A plea for 3.0 and beyond: Job Customization

[M0xie]

I would prefer a kind of Alternate Advancement system much like Everquest has. That way, once you hit the level cap, you can still level up and get stronger with more than just a gear grind.

I've been saying this since I hit 50. I really miss AA. I think too much cross-classing of abilities is a bad idea, but the option to improve things like extending your dot a few seconds or up your heals by 1% etc. are nice touches. EQ's AA (for those that don't know) also allowed improvement of innate attributes such as STR, INT and others that aren't so clearly defined such as durability (increased defense) or improved evasion/dodge. Other AA abilities I'd like to have are things like Target/Mass Group Buff or amazing 24-hour recast (job-specific) actions.

The best part is that generally speaking, they were optional and didn't necessarily make players hugely "OP" over others; but once invested, they could make a difference. I left EQ in 2008 with 2500 AA, was still not maxed, and wanted more.

[Magis]

I've been saying this since I hit 50. I really miss AA. I think too much cross-classing of abilities is a bad idea, but the option to improve things like extending your dot a few seconds or up your heals by 1% etc. are nice touches. EQ's AA (for those that don't know) also allowed improvement of innate attributes such as STR, INT and others that aren't so clearly defined such as durability (increased defense) or improved evasion/dodge. Other AA abilities I'd like to have are things like Target/Mass Group Buff or amazing 24-hour recast (job-specific) actions.

The best part is that generally speaking, they were optional and didn't necessarily make players hugely "OP" over others; but once invested, they could make a difference. I left EQ in 2008 with 2500 AA, was still not maxed, and wanted more.

Wasn't AA basically the Merit System in FFXI (well, the other way around)? Character progression after hitting level cap?

I see "Choice is an illusion" as the weakest argument here along with "It would be hard to do" when we have the some of the most talented devs in the world working on this game.

The only time choice would truly be seen as an illusion would be for the players taking on the hardest content in the game (coils/extremes) and need that best build to progress. My suggestion would change little for them as they would play the best build as they are told, however the rest of us can make our own decisions and enjoy unique playstyles.

Typically a decent player wouldn't feel compelled to kick someone until it is obvious they are failing. At that point one would consider another setup. Don't want to get kicked from PUGs? Make some friends who share similar playstyle interests.

Yeah, this basically. Or "it's hard to balance". Well yeah it's hard, but that's the dev's job to figure it out. If something being "hard to balance" was an excuse, then we'd only have one class that had 1 attack move, 1 healing move, and 1 tanking move. I bet a game like Dota 2 would be soooooooo fun if the dev's said screw it, this is too hard to balance .