So are Crafting + Gathering jobs now -just- "support" jobs?

[Azurymber]

from: http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...082#post172082

Hey gang. We have another set of answers here for your perusal. Unfortunately, this isn't the entire list as we're still going through and organizing/translating them. Sorry for the continued delay, and believe me when I say that this has been a learning experience for everyone involved (so many questions...) and we'll be working to ensure we smooth the entire thing out going forward.

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Please let us know the current direction of gathering classes.

Along with crafters, we are defining it as a class that supports the battle classes.
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So this may have already been covered in other topics or in one of Yoshi-P's letters and I just missed it, but are crafting and gathering jobs now -OFFICIALLY- support jobs for battle classes like in FFXI.

I remember one of the "unique" things about this game at launch was the ability to main as a gatherer or crafter. And I thought this would have been one of the things that remained in the game to make it stand out.
Further all the current main missions are made to be completable by DoL and DoH.

So in expansions will missions only be able to be complete by DoW?
Can you no longer "main" as a gatherer or crafter (without missing all the new content)?

or what exactly does "supporting the battle classes" mean?

EDIT: To be clear this post has nothing to do with how the game should be. I am only asking if anyone knows how SE currently views crafting and gathering jobs....

[Jynx]

I assume "Supporting" them entails in the fact that without you they wouldn't have Shit to wear or use or eat or even look at.

I'm all for Main story missions being battle classes only, was it really that fun having almost every mission have a "Lulz we can parlay with them" part to it?

I still see no reason that the philosiphy that one could "Main" a crafter or gathering class should go away, crafters and gatherers should get there own content to allow them to enjoy playing that class full time if need be. When will it happen or will it happen? We can't be sure yet, but they will focus on the battle classes first and foremost because I can guarantee there isn't a big % of the population that is going to buy this game at relaunch and say.

"Man I can't wait to main my cook!"

[Radaghast]

As they should be.

[Corrderio]

As they should be.

This. Gathering and Crafting classes should have been just that.

[Jennestia]

Um yeah, they've always been support classes.

[zoozoo]

Um yeah, they've always been support classes.

That's fine if that's where the dev team wants to take crafters now, and i understand why they would do that. But they have not always been support classes. DOL/DOH used to be talked up as an actual class, that would be able to participate in missions/quests just like their DOM/DOW counterparts, and have abilities that were to be used in battle.

As i've already posted in this thread before, the role descriptions for blacksmith and miner on finalfantasyxiv.com still detail battle abilities that they were intended to have.

[Jennestia]

That's fine if that's where the dev team wants to take crafters now, and i understand why they would do that. But they have not always been support classes. DOL/DOH used to be talked up as an actual class, that would be able to participate in missions/quests just like their DOM/DOW counterparts, and have abilities that were to be used in battle.

As i've already posted in this thread before, the role descriptions for blacksmith and miner on finalfantasyxiv.com still detail battle abilities that they were intended to have.

Yeah, support, it's not going to take down bosses or an empire compared to classes designed for such lol.

So it's always been more of a support than leading class. Compared to XI they are indeed their own classes (Fisher, Miner, rest of DoH etc.)

[Azurymber]

its not "as they should be" that matters.

SE should be straight-up about this so that players know whether or not gatherers and crafters will ever get endgame stuff or be able to solo missions in the future. Otherwise a lot of gatherer or crafter only players will get really annoyed when they find out the game has turned to a battle-class focus.

[Jinko]

They also said that they are looking into making end game content for gatherers in the form of rare items, I imagine end game for crafters will be making rare armour/weapons/items.

It was a bad idea to have crafting and gatherering as main classes to begin with, looks like the new team have realised that and are trying to downplay both disciplines.

[Chinook]

Save the copper, save the world

GATHERERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE SUMMONS EXCLUSIVELY TOO