Jobless Dungeoneers

[Garlyle]

Most importantly, perhaps, Classes have far more options for those 10 cross-class slots than Jobs do with their 5; for instance, a Pugilist can theoretically have both the +Damage buff from Lancer AND the +damage buff from Archer, as well as the +Crit Chance-proccing effect; but Monk can't take cross-class skills from Archer, losing out on the two latter ones (which are also available at far earlier levels).

So the question ultimately is A. can you take advantage of the extra cross-class slots, and B. Are you sacrificing really awesome job-specific abilities/equipment in order to do so.

[Estellios]

You guys are also forgetting the fact that just equipping the job stone boosts your stats quite a bit.

[JayvirDeforte]

You guys are also forgetting the fact that just equipping the job stone boosts your stats quite a bit.

Your stats do increase, but depending on what cross-class abilities you get, it may not be much better.

[AnaviAnael]

You guys are also forgetting the fact that just equipping the job stone boosts your stats quite a bit.

Precisely this. It's amazing how many people have said "jobs give you nothing." That stat boost is nothing to scoff at.

Granted classes over jobs never bothers me when seeing people under level 35 (or even 40) without a job, but 40+ it's a bit weird. Sometimes people have been grinding fates and haven't gotten around to it, or maybe they tried to get the job and failed, then didn't go back to retry. I know a lot of archers who won't unlock bard because, "Archer being bard is stupid," and "I don't want to be a support class, I want to be ranged DD."

[Orophin]

I started wondering about that too

lvl 50 conjurer has 10 extra cross ability slots, compares to lvl 50 whm only has 5 extra slots, IMHO in low lvl dungeon, class functions better than job.

I swapped back down to CNJ on sub-level 30 dungeons exclusively for Quelling Strikes since you end up with inexperienced tanks more often than not. That and it's not like you're going to have any good job abilities available anyway.

I ended up with a MRD (not WAR) tank in Stone Vigil once. That was pretty painful...

I personally didn't unlock Black Mage until like 40 since the job abilities were very lackluster and I could get a bit more utility out of some cross class skills. Certain classes can get away with not swapping to a job until 35-40, but after that it's just kinda foolish not to.

[ddaydj]

Most of the people I've asked about it so far in dungeons don't know about the job quest or haven't gotten around to leveling the supporting class. Glad to hear that there are some cases where not using a job is practical. All the classes I've leveled so far seem to be in the group of early job skills being critical. Thanks for the new perspective.

[Naberrie]

I think it depends on the class. I think a tank should always go as a job. The cross class skills simply aren't worth losing the stat boost. GLA could probably get away with it in Haukke, but not in Brayflox. You're simply getting hit too hard there at the end to lose the extra VIT. And WAR gets access to some pretty useful cross class skills. Better choices, IMO, than PLD. Arguably the one argument WAR wins over PLD at the moment; until 2.1, anyway.

IMO, it's better to go as the job. The cross class skills are on cool downs, so they're not constant. They're also situational. The stat boosts are ever-present. You're either in a constant state of increased HP, increased MP, increased damage, increased ability to absorb damage, increased healing, etc. I prefer to go as the job. Even when I run low level dungeons to help others I often go as a job. WHM is extremely useful in Ifrit fight compared to CNJ. The increased healing per cast is highly noticeable.

[Narcissus]

I join WP/AK runs as Glad with full DL Garuda weapon when looking for a challenge, shit gets so boring being OP Relic PLD

[HaplessHermit]

It really depends. CNJ should swap asap, because as long as they get Swiftcast, they're golden. The extra MND from being a WHM is a lot better than having other CCAs for them. That being said I didn't unlock WHM until like, 38, because I played the game with three friends, and when they weren't on, I'd just craft... this also explains why I still don't have Swiftcast. My priorities are pretty shameful.

The reason it took me so long to get WHM was the 15 ACN requirement. I didn't know how big of a deal WHM was compared to CNJ (hi regen), so instead of leveling ACN I'd just craft or gather.

If it wasn't obvious already, I'd advise against doing what I did.