"THe Development Team Does Not Currently Have Plans Too..."

[Mitruya]

I'd bet that a BRD/DNC can fill an amazing support/healing role for DD with a -DT set but I don't think most people are willing to try it and risk losing the event because someone wanted to come on a different setup and I can't say I blame them and this is why I think the divide between the top tier of jobs and the lower tier of jobs needs to be narrowed, not necessarily closed but closer. This extends to more than just DPS as well RDM and SCH need to be better healers, not as good as WHM but closer and COR, GEO and SMN need to be more close to BRD in terms of support, and RUN needs to be closer to PLD in terms of tanking. All of those jobs do have their niches but I don't think someone should have to level another job in order to get into end game parties.

I know it's not hard to level another job but since it's so easy to level, a lot of times you get people that have 119 jobs with only maybe 8~10 hours logged on the job. You can't really expect them to perform nearly as well as someone who's played and loved that same job for several years.

This. I leveled COR to get into Delve parties but I'm never confident on it. And every time I try to work on say RNG or GEO, I'm overwhelmed at the thought of leveling, skilling, gearing, and LEARNING the job. The thought of joining a party on something I haven't played for a good while terrifies me. Shouts are happening now, but I don't have the right jobs/gear now. What happens when I am ready? Everyone has moved on. Like I rarely see Delve shouts now, or see COR asked for much. (granted, I'm on console and can't watch shouts all day)

[Olor]

This. I leveled COR to get into Delve parties but I'm never confident on it. And every time I try to work on say RNG or GEO, I'm overwhelmed at the thought of leveling, skilling, gearing, and LEARNING the job. The thought of joining a party on something I haven't played for a good while terrifies me. Shouts are happening now, but I don't have the right jobs/gear now. What happens when I am ready? Everyone has moved on. Like I rarely see Delve shouts now, or see COR asked for much. (granted, I'm on console and can't watch shouts all day)

I feel ya. I really do. I think the people who say "just level another job" don't get that many of us don't play all the time.

[Glamdring]

Basically, the first group to complete X content posts on BG their setup, and from then on, that is the setup that everyone uses. Until someone else joins a PUG created by a person playing a job outside of that cookie cutter setup, and goes back to thye forums saying "ZOMG we just did it with this setup and completed it in half the time!" then nobody will ever shout for other jobs.

It's like RDM stunners, for example.

Delve content was always SCH stunners only.

Always.

So much so that despite the fact that it's now a few months since people have proven that RDM is actually better than SCH at stunning (since haste 2 was released, I assume) it's still very common to see shouts for SCH only.

I generally agree with you except that I've seen ALOT of new content introduced over the years first beaten with all or mostly pet jobs, it's safer, but it tends to be slow. So it's more the 1st strategy that doesn't involve throwing pets at it until you get a win that gets picked up and made into the cookie cutter. But as the pet jobs DID beat it, clearly there are other ways to go-as you suggested rdm in place of Sch is viable, other DD can clearly be subbed for some that are invited, a cor in place of a ranger actually gives both buffs AND ranged damage if you can get them to use their gun, a geo in place of a bard gives weaker buffs but increases damage output from that party slot, etc. There are usually alternatives, they just aren't as fast, and they may require the players to know what they are doing in their button-mashing but it can be done. Look at surge WoE right now, the job of choice is summoner, but I expect once people find viable alternatives that won't remain the case because it's a pet/magic job and the melee don't like that. Incidentally, mages also do quite nicely in those as well.

[Glamdring]

I feel ya. I really do. I think the people who say "just level another job" don't get that many of us don't play all the time.

or-perish the thought-LIKE their main job and don't WANT to level a job that is content-specific, especially with the time, effort and money needed to do it right.

[Mitruya]

^That, exactly. It's one thing to want to pick up a new job for kicks and giggles, but really stressful to get it endgame-ready. Especially if you're trying to rush it in order to get in on events now.

[Olor]

^That, exactly. It's one thing to want to pick up a new job for kicks and giggles, but really stressful to get it endgame-ready. Especially if you're trying to rush it in order to get in on events now.

I just can't level it fast enough let alone get gear that isn't laughable.

[Stompa]

^That, exactly. It's one thing to want to pick up a new job for kicks and giggles, but really stressful to get it endgame-ready. Especially if you're trying to rush it in order to get in on events now.

People I know who've joined FFXI and then quit within a year, are people who burned themselves out trying to get everything done at the same time, and done super fast. They really burned too hard, and that made them hate the game, and quit. If they had taken it a bit more slowly and just enjoyed the game itself, they would still be playing FFXI today and having fun with friends. But they really had to get 12 jobs 99, full geared, all missions done, and they had to do it in 6 months. Result - /breakdown - /ragequit.

I was telling them that I spent 2004 soloing BST, it took me 18 months to solo to 75 lol. And how I wandered around for the following 3 years wearing only my BST a.f. and rocking my light staff, and how those were some of the happiest days of my life, and my happiest memories of FFXI. Because I was just playing at my own pace and just enjoying Vanadiel, with all its lavish and captivating atmosphere.

[Mitruya]

Yeah, I want to take my time and enjoy the journey while learning the tricks and getting some practice. But at the same time, I'm missing out on events now because I don't have the right jobs ready.
I'm burned out on Abyssea level-burns but my RNG and GEO have a looong way to go ...

[Stompa]

I spent like 30 minutes today just admiring the cave-paintings on some of the walls in Quicksand Caves. In some of the smaller rooms are wall murals, which are incredibly beautiful. The artist who designed them really put effort into them, but most people just run past without glancing at them, because they have to get-get-get stuff and make-make-make progress all the time.

I would totally have those Quicksand Caves wall murals printed on tapestry and hung on the wall in my home, they are really great art. Just one tiny feature of Vanadiel that you will notice if you slow down and look around more, instead of just rushing around trying to complete an endless gear/job capping mousewheel run.

It saddens me that people pass through FFXI quickly and /ragequit because all they did was grind as fast as they possibly could, without ever really taking the time to admire what an amazing world Vanadiel really is.

[Ris]

I spent like 30 minutes today just admiring the cave-paintings on some of the walls in Quicksand Caves. In some of the smaller rooms are wall murals, which are incredibly beautiful. The artist who designed them really put effort into them, but most people just run past without glancing at them, because they have to get-get-get stuff and make-make-make progress all the time.

I also liked the pictures in the temple of Uggalipweioupojvwynsy. And, to get that paintbrush, the little library room with its tidbits of text.

I think, I've caught a little of what goes around with more modern MMOs. I always feel like, every time I log in, there's just tons and tons and stuff to do. Not in the good way, the under pressure way...

But then, I do realize I can just say 'eff it!' and do something silly for a while (no stupid dailies and weeklies). Especially now that XI is so solo friendly. The other side of that there's tons of stuff to do... it's nice to know I won't finish one single thing and be bored. There will be other goals I can set.

And then there's the depressing thought of... XI did this 12 years ago, what could be accomplished with today's technology? if there wasn't this obsession with streamlining and rapid content cycles and wow-like progression... .-.