Best DPS class in the game?

[Ozma_Ozuma]

Any DPS class can be the best DPS class when properly used by a skilled player. My own preference is Arcanist/Summoner. They can do continuos damage over-time, a lot of the other classes have burst attacks while Arcanist can continuously do damage over time. With proper DoT management and rotation order you can even out dps Black Mages and Bards.

[Rosencranz]

Did a little test while doing ifrit

members of my fc, pretty geared - not the top, but nice - the 3 of us with an ifrit weapon equipped, against ifrit

BLM - 177 dps (counting lb3)
DRG - 163 (counting lb3)
BRD - 134 (counting -20%dmg for mage's ballad)

The absence of a DPS LB is an obvious reduction on the overall dps, and the songs using too is another reduction. Still, i can suggest that "morally" we Bard are pretty strong as DPS.

[Eein]

Did a little test while doing ifrit

members of my fc, pretty geared - not the top, but nice - the 3 of us with an ifrit weapon equipped, against ifrit

BLM - 177 dps (counting lb3)
DRG - 163 (counting lb3)
BRD - 134 (counting -20%dmg for mage's ballad)

The absence of a DPS LB is an obvious reduction on the overall dps, and the songs using too is another reduction. Still, i can suggest that "morally" we Bard are pretty strong as DPS.

Counting limit breaks when comparing DPS balance isn't really a good idea since some classes have damage LB and some classes do not;
Not to mention, the class cannot perform an LB3 unless the rest of the group deals damage. This should be considered a gain to raid dps, not personal dps.

[kukurumei]

Counting limit breaks when comparing DPS balance isn't really a good idea since some classes have damage LB and some classes do not;
Not to mention, the class cannot perform an LB3 unless the rest of the group deals damage. This should be considered a gain to raid dps, not personal dps.

You can't say that. That's like saying don't count tanks cause all you need is blms and archers. Something has to be there for the rest to exist.

sword dance is a mnk/drg only so you need one in there to get that LB. Same with BLM/acn

LBs count, because they are exclusive to other classes.

BTW how do you calculate BLM/ACN LB since they are AoE? you can't really count it 3x because it hits 3 targets...that's kind of a false positive, or true depending on situation.

In a Full PT, LB isn't really an issue because you assume there is at least one of every type, but in a Light PT, it makes a big difference, because if you don't have it, you don't have it.

[Mugaaz]

There are definitely some boss fights where Melee DPS is a strictly worse than ranged. I have not found the opposite to be true for any encounter I've seen. There are some bosses with attacks that are easier to dodge if you hug the monster, but this isn't a benefit to melee DPS at all, since ranged DPS could just stand there if they are smart. The time melee dps has to run away from attacks, run to adds, run back to boss, etc. All of that is taking away from their uptime and interrupting their rotations. Demon wall is slightly more difficult for DPS that has long cast times, but this can actually be fully mitigated if they are skilled and just predodge all the telgraphed blows, and only move during the last .2 seconds of cast time so it doesn't cause an interrupt. However, there is no way for melee DPS to use skill to remove the time it takes to run from point A > B > A. Many of the bosses have PBAoE attacks that need to be dodged, there is no equivalent for ranged DPS.

[roflcaust]

I think it's hilarious when the ranged classes are trying to make a point that their classes are harder to play than a melee DPS.

Here, let me tell you one thing that'll always make melee classes more difficult to play because of an inherent handicap that has been imposed on us: mob positioning.

Ranged classes never, ever, ever have to worry about that. All you need to worry about is to be out of AoEs and spam skills while standing still.

That's why melee classes need to have their GCDs reduced to 2.0 seconds flat. Ranged has way too much of an advantage right now. I detailed it in an earlier post that by the time I may be hitting a mob and my Charge isn't up, BRDs/BLMs/SMNs may get in 2-3 attacks while I'm still prepping my first rotation to get 1 stack of GL.

[Shunye]

I think it's hilarious when the ranged classes are trying to make a point that their classes are harder to play than a melee DPS.

Here, let me tell you one thing that'll always make melee classes more difficult to play because of an inherent handicap that has been imposed on us: mob positioning.

Ranged classes never, ever, ever have to worry about that. All you need to worry about is to be out of AoEs and spam skills while standing still.

when did anyone say anything about ranged being harder to play than melee? stop trying to sidetrack the thread. also you are obviously ignoring ranged positioning for maximizing bard songs and avoiding boss mechanics when you are in the middle of a cast for a caster. when it gets to hard modes it will balance out.

