While Classic Jobs Are Nice, What About Signature Jobs?

I totally agree that at least in terms of playstyle (names don't mean much) seeing classic jobs represented would be nice. However this is game is an MMO and it needs to do things to set itself apart. Take the mesmer in GW. It was a relatively unique class for that game... punishment, shut down, energy denial, ability to interrupt skills, etc.

However the problem with FF classic jobs is that most of them are kinda common in the MMO scene... tank, ranger, healer, nuker, pet specialist, etc. One thing that SE can do to bring people into this game is by offering classes that are underrepresented in MMOing in general or offer playstyle choices for characters that are new.

Take the paladin. In most games he's usually a tank. He draws agro and if you are lucky he keeps it there. Well if I can play that kind of paladin in every other game, why bother in FF14? The playstyle is already there (glad with a healing spell on the bar).

What if FF14 turned the paladin into an offensive class that has support effects based on his attacks. IE when he uses one attack skill, he and the party are healed a little. Another might give everyone more defense. Another attack skill might cause all enemies in range to miss more often. So instead of a character that is standing there doing little (nothing if he doesn't draw enough threat, which is stupid enough to begin with) in pve and nothing in pvp, you have a character that can lead the charge, do decent damage, and help the party out as well.


Or take the summoner. He summons a whatever with a fixed bar. It goes off and plays.

Boring.

What if you could add some of skills that you've learned to an Aeons bar? Or what if Aeons were more than a one trick pony and you'd assign them to different modes, which would have different roles and skills? If I'm a catgirl bringing a shiva into battle, maybe I want my shiva to be different from the next catgirl's. Or what if my summoner skills on my bar change based on whichever Aeon I'm using.

I'm just using classic jobs (with a little twist) as an example but completely new takes on classes and new playstyles would be nice.

I'm not a fan of FFXIII but i am in favor of summoning Shivas that turn into motorcycles you can ride.

IMHO there's no reason to fix what isn't broken. But in vein with what you're saying, it'd be really nice to see some entirely new classes with good staying power introduced. Series staples can be started in later games too. I don't mean like the new ones they already have - the Armory System is just that - an Armory System; it's your weaponry and weapon skills - but some more of those would be nice too.

Though I think they shouldn't bother with it until they've got the classics in working order. One step at a time and all...

I want that horse that Lightning summons in FF13. And also flower pettles when I do a finishing move, like Lightning does in Dissidia Duo Decim.

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Originally Posted by ARoy

IMHO there's no reason to fix what isn't broken.

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Maybe the traditional classes are broken.

Go back to the second poll. Melee attackers were favored over tankers 3:1. So if I like the design concept of the paladin (holy warrior) but would rather be more of an attacker than a tanker, for me and probably 75% of the other people who want to play paladins, that class is broken. Or look at SW:TOR. Jedis are either tankers only or DPS only (though DPS can turn into a healer I think). So what if I want to do both? I can't be somewhat tough and somewhat able to kill things? My main complaint about the gladiator in FF14 is it is too much of a tanker and not enough of a killer. I played warrior in GW and it was a DD class; I'm not going back to tanking. I want to put on armor, kill things with my sword, and not worry about threat again.

That is something I really like about GW2's potential and think other devs should copy: they are getting rid of the traditional trinity and expanding what old classes can do. Warriors in that game will be able to carry a great sword, but switch over to a rifle for ranged attacks when they need to... IMO that could be a signature for that game if done right.

Looking at FF14, there is no signature and implementing the old classes is only going to be another step backwards.

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Originally Posted by Vicious

I'm not a fan of FFXIII but i am in favor of summoning Shivas that turn into motorcycles you can ride.

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that's the worst Shiva(s) in the Final Fantasy history - -''

Dancer.

Dancer was the first Front Line Healer that healed people by dishing out damage that I know of. Warpriest from WAR being second. It was a great addition in XI.