I've been reviewing some discussions about how many jobs were simplified in order to make room for higher-end raid mechanics... I.E. if we don't have to worry about this or that job's complicated rotation, we can predict about how much damage they'll be doing and how much they can afford to move, and therefore we can push the limits with extremely difficult mechanics and how much precision we ask of the player. Xenosys himself even remarked "if you put P8S in Heavensward, nobody would be able to clear it."

And during all this, I came to a sudden realization.

While simplifying the classes to make more room for interesting and difficult ultimate-tier fight mechanics, they've inadvertently made dungeons the most brain-off content.

I've considered myself a casual player, I mained Scholar in Stormblood and I personally think the last legs of Stormblood (4.55) was the peak of the game for me... Scholar felt fun to play, I felt like I mastered juggling my DoTs with healing, the fairy controlled smoothly and was fun to command in the middle of a different spell cast, it was amazing.

I even did some Savage back then (though I didn't get super far). But dungeons were where it was at for me, I felt like I could really tryhard on every pull and see if I can make a difference in the speed of progression, I was constantly active, it was great.

But nowadays, while the Ultimate and Savage tier content is spot on- difficult mechanics without needing to concern myself too much with my rotation- the dungeons suck. "Tryharding" is just holding off on a GCD heal during the trash pull so you can push your one and only damage button an extra time or two. Commanding the fairy is just another off-global now.

I've switched to Sage and while I'm definitely having more fun there than I was on Scholar, it just isn't the same and I still want that Stormblood era skillset back. But that's me getting that off my chest.