Quote Originally Posted by Rongway View Post
In the golden days of FFXI, while you could sub whatever you wanted, there were a specific short list of sub jobs that were considered "acceptable" or "effective" and if your search info listed you as a subjob that didn't fall into the "effective" subjob list for your main job, you were asked to change or not invited at all.
This right here. Probably the main reason they don't do it, is because they want content accessible by everyone, and nobody left out because they don't have X job/ability. Which I agree with. I like being able to get on any job and enjoy content, without being told I need to change something.

I still remember the first time I installed FFXI. I sat down and read the book that came with it, as well as the infamous Brady Guide that was wrong on just about everything. You know, the one that told you WAR/WHM will get your ready for PLD.

Well as I sat there and watched thousands of files get checked, disconnected, then thousands of files get checked, then disconnected... well you get the point. As I sat there and watched that, I thought how cool it would be to start as RDM. Because it could imbue its sword with elemental damage. Then later I could switch to RNG/RDM and have elemental-imbued arrows! I'd be this spell-slinging elemental RNG!

Yeah... that didn't work. I found out rather quickly that RDM was "better with a staff," and should be used mainly as a backup healer (later support). I could MB off of the others in a group, but I was told to stand back and help cure. Or I could prepare for my life as a RNG, and go pull monsters back to the group with Dia! How... special I felt.

Also, RDM was deemed worthless as a subjob as RNG for several reasons. My dream of elemental arrows was quickly shattered when I tried using a bow on RDM. So I had to go back and find some other subjob, which inevitably ended up as NIN. Which I absolutely hated leveling. Mainly because it was considered a tank by then, and I didn't like tanking on FFXI. The community didn't allow you to level NIN as a shuriken-slinging, ninjutsu-casting DD either. Even if you had the Gil to support that lifestyle.

Then there was the time I decided to take RDM/NIN to an experience party. The complaining didn't stop during that one. Despite the fact I was keeping everyone Refreshed, dealing damage/debuffing, and even backup healing, it was still not acceptable. One person in the party simply couldn't handle it. How could a RDM be there in ACC gear tearing into things with their two swords? It was blasphemy! They kept whining for me to change to /WHM and staff. So I could stand in the back, cast fewer spells, and do less things for... better support?

I honestly think a lot of FFXI was "I had to do it that way, so you have to as well!" Nobody wanted to innovate. Nobody had the time/patience to try it another way. Once a guide came out for something, that was the way to do it. They were scared of jobs like PUP and BLU. Even BST at one point in time. I remember having a hard time leveling COR at points, because people were too scared of the randomness, and preferred the solid buffs BRD gave them.

These are just my own FFXI experiences, without the nostalgia glasses. Subjobs sound fun and unique in theory. However, the community (or game) dictates which ones are viable options, and you're limited to best-in-slot mandates regardless. It's a false sense of "creativity and self expression."