Yoshi - Are there any plans to make the cross class system better/more fun?

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Originally Posted by Lemon8or

Because the difference is the players skill.

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In any other game, I might agree with you. However, for ARR it is clearly gear not skill that is the difference. This is why 5 different players, all at level 50, all on the same job, all with the same skills, will be vastly different in performance based on their item level.

There is very little skill in ARR. More cross-class abilities would possibly help give us more skill-based combat/play styles. However, they decided to limit the skills and make performance gear-based.

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Originally Posted by Lemon8or

Because the difference is the players skill.

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Again... so why have the system in the game?

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Originally Posted by Trayes

Are there any planed improvements for the Cross class system?

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In a game like Bravely Default, you don't too much care about balance, because the game ends too soon and you can't possibly exclude players when there is only one player around. If the player is willing to use a crap job for fun, then there's no team to suffer for it. You don't have that kind of room in an MMO. What you call an "improvement" is a disaster in every MMO that has ever attempted it, including (and especially) FF11. The reality is that it severely curtails diversity due to generating a few overpowered combinations and a whole lot of rubbish combinations that nobody wants. There is no real choice, only a few right answers and a whole lot of totally wrong ones that the game just doesn't tell you to stop doing. This is especially annoying with the DF, which can get you stuck with useless jobs because someone chose wrong.

Raise the level cap and have more interesting cross-class skills in that level range. A level 55 skill doesn't have to be better than a level 5 skill because a level 55 character is going to have the level 5 skill AND the level 55 skill. Therefore I don't think there's a game balance issue there. However, if characters continue to get access to an extra cross class skill every 10 levels, then SE is going to have to have at least 2 useable cross class skills in that level range to allow for real choices to be made. Of course, there's no reason that characters HAVE to continue to accrue cross class skill slots. They're already going to be more powerful based on the class skills they get above 50, stats, gear, etc.

So the simplest solution is raise the level cap to 60 (for example) and make 2 new cross classable skills in the 50-60 range without increasing the number of cross class slots. This amounts to only 1 extra skill per class since jobs can pull from 2 classes. The cross classable skills would have to be somewhat balanced with the ones that already exist or again there's no real choice.

Only a little off topic, some kind of merit system would be nice eventually. To give WAR the ability to add blind to their Flash for example. Also, hopefully jobs that branch off from existing classes will use different stats (like SMN/SCH for example) to force more choices into the mix. Like what if DRK branches off from MRD but uses STR or INT as a primary?

The cross class system I think does need improvement but it is not completely terrible now, just bland. Every Job has "THE FIVE" abilities and those are the only good choices to make as anything else would make a player less productive.I bet they will expand it in the future and are just "dumbing it down" for now.Think about this and it was said by Yoshii somewhere (don't have the quote at the ready) The Hybrids would have to equip something like 2 Job Crystals and thus you would have access to 4 Classes of abilities...if they let us do too many now this will kill it in the future.

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Originally Posted by Purrfectstorm

Also, hopefully jobs that branch off from existing classes will use different stats (like SMN/SCH for example) to force more choices into the mix. Like what if DRK branches off from MRD but uses STR or INT as a primary?

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Oh my, stop that. This is beyond sad to see now.

The attributes are linked to your CLASS, not your JOB. Which JOB to use is your choice, which attribute(s) your CLASS will have to help your chosen JOB is(are) your choice. It's not rocket science.

Rather than expand on cross-class abilities (which I think would end up blending classes together too much), I would love to see a complete revamp of the "attribute point" system into something similar to WildStar's Milestones or WoW's current talent incarnation. Those 30 attribute points are the useless feature, moreso than cross class abilities. Drop the system and replace it with a series of options that are all useful in different situations.

I think the biggest problem with this or any similar system is that no matter what SE does, some players will sit down and figure out mathematically what the best combination is (if it were to even come to that, which would be nice) and the vast majority of the player base will accept it and follow along. If they make it wide open (like I believe 1.0 was) it tends to reward players who level more and more classes, until eventually the situation flips such that having every skill available is the default and you're shunned for only having 2 or 3 classes at 50. I'm pretty sure SE was actively trying to avoid this by making most useful cross class skills low level and restricting it to only 2 other classes (while playing a job, which SE has said they intended for partying).

I could see further enhancements to the system that would be worthwhile and make you think about choices a little more. Perhaps some development that allows for skills form a third class, or cross class traits. Basically they need to increase the number of skills available and offer interesting variety rather than just +X% damage/ defense buffs. Hopefully at least when the level cap increases some post 50 skills will be cross class and worth using.

Those stat points do make a difference I don't know what you are talking about. Try putting all your points into intelligence on your Tank and see how it performs or put all your points into strength for Bard and see what that gets you.....suck...that is what it will get you...LOL

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Originally Posted by TrystWildkey

In any other game, I might agree with you. However, for ARR it is clearly gear not skill that is the difference. This is why 5 different players, all at level 50, all on the same job, all with the same skills, will be vastly different in performance based on their item level.

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Except this is where player skill comes in. I've seen plenty of dragoons and monks fail to pump out the DPS because they don't understand positioning or think their dots are useless.

Or perhaps it should be like in XI where you could sub any job you want. Unless you were a DRK (pre ToAU) and had to have /thf and great sword leveled. Use a scythe and you get no invites. Or if you wanted to be RDM/NIN and melee. Nope, gotta be mage only. You may have the choice of possibilities, but ultimately the community will dictate which skills you should have.