XIV at E3 2014 (June 10-12)

[Lyall]

I feel there's an interesting implication based on how they're handling ROG / NIN regards weapons.

As of now, Jobs use the exact same weapon as their Class. But in 2.4, Ninja will be using dual katanas while Rogue will stick to dual daggers - unless I got that wrong.
That could mean other classes may behave the same way, with Lancer unlocking - for example - another 2h melee weapon that's not necessarily a lance. Like, for example, a great katana.

I'd considered that, but the baseline attacks are still thrusts and stabs. My money's on Rogue abilities being fairly vanilla swipes and slashes and NIN getting some primo class skills to make their dial-a-combo work. SAM being a split from MRD would be more likely in my eyes; Those are just vicious swings and the like. I know, I know. Reading too much into naming conventions. I just don't see Impulse Drive and Phleb being part of the SAM kit.

[Azull]

I figure they'll use the same class of weapon...that being dual short and stabby. Gld/Pld use a dagger since it falls in the one handed stabby/slashy family.

As for if they do Samurai they can just use a lower rank Samurai name for the class and have them use the long 2 handed slashy weapons (AKA Great Katana).

[Raldo]

I feel there's an interesting implication based on how they're handling ROG / NIN regards weapons.

As of now, Jobs use the exact same weapon as their Class. But in 2.4, Ninja will be using dual katanas while Rogue will stick to dual daggers - unless I got that wrong.

If you look at how they hold their weapons, it's exactly the same. I am almost positive they're the same class of weapon. I bet if you want your ninja to use those wonky lookin' daggers, they probably can (and they'll probably be your best option at some levels, even). Heck, I bet SE doesn't even care if you flip flop and use katanas on ROG.

[Tomino]

As for if they do Samurai they can just use a lower rank Samurai name for the class and have them use the long 2 handed slashy weapons (AKA Great Katana).

That certainly works, but wouldn't it defy the whole purpose of having a generic Class branching into multiple Jobs?

On the other hand, Marauder > Samurai makes sense. I hadn't thought about it.

If you look at how they hold their weapons, it's exactly the same. I am almost positive they're the same class of weapon.

I agree.
Job animations will most probably re-use Class ones, like always - the trick being they could slightly change weapon skins to add to the Job's identity.

Another example would be having a 2H sword Class, and have it branch into Knight but also Samurai. Silly speculation, I know.

[Gokulo]

That certainly works, but wouldn't it defy the whole purpose of having a generic Class branching into multiple Jobs?

Not all classes are supposed to be branching, though.

[Alkar]

Not all classes are supposed to be branching, though.

All classes will eventually get at least 2 jobs, that's one of the very first things they ever said about this job system.

[Grey Jorildyn]

I wish they would tell us a little more about their ideas for jobs going forward. Like even just basic information like "we're working on Dark Knight job for Marauder and Dancer job for Pugilist". No promises, just stuff they're working on. That would make a lot of people happy.

[Kincard]

Feeling a bit too lazy to scroll through 30-some odd pages, but as far as Rogue using katanas goes, it's called 双剣士 in Japanese, which approximately means "Dual Swordsman", following the naming convention for classes in Japanese which are named some variant of "(Weapon) User", so Gladiator is Swordsman, Marauder is Axeman, Lancer is...er, Lancer, etc.

It wouldn't really be lore-inappropriate for Rogues to be using Katanas, or Ninjas to be using Daggers.

[Raldo]

Yeah, I think this fellow hit the nail on the head:

twin blades

[Waraji]

Another example would be having a 2H sword Class, and have it branch into Knight but also Samurai. Silly speculation, I know.

Actually shit, this would make a lot more sense. Saves any 2 handed weapon redundancy. Trying to stretch my imagination of how a Samurai job and 2 Handed Cleaver-esque job would branch off the same class. Judging by what we know now about Rogue and Ninja, we can therefore speculate that a Thief job would branch off Rogue adopting the Daggers from Rogue. Therefore you could speculate the 2 handed sword class would probably not utilize a Katana, as its too unique a weapon type. Or hell ala Scholar and Summoner, they could do w/e the fuck is easiest.

I realize this serves no purpose whatsoever.

[Kaiyoko]

Actually shit, this would make a lot more sense. Saves any 2 handed weapon redundancy. Trying to stretch my imagination of how a Samurai job and 2 Handed Cleaver-esque job would branch off the same class. Judging by what we know now about Rogue and Ninja, we can therefore speculate that a Thief job would branch off Rogue adopting the Daggers from Rogue. Therefore you could speculate the 2 handed sword class would probably not utilize a Katana, as its too unique a weapon type. Or hell ala Scholar and Summoner, they could do w/e the fuck is easiest.

