[FUN] Name one thing you'd remove from the game

[whoopeeragon]

I still don't know why WHM's don't use Hammers... Such an iconic weapon. o_O

=_= Really?

[Teslo]

=_= Really?

Way to do homework. Yes WHM's have also been known to use a staff. Even as far back as Final Fantasy (No numerals). Rosa even used a Bow in FFIV. That doesn't mean that bows are iconic to WHM's. Staffs have always been one of those items that are widely used by a lot of jobs/classes. However in Final Fantasy (It's older than you are) WHM's were the only job who could use Hammers, and the idea of hammers became synonymous with the class/job. That's what Iconic means. Also, Aeris may have had healing limit breaks and came equipped with healing materia, but that doesn't specifically make her a White Mage. And wasn't Yuna a Summoner?

Anyway I'm less concerned with WHM's being able to use staffs and more concerned with the fact that they tend to use a STICK, and we still don't even see Hammers as an option.

I also like how all of your examples come from games that are from 1997 or later.

[Fyrebrand]

in Final Fantasy (It's older than you are) WHM's were the only job who could use Hammers

Okay, so you named one game where White Mages can use hammers, even though they also use staves -- and there are more staves than there are hammers in that game. So, do you think that is the only game that counts, or what? It obviously didn't set any trends, as White Mages haven't really been using hammers ever since, and most commonly are associated with staves or rods.

the idea of hammers became synonymous with the class/job. That's what Iconic means.

If they were as synonymous as you seem to think, wouldn't the developers continue to give White Mages hammers after the very first game? But they didn't. Rather, White Mages have been using staves primarily in almost every Final Fantasy game. Hammers did not stick. Staves did. And if you did a poll of what weapon people naturally associate with White Mages in the FF series, I'd bet the vast majority would say Staff, while almost zero would say Hammer. That's what iconic means.

I suppose you would try to convince us that the Monk's "iconic" weapon isn't fists/claws, but rather Nunchaku, because they could use it in FF1? Please.

wasn't Yuna a Summoner?

Yuna was both a Summoner and a White Mage. Besides summoning, all her abilities are White Magic spells. She uses staves. And in FFX-2, the staves White Mages use are Yuna's from FFX.

I also like how all of your examples come from games that are from 1997 or later.

Dude, really? First of all, that is a pretty snotty remark. Not everyone is old enough to have lived through the entire FF series, nor do we all irrationally idolize the original Final Fantasy game as the be-all, end-all authority of the series for all time. Also, Porom from FFIV was given as an example, and that game came out in 1991.

Second, 1997 was 17 years ago. Even that many years is a disturbingly long time for you to still be considering hammers "synonymous" with White Mages, even though they don't even use them. Meanwhile, you can't just ignore all the games where White Mages use staves, as if they don't count.

Third, there are older examples if you prefer. Minwu in FF2 is a White Mage, and although he has no natural weapon proficiency his ultimate weapon is the Staff of Light. White Mages in both FF3 and FF5 use Staves, as well.

[whoopeeragon]

Way to do homework.

You want me to do my homework? Ok, I will.

FFI: Hammers, Staves
FFII: Minwu has no preference, ultimate weapon is a staff though.
FFIII: Staves, Rods
FFIV: Bows, Staves (Both Rosa and Porom)
FFV: Staves
FFVII: Staves, Rods and Umbrella (Aerith)
FFIX: Rods, Flutes and Rackets (Garnet and Eiko)
FFX: Rods (Yuna)
FFX-2: Rods (WHM Dressphere)
FFXI: Clubs, Staves
FFXII International: Rods, Greatswords
FFT: Staves
FFTA: Staves
FFTA2: Staves

Now you tell me what's the more iconic weapon of a WHM.

[kyuven]

You want me to do my homework? Ok, I will.

I'm just gonna chime in here and agree with you, but also cite the reason hammers were used by the WHM in the first FF.
It's because the stereotypical weapon for clerics in most fantasy was a bludgeoning weapon. In D&D the morning star or flail were usually considered the stereotypical cleric weapons.
However, despite having "cleric stance," WHMs are not actually that same kind of clerics. Those clerics wore heavier armor and weapons in general, which included hammers.
This idea carried to other games such as EverQuest and every Dungeons and Dragons game ever made.
But traditional healers would eschew armor, as they rarely needed it. They'd carry blunt, easy to use instruments for self-defense, but were often more bogged down with medicines and herbs than something like armor.
This is where the "clothy" healer idea comes from.
But all that aside, there's one restriction that keeps WHMs from using hammers in this game that renders any argument moot: WHM/conjury magic must be channeled through wood. Unless the hammer is made entirely of wood, the WHM can't use it. This is mentioned in the story. It's also why all WHM weapons are either Alchemy or Carpentry. And yes, even the relic is made out of wood. A very special wood. The only weird exception is the Yagrush.

[Tiggy]

I also like how all of your examples come from games that are from 1997 or later.

Try to remember that some people were born at such a time that the staff is all they've literally seen. So for them it's far more iconic than the Hammer. TBH the hammers weren't used nearly as much as staves in the long term making your argument weak anyway since the entire lifetime must be considered when determining what's "iconic". Lastly, Final Fantasy has origins in D&D where clerics could use hammers. So technically their ability to use hammers goes further back than the series itself all the way into the source material. As were staves. When it comes down to it clerics can use hammers, wants, staves, and maces if I remember correctly. Even in FFXI it was possible to cleric up your whm and dual wield hammers in heavy plate mail. Occasionally we get to see the D&D source in white mage like that.