New Job: Viper

[Shige_]

Looks alright, a bit plain effects wise but that's not a sin.

I just personally find it really hard to get excited about ANY new job when we know it's just going to be another builder spender where you dump everything under buffs then 1-2-3 (while not overcapping!) for 1 minute and 45 seconds.

My mind immediately went to thinking about having the ability to combine your swords at will for a modified move-set but the 2 minute job identity kinda kills any speculation on new or interesting job mechanics.

[CidHeiral]

I like what I'm seeing so far but I'll reserve judgement until seeing the full rotation. I do like how quick all their attacks look though. If it ends up being a very fast and busy job I would love that personally.

[VictorSpoils]

It feels like we're channeling the spirit of Zidane!

No thanks. We're actually using proper swords here.

I am disappointed! I want glowing swords!

Oh, there'll be plenty of those, don't worry.

[AnnRam]

Horrible trailer, it looks like something that should have been released in Pre ARR or something. I don't see how someone can be excited for it when GNB basic combo looks better.

[SeverianLyonesse]

So a few thoughts:

1. The name is really unsatisfying, but I suspect they were trying to make a Zidane thief class that is also a "hunter/ranger" archetype, and couldn't just call it "thief" after the design settled on something that just isn't communicating "sneaky".

2. To that end, I think this is going to be a DoT swordsman. All of Zidane's dual-weapons inflict status effects, and we can see at least one attack in the trailer seems like it might inflict some sort of status effect (the purple dots on the combo opener, and maybe the subtle "water" effect on subsequent attacks). We can also see a bit of a dripping spray and purple mist when the guy slashes and cracks the camera. I am really struggled to think of any other way they could call this class a "Viper" other than it being a poison-blade. The only other thing I can think of would be summoning a bunch of swords that rapidly stab the enemy, but there would still be far better names for that archetype. I think we are getting a DoT swordsman, guys, and I think that is the best way to implement Zidane in a way that synergizes with his trance to form a kind of "primal hunter" class.

3. The sword-staff attacks are interesting. The first has earth effects and maybe some fire, while the second is pure fire. This may just be our "fire-sword" class to complement SAM (ice/wind-sword), PLD (light-sword), DRK (dark-sword), RDM (blood-sword), GNB (lightning-sword). With fire being another potential source of DoT. But I can't be for sure that those two attacks are not just fire attacks, and not fire and earth. Nor can I dismiss the possibility for a dual-sword class to specialize in two elements, maybe fire and water so as not to tread on the toes of our other sword-wielders. So it is possible that this class may function as a soft "Mystic Knight" with fire and water staff stances. Arguments for this would be that if we are getting Locke (thief) and Terra (trance) representation, what's stopping them from including a little Celes (spellblade)? Arguments against would be that water isn't a Celes thing so much as ice, fire is a Terra thing regardless of whether it's on a sword, and dual-elements really doesn't seem to vibe with a "Viper" identity. But who knows, I figured I might throw it out there as a possibility, even if I don't think it is likely what we are getting.

In conclusion: I think this is a poison-DoT hunter archetype. And if it isn't, then I think the name is stupid and the job design is going downhill.

I am also hoping that this and Green Mage are signalling a reopening of certain combat roles to the game. Specifically DoT-DPS classes, and debuffers. Otherwise, I just don't see why these two classes would have been chosen specifically, since both are very clearly communicating saboteur/synergist vibes.

[Raikai]

Maybe it's a Turali Hrothgar art? Might explain why it's so out of place right now, as we haven't seen anything Hrothgar related in the Dawntrail stuff yet, though we know there are settlements there. Maybe the instructor will be a FemGar, who knows.

If I could bet my money, the origins are the 'not-Texas' zone they showed, with the vintage Old West vibe - it would match the Artifact Set visuals.

[EstelleCere]

Oh god Kirito is coming to final fantasy.

Jokes aside it does look interesting, I definitely thought it was gonna be corsair.

[Mayhemmer]

If I could bet my money, the origins are the 'not-Texas' zone they showed, with the vintage Old West vibe - it would match the Artifact Set visuals.

Ah yeah, maybe. How quickly I forget about Fantasy Arizona. I do really hope we get more than just an initial job quest line worth of lore. If there's one thing that also went away with the unique job quests, it was easily consumable extensions of lore, and I do miss that.

[Cach]

Too bad we can't mix and match one-handed weapons on this game.

Otherwise, pretty cool.

[TheMightyMollusk]

Oh god Kirito is coming to final fantasy.

I was thinking Drizzt.