Choosing your "Main Class" Is it worth?

[Adrian74]

Good day everyone.

I'm a newbie in this game. Well, whenever I start a game I like a lot, but I don't understand at all, I always try to annoy the less possible the community. But since this is the forum and we are here to help each other, I hope my questions won't bother you.

Before starting playing. I analyzed a little the options of which class choose, basically I used my noob power for searching in forums 'best class for solo play' and the one that convinced me more was Arcanist. So I decided to make my character focused on it, choosing a race with good magical attributes from the beginning.

But, yesterday someone told me that.... Here you can change your class as easy as changing weapon. Is that true?! If that's the case, I have to say... Awesome! I already planned to try learning all the classes and testing with different characters, but now I see that I can do that with the same I have, I like it.

But my unique doubt now is..... Was it worth to choose Arcanist as first class? I mean... What differences my Arcanist from the beginning of someone that, for example, started Marauder and then became Arcanist? Is there any difference, bonification or something for the first class you chose?

I hope I explained myself well, I'm not very good with the English.

Regards.

[Enkidoh]

Welcome to Eorzea!

Yes, you can change your class, but only when you get to level 10 in the class you started the game as. Once you've reached that point, you then have to do the quests for the Guild of that class up to the level 10 one to unlock the Armoury System (the game function that allows you to change class). Then you have to visit each class's Guild in turn to unlock each class. Once you've done this, each class you unlock you're given that class's weapon or tool. You then simply equip that weapon or tool to change instantly at will.

Arcanist (ACN) is a pretty good class to start as, as you get a pet (Carbuncle) to help you fight, you get a healing spell to heal yourself or a party member when you get to that point in the game (Physick), and later in the game, unlike other classes, you can actually unlock two Jobs for it (Summoner and Scholar). So it's a very good class to start as.

Unfortunately starting as Arcanist you're locked to Limsa Lominsa until you reach a certain point in the story, where you get your airship pass and can visit the other cities and unlock the classes for them. Until that point, you'll only be able to learn Marauder (MRD) which is a tank type class that uses a great axe, Armourer (ARM), a crafting class that makes armour, Blacksmith (BSM), another crafting class that makes metal weapons and tools, Culinarian (CUL), that are cooks who make various types of meals and drinks that you can use to temporarily boost your stats, and Fisher (FSH), a harvesting class that can catch fish and sea life for Culinarians to cook.

The other classes are found in the other cities.

[Adrian74]

Thank you very much for your quick and complete reply, Enkidoh!

Then, may I ask something else?

If I change class, My character will be level one again and also the stats will be the same of that level? Because... It seems really exciting, so if someday I'm bored of a certain map or zone I can return back to the lower ones with another class. It would be like trying to be level 50 many times with different ways of gaming, without even making a different character, that's awesome.

Aside of that, is there any difference between the main class and the others? (Do I have a special different skill or more stats being Arcanist because was the one I started with, than for example others that didn't start with it?)

Thanks in advance.

[Enkidoh]

Certain abilities for each class can be used with another class, but you're limited at to how many abilities you can use at first (you can use one cross class abilitiy between levels 1 to 10, 2 from 11 to 20 etc), so it's definitely worth levelling other classes. And each class has their own particular role they play - Arcanist is classed as a 'dps' or 'damage dealer' class, even though they have a pet, they excel in doing damage to enemies. Marauder, also available in Limsa Lominsa, is classed as a 'tank', a defensive class that draws the attacks of enemies onto to them to protect other people in their party, by doing lots of damage to keep the enemy's focus on them. Other classes have their own particular roles and ways of play.

As for stats, each class has their own indivual stats so your stats as Arcanist will be different as another class (say, Marauder). As a magic using dps class, ACN's main stat is Intelligence (INT), where as Marauder (MRD)'s main stat is Vitality (VIT). As ACN your INT would be high and VIT low, but when you switch to MRD, you'll notice your VIT will increase while your INT will drop. It's like this for all classes. After level 10 every two levels you level up you'll gain what's called an 'ability point' or AP which allows you to increase one stat of your choice by one point, further allowing you to customize your stats for that class. Again this is unique for each class, meaning any AP you put into once class won't carry over to another. It seems confusing but once you reach that point it will soon become easy to understand.

And you're most welcome - I'm glad to have been of help.

[Adrian74]

Thanks for solving my doubts in a few minutes. You did a good and complete explanation of that system and a really easy to understand one, so even I did. I'll take this thread as a reference whenever I have a doubt about the system or I forget something.

