Let's redefine "damage taxes"

[Rithy255]

The idea that they've been difficulty balancing would make sense if samurai was a lot lower, if dark knight was on par with warrior ect, Dancer not being way ahead of machinist ect, it feels like theirs no actual consistency with what the community regards as difficult being rewarded in bigger numbers, because difficulty is subjective, while their is a general consensus on certain jobs being easier it really just doesn't show that the top demanding jobs, are the most well performing currently.

Even if it's the case I don't think we should really focus on difficulty too much as a factor when it comes to job balance, while I think their should be some reward for playing a job that is "highly skilled" I dont think it justifies a big or even a noticeable difference, small benefits such as like a tiny tiny tiny amount in front in damage or some sort of utility that isn't really too powerful? I don't know, I just don't think their needs to be a massive difference between a "high skilled job" and a "low skilled job".

If they wanna reward more skilled jobs then why isn't jobs such as black mage at the top right now lol, i guess "ranged tax" but it doesn't make sense when the fight is designed so melees have a easier time now.

I just want some consistency with Job balancing, I don't mind one job being slightly ahead then another that's just going to be the case generally, but I don't think how it currently is makes any sense with how I view what makes a job "Hard"

[Axious]

How would we feel if the Devs modified every raid buff to a self buff. No one buffs anyone.

[Elizasylen]

How would we feel if the Devs modified every raid buff to a self buff. No one buffs anyone.

As long as the boss dies in a timely manner people don't care where the damage comes from, they don't care if there's no buffs. If a 4 SAM 2GNB 2WHM gets the most damage out and the fastest kill time then that's what people will take. People have been seriously looking at whether or not taking 4 melee is superior to standard bonus comp. It's barely not worth it.

[Xelanar]

One of developer's main design flaws is DPS output based on job difficulty.
Job difficulty is subjective. Is Monk difficult? Ask me, and I'll say yes, because I have hell of a hard time tracking my buff timers. Someone else might not, finding the job pretty easy. This alone makes it impossible to balance with job difficulty in mind.

Besides, do people actually WANT jobs balanced around difficulty? I can only talk for myself, and I definitely do not. I honestly do not care, if someone else can deal the same amount of DPS as me, by pressing only one button.
I play a job because I like its aesthetics and/or its rotation flow.

What I don't like is underperforming, not because I play poorly, but because someone believes I should. Absolutely no one wants to deal less damage with their job than someone else with another. If the reasoning is "but your job is easier", then make the job harder.

[FireMage]

"Difficulty is subjective"

Yes, do tell me how running is easier than walking. Hint: it's not. Some Jobs are factually easier than others, just the truth, deal with it

[CKNovel]

"Difficulty is subjective"

Yes, do tell me how running is easier than walking. Hint: it's not. Some Jobs are factually easier than others, just the truth, deal with it

We're getting to the fun part.
Walking is easier than running but you're picking 2 examples that aren't hard to begin with.
Both requires the same thing: Alternate the movement between your legs. The difference is the speed at which you do so.
The complexity of "walking" and "running" is the same, the difference being speed..

If we were to take your example, your DPS rotation is nothing but pressing buttons and higher APM jobs are harder as your complexity example is the speed between each buttons.
Which means, by your very own logic of walking and running, MCH is hard and RDM is easy.
And according to you, that's a fact.

Your next line is "Positionals are hard"

[darkdyllon]

"Difficulty is subjective"

Yes, do tell me how running is easier than walking. Hint: it's not. Some Jobs are factually easier than others, just the truth, deal with it

Ok, go play an game you find difficult, i might find it easy compared to you, that's how difficulty is subjective.
for example, DRK is fairly simple to play aswell, do others find this? probably not, some have more difficulity double weaving as much OGCDs, meanwhile I find that fairly simple.
it's the same for MCH, people who find double weaving more difficult are not gonna have a fun day on MCH.

[Kalaam]

Don't feed the troll guys.

Anyway, that's an interresting idea, some buffs would need to be adjusted or roles moved around (RDM's one has been mentionned) but I think that this, mixed with a change on raidbuff cooldowns to move away from the rigid 2 minutes could do a lot of good for the game.

[Mithron]

Don't feed the troll guys.

Anyway, that's an interresting idea, some buffs would need to be adjusted or roles moved around (RDM's one has been mentionned) but I think that this, mixed with a change on raidbuff cooldowns to move away from the rigid 2 minutes could do a lot of good for the game.

Right, I think the idea of RDM being low personal DPS but tons of raid buffs is core identity and thematic to the job. Even in FF1, RDM's main purpose was to buff your melee with Haste and Temper while providing small personal damage themselves and having backup heals. They were also very good at cleaning up trash efficiently as their lower stats/spells didn't matter as much on trash. So, they'd kill the trash nicely, then in harder fights focused more on support. That's job identity for RDM to me, given they're not the Enspeller spellblade Mystic Knight type like they sort of had in FF11, so I think emphasizing more on Embolden and other raid damage buffs is what they need. In FF3, you only used them early game to clear a few magic only dungeons then swapped off as fast as possible, and in FF5 you only used them to learn Doublecast on your other real magic using jobs. They've never really been known to be monster powerhouses of personal damage, so placing them just above BRD and DNC makes sense. I love RDM, and I love playing RDM that way.