[roflcaust]

when did anyone say anything about ranged being harder to play than melee? stop trying to sidetrack the thread. also you are obviously ignoring ranged positioning for maximizing bard songs and avoiding boss mechanics when you are in the middle of a cast for a caster. when it gets to hard modes it will balance out.

Unlike you I actually read the whole thread... Read pages 5, 6 and 7 (not sure how many posts you can see per thread) where people got into a heated debate about Ranged vs. Melee.

All I see (and thank you for reinforcing my point) are butt-hurt BRDs who get called on out on their lawls-i-can-attack-the-boss-while-running-and-having-my-back-to-him mechanics and reassuring themselves they're not playing an easy-mode class that's completely out-of-whack.

I could care less you picked the easiest class to play in the game (it's not your fault they also made it one of the most OP'd class in the game as well as making them support but that's a whole different topic) but at least don't be a hypocrite when someone calls you out on your class.

Again: if you haven't suffered the plight of a melee DPS class, you don't know what you're talking about.

--EDIT--

Wanted to touch on your point.

Ranged classes have two positioning combat mechanics to care about and one class (yours) arguably only has one:

1. BLMs have to worry about cancellation of cast time and staying out of AoEs;

2. As it currently stands, unless your party specifically asks you to, BRDs only have to worry about AoE damage and maybe having to stand next to party members in order to apply your songs. Hell, a skilled BRD negates situational awareness point #2 by being smart and being aware of his/her positiniong at all times to reduce run time and maximize DPS output.

Here's an overlook for melee classes:
1. Need to position yourself at back/flank at all times to maximize DPS output.

2. Is the tank moving the mob? If yes, you better be running in front of the mob if you want to DPS it and not get the message that the mob is too far from you or close to you. If no, then sit there and conduct your rotation.

3. Does the boss have mechanics where it's constantly moving/re-appearing? If yes, melee DPS are pretty much hosed.

4. Does the boss have mechanics where its flank/back isn't shown? The Demon Wall would like to have a talk with you.

5. If my Charge isn't up, again, ranged classes can be on their 2nd GCD cast while I'm barely even starting my first rotation.

This is not the fault of the players. This is the way SE designed the class and thought it'd be okay to balance ranged and melee exactly in the same way when it's obvious that one set of classes has an inherent (and unfair) advantage over an other set of DPS classes.

I'm sure that once the honeymoon period dies down and more people start reaching end-game, a lot of people are going to notice these disparities and demand answers.

My solution would be to decrease melee GCD by 0.5 seconds (exactly like in WoW). It'd balance everything out and would give melee an even-level playing field by enabling them to make up for the lost DPS due to mob positioning and boss mechanics that are counter-intuitive and don't let us unlock our full potential.

[Kasrai]

All I see (and thank you for reinforcing my point) are butt-hurt BRDs who get called on out on their lawls-i-can-attack-the-boss-while-running-and-having-my-back-to-him mechanics and reassuring themselves they're not playing an easy-mode class that's completely out-of-whack.

I could care less you picked the easiest class to play in the game (it's not your fault they also made it one of the most OP'd class in the game as well as making them support but that's a whole different topic) but at least don't be a hypocrite when someone calls you out on your class.

Again: if you haven't suffered the plight of a melee DPS class, you don't know what you're talking about.

All I see is a butt-hurt melee talking about how hard melee is with a "me against the world" attitude to justify his decision on choosing to play a melee class.

Cry in another thread. This one is for the highest DPS classes.

[roflcaust]

All I see is a butt-hurt melee talking about how hard melee is with a "me against the world" attitude to justify his decision on choosing to play a melee class.

Cry in another thread. This one is for the highest DPS classes.

I've provided valid points as to what are the inherent advantages of ranged vs. melee.

Besides insulting me, what can you tell me to disprove that your easy-mode class is just too good right now? You're the best of both worlds: you're either top the DPS chart if you want or turn yourself into an irreplaceable support role by buffing all your other party members.

So what should we do according to your oh-so-wise wisdom? All melee classes should stop QQ'ing, re-roll ranged classes and drink the Kool-Aid as you are?

Nah, I have a tendency to pass the classes designed for mentally challenged players and pick the ones with the highest DPS potential (MNK).

I'll complain when these classes cannot attain the goal set-out by developers because of their own incompetence.

And of course I'm justifying playing a melee class. I've invested a lot of time and theorycrafting just to throw it all away.