Interview: Face-to-Face with FFXIV's Naoki Yoshida - Article on MMORPG website

[Bourne_Endeavor]

Players aren't stupid. Those who want to try a new build will try, other will follow a guide, and amongst those who follow a guide, they may modify it a little and find something new.

And if one build is deemed mathematically superior, you'll be called an idiot for attempting to deviate from it in any content that matters. We needs look no further than FFXI where certain jobs were outright blocked from parties due to their builds simply not measuring up comparatively. FFXIV already suffers from this, albeit it less so. There's a reason Ultimate groups have practically locked the melee slots to Ninja and Dragoon. Their respective utility trumps anything Samurai and Monk offer. A greater emphasise on those differences will inevitably results in jobs being alienated more than some already are.

RE: his sentences on glamour... I'm not going to be optimistic, but I am now cautiously not-pessimistic.

I'm not anticipating it will save much if any inventory space, but I do see them implementing something akin to how Squadrons work right now. A separate menu opens and whatever gear you slot there glamours over their armour. I imagine they'll allow us to save "builds" or something to that effect. I also suspect prisms will be reduced to one that can be crafted by any class ala dye.