How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Armoury System

[Myranda]

I deal with it fine enough, and I don't have any problems with classes vs. jobs.

The main thing I wish they would have done differently is not tie down classes to only a single weapon. SE's selling point for doing this is being able to change job anywhere just by changing weapon/tool, but it could have been done just as easily by... simply letting us change job anywhere, through a change job button, regardless of weapon. Basically just take a FFXI style job change menu and don't restrict it to the mog house/inn room/whatever you want to call it. Done. But no, that would be too simple.

By restricting us to 1 weapon = 1 class, they've reduced the number of possible playstyles, and have also really pigeonholed themselves when it comes time to release new classes/jobs as they need to introduce new weapon types as well.

But what's done is done. All we can do now is protect our precious bodily fluids.

[Yrusama]

You are a magnificent writer, Mr. Moose. I enjoyed every word, and not just because I agree. From an MMO aspect you've outlined everything that makes the system cool. I'd like to add my toughts on the FF aspect.

Class Upgrades = FF
Mid-game class upgrades have been a main staple since the original Final Fantasy - from Bahamut endowing those first players with stronger classes, to the Crystals granting us the ability to change classes, to earning new classes through story-driven quests. Upgrades are such a common feature of the job system it's practically mandatory.

But if you don't take that, here's a breakdown:
FF1: Mid-game class upgrades.
FF3: Class changing
FF5: Interchangeable abilities
FFTactics: All of the above + multi-class level requirements to unlock advanced classes
FF11: Most of the above + story-driven unlock quests for classes
FF14: All of the above.