Class System Blues

[flaco]

Let me start off by saying that I am not one of these players who gripes and complains about every aspect of Final Fantasy XIV that doesn't quite correspond to my individual expectations as a player (i.e. leveling specifics, PvP, character customization, whatever-people-like-about-games, etc., etc.) I understand that Square Enix has to appeal to a massivley diverse demographic, and not everyone can be 100% satasfied 100% of the time.

I actually think FFXIV is amazing, and am very eager to see it improve even more once 2.0 goes live.

That being said . . .

I really dispise this everyone gets to be every class at once thing!

In my eyes, this defeats the entire purpose of gaming online.

What I mean by this is: When you are locked into one class, your class-of-choice (be it gladiator, conjurer, etc.) makes you unique, it sets you apart from other players, and makes you a valuable party member.

If everyone is every class, no one is unique, and there is no need to seek out new players to join a party because you do not need their assistance (except for gaining up shear numbers.) What's the fun in that?

I think it would make more sense to limit players to choosing one of each discipline. For example:

Player 1 is a Gladiator, Conjurer, Culinarian, and Botantist.
Player 2 is a Pugilist, Thaumaturge, Alchemist, and Fisherman.

This way players can defend themselves while having synthesis skills and an ability to earn gil; but without making the game bland.

However, if it were up tp me. Players would commit to only one class belonging to one discipline. This would force players to interact with one another to successfuly manuever through the game. For instance a marauder must befreind a blacksmith to repair his weapons, and in return the marauder can help the blacksmith travel to other towns without getting slaughtered by fiends.

That's what online games are about right? Interacting with other people? What are your opinions?

[Raldo]

It was a conscious design choice. Some will like it, some will not. Personally, I like being able to do everything on a single character. Splitting things out would just cause people to level multiple characters instead of just sticking with one, so I don't see much difference.

For example: Oh hey, I got some skins, but I'm not on my character with Leatherworking leveled. Now I have to go through the hassle of moving the materials to a different character, as opposed to just processing it myself.

People wouldn't necessarily interact more, they'd just level more characters to achieve the same effect.

[Renen]

Please go play every other MMO then. This is FF where everyone can be any class w/o having to reroll 20 times

[flaco]

Are the players of these other MMO's as friendly as you are?

It's just a forum topic. Relax...

[rution19]

I agree to a degree OP. I think FFXI had it right. Level as many jobs as you want, hell even reward them for it (maat's cap), but take away the ability to switch jobs/classes immediatly. It really does take that uniqueness out of everyone's character. It wasn't a big deal to go back to your MH to switch jobs, but it was just enough of a pain in the butt that you would have to change your strategy to beat a quest. Not having the ability to change instantly forces players to work w/ what they have and think outside the box.

[yukikaze_yanagi]

FF mmorpgs have this all-in-one-character feature, and it's good it remain like this. I always hated 1 pg-1 class in every other game

[tymora]

1) Players grow more attached to 1 character when they level multiple jobs on one.
-> This way they stay longer in the game so +1 for the company and for the players.

2) Your proposed system won't work out since people will just make multiple characters.
-> As a player, I won't know who the heck your alternates are. I won't even care who the heck you are. You think I would go track all "x" number of your alternates multiplied by "y" number of players in my linkshell? It seriously sucks bad when I log into the game to ask "Who are you" every day.

3) Flexibility in groups.
-> Granted there are some balancing issues but anyone can theoretically go as anything in groups...and I don't have to re-log a character to do it.

4) Cross-class skills
-> I actually liked this aspect of FFXIV. Even if everyone uses the same thing in the end, it is something unique to FF.

[Arkine]

I was worried about this too but aren't anymore after dabbling in some endgame content.

At start most people played anything in AF and content at the time ifrit/moogle/DH were forgiving enough that medicore skill and gear was enough to clear them. As content gets harder and skill and gear start to matter more, most people will start focusing on fewer roles to play.

WHM that only leveled the job up for the crown won't be as reliable as an experienced WHM with melded and endgame gear.

[Xatsh]

I 100% disagree with the Op on this.

The all class/jobs per 1 character is one of the major positives of XI and XIV over all other mmos out there. There is no need to level alts, no need to do the same quest 10xs over, no need to level the same crafts over and over.

[Tahldon]

1) Players grow more attached to 1 character when they level multiple jobs on one.
-> This way they stay longer in the game so +1 for the company and for the players.

2) Your proposed system won't work out since people will just make multiple characters.
-> As a player, I won't know who the heck your alternates are. I won't even care who the heck you are. You think I would go track all "x" number of your alternates multiplied by "y" number of players in my linkshell? It seriously sucks bad when I log into the game to ask "Who are you" every day.

3) Flexibility in groups.
-> Granted there are some balancing issues but anyone can theoretically go as anything in groups...and I don't have to re-log a character to do it.

4) Cross-class skills
-> I actually liked this aspect of FFXIV. Even if everyone uses the same thing in the end, it is something unique to FF.

I agree with Tymora on this point.

Also, I might add that most people specialize in certain classes anyways. I'm sure you know certain players who main "this class" and sub "that class", which allows them to concentrate their energies and resources towards bettering that particular one. Then again, you have people who are Jacks of all trades. But the underlining here is that people have the freedom to choose what they want.

Freedom and choices, Flaco, the more of those you give to people, the happier they are.