Class Balance: How close are we?

[RoninYabusame]

There are five basic categories of responsibilities/abilities in battle in FFXIV:

Damage Output
Incoming Damage
Potency Enhancing
Potency Enfeebling
Restoring

Now if you were to rate each job as to how well they do each thing...which would come out on top as overpowered, which as balanced, and which as underpowered?

Damage output:
If you were to go by most people's assertions, the order of this category would go as follows: tie 1st Archer(burst) and Thaumaturge(DoT), 3rd Lancer, 4th Marauder, 5th Conjurer, 6th Pugilist, 7th Gladiator.

Damage Input:
This would be how much damage the class is capable of mitigating through absorption or evasion. Classes with heavier armor, taunts, and defensive skills/spells would score higher here. 1st Gladiator, 2nd Thaumaturge, 3rd Marauder, 4th Pugilist, 5th Conjurer, 6th Lancer, 7th Archer.

Potency Enhancing:
This would be potency buffs(increase damage/acc) cast on the individual or party. Classes with group buffs would be more valuable enhancers than classes with buffs primarily for the individual. 1st Lancer, 2nd Marauder, 3rd Pugilist, 4th Archer, 5th Gladiator, 6th Conjurer, 7th Thaumaturge.

Potency Enfeebling:
This would be potency enfeebles cast on the target. 1st Thaumaturge, 2nd Conjurer, 3rd Lancer, 4th Marauder, 5th Archer, 6th Pugilist, 7th Gladiator.

Restoring:
This would be adding to your HP, MP, TP, or Stamina bar by buff or drain. 1st Thaumaturge, 2nd Lancer, 3rd Conjurer, 4th Pugilist, 5th Marauder, tie 6th Archer and Gladiator.

By scoring each measure of contribution to battle by awarding 1 point for 1st, 2 for 2nd, and etc we determine a battle worth ranking system where a lower score means a higher overall battle worth.

Results:
Thaumaturge = 12, average of 2.4/7
Lancer = 15, average 3/7
Marauder = 18, average 3.6/7
Conjurer = 21, average 4.2/7
Pugilist = 23, average 4.6/7
Archer = 23, average 4.6/7
Gladiator = 26, average 5.2/7

Now, at least according to my observations, the Marauders, Conjurers and Pugilists seem to be the most well balanced classes. They fall in the middle of the range of data, and none of them have any 1 or 7 scores. Thaumaturges seem extremely overpowered as far as their utility goes, scoring 3 1st places and a second, scoring poorly only on enhancing. Lancers may be slightly overpowered, as they are relatively good at everything except taking damage. Archers may be slightly underpowered overall, as their only above average quality is doing damage (but don't expect them to get a buff). Gladiators are really only good at taking damage, making them the least versatile class.

If any on class needs a buff, it is Gladiator. If any one needs a nerf, it is most certainly Thaumaturge.

[Luhy]

You wrote too much. Every job is exactly the same and does the exact same shit, just with different names for their WSs which do the exact same thing and exact same dmg.

[viion]

You wrote too much. Every job is exactly the same and does the exact same shit, just with different names for their WSs which do the exact same thing and exact same dmg.

^ this

with the exception of:
Archers do a little more shit than others
Mages get hit for a little more shit than others.

[RoninYabusame]

Not really. My archer doesn't have any native heals. Gladiator can't do damage for shit. Emulate is freaking broken. There are definitely differences.

And mages definitely don't get hit for more than archers or lancers unless they're morons.

[Betelgeuzah]

What the hell is this crap.

The game is getting rehauled in a matter of months.

If this line is "perfect balance" --------------------







And this line is "the core features are in place" ----------------




























We are here "the game is being developed, the final class and combat systems aren't even implemented" ------------------------

[RoninYabusame]

Why don't you go ahead and Log Off until the real game shows up then. Meanwhile I'll continue making assessments about where it currently stands.

[Seirra_Lanzce]

Why don't you go ahead and Log Off until the real game shows up then. Meanwhile I'll continue making assessments about where it currently stands.

Uhmm you do realize that the game is in overhaul mode right? O_O" so can't you wait for the battle system change then only we ask for balance?

[VydarrTyr]

I'd disagree with some of your scores.

Potency Enhancing -- I think you've got both mage classes way too low. Conjs cast buffs like shell, protect, stoneskin, and shock spikes for the entire party. And Thms can absorb attributes (like Accuracy, Attack, etc.) from the mob, and then transfer those attributes to party members. And Thms have Stygian Spikes. But you've got them 6th and 7th. I'd put them in the top 3.

I'm also curious about Damage Output. Has anyone parsed the numbers? I'd certainly put Thm and Arc at the top, followed by Lancer, with Glad at the bottom. But do Pugs really do less damage than Marauders? They do less damage per attack, but they get two attacks per round, they build TP like machines, and they miss much less often. So they throw off a lot more WSs. I'd be curious to see how they actually stack up. Just a total wild guess, but I'd probably put Pugs ahead of Mars.

[VydarrTyr]

Uhmm you do realize that the game is in overhaul mode right? O_O" so can't you wait for the battle system change then only we ask for balance?

I thought the OP's point was to discuss what should be done in the overhaul so we can end up balanced.

[Akumu]

I thought the OP's point was to discuss what should be done in the overhaul so we can end up balanced.

It's hard to discuss though considering we don't know how jobs will be added. The only clue about jobs is it is a separate system from the Armory(but sure it compliments/builds on it). Any speculations will be pointless on this subject considering how drastically the game will change(with such little info) what we come up with probably wouldn't even fit in the new system.

I think this is why people do not feel the need to discuss this currently. There are too many unknowns to add anything viable.