We Want SAM... <make it happen>

[Marcellus_Cassius]

Right, because an icon that says "Fire magics flow through your sword, increasing damage" when you hover over the buff icon is so much better than "Attack power increased by poisons" or whatever. Because that's all it's going to end up being. Elemental affinities mean approximately jack in FFXIV, besides whatever additional effects are tied to using the skills with the affinity (ex. Astral Fire, Umbral Ice, Thunder/Aero's DoTs). It would just end up a layer of flavor.

Ok I'm gonna try to sort through this confusion, you assumed the difference would be lorewise thereby limited to a description on an icon? Whereas I'm less concerned with lore and more supportive of as you mentioned "visual indicators" such as spell animations and the like on the weapon as in the case of the spell fencer. You said it best, it would end up as a layer of flavor, but thats what its all about, any dual wielding class is likely to a) wield two weapons and b) swing swing swing, the rest is up to layers of flavor. Then they call it the closest thing you can identify with from looking at it for 5 seconds, a ninja, a white mage, ect. this are just subtle alterations to a) wielding a weapon and b) swing swing swing that with enough "layers of flavors" can create a new class identity.

[ErdrickLoto]

Ok I'm gonna try to sort through this confusion, you assumed the difference would be lorewise thereby limited to a description on an icon? Whereas I'm less concerned with lore and more supportive of as you mentioned "visual indicators" such as spell animations and the like on the weapon as in the case of the spell fencer. You said it best, it would end up as a layer of flavor, but thats what its all about, any dual wielding class is likely to a) wield two weapons and b) swing swing swing, the rest is up to layers of flavor.

I get what you're trying to say.

I'm just saying that it would end up being absolutely pointless at best, or a hindrance (if not much of one, granted) at worst.

[Claire_Pendragon]

Ok I'm gonna try to sort through this confusion, you assumed the difference would be lorewise thereby limited to a description on an icon? Whereas I'm less concerned with lore and more supportive of as you mentioned "visual indicators" such as spell animations and the like on the weapon as in the case of the spell fencer. You said it best, it would end up as a layer of flavor, but thats what its all about, any dual wielding class is likely to a) wield two weapons and b) swing swing swing, the rest is up to layers of flavor. Then they call it the closest thing you can identify with from looking at it for 5 seconds, a ninja, a white mage, ect. this are just subtle alterations to a) wielding a weapon and b) swing swing swing that with enough "layers of flavors" can create a new class identity.

They already know this, they already said this in less words.
In the end, you're asking for something, while a larger portion are asking for something else.

Which would be fine, but when you say their reasons for wanting their choice is because "it's not unique enough" you cant give an example too similar to something already done as well.

Is what you're saying different? Yes. But "how" different is subjective.

And arguing will solve nothing.

We have buffs that have visual indicators already (Wrath), and we even have abilities that dont show an icon when activated (Each Mudra step)
One is magic, one is not. (Though in FFXIV everything is Aether, so even all melee are technically magical to some extent)

Im the kinda person who is like, I want a class in all platemail, with a 2h great sword, who melees, but is a healer.
That combo usually never exists, or if it does, is weaker than if it used a staff/mace/ what ever.
So I understand how wanting a combination not normally used is likable, but to say what everyone else wants to see isnt, for essentially the same reasoning, is just silly.

I get what you're trying to say.

I'm just saying that it would end up being absolutely pointless at best, or a hindrance (if not much of one, granted) at worst.

He's not suggesting it doesnt have an icon, he means he likes the visuals, just as someone would like the glamor of another set of armor.
(Plus SE wouldnt do it that way anyways, so its pointless)

[Marcellus_Cassius]

They already know this, they already said this in less words.
In the end, you're asking for something, while a larger portion are asking for something else.

Which would be fine, but when you say their reasons for wanting their choice is because "it's not unique enough" you cant give an example too similar to something already done as well.

Is what you're saying different? Yes. But "how" different is subjective.

And arguing will solve nothing.

We have buffs that have visual indicators already (Wrath), and we even have abilities that dont show an icon when activated (Each Mudra step)
One is magic, one is not. (Though in FFXIV everything is Aether, so even all melee are technically magical to some extent)

Im the kinda person who is like, I want a class in all platemail, with a 2h great sword, who melees, but is a healer.
That combo usually never exists, or if it does, is weaker than if it used a staff/mace/ what ever.
So I understand how wanting a combination not normally used is likable, but to say what everyone else wants to see isnt, for essentially the same reasoning, is just silly.

He's not suggesting it doesnt have an icon, he means he likes the visuals, just as someone would like the glamor of another set of armor.
(Plus SE wouldnt do it that way anyways, so its pointless)

All I said was Samurai was played out, and criticized how classic jobs get priority in development. The spell dancer was just an example for whoever requested on how there can be creative alternatives to fill standard roles (ie dual wield dps) and was not meant to argue for or against ninja or how some jobs are not unique enough; the point was to exemplify how differences are possible for jobs in the same class thereby the reference (Ninja) and the other possibility being suggested (Spell Dancer) had to have some commonality (Dual Wielding). All this was is an opinion and like subjectivity everyones got one. And in less words? How rude of you, if you look back we were going back and forth getting nowhere, summarizing helped.
It comes down to is ninja the only dual wielding job? Is samurai the only two handed DPS in its class? Are there others? To disagree with me is to say they don't exist. Which is simply untrue.

