SE has failed to fix this since launch

[Aloreal]

you do realize that they are going to add more classes into the game?

Which in turn it is going to increase the crossclassing abilities for all classes anyway. It realy has to.

There was a hint for a tank class to enter later on so wait for that to be released and then we can rant together if it aint implemented right

[Euphe]

Cross Class abilities are reminiscent of FFXI and FFXIV 1.0. In FFXI you had to level up two jobs; ie: WHM lv60/BLM lv30. However; in FFXI the x-class abilities were basically the lv30BLM abilities if you had a lv60WHM. You didn't really have to pick and choose them. That system kept those abilities in check by essentially weakening them in higher level content. A lv30 Blind spell was pretty much worthless to use on a end game mob except in extreme situations. In 1.0 they brought the same system over but it didn't work out so well. So they re-hashed it yet again to what it is now. To have them redo it yet again would be a waste of energy that could be put into more content development. I only partially agree with the OP (no offense) in what he said. But redoing it completely would be pointless. They will also be adding in more content that includes new jobs and such which may benefit from the current system. I do recall that SE wants to implement a jack-of-all-trades style class/job in the future (RDM?) and that job would benefit greatly from having a diverse x-class assortment.

[Surian]

In 1.0 this was brilliantly done.

There werent set "cross-class able" skills you could set, you could set literally everything (till they changed it). And it was amazing. I leveled Archer for their AoE attack, and i could use it on my Gladiator for a nifty sword-version AoE attack. Same for Life Surge and Doom Spike.

The poor system we have in 2.0 is nothing but a mockery of it, i feel they didnt want to implement a subjob system, but they couldnt simply leave us with nothing either, so we got this. And we ended up with 0 skills we need, 3 skills we can use, and a pletora of skills we set just so we get the max 5 done.

[Kitru]

Skull Sunder and Savage Blade may be on the CC skill list in order to give GLA and MAR low TP fillers for Rage of Halone and Butcher's Block when those are unavailable.

You get your t2 combo attack, which is identical to the one you can cross-class from the other tank, at level 4, before you even have access to CC abilities. There is no point in *ever* taking SS or SB as CC abilities as a MRD or GLA because you get something that will do the *exact* same thing for the *exact* same cost *without* taking up a CC slot 6 levels before you even have access to CC abilities.

The only class that could get *anything* out of Savage Blade or Skull Sunder is a DoW DPS, as a mediocre increased enmity ability. For absolutely anyone else, it's either completely redundant or generates less enmity and damage than what they can do with class abilities.

[Ultimatecalibur]

You get your t2 combo attack, which is identical to the one you can cross-class from the other tank, at level 4, before you even have access to CC abilities. There is no point in *ever* taking SS or SB as CC abilities as a MRD or GLA because you get something that will do the *exact* same thing for the *exact* same cost *without* taking up a CC slot 6 levels before you even have access to CC abilities.

First crossclass slot opens at level 1 or 5 (can't remember which) and the second a 10.
FB->SB->SS and HS->SS->SB are 150 potency/350 enmity for ~63.333 TP per gcd vs FB-SB and HS->SS 175 potency/375 for 65TP per gcd. This is similar to the difference between a LNC using TT->VT (175 potency for 65 TP per gcd) and spamming Impulse Drive (180 potency for 70 TP per gcd). It's a slight TP advantage at the cost of damage/enmity generation and there are exceedingly few fights where it would have a noticeable effect, but the effect still exists. The reason exists but it is far from a great reason.

[Giantbane]

First crossclass slot opens at level 1 or 5 (can't remember which) and the second a 10.
FB->SB->SS and HS->SS->SB are 150 potency/350 enmity for ~63.333 TP per gcd vs FB-SB and HS->SS 175 potency/375 for 65TP per gcd. This is similar to the difference between a LNC using TT->VT (175 potency for 65 TP per gcd) and spamming Impulse Drive (180 potency for 70 TP per gcd). It's a slight TP advantage at the cost of damage/enmity generation and there are exceedingly few fights where it would have a noticeable effect, but the effect still exists. The reason exists but it is far from a great reason.

FB->SB->SB is identical to FB->SB->SS, there is no difference whatsoever. It is entirely redundant for MRD/WAR to get SB and GLD/PLD to get SS. The point of allowing SB & SS to be cross classed is so that PGL/MNK or LNC/DRG have access to a high threat move in case they wanted to act as makeshift tanks. Say your tank DC'd or something like that or you're doing a FATE with friends. You can just SB/SS spam as either class/job and generate 300 enmity per GCD which is the best pure enmity generator those 2 classes/jobs have access to (although you have to give up a LOT of DPS to get it). SB/SS is just given to WAR/PLD respectively as a matter of completeness because they get ALL of the cross class abilities from the other class, whether they have any purpose or not.

It's the exact same situation between SCH & WHM with Physick/Cure. They're basically the exact same spell in terms of cost and potency, so there's no reason to cross class it whatsoever. It's just included as a matter of completeness.

[Kitru]

Failed attempts at logic.

FB>SB>SS is *exactly* the same as FB>SB>SB. Savage Blade outside of combo is identical to Skull Sunder outside of combo: they're both 100 potency and 300 epot. The only difference between FB>SB>SS and FB>SB>SB is that you're arbitrarily using a cross-class ability that's identical to your class ability.

[Enyeto]

FB>SB>SS is *exactly* the same as FB>SB>SB... that you're arbitrarily using a cross-class ability that's identical to your class ability.

GCD games ALWAYS have this issue. Too many identical abilities with no variation aside from a name. But GCD games run into severe balancing issues if they make every abilitity (available at different levels) do different damage without replacing under the guise of an 'upgraded ability.' Rift is a larger and prime example of the OP issue and yours. You could equip 3 classes within an archetype and 60% of the skills were the same and garbage. But then you look at a game like EQ2 having individual abilities that rank up, have AA enhancement and separate cast/recast timers... well, you used all your abilities except for a very few abilities.

[Quor]

CC skills aren't just job exclusive, so you can't judge their usefulness just based on jobs. I used Physick on my MRD up until I unlocked WAR because it gave me a lot of solo survivability (and MO as a MRD isn't used for anything else while solo).

I've also MT'D dungeons as a LNC, DRD and PGL with Skull Sunder. Not useful past Toto-Rak, but enough to get us through after a tank leaves without wasting time waiting on another one.