Addition of Job system [Suggestion]

As mentioned before, FFXIV runs off a weapon proficiency system rather than the classic “Job” system. These proposed changes address renaming classes more traditional Final Fantasy names, and also defining classes with unique abilities.

Let me start of by saying that the Armory system can be viewed as disciplines. As you become more mastered in a discipline, new techniques and abilities become unlocked. I believe that the devs wanted to use this system as a means to give the player free choice. If you’re a warrior, why are you more proficient with axes than swords? Why does changing a class totally change your proficiencies? “I was the master of an axe one second and now I have no clue how to swing one.” The statement is funny but true if you played FFXI for years.

My proposed change is this: add another layer (“job”) to your current weapon class. This class will synergize with abilities scattered across the weapon classes to help define your character. There are many ways this can be achieved.

1.) Say you change your job to “White Mage”. In doing so, certain abilities such as “Cure” becomes more potent. A “White Mage” has the main job of curing the party, and thusly should be more proficient at it.

2.) Say you change your job to “Paladin”. A Paladin has many abilities from different weapon classes and magic classes. The devs would ask themselves which of these abilities define a Paladin and by equipping the Paladin job, the amount of points it would take to equip to your action bar are reduced by 1 (Or something along these lines). This will give them incentive to equip certain abilities, while still allowing them to choose their weapon of choice.

3.) Say you change your job to “Thief”. In doing so, you automatically get percent stat change to increase attributes that are important to your character. Also, you get a few abilities that would help define your job (think Sneak Attack) depending on your Physical Level.
These three ideas will be the basis around changing jobs, which will define your character. Standard jobs can be unlocked at Physical Level 10 through quests, whereas advanced jobs can be unlocked at Physical Level 30 through quests.

Now, leveling these jobs individually will be a pain. Not to mention, the idea of the armory system is flexibility. Therefore, I suggest this idea to the public.

Jobs have something akin to a pseudo talent tree/merit point level gain. I call them talent trees, because there can be prerequisites to unlocking an item. Every 5th Physical Level you reach, you gain a point to put into these trees (you start with 2 at level 10). If you were level 50, you’d have 10 points to distribute. However, after hitting level 50 you would be gaining them as merit points. The trees themselves are broken up similar to FFXI, were you have attribute increases, job abilities, etc. The only real difference is that these attribute changes only apply when you have the job equipped.

This allows some customization to your job as you level, while not leaving you behind should you decide to pick up a different job at level 50. While this digresses to the purpose of this post, I want to add that the devs could add something like “job mastery”, which is a merit point sync that allows you to unlock an additional “mastery” merit tree. Upon unlocking this job-specific tree, it opens you up to Job-Specific gear quests and grants you a special title.

In conclusion, this method would be highly flexible for “casual” players while still giving “hardcore” players something to grind away at. Either way, it would achieve the purpose of defining a character’s uniqueness.

Questions? Comments? Concerns?

I'm not good at explaining, but I can try my best to answer anything I failed to add!
I'd like to hear your opinions, or any idea that would augment this system!

The last letter from the producer listed the job system as something that was being worked on separately from the armory system, so while that doesn't guarantee anything, hopefully they'll be working something out similar to this.

If the advanced jobs are going to "grow out" of the standard jobs though, then I think your standard jobs should be more generic, something like: Mage, Fighter, Rogue/Vagabond. When you progress to White Mage, you can still use your shared Mage abilites, but start gaining unique White Mage only abilites. Black Mage can also use those generic Mage abilities, but gains unique Black Mage only abilities, etc.

Cairdeas, myself, and others have a pretty long thread going on about this basic idea (job system alongside armory system), if you haven't checked it out already, please do:

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...pecializations

I just checked out your thread, and I must say I really like your idea (as it is very similar to what I had in mind). The standard jobs would be jobs that would be easier to understand and play. Best example would be from FFXI; the difference between a MNK and a NIN (tank) is great. The same with a late game RDM. The standard classes would teach you the basics, and the advanced classes would have a spin or different playstyle to their mechanics. But don't get me wrong in saying advanced is better. White mages would be a standard class yet still be the most potent healer.

The one thing that I don't like about adding another layer is that it's another thing to level. I think the best way to implement the job system is by tying it to physical level and then have extra bonuses once you reach level cap.

I hate to comment about another thread inside this thread, but once again I want to say I really do like your idea. ^^

Still, if anyone has comments or feedback on my idea just post it here!

With Carpes idea and some of my input I think we had decided that instead of having levels like physical and ranks like skill. the Job would have a Job Level and would raise from like 1-5 at start with each level having its own sub title like Novice White Mage. and each job level would include an extra bonus for that job.

This was just a idea.

I'm fairly sure what they will end up implementing is either a Job system that replaces the Physical Level... for example, If you level Marauder or Gladiator, your playing as a Warrior. Physical Level changes to Warrior Level.

Or, Job System will be totally new added onto what we have now... meaning you do a quest, unlock a Job, then equip said job. By equipping a certain job you would lock certain spells, and make other spells better.