Why do Raid Buffs even exist?

[Mithron]

This all stems from how Square designed FFXIV. Everything feels Streamlined. Think of the following in mind when it comes to balancing Jobs/Classes in other games...

• Plethora of Skill trees
• Multiple possible Rotations by design
• Being able to fulfill a role outside of their intended role
• Various viable unique Off-Meta Builds by design
• Job synergy with all the above mentioned
• Then Fights/Raids/PvP that accommodates all the above

Not saying Square should do any of it nor couldn't do any of it? They just clearly aren't aiming to. Instead it seems their goal is to design FFXIV with as little variations as possible, streamlining everything. Including taking away skills what made most jobs feel unique and sticking to the 2 minute burst window meta.

Raid-buffs keeps burst phases at least interesting, requiring some teamwork to squeeze out more damage from each-other. It's not perfect? but it keeps it more interesting then without it.

I mean ARR-SHB definitely had varied and interesting jobs without a 2 minute burst window meta and no skill trees etc.

[CelestiCer]

I mean ARR-SHB definitely had varied and interesting jobs without a 2 minute burst window meta and no skill trees etc.

Yup. And it didn't require elaborate skill trees to achieve it no. They shown they can do it. Just saying they won't. Hence I wrote the last bit you didn't quote I'll, put it there as well.

...I am all for it though if it makes players happy? more different ways to play a Job, and/or different burst minutes or back to 1 minute? sure, it's gone require a lot of changes? and they could probably do it as well. But... just like the loss of my beloved skills, I wouldn't hold your breath with Square's design philosophy obviously leaning towards " Simplifying and Streamlining everything for least amount of Job variables the Dev's need to balance. "

They clearly are aiming to streamline everything. If they want to steer away from 2 minute meta now? they'd have to do a lot of changes. It's not that they can't, they shown that they can. They just aren't showing any signs of wanting to is all I am saying. But if it makes players happy? I am all for it.