I want to collect my thoughts, feedback and in-game observations into a thread, and hopefully get some gears turning on the possibilities for the Physical Ranged DPS role.
To start, there are PVP achievements for winning Crystalline Conflict matches as a physical ranged DPS. The achievent for winning 1000 matches as a phys ranged DPS is called "A Sniper to Remember," and the achievements leading up to it are called "A Wolf in Green Tights I-IV" likely as a reference to Robin Hood. This seem like a recent point of view that the developers have about the phys ranged roles like they want the class fantasy to be that of a sharpshooter/marksman/ranger.
Another recent development that has come out of PVP is the mechanic of walking casts. This mechanic is only present on BRD and MCH. Certain actions have cast times, but you can still move while casting at a reduced speed. The mechanic really feels like you are taking the time to aim each shot to maximize damage without it feeling like you are a magical ranged DPS. The physicality of "aiming” versus spell casting feels very different. And because walking casts are affected by abilities that increase movement speed, there could be some interactions with Peloton.
In the melee role quest solo battle in Endwalker, players fight alongside Merlwyb, and Lorens, two characters who use guns. Though out the fight Merlwyb, and Lorens have to interact with positional mechanics along with the player despite them basically being phys ranged DPS characters. However, in the Endwalker phys ranged solo battle, there are no positionals. But in the Dawntrail physical ranged role quest solo battle the player is asked to do postionals, and weirdly enough positionals are not present in the melee solo battle. This entertains the idea making positionals a gameplay mechanic for phys ranged DPS or that it is just a physical damage mechanic which since Shadowbringers, physical ranged, and melee DPS have been lumped together as "Physical DPS" in artifact gear vendors.
To me, the marksman is a missing class archetype in PVE. We have tanks, healers, fighters, and mages that provide mostly unique gameplay styles, and gameplay challenges to overcome, but the marksman is underdeveloped, and basically non-existent. I think walking casts can solve the bulk of gameplay, and balance issues that have been weighing down physical ranged DPS, and they should have been in PVE like yesterday. The biggest issue with walking casts is being able to cancel them, but I’m sure there are solutions to that floating around.
However, I’m skeptical about postionals from personal taste, and because it would mean that phys ranged would be subjected to boss hit box problems like with melee DPS. But despite that I think positionals do sell the idea of aiming at an enemy’s weak points to maximize damage. Maybe phys ranged could only have front positionals because ‘boom! headshot’ or something. Maybe there is a middle ground with walking casts, and positionals. Mechanically, phys ranged DPS feel very isolated from the other roles, and I think some mechanical cross pollination would healthy for the role. I’m willing to compromise.
I’m also skeptical about giving phys ranged more support tools or forcing them to be a support role because I feel like healers are already experiencing power creep as well.
I think devs should be taking inspiration from various shooter games on how to fix this role. I think the role that uses ranged weapons like bows, and guns, and other projectiles, and uses gear labeled ‘aiming’ should have more aiming style mechanics that can be translated over FFXIV’s GCD, and tab target style gameplay. Just simply being able to hit an enemy from afar does not provide enough gameplay. I’m likely just seeing patterns, but I feel like there are a lot of pieces in place to do something pretty cool with physical ranged DPS, and it is the developer’s job to make these decisions.
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To start, there are PVP achievements for winning Crystalline Conflict matches as a physical ranged DPS. The achievent for winning 1000 matches as a phys ranged DPS is called "A Sniper to Remember," and the achievements leading up to it are called "A Wolf in Green Tights I-IV" likely as a reference to Robin Hood. This seem like a recent point of view that the developers have about the phys ranged roles like they want the class fantasy to be that of a sharpshooter/marksman/ranger.
Another recent development that has come out of PVP is the mechanic of walking casts. This mechanic is only present on BRD and MCH. Certain actions have cast times, but you can still move while casting at a reduced speed. The mechanic really feels like you are taking the time to aim each shot to maximize damage without it feeling like you are a magical ranged DPS. The physicality of "aiming” versus spell casting feels very different. And because walking casts are affected by abilities that increase movement speed, there could be some interactions with Peloton.
In the melee role quest solo battle in Endwalker, players fight alongside Merlwyb, and Lorens, two characters who use guns. Though out the fight Merlwyb, and Lorens have to interact with positional mechanics along with the player despite them basically being phys ranged DPS characters. However, in the Endwalker phys ranged solo battle, there are no positionals. But in the Dawntrail physical ranged role quest solo battle the player is asked to do postionals, and weirdly enough positionals are not present in the melee solo battle. This entertains the idea making positionals a gameplay mechanic for phys ranged DPS or that it is just a physical damage mechanic which since Shadowbringers, physical ranged, and melee DPS have been lumped together as "Physical DPS" in artifact gear vendors.
To me, the marksman is a missing class archetype in PVE. We have tanks, healers, fighters, and mages that provide mostly unique gameplay styles, and gameplay challenges to overcome, but the marksman is underdeveloped, and basically non-existent. I think walking casts can solve the bulk of gameplay, and balance issues that have been weighing down physical ranged DPS, and they should have been in PVE like yesterday. The biggest issue with walking casts is being able to cancel them, but I’m sure there are solutions to that floating around.
However, I’m skeptical about postionals from personal taste, and because it would mean that phys ranged would be subjected to boss hit box problems like with melee DPS. But despite that I think positionals do sell the idea of aiming at an enemy’s weak points to maximize damage. Maybe phys ranged could only have front positionals because ‘boom! headshot’ or something. Maybe there is a middle ground with walking casts, and positionals. Mechanically, phys ranged DPS feel very isolated from the other roles, and I think some mechanical cross pollination would healthy for the role. I’m willing to compromise.
I’m also skeptical about giving phys ranged more support tools or forcing them to be a support role because I feel like healers are already experiencing power creep as well.
I think devs should be taking inspiration from various shooter games on how to fix this role. I think the role that uses ranged weapons like bows, and guns, and other projectiles, and uses gear labeled ‘aiming’ should have more aiming style mechanics that can be translated over FFXIV’s GCD, and tab target style gameplay. Just simply being able to hit an enemy from afar does not provide enough gameplay. I’m likely just seeing patterns, but I feel like there are a lot of pieces in place to do something pretty cool with physical ranged DPS, and it is the developer’s job to make these decisions.
Continue reading...