Beastmaster: Can it work?

[MagiusNecros]

Beastmaster is more likely to take lessons from Lyon Helsos and become a 5th Tank class. Probably.

[ty_taurus]

You both forgot this bit from my original post:

Beastmaster could very well be a "regular" job, but then they'd have to throw its "collectable" aspect out the window (because of the "rigid" structure/learn-set inherent to being a "regular" job).
Unless, of course, you could change its pets aesthetically (not mechanically) through a glamouring system, similar to how SMN's Egi glamour should be working.

I was just responding based on that one statement and generally would prefer we not ever do another limited job because I just don't feel like it's worth the effort when we could do better instead. Having said that, I would gladly throw out the concept of creature collecting to make Beastmaster work for FFXIV, and I was perfectly content doing the same for BLU prior to its release. Back when BLU was a hot topic of new job potential, I stated multiple times that you should just learn spells from the enemies you encounter in the job quests, or similiarly to how SMN has been given Bahamut and Phoenix, introduce spells from enemies we encountered in past expansions.

The way this game is structured means that we just can't have a free-for-all with abnormal mechanics. I mean just look at how livid people get over job balance now over incredibly tame mechanics. Could you imagine if we had a traditional BLU that wasn't limited?

Having said that, it completely baffles me that if we were to have compromised on BLU's traditional roots in any capacity, that it would've been tantamount to sacrilege in the eyes of the producer. But yet, look at RDM... RDM is not at all like the traditional RDM, yet we were able to create something that works within the restrictions set forth by FFXIV while still respecting those origins and using them to add respectable flavor to the RDM's playstyle. Why couldn't we have done that with BLU instead? And where is this righteous will to protect the traditional roots of a job's identity for BRD?

In short, I see no reason why we have to protect the sanctity of Beastmaster's roots when we could just create a modern interpretation respectful to the job's identity from past titles. And since Beastmaster is not a standard job that has been consistent over the years of Final Fantasy, there's a lot of room to be flexible and creative with it. Same is true for Puppetmaster. They can both be jobs that are neither pet-reliant nor limited and still feel like respectful, exciting jobs to play.

As I mentioned above, taking inspiration from Rinoa, for example, or even the Trainer dressphere from X-2, could be great places to start.

[Shurrikhan]

You both forgot this bit from my original post:

Oh, I'm not forgetting it. I just don't think having additional skill acquisition requirements ought to demand an unbalanceable gimmick kit or that it can't be relevant to living/current content. Such demands that extra time expense be 'rewarded' with... a terrible playflow and being barred from the last 10 levels' worth of stuff.

The "rigid" class-job or by-level skill acquisition need not be a universal requirement. It's a job that won't be unlocked until having reached the tail of the previous expansion, thereby providing all but some 2 options alternative to it if one doesn't want to take the extra time to do what we find thematic for a BST.

[Duskane]

I think Beast master could just be a normal job and a pet class
nothing about beast master screams limited job to me anyway

yes SMN and SCH still have there issues but they are plagued with 2.0 coding so most certainly a harder issue to fix
but with how far game has come they could make a reasonable and Functional pet AI.

[Raikai]

To everyone wishing that BST is a regular job "pet class", the game needs to have its code/platform improved before they add a job fully dedicated to control a second or third separate entities in combat.

The SCH fairy is better now in EW, but could you imagine how frustrating it would be if 80% of the SCH's actions would happen issuing commands to it?

Said that, I'm not sure if they have something to improve that structure in their radar though, else why would the SMN's base carbuncle would end like it is today? Not even a "glorified dot" anymore, it just stays idle all the time. Actually it does something: makes Radiant Aegis usage less reliable.

Then they could make it work like the RPR avatar, but this would fulfill the desire of the "pet class"? Whose premise seems to be micromanaging a separate entity. Plus it would be cool to have yet another job very similar in mechanics to SMN or RPR?

I'm not opposed to the idea of BST being a limited job focused solely on pet x pet combat, however if they choose to do that they must ensure that they create "endgame" content that would have people engaged. To me the only flawed aspect of BLU implementation is how its endgame activities bear little to no incentive to the general playerbase.

[aveyond-dreams]

To everyone wishing that BST is a regular job "pet class", the game needs to have its code/platform improved before they add a job fully dedicated to control a second or third separate entities in combat.

The SCH fairy is better now in EW, but could you imagine how frustrating it would be if 80% of the SCH's actions would happen issuing commands to it?

Said that, I'm not sure if they have something to improve that structure in their radar though, else why would the SMN's base carbuncle would end like it is today? Not even a "glorified dot" anymore, it just stays idle all the time. Actually it does something: makes Radiant Aegis usage less reliable.

Then they could make it work like the RPR avatar, but this would fulfill the desire of the "pet class"? Whose premise seems to be micromanaging a separate entity. Plus it would be cool to have yet another job very similar in mechanics to SMN or RPR?

I'm not opposed to the idea of BST being a limited job focused solely on pet x pet combat, however if they choose to do that they must ensure that they create "endgame" content that would have people engaged. To me the only flawed aspect of BLU implementation is how its endgame activities bear little to no incentive to the general playerbase.

I just want to see a hunter class with (preferably) a wolf/bear/tiger/any "normal" animal that follows-up my attacks or does its own thing. I am not asking for another micromanagement job. New SMN or RPR style would be perfect from a functional perspective, and as long as its not limited I can actually justify investing time into it since I can use it in the current content I want to do and not stuff I already beat years ago and already got all the rewards from.

[SeverianLyonesse]

I just want to see a hunter class with (preferably) a wolf/bear/tiger/any "normal" animal that follows-up my attacks or does its own thing. I am not asking for another micromanagement job. New SMN or RPR style would be perfect from a functional perspective, and as long as its not limited I can actually justify investing time into it since I can use it in the current content I want to do and not stuff I already beat years ago and already got all the rewards from.

What you want is a wolf/bear/tiger companion then. We already have the system in place for that waiting to be fleshed out.

The hunter class could still be developed completely independent of the companion system with its own agency and direct appeal (as opposed to heavily relying on a pet element), and then you could have both your hunter fantasy and your animal companion(s).

I am still irked that people propose stuff like this as if the game doesn't already have several duplicative systems in place that could be expanded instead of making even more parasitic bloat.

[aveyond-dreams]

You have not understood me. I do not want a chocobo companion that I can only use in the overworld. I want a crossbow and a normal-looking animal that does attacks with me as I am playing with other people in the content of my choice.

[WiccaP]

Yes, we already have the companion system. SO using that as a base model, it wouldn't be that far of a stretch to create a job that revolves around and expands on its premise. I would make it a melee job that utilizes whip(like in previous games) and shared gear with NIN and use a pretty standard combo rotation, and its OGCDs could mainly be buffs to your "pet". Have the Job quests revolve around collecting beasts and limit the number of beasts you can get. Maybe have like 3 or 4 outside of starting beast that you can collect and can choose to use. I would personally go for the beasts that are very iconic in FF such as a mini malboro or Cactaur. Or you could potentially create a "glamour" system for the beast, where its 1 beast that you can make appear to be a select number of looks. While creating a potential item catagory for the online store, like the character clothing sets. Granted I dont know the coding side of things, but given that theres already a functioning base model in game and several examples of MMO's utilizing the concept effectively, it stands to reason that the job is a viable and functional option.

[Ransu]

Given the struggle they have had with SMN, I'm not really sure how they would implement beastmaster. Maybe as a limited job like BLU? Though people seem to hate that concept so I see beastmaster as an unlikely job to be added to the game.