Melee are currently at four, up to five when Endwalker launches. It makes no sense to add another Physical Ranged after Dancer was added in Shadowbringers, and SE, as you can see from the classes added via their previous expansions for FFXIV has an "every other" expansion strategy with adding new classes to roles. Melee are just getting another addition after last having received Samurai in Stormblood, about 3-4 years ago.

[Unholychinchilla]

While they do like to keep the roles equal when possible (This was there reason for picking dancer as ranged) I imagine that's only if they have a suitable job concept they are happy with in time.

It wouldn't be good for the game to stick too rigidly to role parity if it meant impending a ranged or magic they were unhappy with or currently unable to make work as it likely would not be up to scratch.

[Lambdafish]

Because the actual situation is that we have 3 physical ranged, 3 magical ranged, 2 striking melee, 1 scouting melee, and 1 maiming melee, so adding another maiming or scouting melee makes the most sense. That's the reason we were given by Yoshi P.

[SavishSalacious]

Yoshi-P always wants one of the new jobs to be a DPS because DPS is the most popular role.

So why the f are all the queue times for us DPS 40+ minutes?

[GrassCuttingAuRa]

So why the f are all the queue times for us DPS 40+ minutes?

DPS is the most popular role, therefore there are less people playing tanks and healers. Want a quick queue? Learn how to play a less popular role. That's just how it is.

[SavishSalacious]

DPS is the most popular role, therefore there are less people playing tanks and healers. Want a quick queue? Learn how to play a less popular role. That's just how it is.

These are facts. I wont deny that and I do have a tank. But I refuse to level him any further with the toxicity around "get gud". Let me learn and not be forced to do wall to wall because you are in a rush.

[Valkyrie_Lenneth]

I haven't seen 40 minute dps queues since 2.0....


You are doing something very wrong.