Comments from the Devs

[Jamison]

A lot of it *is* perception. You could simplify it to something like "at level 30 you unlock a series of really good quests that allow you to specialize in a role for dungeons and end-game content. You only need one other pre-req class at level 15 to start."

Suddenly, it looks like something interesting to work towards.

[Toth]

Jobs just need some stat boosts and maybe 1-2 more unique abilities (like Chakra for MNK) to make them really shine.

[Raldo]

Or traits! FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF I was so mad when they didn't get any new/different traits from the base classes!

GLD doesn't need AOE flash if it's "meant for solo"! Should've saved that trait for PLD and given GLD something to enhance its damage capabilities!

Enhance "Cleric Stance" trait for CON. Enhance healing potency trait for WHM or something.

There's myriad things they could have done better to emphasize the distinction between classes and jobs!

[Toth]

Or traits! FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF I was so mad when they didn't get any new/different traits from the base classes!

GLD doesn't need AOE flash if it's "meant for solo"! Should've saved that trait for PLD and given GLD something to enhance its damage capabilities!

Enhance "Cleric Stance" trait for CON. Enhance healing potency trait for WHM or something.



There's myriad things they could have done better to emphasize the distinction between classes and jobs!

Good point. Traits would be smart additions. HP+ % for PLD, Enmity gained from cures down % for WHM, Enhanced elemental magic accuracy for BLM, etc.

[Spider-Dan]

Maybe I'm jaded (already being at 50 for a long time) but it seems like jobs are more of an endgame thing anyway? I'd think they would be not-so-useful when leveling up, primarily due to the restrictions on raise and cure.

[Niiro]

That's exactly what they are, supposed to be, and have been stated to be since their conception.

[miokomioko]

Everyone likes to act deaf/blind to how they have been explaining/describing the purpose and intent of the job system from the beginning and just want to be on jobs all the time forever because they are familiarly named and garbed, as well as having new abilities.

You sacrifice versatility for niche proficiency. That is all. It's simply an option if your current event and/or party set up needs it.

Right now, it pretty much just boils down to whether or not you have sufficient healing. If you do, there's little need for all the support/survivability cross-equipped actions because someone else is keeping you alive. Thus, job it up and do what you do a little better.

[Vuitton]

I don't see myself ever leaving BLM mode unless I am solo'ing something where I feel I'd need to heal myself at some point beyond our spell dmg-to-hp ability and second wind.

[Kurokikaze]

No real reason to get off DRG when soloing. The extra WSs and Jump/Elusive jump trumps the base LNC class. When fighting things your level or slightly higher; Second Wind + Life Surge is more than enough to keep you going.

[Niiro]

I don't see myself ever leaving BLM mode unless I am solo'ing something that poses a remote threat to me.

Fascinating.

[Kurokikaze]

When SE decides to roll out new mid-high level content they must be balanced for use with these Advanced Classes and not the Base Class. These talents and path choice must be made so obvious and an overall upgrade to our base class that players will not need to use the base beyond a certain point. It'll still be a Gladiator - I just turned it into a Paladin down the road.

I said this a year ago... It's upsetting to say that it still applies. They need to buff jobs more to make classes irrelevant. The way it's set up now is just confusing to new players.

Hoping this is in the pipeline for the eventual level cap raise and extra jobs.

[Vuitton]

Fascinating.

Most things can be solo'ed that don't pose much of a threat to me. So, yeah why would I ever leave BLM mode? Anything that poses a risk to me will always be something designed for a group, so I'll let the WHM heal me.

[Niiro]

It's like you don't.....

nvm

[Kurokikaze]

I don't see myself ever leaving BLM mode unless I am solo'ing something where I feel I'd need to heal myself at some point beyond our spell dmg-to-hp ability and second wind.

He's commenting on this.. What you typed and what you mean are totally different. Not to mention the whole "leaving BLM to solo" is pretty much "working as intended". lol

I got what you meant despite the error.

[Lordender]

A lot of it *is* perception. You could simplify it to something like "at level 30 you unlock a series of really good quests that allow you to specialize in a role for dungeons and end-game content. You only need one other pre-req class at level 15 to start."

Suddenly, it looks like something interesting to work towards.

Yeah but selling this to completely new players is going to be a big task considering whats on the horizon in the MMO world this year. You basically have to level 45 levels to be a job, 30 in one, 15 in another then do some side quests just to be accepted into party based content and the way the playerbase is gonna think: "lolfailnojob person" when he/she is a newb and only has access to classes.

I knew people who completely passed on FFXI just from the main/subjob system alone. I understand what jobs do, why the system exists but for completely new players it might have more of "a hassle" train of thought, to specialize in something you need to throw 45 levels at it where as on another game I have my character from level 1 and at a click of a button I can change to a "spec" while not leveling extra to fill a role.

The job system is still new, I get that, its not fleshed out yet but I don't see why they need to keep both systems when its just gonna confuse potential new players. They probably should have just scrapped classes and went with just jobs, nice and streamlined.

[miokomioko]

Telling someone that they need to develop their character in an RPG? Crazy talk.

[Corrderio]

In all honesty, character development in XIV is kind of odd. Outside of this and XI I never seen a game requiring you to level more than 1 class/job/whatever you want to call it.

[miokomioko]

Honest question: How many other MMORPGs allow a single character to switch between all classes?

[Corrderio]

True, but at the same time I can see others finding the switch class thing kind of redundant.

[Burningthought]

Honest question: How many other MMORPGs allow a single character to switch between all classes?

Some shitty free to play games did it. Phantasy Star Universe did it sort of the same way XIV does it. I think Ragnarok Online 2 did it at some point, not sure with the whole rebuild thing. I'm pretty sure there were a few other notables, but I can't remember them. I think XI did it best though, it was nice a simple. Level to 18 to get your subjob, hit level 30 to take on adv. job quests, and boom you're done. XIV just needs to find a simple way to explain it to people in order to sell it.

I think Yoshi explained that classes progressed horizontally and provided lots of utility, while Jobs progressed vertically giving up utility in favor of mastering a certain narrow play style. All of this is moot anyways, the system that he created works just fine on top of the armoury system and there's no way in hell he's going to change the basic concept of jobs with 2.0 around the corner. It's here to stay, lern2likeit.

Edit: I will say that Paladin and Warrior are confusing the fuck out of me. I don't understand why they gave Warrior the ability to tank and mitigate damage, and then fuck over Paladin with MP+ and lower hp/defense. How could they have not seen that coming?

Anyway, they already announced via the dev tracker that they're going to be tweaking Paladin after the whirlwind of backlash.