1.2 Needs to fix Sentinel, Tanking, and XI Class-ism.

[Tibian]

tl;dr

Sentinel is broken. Requiring gladiator leveled to 36 for Ifrit is a broken mechanic that is setting a dangerous precedent for future fights.

-------------

Thank you for making Ifrit a challenging fight. When the servers and animation locks are fixed, I am sure this will be a thoroughly enjoyable fight.

Unfortunately, you need to patch sentinel. The XI purist community expects everyone to level gladiator to 36 for sentinel. This type of gameplay is pathetic, masochistic, outrageous, and classist.

I have no desire to play gladiator, nor marauder, nor pugilist. I am a fully dedicated mage.
One of XI's worst qualities was that you had to level X job for X fight, to have X ability. Leveling those classes took months. Yes the leveling curve is easier in XIV, but no, I still don't want anything to do with gladiator, marauder, or pugilist. I don't enjoy melee classes and I want nothing to do with them.

"But the armory system caters to leveling multiple classes." Yes, it does, and it rightfully should. Unfortunately, when you have skills like sentinel, that make such a dramatic impact to where guilds start demanding you level this class just for that fight -- you know it needs to be patched or something needs to be fixed.

1.2 is the perfect time to fix this horrible XI mechanic. I was denied several main missions in CoP because I didn't have the right jobs leveled or the right skills. XIV needs to move away from this terrible terrible terrible terrible design for future content.

I have been turned down by two linkshells who want me to have sentinel for Ifrit.

Furthermore, 1.2 needs to fix tanking to where you only need one 'tank class/job' leveled up to tank sufficiently. There is no fathomable excuse for the current situation to where tanks need to level gladiator, marauder, pugilist, and occasionally thaumaturge to be a sufficient tank!!!!

Having this 'requirement' to level multiple classes to be functional in dungeons or certain fights is ridiculous. The armory system is a perfect system to cater towards diversity and 'alternate character' play, but don't abuse it by requiring people to level. It also creates a massive barrier for newer players who want to pick up the game and say "I am going to be a tank!" Instead, they get faced with the reality of "no you cant, you need to level up four other jobs before you're good to tank."

The armory system is one of XIV's best and most unique qualities. I means I can take the spells I enjoy the most from the classes that I want to play, and have a personalized character. If you're going to start requiring people to level against their desires it really takes away the fun of the game and further reinforces the fact that this is nothing more than a grind-fest until you have all the classes leveled to start experiencing the game.

You shouldn't need every single class leveled to experience end game content.

[Jennestia]

The 'FFXI purist community"? Sentinel is really helpful to have in this fight, it has nothing to do with a "purist community" lol. MMORPG communities in general always thrive for efficiency and suffice to say, reducing damage taken is all about being efficient.

[Tibian]

The 'FFXI purist community"? Sentinel is really helpful to have in this fight, it has nothing to do with a "purist community" lol. MMORPG communities in general always thrive for efficiency and suffice to say, reducing damage taken is all about being efficient.

You are correct. And like I said the armory system is perfect for that. However this is a vastly game breaking mechanic when you're required to level up a class that you have no interest in. Obligatory leveling is something XIV needs to move away from, not cater to.

[MeowyWowie]

You are correct. And like I said the armory system is perfect for that. However this is a vastly game breaking mechanic when you're required to level up a class that you have no interest in. Obligatory leveling is something XIV needs to move away from, not cater to.

It's not required, but it is indeed very helpful.

Let's apply this logic to someone who doesn't like to play mage classes, like myself.

I want to tank in this game eventually. However, cure/sac III are "required" for that. I hate playing mages classes with a passion. Does this imply that cure and sac III are also broken?

[Tibian]

It's not required, but it is indeed very helpful.

Let's apply this logic to someone who doesn't like to play mage classes, like myself.

I want to tank in this game eventually. However, cure/sac III are "required" for that. I hate playing mages classes with a passion. Does this imply that cure and sac III are also broken?

As I said in the original post, tanking needs to be fixed to where you don't need those abilities. You should be able to tank sufficiently with one class leveled up.

[RathSkybreaker]

As I said in the original post, tanking needs to be fixed to where you don't need those abilities. You should be able to tank sufficiently with one class leveled up.

I wouldn't say that, but I do think they should lower just how many you need @_@ every job over 36? Stupid.

[RathSkybreaker]

It's not required, but it is indeed very helpful.

Let's apply this logic to someone who doesn't like to play mage classes, like myself.

I want to tank in this game eventually. However, cure/sac III are "required" for that. I hate playing mages classes with a passion. Does this imply that cure and sac III are also broken?

No no, I see what your referring to but I think OP is referring to how its mandatory =\ that sucks you know? Sentinel isn't op, having to have it? or having to have other abilities? That sucks.. though having one or two isn't bad, asking for more is just an unnecessary pain.

[Jinko]

The 'FFXI purist community"? Sentinel is really helpful to have in this fight, it has nothing to do with a "purist community" lol. MMORPG communities in general always thrive for efficiency and suffice to say, reducing damage taken is all about being efficient.

We rarely see eye to eye but I do agree with you here, that being said I somewhat see where the OP is coming from, not everyone has the time to level all these classes to get these skills, and it is annoying that a fight is so depentant on having that 1 skill just to be able to survive.

I would suggest SE fix it now before it gets out of hand, with any luck the only job able to equip Sentinel will be Paladin.

[Quanta]

The 'FFXI purist community"? Sentinel is really helpful to have in this fight, it has nothing to do with a "purist community" lol. MMORPG communities in general always thrive for efficiency and suffice to say, reducing damage taken is all about being efficient.

The intention of the Armoury system has likely been to foster diversity by allowing characters to mix-and-match their skills as they see fit, but that diversity is lost once you start stacking classes and/or abilities in order to clear content. If/when such stacking occurs, then there needs to be balance adjustments made to either the content or the classes/abilities to even things out again; otherwise, you end up with fights where every fifth person is a lancer, or a marauder, or whatever, and they all have matching armor and skillsets. This game doesn't need it's own version of shaman-stacking.

[RemVye]

The intention of the Armoury system has likely been to foster diversity by allowing characters to mix-and-match their skills as they see fit, but that diversity is lost once you start stacking classes and/or abilities in order to clear content. If/when such stacking occurs, then there needs to be balance adjustments made to either the content or the classes/abilities to even things out again; otherwise, you end up with fights where every fifth person is a lancer, or a marauder, or whatever, and they all have matching armor and skillsets. This game doesn't need it's own version of shaman-stacking.

I hear you on that, but when has there ever been a time in an MMO where one class/job/whatever wasn't better than another. The hard part of MMO's is balancing, and I've personally never seen a game that is 100% balanced.

The staticians will figure out who does the best damage, or contributes the most to a fight and create strategies that use them to their full potential.

Archer / Mage stacking for Darkhold, Lancer Mrd stacking for Ifrit, it's all a balancing game. Roll the dice and hope SE tries to make it as even as possible.