3 jobs I can't get myself to try. Maybe sell them to me?

[Omedon]

Ok obviously I don't feel entitled to someone "selling me" on the last three jobs I can't seem to cram into my character concept, but if some of my misgivings are based on my admitted ignorance as to how the jobs feel or play, I'm more than willing to be convinced if enthusiasts have points to make that I hadn't considered.

So yeah, I was an altoholic in WoW (roll many characters to play as many classes/specs as possible), and that's definitely bleeding over into my new home in FFXIV... but even though I built a character who conceptually can try most jobs at least enough to truly "experience" them, there are barriers staying my hand in trying three final outliers. I'm very interested in both Endwalker jobs so that won't be a problem, but... let's get into it.

1) Black Mage. I’d love to try this job, but everything I’ve seen about how XIV does fight mechanics makes a “big windup casting time” DPS job look unfun. The fun for me in this sort of concept is standing still and teeing off with big nukes. There doesn’t appear to be room for that in this game where every mechanic applies to pretty much everyone. It's such an inverse from WoW too where melee suffers from many mechanics that particularly target them while mages get more (not all) time to eat a sandwich during their rotation from half a mile away. Some of the feedback I've already received from friends has basically doubled down on my concerns. While I do enjoy Red mage (my go to "caster DPS job") my vision of Black mage is much more "turret style," and, well... see above. Another big barrier here is I hear that early Black Mage is fun and intuitive, but it gets stupid complex as it unfolds, and I can believe that, having taken most other jobs through their "and now there is a gauge (or two)" phase. Long wind-up casting times, movement heavy boss fights, and then a gauge after a considerable time investment to level? Hard sell to me, personally.

2) Machinist. The single handed, single long gun aesthetic is just ugly to me. The first thing I did to Balthier in FFXII was take that away from him! The propeller minion and the standard stock uncustomizable pet is just a big cosmetic imposition that doesn’t align with me or my character. I guess this job is more style clash than anything else. I know that doesn't leave you much to talk me into it, but I'm ok with that if it's just not for me.

3) Dancer. If it was less tap dancing and more tai chi I would be on board. If it was less “flashy entertainer” and more “Primrose from Octopath Traveler” I’d be on board. I’m admittedly very ignorant to the substance beneath the style here, so maybe I’m way off base in my assumptions. I was able to talk myself into Bard just because I really wanted a ranged non-magical DPS option and it was easier to say "sure, he plays an instrument," than "he... waltzes?"

So what am I missing that made you love these jobs? I'm not demanding that you make me love them but, particularly with dancer I'd rather know up front if it's all dancefloor whimsy or if there is a more combative thrust to the feel of the job.

If you take the time to read this and even to respond, I really appreciate it, thank you in advance!

EDIT:

I just wanted to quickly revisit this thread to thank everyone for their insight, as I've now worked these three jobs into my active leveling routine! I'm actually pretty blown away with how much I enjoy dancer, considering it's nearly macro-proof (usually a big downside to me), its rotation seems to be kept reasonable even without macros, and the flow is legitimately enjoyable! Once I found a gun and staff I liked (storm captain options) I started on Machinst and Black mage and while the bulk of those jobs' leveling will likely come in Endwalker, they're still fun in their own ways!

Blue mage I have a hard time taking seriously though since... it can't actually DO most of the game. But maybe I'll get around to it some day. I didn't include it in this thread because it's not a "real" job, but it seems more like its own minigame that I feel wholly free to ignore.

Anyway, thanks for all your informative and entertaining posts here! I'm now a fully fledged joboholic and I don't think I'll ever be able to put thIs game down now haha!

[Wavaryen]

I don't like black mage but like the damage. Im not a fan of casters. But the dps and numbers feel good.

Machinist i agree with you on looks, but it is pretty fast paced I heard.

Dancer my wife plays, and I get jealous of how simple it is. It is very much a relaxing class, and the movement is crazy the two dashes I get jealous of.

[Kes13a]

Black Mage: I had fun, I enjoyed the damage and the idea, the story quests were decent and you need to be good with timing and movement, especially at current end game content. really not a lot different than standing and healing, its all timing.

Machinist: always rather disliked the job. I found it exceptionally dull so cant really "sell" you on that one. end game didnt make it any better, but opinions vary

Dancer: after healing, probably my go to job. I enjoy it, the movement the animations, all of it, seems really well rounded to me.

reality is, its not us that would have to sell them to you, you have to sell yourself on them ^^

[kaynide]

I mean, the jobs in FFXIV are like picking characters in Super Smash Bros. If your having fun playing the game, but don’t want to rock the King Dedede, that’s fine isn’t it?

