How do you select a second class?

[TyloRime]

While the equipment sets are super helpful for keeping things organized, it is the swapping of mainhand weapons (and tools) that switch you from one class to another.

[Aleron]

Oh sweet, thanks!

Learning multiple classes is how you eventually unlock Jobs. Actually I found the system really confusing until someone explained Jobs are a bit like AD&D Prestige Classes. You need X levels of one class and Y of another and then you can unlock a super-specialized version of the main class. You can use fewer cross-class abilities, but you get big boosts to what you can do. In the end though, it means you don't end up with a Black Mage/White Mage, you end up with a really strong Black Mage with just a couple off-class abilities.

[Tandor]

I read that the Jobs are really better for those who group, and that developing the basic classes is better for those who solo, is that the case? Also, if as say a Gladiator/Conjuror you become a Paladin, can you still develop Gladiator and Conjuror separately?

[Bixby]

For some classes, the class is a bit better for soloing because of the lack of limitations on cross-class skills. But from what I've seen, the difference is not all that pronounced; most of the people I know who solo much just solo as their chosen job anyway, because the bonuses to the job balance out with what you give up on the class, and it can be kind of annoying having to remember what you can and can't do as class vs. job.

A job is (literally) a piece of equipment for a given class. When you become a Paladin, you are leveling Gladiator, with the Paladin soul crystal equipped. Whatever level your Gladiator reaches is the level of your Paladin. You don't level them separately.

Conjurer is a separate class. You can level it just like any other class at any time.

[Tandor]

A job is (literally) a piece of equipment for a given class. When you become a Paladin, you are leveling Gladiator, with the Paladin soul crystal equipped. Whatever level your Gladiator reaches is the level of your Paladin. You don't level them separately.

Conjurer is a separate class. You can level it just like any other class at any time.

Ah thanks, I hadn't realised that. So can you unequip the Paladin soul crystal in order to get the full Gladiator skills and cross-class skills if the situation demands that? Or is a case of once equipped, that's it for ever?

[xRitzx]

The Paladin soul crystal is just like a piece of gear. You equip it when you want to use it and unequip it when you don't. So yes, you can change between Paladin and Gladiator as the situation demands.

[Bixby]

Ah thanks, I hadn't realised that. So can you unequip the Paladin soul crystal in order to get the full Gladiator skills and cross-class skills if the situation demands that? Or is a case of once equipped, that's it for ever?

The former. You can unequip a soul crystal to switch to its base class, re-equip it to switch to its job, anytime you could change any other piece of equipment (i.e., not in combat).

[Tandor]

Excellent, thanks.

[Merryl]

http://www.ffxivguild.com/ff14-job-requirements-arr/
I've been using that page to help me decide on a direction so I'm not wasting a lot of time.