The last time I played this game was about a month prior to the release of Chains. I had taken class up to 70+ (NIN) and two others into 60+ (THF and DRK) before quiting. Sadly, I quit (for personal reasons that are no longer relevant) just before I ever got a chance to truly appreciate end-game. I had been to Dynamis only a handful of times (most with little success due to poor organization and a lack of high levelled skilled NA players at the time, and the only HNMs I was ever around was with a JPN LS and I couldn't really do anything as I had no idea what they wanted me to do. Never even got a chance to fight the Shadow Warriors (either the six on ones, or the alliance vs. all five at once).
Now, there's probably a decent amount of new content in this game, but I can always figure that out as I replay through the level grind, so I won't bother any of you good people with those questions. But if anyone could give me a brief rundown on what's changed with the classes, it would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking through ability lists and don't notice anything drastically different. But for all I know, the great majority of new HNM may be Demons, perhaps making SAMs more useful for Demon Killer. Or something like that. Or perhaps the new equipment allows for different class/party dynamics that weren't around when I was playing.
Anyway, when I was playing, it seemed that the major end-game players were restricted to the various mages (BLM, WHM, RDM), Bards, Earth Staff Paladins, and Rangers. Most melee damagers seem to be left out as they couldn't compare to BLM or RNG. Except I did notice quite a few SAM that would sit back and Meditate, then slap a 300 TP Spirits Within whenever I went to spectate a HNM killing. Rarely saw BST or SMN at HNM fights (or if I did, they didn't seem to be doing anything). There always seemed to be a ton of NIN and THF running around HNM fights (and since I did play both, I noticed them particularly) but I couldn't ever really catch them doing much, at least not much of use anyway). Some people I still talk to tell me that NIN have become better by slapping on a ton of Enmity gear and physical damage down gear, is this true? Or are Earth Staff Pallies still the name of the game?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.