Let’s face it — raid buffs are probably one of the biggest obstacles when it comes to job balancing and encounter design in FFXIV. It’s also part of the reason why not every player is satisfied with how their job feels.
The fact that nearly all compositions are centered around 120s raid buffs, with almost no flexibility for different timing windows due to the homogenization of oGCD cooldowns, creates a rigid system. I truly believe that moving away from strict timed raid buffs could open the door to an entirely new era of job design, where each job could thrive with a stronger, more unique identity, without having to sync around strict burst windows or delay their GCDs to fit into a party plan.
What the end of timed raid buffs could bring:
Quote:
- A healthier space for persistent buff jobs like BRD (songs) or DNC (partner mechanics), and maybe even a return of passive debuff mechanics (physical/magical resistance, etc.) that aren’t tied to precise oGCD timings.
- More diversity in job rotations, especially for tanks — who currently feel very similar rotation-wise — or even healers, if SE ever decides to give them more engaging DPS tools.
- It would free up design space for jobs that feel overloaded during 60s/120s windows, where too much is happening at once.
- And of course, it would simplify encounter design, where SE wouldn't have to constantly accommodate burst windows or make mechanics that are "raid buff friendly".
One example I’ve always wanted to explore is a composition that doesn’t rely on any burst windows at all:
Any Tank / WHM - SGE / SAM - VPR - BLM - MCH
I get that, under the current balance, this comp isn’t considered optimal — but it’s a setup where no one has to worry about raid buffs or strict timers. You just press your buttons as they come up. That kind of gameplay can feel both relaxing and satisfying, especially for those who value consistency and individual flow over burst alignment.
As it stands, there’s practically no way to build a team without at least one raid buff to manage. I’m not saying we should remove all raid buffs — but introducing more viable job options that don’t rely on raid buff windows could let players build comps that feel different, and allow for a more diverse set of playstyles.
So yeah — what do you think? Would FFXIV benefit from moving away from the strict raid buff meta, or do you think it's too deeply embedded in the game's identity to change?
Continue reading...
The fact that nearly all compositions are centered around 120s raid buffs, with almost no flexibility for different timing windows due to the homogenization of oGCD cooldowns, creates a rigid system. I truly believe that moving away from strict timed raid buffs could open the door to an entirely new era of job design, where each job could thrive with a stronger, more unique identity, without having to sync around strict burst windows or delay their GCDs to fit into a party plan.
What the end of timed raid buffs could bring:
Quote:
- A healthier space for persistent buff jobs like BRD (songs) or DNC (partner mechanics), and maybe even a return of passive debuff mechanics (physical/magical resistance, etc.) that aren’t tied to precise oGCD timings.
- More diversity in job rotations, especially for tanks — who currently feel very similar rotation-wise — or even healers, if SE ever decides to give them more engaging DPS tools.
- It would free up design space for jobs that feel overloaded during 60s/120s windows, where too much is happening at once.
- And of course, it would simplify encounter design, where SE wouldn't have to constantly accommodate burst windows or make mechanics that are "raid buff friendly".
One example I’ve always wanted to explore is a composition that doesn’t rely on any burst windows at all:
Any Tank / WHM - SGE / SAM - VPR - BLM - MCH
I get that, under the current balance, this comp isn’t considered optimal — but it’s a setup where no one has to worry about raid buffs or strict timers. You just press your buttons as they come up. That kind of gameplay can feel both relaxing and satisfying, especially for those who value consistency and individual flow over burst alignment.
As it stands, there’s practically no way to build a team without at least one raid buff to manage. I’m not saying we should remove all raid buffs — but introducing more viable job options that don’t rely on raid buff windows could let players build comps that feel different, and allow for a more diverse set of playstyles.
So yeah — what do you think? Would FFXIV benefit from moving away from the strict raid buff meta, or do you think it's too deeply embedded in the game's identity to change?
Continue reading...