Now I like even more this game, knowing that reaching level 50 is not everything. My target will be to discover and understand all the classes and the gaming styles, tank, dps and healer. I wonder how many months of fun and wonderful feelings this personal quest will bring me.

The day I'll understand well this game and all classes, I'd like to help others exactly the same way you did with me today, Enkidoh.

Thank you again. I Wish you luck in your gaming.

[Urthdigger]

Aside of that, is there any difference between the main class and the others? (Do I have a special different skill or more stats being Arcanist because was the one I started with, than for example others that didn't start with it?)

Thanks in advance.

The class you choose to start with doesn't matter in the long run. It doesn't get enhanced stats or anything. All it decides is what you have to be for the first 10 levels, and where you do all your quests for the first 15 levels.

[Vanroe]

Leveling another class is not only a good idea, but mandatory to unlock your main class's Advanced Job, arcanist at level 30 for instance, you need 15 levels of Thamaturge to unlock the summoner (DPS) and/or 15 levels of Conjurer to unlock Scholar (healer). And yes, you want your advanced job, you get a stat bonus, as well as new Job only abilities.

The only downside of a job is that you are limited in how many cross class abilities you can have and what classes you can draw from. But to be honest most cross class abilities arent worth it without the main class trait to back them up. Exceptions being Swiftcast from Thamaturge, that is the best cross class ability and you want that.

But as others have said, Each new class starts at level 1, and will receive +50% exp from kills/Leves/FATES, mainly to make up for being unable to do the same quest twice on a character.

[Highlanderx]

Certain abilities for each class can be used with another class, but you're limited at to how many abilities you can use at first (you can use one cross class abilitiy between levels 1 to 10, 2 from 11 to 20 etc),

That is a job that gets 1 slot every 10 levels. Classes get 1 slot every 5. So at 10 you have 2, 15=3, 20=4, etc. One thing to note jobs are not an Advance class, They are more like an accessory, that gives stats plus job skills, while restricting cross-class slots and what class skills can be used as cross-class. Its levels and Bonus stat points are its Base classes.


Starting Class, only effects your starting city. Starting cities, each have there own story main story quests until level 15(though they are similar, as they all have the same basic plot points). You also get 2 unique items, but they are mostly just vanity and really only in the name since they look like regular gear. You also get more level 1-15 sub-quests at your starting location. Basically in your stater city the main quests once completed, will unlock more sub-quests, this wont happen when you go to the other cities, since you have no level 1-15 main quests there.

[Adrian74]

Thanks for extending the information about this, Vanroe. So basically a job is some kind of 'specialized-expert' class you can access by having level 30 in a class and 15 in another, and that has not so many advantages inherited of the other classes like a normal class does.

I have already started to use the armory system in Eorzea, and the gear list and many wonderful features like that, (For example, I have Arcanist 11, Culinarian 12 and Fisher 17), it is funny how the events turned like that so my fighting class is inferior to the secondary-hand-land ones ^^'.

That 50% seems interesting. So I should use the quests with the arcanist because the others receive +50% in battle... Nice to know that.

But you know what they say, the more we know, the more questions and doubts we have.... So, would you mind to answer a few questions?.

Can I have more than one job, just like happens with the class? Or I need to choose only one job for a character?. They also start level one? Do the jobs have an own weapon or they use the same of the main class? (For example a scholar and summoner would use the arcanist's book?)

Sorry, editing after Highlanderx's message (I read it after posting)

Is the following information right?.

That is a job that gets 1 slot every 10 levels. Classes get 1 slot every 5. So at 10 you have 2, 15=3, 20=4, etc. One thing to note jobs are not an Advance class, They are more like an accessory, that gives stats plus job skills, while restricting cross-class slots and what class skills can be used as cross-class. Its levels and Bonus stat points are its Base classes.

[Niwashi]

Can I have more than one job, just like happens with the class? Or I need to choose only one job for a character?. They also start level one? Do the jobs have an own weapon or they use the same of the main class? (For example a scholar and summoner would use the arcanist's book?)

Yes, you can unlock all the jobs and switch between them whenever you want. You use the same type of weapon for a job as for its associated class, so for instance, you'd still use your arcanist book for scholar and summoner. You'll get an additional item —a crystal— when you unlock a job, and switching those determines your current job. For instance, with a book and summoner crystal equipped, you'd be a summoner, with a book and scholar crystal equipped, you'd be a scholar, and with a book but no crystal equipped, you're an arcanist.