If you look at it from the SCH/SMN perspective, the base class would use 2h weapon / sword and be a dps. ( Going to assume right now SAM could be a tank ) Switching to SAM you could still use the base classes weapon which is a DPS weapon, but you would rather put on a GK that has defensive stats.

[Raldo]

Until we see another 2-job class, I find it difficult to draw comparisons between SMN/SCH and other possible multi-job classes unless they really change up their formula. Currently, the only functional difference between two jobs branching off of the same base class is... *drumroll*... 5 abilities. SMN/SCH got away with a different feel because of their radically different pets, but without a pet to throw into the mix, I feel like they'll need to just completely overhaul their current system in order to make it work.

[Arelian]

You know, NIN is probably just going to use dual daggers and some of them are going to have a katana skin while others will not. I highly doubt they're going to make an entirely new weapon-type for a single job.

[Lyall]

Until we see another 2-job class, I find it difficult to draw comparisons between SMN/SCH and other possible multi-job classes unless they really change up their formula. Currently, the only functional difference between two jobs branching off of the same base class is... *drumroll*... 5 abilities. SMN/SCH got away with a different feel because of their radically different pets, but without a pet to throw into the mix, I feel like they'll need to just completely overhaul their current system in order to make it work.

A thousand times, this.

For everyone speculating (perhaps correctly, who knows) that RDM is going to branch off of gladiator, you have to contend with the fact their base class is going to have two defensive cooldowns, only one combo that creates enmity and shit baseline stats for anything magical. As mentioned previously, anyone thinking LNC will split to anything else needs to consider Full THRUST True THRUST Vorpal THRUST and rear-combo as baseline tools. Those aren't very DRK or SAM sounding to me. PUG is the only one that sort of lends itself to PUP or DNC but even then, you're still looking at specifically-martial-arts sounding attacks for everything.

Jobs not getting their own Traits doesn't help much. I wouldn't mind a revamp with an expansion but then everyone will complain about Burning Crusade.

[Waraji]

You know, NIN is probably just going to use dual daggers and some of them are going to have a katana skin while others will not. I highly doubt they're going to make an entirely new weapon-type for a single job.

Ya know I'd give an argument why they would make a new weapon type, but I agree it would seem more likely just keep the weapon Type and just restrict the class/job to NIN. We only have SMN/SCH to go off of, so this seems rather likely. I'm alright with it I guess.

As far as skills go and how the jobs play differently, yes we're at a loss for words/speculation without another combo to draw from.

[solracht]

Yoshida has said in the past that they are willing to add stances to alter the effect of class skills... so it feels really worthless to try to come up with branching jobs that "make sense". The developers are fine with breaking their rules, so really we have nothing to speculate on.

If GLA is given a DD-oriented job, have no doubt that most of the defensive cooldowns will magically be turned into offensive ones, be it through a new stance (one of the five new job skills), or simply for having the Job Crystal on (see: Summon I and II).

EDIT: Here is the first interview I found after googling for five seconds, but I'm sure there are better sources.

[Alkar]

A thousand times, this.

For everyone speculating (perhaps correctly, who knows) that RDM is going to branch off of gladiator, you have to contend with the fact their base class is going to have two defensive cooldowns, only one combo that creates enmity and shit baseline stats for anything magical. As mentioned previously, anyone thinking LNC will split to anything else needs to consider Full THRUST True THRUST Vorpal THRUST and rear-combo as baseline tools. Those aren't very DRK or SAM sounding to me. PUG is the only one that sort of lends itself to PUP or DNC but even then, you're still looking at specifically-martial-arts sounding attacks for everything.

Jobs not getting their own Traits doesn't help much. I wouldn't mind a revamp with an expansion but then everyone will complain about Burning Crusade.

Yoshida already addressed this by saying that equipping a job stone will simply change how the base abilities work. When you equip SCH your pets and their abilities are replaced by new ones.

[Lyall]

SHUP LYALL

Well I'll be an opo's uncle. All that speculatin' for nothing.

[Kaslo]

Red Mage is more likely to branch off of a new class (something like "Fencer") than anything.

[Lucavi]

I'd kill for a proper Fencing class in FF. I've said it a million times, and while it was fine back in the day when you had NES and SNES hardware, people swinging rapiers around like broadswords is flat out absurd. I think FFXII was the most recent game to have proper fencing with Larsa? He was a pretty chill dude.

Hell, SE could easily branch off the Fencing class and re-introduce a parry tank through fencing. Hell, we have all this Parry gear on tanks anyway.

Make it happen, Yoshi.