My problem with this amazing game.

[Dhaenon]

This is my problem with this game. No customization. The Cross-Class Skills are a joke. Cooldowns, is all they are. There is no reason to play a class, you have to play a Job. There is only 9 Jobs in this entire game.
19 Jobs in FFXI, with the ability to set a Subjob allowing all kinds of combinations.
11 classes in WoW with 3 different specializations in each.
47 classes in DAOC with 3 different specializations each.
11 Powersets in DCUO with 2 different specializations
16 classes in SWTOR, with 3 different specializations in each.

9 Jobs... with zero specialization or customization. One set of armor, one weapon, one build. Really? I feel like I was lied to about this Cross-Class Skill trash. Remember Black Mages, cross over that Hawk's Eye.

[Shiyo]

This lack of any customization is really a big turn off for me, I agree.

Not being able to do anything interesting or unique with your character in the slightest, no customization at all. You're all identical clones to everyone else playing your job. Yes, it's true that people figure out the "FOTM" and "best" specs, but at least you had to the option to gimp yourself if you wanted to.

Plus in a lot of games players actually discovered things not intended by the Devs, like Ninja tanking, Bard tanking,RDM tanking(FFXI), and numerous other things in other games I can't remember.

I don't like how video games are getting less about fun and exploration and having fun with it taking devs ideas, and making them into what you want, in your own game world, and instead about following a dev's predetermined idea of how YOU should be playing THEIR game. That's boring.

[Starlord]

19 Jobs after 11 years. FFXI only started with 6 Jobs: BLM WHM WAR THF MNK RDM

[Doo]

This game lacks complexity.

[Dhaenon]

From what I can remember, it came out in 2003 with BLM WHM WAR THF MNK RDM and then Paladin, Dark Knight, Beastmaster, Ranger, Bard, and Summoner. However, the first expansion released in America the same time as the main game. Sooooo... if you are talking about in Japan, I don't know.

[Cichy]

Subjobs were a joke in XI, dont tell me samura/whm was a legit combo. MMOs you mentioned allow you for 1 character that is set to a specific class, they provide you with tree skills so you can perform different roles. In XIV however guess what, you can switch a job! Each job is kind of skill tree. Anyways this is the way both FF MMOs work and how people playing them usually want them to work. This is how it's gonna be and it is not going to change

[Sybreed]

I agree, the cross class skills in this game are woefully underutilized. Take Mara/War for example (as it's a similar story with nearly every other class/job), as a Marauder I have access to 28 different abilities from the other classes; however as a Warrior I only have access to 10, and one of them (Savage Blade) is 100% worthless. It's pretty much the same with everyone else as well. This problem, combined with a terribad Materia system and BORING itemization is a HUGE blow to this game.

[Kewitt]

19 Jobs after 11 years. FFXI only started with 6 Jobs: BLM WHM WAR THF MNK RDM

At release PLD DRK BST BRD RNG could be unlocked 30.

Also 22 jobs.

And finally I agree with the point your making.
People keep thinking MMO should be released with 10 years worth of updates.

As for customization. 99% of people end up going into a mold of what works best.

FFXIV WAR can do All STR and all VIT. and both work well. But people see a WARRIOR without 7k HP and they think they are doing something wrong.

[Starlord]

From what I can remember, it came out in 2003 with BLM WHM WAR THF MNK RDM and then Paladin, Dark Knight, Beastmaster, Ranger, Bard, and Summoner. However, the first expansion released in America the same time as the main game. Sooooo... if you are talking about in Japan, I don't know.

Yep American launch is as you say. However, we are talking about launch to launch. FFXI Launch came with 6 Jobs. FFXIV ARR came out with 9 Jobs. If we are talking about jobs FFXIV has XI beat. I agree the jobs need more abilities but this is what we are stuck with for now till future updates ( Level cap) etc.

[Dhaenon]

I like what you have to say, but I think 9 Jobs is kind of a joke.