What could DRK have learned from FFXI?

[Reynhart]

Also just a note, the kanji version of the name is used/referenced here and there for Makenshi as well (魔 剣士) and not just the Romaji (まけんし).

That's the exact same 魔 that you found in 魔道士 which is the word used for Black Mage, White Mage, etc...In the context of Final Fantasy III, there is no sign of any "scary" connotation, especially if you consider that the "Magic Knight" used White Magic back then.

Basically, what is now called "Dark Knight" in FFIII DS, the only official translation, is a complete different job from the NES version (Probably because the "Magic Knight" was redundant with the Knight and the new Freelancer). So one can't really use that version to claim that not all past "Dark Knight" used their HP to deal damage.

[TouchandFeel]

snip

Mahou (魔法) and madou (魔道) are basically the same word within the context of usage in Japanese, meaning magic in a Western sense, you just rarely if ever see madou (魔道) used by itself and you rarely if ever see mahoushi (魔法士) used for mage/magician/wizard and instead see madoushi (魔道士). It's just an example of the common quirk in Japanese where two or more words mean exactly the same thing even though they have different parts, and kanji, making them up and each is used instead of the others depending on context or situation.

So no, that fact that ma (魔) is in madoushi (魔道士) has as much connotative weight as it appearing in mahou (魔法), which is virtually none for the exact same reason of it expressing a very specific concept of the Western idea of magic.

If one wants to argue that the Makenshi (魔剣士) of FF3 should not be included in an argument of "what were Dark Knight classic abilities" because it was a proto-Dark Knight and therefore the truly formative elements hadn't been established yet, that is fine.
But, if we are talking about the Japanese names, the words that are used for them , the context within the kanji and how that then relates to the words/names and how best to try to capture that in an English translation, I stand by what I have said.

Also, the last time this exact topic came up I decided to sanity-check myself and ran it by an immediate family member that is a native Japanese speaker with multiple degrees in language and literature, years of working as a professional English/Japanese translator and having taught Japanese at a college level. They basically told me what I have said here in regards to the meaning of the words and how the context of the kanji does and doesn't carry over to the words in regards to the whole ma (魔) in makenshi ((魔 剣士) and mahou (魔法) topic. I think I'll take their word on it.

[Reynhart]

Mahou (魔法) and madou (魔道) are basically the same word within the context of usage in Japanese meaning magic in a Western sense

You know where 魔法 is used ? In 魔法剣士 .

[Auron_Wolf]

I love how this thread has pass from “I want this version of this class I like, to fit in this game” to “for me this a tank” then get a FFIV discussion in the middle, and then jump to kanji translation xD.

@TouchandFeel: I have a friend living in japan, working as a teacher of Spanish, and I remember having quite long conversations when I send him material for translation, to see how to fit for their lessons jeje, you really have a love for language or a lot of patient for this type of themes.

Basically, what is now called "Dark Knight" in FFIII DS, the only official translation, is a complete different job from the NES version (Probably because the "Magic Knight" was redundant with the Knight and the new Freelancer). So one can't really use that version to claim that not all past "Dark Knight" used their HP to deal damage.

I completely agree with you in this point, and that’s why I think to say “this class is defined by this set of parameters” is attached to each one personal gaming experience.

As a side note I don’t think we see any changes with the battle system in any class, than go more far than this dull thing we have now, since as far I have read and seen, the dev team found their “ideal formula” in this expansion .