Do you think we will ever see a DPS Conjurer Job? (GEO?)

[Exstal]

It's not like a SMN or BLM can heal particularly well even though they have Physick. They used to be able to have a half decent heal if they used INT/MND gear, but gear has become more specialized after i70. There isn't any INT/MND gear past i70, and there isn't any i90+ MND gear that SMN or BLM can wear. So even with the greater potency of base CNJ levels spells, I don't think these abilities would still be all that useful. This will become more true as gear levels increase and gear stats make up a greater portion of a characters total stats.

Well that post was a two part response. As for the part you responded to, it's entirely possible to make the class devoid of MND stats at higher levels. However, the problem lies with the fact that many of their skills are healer skills. SE would have to do a lot of work to repurpose their skills and traits. I'd wager that it's just slightly less work than creating a new class altogether.

[MartaDemireux]

SE would have to do a lot of work to repurpose their skills and traits. I'd wager that it's just slightly less work than creating a new class altogether.

Remember with creating a new class also comes creating an entirely new weapon type, a slew of models for that type, new animations for new abilities, etc. It's a ton more work to create a new class in this case. I don't know what coding they use for this game but I'm sure a simple (using my idea as an example) "if GEO Soul=True: replace Overcure with Overdraft, replace Freecure with Freestone, replace Cleric Stance with Geomancy, replace Stone II with Stone IIA. if buffactive Geomancy=True Esuna's MP cost=X, Stoneskin's MP cost=X, (etc.)" would suffice. That means they only have to create and balance 5 job abilities, create 2 traits and the Geomancy stance/mechanic.

[Exstal]

Remember with creating a new class also comes creating an entirely new weapon type, a slew of models for that type, new animations for new abilities, etc. It's a ton more work to create a new class in this case. I don't know what coding they use for this game but I'm sure a simple (using my idea as an example) "if GEO Soul=True: replace Overcure with Overdraft, replace Freecure with Freestone, replace Cleric Stance with Geomancy, replace Stone II with Stone IIA. if buffactive Geomancy=True Esuna's MP cost=X, Stoneskin's MP cost=X, (etc.)" would suffice. That means they only have to create and balance 5 job abilities, create 2 traits and the Geomancy stance/mechanic.

I think Geomancer should be a flail class though. There's probably a way to make CNJ into Geo but then it'd just attack in the same method WHM casts spells, swings of the arm and push the air, and an attack comes out. I personally feel that it would be a bland class if that was the case.

[LadyVaJedi]

When did they say that the were unhappy how SMN and SCH turned out ? I think there are players that are unhappy with it.

[MartaDemireux]

When did they say that the were unhappy how SMN and SCH turned out ? I think there are players that are unhappy with it.

While it wasn't directly stated it's kind of inferred that it didn't really pan out the way they were hoping:

Q: Last year when Scholar was introduced at E3, it was mentioned that it would branch off from the same class as Summoner, and this would be a mechanic that would be used more, but it has yet to happen for any other class. You haven’t announced anything yet, but are there any other plans to introduce anything like this? For example, another swordsman besides Paladin?

A: Well, we need to look into this and whether we want to keep that plan, it’s something we have to consider as we add new jobs and classes. One of the more difficult things with the system is that when a job is derived from a class, it's tied to the class's actions. Also, when we make multiple jobs from one class, the weakness with having multiple jobs branch out of one class without being able to freely switch stats around is exposed. This wasn’t a problem initially because both of those jobs were simultaneously added and it was planned from the start, but now we have to carefully think about this. One thing we could consider, for example, is a hybrid job derived from more than one class, but it may change depending on what we want to add. The number of jobs will increase even further with 3.0 (the expansion pack), and at that point we might decide on an entirely new mechanism, so please hang on for further details.

Source

[LadyVaJedi]

I suggest that it's not a good thing to infer that the developers didn't like how the SMN/SCH turned out .

[AspectOfWinter]

And here's the other thing: I'm personally betting that by the time we see GEO (or whatever the DPS Conjurer ends up being) implemented (maybe 3.x, 4.0 or so) the stat bonus system and passive traits will have been redesigned to better allow for multiple Jobs per weapon.

[Giantbane]

While it wasn't directly stated it's kind of inferred that it didn't really pan out the way they were hoping:

Q: Last year when Scholar was introduced at E3, it was mentioned that it would branch off from the same class as Summoner, and this would be a mechanic that would be used more, but it has yet to happen for any other class. You haven’t announced anything yet, but are there any other plans to introduce anything like this? For example, another swordsman besides Paladin?

A: Well, we need to look into this and whether we want to keep that plan, it’s something we have to consider as we add new jobs and classes. One of the more difficult things with the system is that when a job is derived from a class, it's tied to the class's actions. Also, when we make multiple jobs from one class, the weakness with having multiple jobs branch out of one class without being able to freely switch stats around is exposed. This wasn’t a problem initially because both of those jobs were simultaneously added and it was planned from the start, but now we have to carefully think about this. One thing we could consider, for example, is a hybrid job derived from more than one class, but it may change depending on what we want to add. The number of jobs will increase even further with 3.0 (the expansion pack), and at that point we might decide on an entirely new mechanism, so please hang on for further details.

I don't how you infer this from what you quoted, and particularly what you bolded.

What this says to me is that they think SCH/SMN worked (except for the sharing of added stats) because the class and both jobs were designed to work that way from the ground up. But retro fitting existing classes would be harder because they were not designed that way.

Which is what exstal is saying, that trying to turn CNJ into DPS would be too much work because too many of their base abilities are too focused on being a healer and would need to change for the DPS job.

Although that doesn't mean they *won't* do it, but it seems to be more up in the air at this point. Which is a shame, I like the idea of the Class being the base class and Jobs being the specialization. Much in the same way you could have a Tank, healer or DPS paladin in another MMO.

I actually like the 1 class -> multiple Jobs system better than the idea of Hybrid jobs that can supposedly do some of both at the same time. Jack of all trades classes don't tend to work very well in most other games because they are passed over for specialist classes within groups. They only get taken for whatever unique and special ability they get (like RDMs were refresh bots in FFXI). I don't see what they will do different to make hybrid classes as desirable as specialists.

[Duelle]

I so wish that they wouldn'tdo anymore 2 job 1 class, cause it just doesn't work so well, especially if you want to play both of them to the max, you'll lack stat points o other unless you farm alot of the stat reset items, which are 10k each, which isn't really affordable every day

The alternative is creating a million different weapons with their own attacks and abilities and have one job for each, which is not efficient use of development time. There is a pattern in how one can design a class that can split into two jobs, though the only real bad thing about ACN is that you have art assets going to waste with Carbuncle. I understand in some cases it doesn't work well (conjurer is a good example), but then you have other classes that are just begging for a second job of a different role (thaumaturge, gladiator, marauder, lancer, pugilist).

[Zophar]

I really have my doubts that they are going to add new jobs to currently existing classes, if just for the fact that most people, even the casual types, have gotten bored enough that by now, they have all of their classes at 50. I wanna say that they would rather give us something new to level rather than just go "Here ya go guys. You're a 50 GEO now. Enjoy." I feel like if there are going to be any more split jobs in the future, they will be off newly added classes. I was honestly surprised they didn't add a second job with ROG. I could be wrong, it's entirely possible, but honestly, I don't think I am.