Letter from the Producer, IV (02/28/2011)

[Gulkeeva]

Well its not "just drk armor" its aka evil armor so it could be for all plate wearing classes, I'm hoping he has a few more sets to release for variations maybe (Hell I'd wear that on pug) >.>

He promised 2 updates a month and he's doing it so far ! and yeah like someone mentioned, hoping some quests will be like the FFXI style "quest it to get it" AF instead of grabbing 6-10+ people when you got 3 weeks worth of 400 FP or hunting down a NM for something

also looking forward to the crafting change....? (oh please god make Lv 45+ easier)

[Alkar]

I agree with you, but I think this change stems from the JP communitys complaining more-so than from the English community. The JP names are really lame as hell. It's too bad that they don't recognize how good translators they have in their team and want to change the names/roles universally. I've always thought the current classes fit the world quite perfectly, and XI classes... not so much.

Sure I'll take whatever is coming though lol.



Lore-wise I think they are different enough. I don't think the name or the background lore is the issue here at all. I don't think anyone is against making the classes more unique anyway, just not this way.

What do you mean "not this way"? They haven't even explained a way yet.
Old names are fine. They are part of the franchise just like Chocobos, Moogles, airships and summons.

[Hyan]

What do you mean "not this way"? They haven't even explained a way yet.

This way:

Possible introduction of traditional names such as paladin, monk, white mage, etc.

I like my marauder and pugilist, thank you. They are fine. Old names are part of the franchise just like new names, such as Saboteur, Medic and Commando. Change is a part of the franchise. That's what I'm basically getting at.

Sure I understand that JP's want the names changed. But why do we need to get dragged into it? ; ; Hell, they could just rename them into Maraudaa, Guradieitaa, Pugirisuto etc. and call it a day.

EDIT: The BLM armor has goggles/mask? Fucking awesome. And wtf at the daggers on the DRK one. It almost looks like in the concept the visor can go up and down depending on how much light there is? Hopefully the new battle effects are as visually pleasing and distinctive.

[Selamis]

That evil, drk looking armor, looks sick. Absolutely sick. I want it now heh!

[Shuichi]

Can't wait to see what the Pugilist set looks like.

[Odesseiron]

All sounds good. Will still be a while before I play XIV again though. I tried playing yesterday for the first time in over 2 months. (Maybe more?) I was bored within about 10 minutes. I do however love Yoshi P's interviews. He seems very genuine about wanting to fix everything and making improvements. I really enjoy reading his letters.

[Mikelee0351]

Can't wait to see what the Pugilist set looks like.

SE: "In part of our ongoing effort to return to traditional FF themes, Pugilist will not be receiving a JSE equipment set, ever. We apologize for any inconvenience that thus may cause. Have a nice day."

[Blasta]

I could live with Gladiator and a few others, but Pugilist is just a horrible name imo. Once again nice letter, go Yoshi P!

[Elcura]

I could live with Gladiator and a few others, but Pugilist is just a horrible name imo. Once again nice letter, go Yoshi P!

Pugilist is far more appropriate than Monk would ever be. As is Marauder vs Warrior. My worry is that if they change the names, will the jobs actually make sense?

And while the differences between THM and CON aren't great (in terms of current looks and abilities), they could easily diversify them, making THM clothes all shiny and expensive, while CON would be naturey and natural. If they suddenly became black mage and white mage, where's the sense in all that?

Without changing the lore and stuff around the job, a name change is just stupid. Maybe they'll only change the JP names, cause the English ones are fine as is. A class identity doesn't go hand in hand with traditional names.

It doesn't give it a more "FF feel", there's no such thing. It'll just be weird.

[Spider-Dan]

I would not welcome a switch to the "old" classes, if for only one reason: it undermines a very smart choice (one of the few) that SE made for XIV.

Right now, you don't have to worry about finding "a healer" or "a nuker" or "support"; you just need a mage. If the old classes are reintroduced (in substance, not just in name), someone will have to become White Mage, and it'll be 2003 FFXI all over again with WHM dependency.

However, if they just rename Conjurer to White Mage and rename Thaumaturge to Black Mage, I'd be fine with that. That's a tough call, though; Conjurer has a lot of the iconic BLM and WHM spells, and Thaumaturge is more like RDM than BLM.

[Lordender]

The game is probably still 8-9months away from being a really good game imo. Yoshi-P is doing exactly what needed to be done though, he has already pwned everyone in the past involved with constantly updating the players which is what the past team failed hard at.

Can the game survive almost a year of being free at that point though? I think the direction looks good but its going to take months to get the game together enough to be able to charge people.

[Blasta]

Pugilist is far more appropriate than Monk would ever be.