[Talraen]

All I said was Samurai was played out, and criticized how classic jobs get priority in development.

I don't necessarily disagree with you, but keep in mind one of the core ideas of FFXIV 1.0 was to have new and unique classes (I miss my OG thaumaturge!), and one of the first things they announced to save the game was the introduction of traditional jobs. So I can't really blame theme for prioritizing the more traditional jobs. (Then again, AST and MCH indicate they aren't solely beholden to them.)

[Claire_Pendragon]

All I said was Samurai was played out, and criticized how classic jobs get priority in development. The spell dancer was just an example for whoever requested on how there can be creative alternatives to fill standard roles (ie dual wield dps) and was not meant to argue for or against ninja or how some jobs are not unique enough; the point was to exemplify how differences are possible for jobs in the same class thereby the reference (Ninja) and the other possibility being suggested (Spell Dancer) had to have some commonality (Dual Wielding). All this was is an opinion and like subjectivity everyones got one. And in less words? How rude of you, if you look back we were going back and forth getting nowhere, summarizing helped.
It comes down to is ninja the only dual wielding job? Is samurai the only two handed DPS in its class? Are there others? To disagree with me is to say they don't exist. Which is simply untrue.

Honestly don't know why you feel I'm being rude to you, when I think both of you have your points, and if anything I'm trying to get to the root of the issue, and clarify it.
The part where I said "they said it in less words" isnt some jab at how many words you used, but saying that they already stated it, and because they didnt use as much clarification, I'm going to assume you didn't know they understood you.

Your re-clarification seems to me that I have somehow misunderstood you, but once again, it didnt quite go against what I said either from what I gather, so I can only assume I'm not following you very well.

[Dualgunner]

Honestly don't know why you feel I'm being rude to you, when I think both of you have your points, and if anything I'm trying to get to the root of the issue, and clarify it.
The part where I said "they said it in less words" isnt some jab at how many words you used, but saying that they already stated it, and because they didnt use as much clarification, I'm going to assume you didn't know they understood you.

Your re-clarification seems to me that I have somehow misunderstood you, but once again, it didnt quite go against what I said either from what I gather, so I can only assume I'm not following you very well.

Just quoting to say Claire understands my argument quite well with respect to the similarity between Ninja and a Spellblade. In lore, ninjas already arguably ARE spellblades, they use magic in conjunction with their martial arts. Huton is a mudra but for all intents and purposes is a spell that increases movement speed. Raiton? Casts lightning. Katon? Fireball. Suiton? Water spell. Et cetera.

"But mudras aren't magic!" There is a quest in the game where this is debated and not solved by the ninja teacher, where the player uses Raiton to lure people to find them. Even if they aren't the quest concludes they're close enough, and in gameplay it also is a 'close enough' type of thing. And even beyond Ninja we have Dark Knight who literally does use magic in conjunction with his sword skills.

What other classes than Spellblade are you thinking could be added to the game? Spellblade doesn't work as a unique class in the confines of XIV.

[Gravton]

All I said was Samurai was played out, and criticized how classic jobs get priority in development. The spell dancer was just an example

Of course classic jobs are going to get priority. They need to sell the expansion. This expansion isn't just for current players or even players that follow every FF game. Most people know what a samurai is, it sounds cool and I'd check it out if I wasn't already playing. It's designed to attract old and new customers. Releasing something like a spell dancer doesn't inspire an "OMG! I must play it!" Just like when WoW released pandas did not convince me to go back.

[Leogun]

Im the kinda person who is like, I want a class in all platemail, with a 2h great sword, who melees, but is a healer.
That combo usually never exists, or if it does, is weaker than if it used a staff/mace/ what ever.
So I understand how wanting a combination not normally used is likable, but to say what everyone else wants to see isnt, for essentially the same reasoning, is just silly.

You're not alone!

I think having a kind of durable off-healer/support/melee DPS (of course leaning more toward healing than dps) can work and fill a niche not be overshadowed if you take in its full capabilities while also not overshadowing anyone. Taking the concept of that revolver-sheath art, the sam's weapon could actually be a trio of swords that can stand for each stance: a spirit stance, a technique stance and a savage stance (given proper japanese/samurai-esque titles) with a draw-out/blade sealing iaido mechanic meaning, if you seal the weapon before resheathing it (to swap stances), you have the capability of using strong draw-out techniques for a time upon activating/swapping into one of the three stances. The catch is, you can't seal into a draw-out...that is, you can seal the current blade when combat ends or seal the blade by swapping to another sword but doing that means you just swapped without using the iaido draw-out technique. Basically, at any given time during combat, you can only have 2 sealed blades at a time thus 2 sets of draw-out abilities with exception of the start of combat so long as the previous battle ended with 2 sealed blades and you seal your last blade. There could be a high level skill, of course, that can be used out of battle that seals all your blades, useful for boss fights.

As for what each stance could do, that is where I'm too ignorant of the games' mechanics. But the spirit stance could allow for healing, heal over times, status removal and its draw-out abilities could be a powerful rez skill, defensive utilities like block/parry bonuses, recovery of mp/tp, etc. The technique stance would have unique support abilities centered around TP (like a tp shield that converts hp damage to tp damage, tp recovery, etc) as well as personal defense with the draw-out abilities having movement abilities, a block utility. The savage stance would be simply damaging skills with a debuff to increase party dps and the draw-out abilities being a strong single target attack, an AoE attack and perhaps a personal damage buff.