This game needs depth, Please implement a second weapon (playstyle) for each job

[Ghastly]

I really want more weapons for each class/job...why can't summoner use a summoning staff? or Warrior use a big hammer?
Even if it's just for looks I want this kind of variety (a lot of console games already use it...)

[Gamma621]

I just recently tried out WoW, (good but nowhere near the potential that FFXIV has) and while playing, I couldn't help but continually tell myself things like, "Hmm, this system is just what FFXIV needs". The system I'm referring to is the ability to change specs. Wouldn't it be cool if a Paladin had the option of choosing between a sword and shield, greatsword (or hammer), or a staff? Or even just a choice of 2 weapons? This choice would alter the way you play the job (tank, DPS, healer), and would add variety and uniqueness to the game.

Equip a Sword/Shield, you are now a Tank PLD
Equip a Staff, you are now a Healer PLD (aka WHM)
Equip a Spear, you are now a DPS PLD (aka DRG)

Your request makes no sense because this system already exists.

Also stop trying to make this game into WoW.

[Starplayer]

Equip a Sword/Shield, you are now a Tank PLD
Equip a Staff, you are now a Healer PLD (aka WHM)
Equip a Spear, you are now a DPS PLD (aka DRG)

Your request makes no sense because this system already exists.

Also stop trying to make this game into WoW.

No sir, you are the one not making sense since you obviously don't have a clue at what I'm talking about. A healing/DPS Paladin doesn't have to be identical to a Whm or Drg respectively, he would have his own set of different healing/DPS abilities which make him unique, and offers a different playstyle than Whm/Drg. Going by your comments, you're implying that Drg & Mnk are the same because they are both DPS, or Whm & Sch are the same because they are both healers - they are not, and require a different approach to be played correctly. What I'm talking about here is adding DEPTH to our characters by giving us more choices, which would greatly enhance the playability of each class/job. Also, I'm not trying to turn this game into WoW, I'm simply pointing out one single solitary system that is used in that game that isn't overly complicated and adds tons of depth to your class.

[Themis]

The problem with doing something like this is that is make balance a harder thing to achieve, and makes it more difficult to make high tier content that has a defined structure to it. For now, the current system works just fine, because content can be designed in a particular way.

XI did this right. Jobs could use a range of different weapons, weaponskill was independent of your own level, you chose what to master and how fast.

And it went almost completely unused because different Jobs had a weapon type that they excelled in, and others that you couldn't skill up high enough to be useful. PLDs did not go around tanking with Polearms, even though they had a skill in it. They did occasionally use a staff, but that was primarily the Earth Staff which was used for the damage reduction effect, not because Stave tanking was effective.

The same applied to all other Jobs almost. The most prominent I can thing of that was actually used for a while, was Dark Knights using either a Great Sword or Scythe. But then things changed, and one became the primary and the other was laughed at.

[Starplayer]

XI did this right. Jobs could use a range of different weapons, weaponskill was independent of your own level, you chose what to master and how fast.

FFXI's system was nice, but not anything that would be viable here with the current system that we have in place. Any weapon added to the jobs/classes would obviously be viable, since it would create a whole new way to play the class. It may also alleviate the lack of tank issue since there will essentially be more jobs that can do it.

[Gamma621]

A healing/DPS Paladin doesn't have to be identical to a Whm or Drg respectively, he would have his own set of different healing/DPS abilities which make him unique, and offers a different playstyle than Whm/Drg. Going by your comments, you're implying that Drg & Mnk are the same because they are both DPS, or Whm & Sch are the same because they are both healers - they are not, and require a different approach to be played correctly. What I'm talking about here is adding DEPTH to our characters by giving us more choices, which would greatly enhance the playability of each class/job.

I honestly don't think you could have misconstrued my post more. I never once said that DRG and MNK are the same because they are both DPS. I said the exact opposite actually. You're saying this game has no variety, when you can literally play any class at any time, all of which being completely different. If you're bored with Bard, then switch to another class. It's that easy.

Also the SMN/SCH split already does exactly what you're talking about, one being a DPS build while the other is a healer. I fail to see how using different weapon types on the same class would add any more "depth" other than vanity, which we already have in the glamour system.

[Starplayer]

I honestly don't think you could have misconstrued my post more. I never once said that DRG and MNK are the same because they are both DPS. I said the exact opposite actually. You're saying this game has no variety, when you can literally play any class at any time, all of which being completely different. If you're bored with Bard, then switch to another class. It's that easy.

Also the SMN/SCH split already does exactly what you're talking about, one being a DPS build while the other is a healer. I fail to see how using different weapon types on the same class would add any more "depth" other than vanity, which we already have in the glamour system.

You are in fact saying that all DPS, healers and tanks are the same when you suggested that you can have a healing Pld (aka whm - like you stated) simply by switching weapons and becoming a whm. Like I said before, what's wrong with expanding the roles of our current jobs? I don't understand your argument, the armory system that we have in place right now is nothing like what I'm suggesting. By adding more weapons to existing classes you're broadening their uses and increasing their depth of play. How is this so hard to understand? It adds MORE and DIFFERENT healers, DPS and tanks to the game, almost like adding new jobs entirely.

On the other hand, you're right about the Smn/Sch thing, expanding upon this system would essentially achieve the same result which is to add choices and depth to our characters

[Exstal]

So the dev team would make all new animations for the new weapons, make it so those weapons are strapped to those jobs and for what? So you can use Rage of Halone with a staff instead of a sword? Seems like a utter waste of resources.

[Gamma621]

Like I said before, what's wrong with expanding the roles of our current jobs? I don't understand your argument, the armory system that we have in place right now is nothing like what I'm suggesting. By adding more weapons to existing classes you're broadening their uses and increasing their depth of play.

There's nothing wrong with expanding the current jobs. There's something very wrong with requiring a different weapon to do so, as is proven by the SCH/SMN split that I mentioned. All adding new weapons does is reduce the number of new jobs we could get in the future.

How is this so hard to understand? It adds MORE and DIFFERENT healers, DPS and tanks to the game, almost like adding new jobs entirely.

Adding new jobs entirely? Hey, there's an idea. Hi Ninja, how ya doin' over there?

[Alistaire]

I wouldn't put your hopes up for this; 2.3 notes show they just got rid of all daggers for gladiator.