Quote Originally Posted by Dzian View Post
Jobs were created to give classes identities.


not quite but near as damn it. save for 1 or 2 abilities they both play pretty much identically.

which ultimately was the original problem with classes. there was a set of skills and that set of skills you would use whether you were pugilist lancer marauder gladiator or archer. all classes were basically identical.

Jobs exist to create diversity and variety where classes failed.
Such a shame that jobs have no identity then except bard maybe.
Jobs are highly circumstantial, and you don't use their skills a lot anyways, except a few, in party.
Jobs don't give diversity, it's the other way around. Jobs are limited in nr of cross-skills they can use, for (mostly) little benefit.
While classes can use many cross-skills from many other classes.

Quote Originally Posted by Mychael View Post
However, they fixed [aka limited] classes to differentiate them, then threw jobs on top as overkill.

Also, I'd like to disagree with your use of "diversity" and "variety." Pre-reform classes allowed each player to pick their own set of abilities, i.e. every player was diverse. Post-reform, everyone has one of the predefined skillsets.
It's hardly overkill, when you don't even use Job skills most of the time. How often do you use any BLM skills outside party for example? and even then you probably use mostly sleep and Flare.
WHM mostly just regain
DRG, Jump?
You're limiting yourself, for basically no gains.
That's why Jobs need many more skills, to feel unique.