True. Sorry I wrote that post a bit fasty. I mean't that the word Pugilist sounds ridiculous, cause It doesn't tell me anything about the job/class. In FFXI we had all the traditional names so you kinda already knew what they are for. Idk man I just like to have names that tell me something about the class, such as Gladiator. The names don't have to be "White Mage" or anything super simple like that, but not something too far fetched either that you can't even comprehend.

[Odesseiron]

At least with this guy we're not getting "I'm sorry, we cannot tell you about that at this time." Or one of the 100 other variations we saw with FFXI interviews. Once in a while he can't say something, because I think he himself is unsure.

[Hyan]

Pugus = fist

Gladius = sword

It tells all ya need to know!

[Patriarch]

Reading Yoshi-P's Letters are more fun than playing FFXIV

[Siatdiat]

I would not welcome a switch to the "old" classes, if for only one reason: it undermines a very smart choice (one of the few) that SE made for XIV.

Right now, you don't have to worry about finding "a healer" or "a nuker" or "support"; you just need a mage. If the old classes are reintroduced (in substance, not just in name), someone will have to become White Mage, and it'll be 2003 FFXI all over again with WHM dependency.

However, if they just rename Conjurer to White Mage and rename Thaumaturge to Black Mage, I'd be fine with that. That's a tough call, though; Conjurer has a lot of the iconic BLM and WHM spells, and Thaumaturge is more like RDM than BLM.

You realize that a lot of people have complained that the only reason anyone invites a conjurer is for healing right? I'm not playing this shitty game at all but I can see that regardless of what roles a class has, if only one of them has versatile and dependable cures, that job is going to be pigeon holded into that role. So what you are afraid could happen is actually already happening anyway.

[Elcura]

You do realize that THM can cure just as well too right?

True. Sorry I wrote that post a bit fasty. I mean't that the word Pugilist sounds ridiculous, cause It doesn't tell me anything about the job/class. In FFXI we had all the traditional names so you kinda already knew what they are for. Idk man I just like to have names that tell me something about the class, such as Gladiator. The names don't have to be "White Mage" or anything super simple like that, but not something too far fetched either that you can't even comprehend.

The name is uncommon for sure, but pugilist just means someone who fights with their fists. I guess it sounded better than Boxer...

[Hyan]

I would not welcome a switch to the "old" classes, if for only one reason: it undermines a very smart choice (one of the few) that SE made for XIV.

Right now, you don't have to worry about finding "a healer" or "a nuker" or "support"; you just need a mage. If the old classes are reintroduced (in substance, not just in name), someone will have to become White Mage, and it'll be 2003 FFXI all over again with WHM dependency.

However, if they just rename Conjurer to White Mage and rename Thaumaturge to Black Mage, I'd be fine with that. That's a tough call, though; Conjurer has a lot of the iconic BLM and WHM spells, and Thaumaturge is more like RDM than BLM.

I think it would be quite of a dick move to switch class roles around as they change the names. Say, you have THM leveled and suddenly you couldn't heal anymore? You're a CON that after the patch can not nuke any longer? That's not cool.

I don't think keeping the current class roles is a problem if they don't make it one. Retards will bitch but I'll gladly play a BLM that can heal with sacrifice if it means I'm not stuck looking for a damn WHM all the time to get to play the game, or a Paladin to tank. They could simply let BLM have the elemental nukes and WHM have scourge and banish (while keeping WHM buff-oriented and BLM enfeebling-oriented) while renaming the skills and redoing their effects to be something more 'unique'.

If he's going for the "WHM heals, BLM nukes, PLD tanks and MNK DD's- no exceptions" route, fuck the duck.

[Zettofaia]

I'm not sure how "defined" the roles are right now, but -aside from low-man events and leveling- I believe that most classes should stand out in their respective roles, especially when fighting harder enemies, while giving the players an "inferior" option if they couldn't meet the role "requirements" for the task, making most events possible with many job combinations, but only done "efficiently" with a few.

But yea, turning classes into something entirely different is a bad move, and may provoke a lot of negative reactions.

[Hyan]

I'm not sure how "defined" the roles are right now, but -aside from low-man events and leveling- I believe that most classes should stand out in their respective roles, especially when fighting harder enemies, while giving the players an "inferior" option if they couldn't meet the role "requirements" for the task, making most events possible with many job combinations, but only done "efficiently" with a few.

Why, exactly?

I am in full agreement that in any specific encounter players should have a defined single "role" and maybe a "sub"role if necessary. I don't really see why it has to be on a class-basis however, as IMO that is extremely limiting and lacks flexibility that at least I demand from a game that focuses on grouping more often than not.