You already know what there is to know about the 3 jobs- if they don’t feel good to play, that’s fine.

I would say, maybe try an alt out? I’m not a big fan of BLM either, but it looks good on my Viera alt and slowly became her main.

[Ranaku]

Play mch if you want to give your party, like the samurai, your middle finger and say "Here is your utility". It's like the blackmage of physical ranged dds. No utility, all damage. xD

[Cincierta]

Alright, I'll bite.

DNC: Your dances are not only buffs to yourself and your dance partner, but eventually to your whole dang party. They're like bard but not as piano-y at the start but later on it's like a matching piano game that SLAPS the mobs that dared make fun of you for dancing. You carry motha effing CHAKRAMS like freakin' boomerangs and just show other jobs that you can do something super fancy, making them super jealous of your l33t throwing skills. Heck, you make fans DO ACTUAL DAMAGE WHEN YOU SLAP YOUR ENEMY WITH IT. Your LB3 causes you to fling flowers OF DESTRUCTION.

MCH: You are the one-man army in some cases, because not only do you carry turrets with you, but later on a FREAKIN' ROBOT QUEEN that gutpunches whatever you decide to throw it at. You tool around enough to where you can not only unleash your Flamethrower and Bioblasters, but also a freakin' DRILL that just punches through the boss that decided to laugh at the size of your toolbox. You're also smart enough to carry some sort of backup that builds up heat in your gun that MAKES IT FIRE HUGE BALLS. Your LB3 causes you to summon a GIGANTIC FREAKIN' DEATH LASER.

BLM: NUKE. EVERYTHING. You have a nuke for every situation, you are the tactical mobile turret, you are also the one that will probably find that pixel perfect safe spot in boss and raid fights. Should anything dare look your way, however, you can easily protect yourself with your very own shield...oh and you can skate like a pro between people and your Ley Lines, because they're your dodge poles. However beware of the healers that choose to think they're doing you a favor and using Rescue on you, as you may accidentally BEND FREAKIN' TIME AND DO A TIME WARP. Your LB3 causes you to compete with RDMs for the most blinding lb3 out there, because you, the BLM, SUMMON A GIGANTIC FREAKIN' METEOR.

All of those classes are viable to level and at endgame. Take what you will from someone who's leveled them all.

[Asari5]

just try them out. either you like them or not.... but you wont know before you reach 80

[EmoPanther]

If you want something easy and sorta.. braindead, play dancer. It doesn't take much thought so it's good if you just need to zone out after work and get a roulette done XD

Mch is actually pretty fun lots of buttons to push to keep yourself engaged.

Never played Blm so idk XD

[TaleraRistain]

With BLM it's very satisfying when you cast and everything just falls over dead in a giant boom.

MCH is fun because you're bouncing around doing flips pew pew pewing things. BRD does the same which is why they're both just fun to bop around with.

DNC I adore. I love support. I enjoy having the dance partner mechanic and maintaining my steps to either buff my partner or the whole party. So there's nice resource management there for me in keeping those and Devilment going and timing things so I'm ready to refresh my standard step right as the previous falls off. I also enjoy the procs. I am dancing through my normal combos but then those procs come up and you skillfully weave them in. I love the whole dancing aesthetic. You're tossing the chakrams at your enemies as the rest of your body moves in the dance, and doing fun things with them like tossing as you half turn or coming out of a pose leaning back or spinning and then flinging them. The ability effects are colorful and varied. It's a very active class, at least to me.

[Momo_Kozuki]

BLM: my main magical DPS class. I'm not good and have trouble to adjust rotation the fly (panic Umbra Heart/reset rotation prematurely). But once I get how the fight will go, it is satisfying to fit my rotation to the dance.


MCN: I don't like this class. Some animations are ugly (Spread Shot). Some skills feel gimmick and need improvement. Flamethrower feels should like it should act like your Rook/Queen but with AoE-focus. Bio Blaster feels like it should be a DoT and not share cooldown with Drill. The only thing I feel nice about it is that it looks nice on Lalafell aesthetically (smol girl, big robot), and it is not BRD.



DNC: my main ranged physical DPS class. Out of three ranged classes, BRD which I hate cuz its skills are flashy but boring, MCN cuz reasons above, DNC is flashy, and animation is fun to watch on a Lala. The only grip I have about it is DNC's AF outfit looks weird on Lala. I don't like seeing my Lala exposing too much skin and I often take screenshots, making it hard to share. Good thing is that the Endwalker gear is going to look much better.