Letter to the Producer, Stay Class-less not Classy

[Nekodar]

The problem with the branching is you end up having to specialise on one job or gimp both when it comes to the allocation of bonus attributes. This surely must undermine the whole concept of being able to play all jobs on one character because it essentially encourages you to marginalise one job in favour of another, albeit not permanently because of the GC item but seriously who wants to farm 10k seals everytime you want to play a job considering FATEs are rarely touched anymore.

Attributes don't have to be optimally allocated for the job you feel like playing. The effect of the 30 points is quite marginal, so you can either go for a mix that fits both SMN and SCH for example, or optimize for one and still be able to do good on the other.
In short, you don't HAVE to min-max.

[Grizzlebeard]

Attributes don't have to be optimally allocated for the job you feel like playing. The effect of the 30 points is quite marginal,

Then the argument should be for them to scrap bonus attribute allocation surely. It's a pointless mechanic anyway because DPS will always go STR/DEX/INT accordingly, VIT for tanks, MND for healers. There's this illusion of choice that doesn't exist except on the one tree where they merged a MND job with an INT job and left one or both gimped.

[Nekodar]

Then the argument should be for them to scrap bonus attribute allocation surely. It's a pointless mechanic anyway because DPS will always go STR/DEX/INT accordingly, VIT for tanks, MND for healers. There's this illusion of choice that doesn't exist except on the one tree where they merged a MND job with an INT job and left one or both gimped.

So you want to remove choice because min-maxers have decided you're gimped if you don't allocate the way they want you to?
With more jobs being added to classes you'll have to choose again what to prioritize. min-max one job or go for a mix that is suitable for both.

[Grizzlebeard]

So you want to remove choice because min-maxers have decided you're gimped if you don't allocate the way they want you to?
With more jobs being added to classes you'll have to choose again what to prioritize. min-max one job or go for a mix that is suitable for both.

Min-maxers are playing this game just as you are, your opinion is no more or less valid than theirs. Also, I'm very much pro-choice when it comes to character design hence my sadness at the loss of the wonderful system we had back in FFXI. What I take umbrage with is a mechanic that forces you to marginalise one job in favour of another when the main strength of the FF MMO job system has always been about having all jobs on one character.

I don't care if 30 points make little difference (they clearly do otherwise gear stat increments would be huge rather than the small differences we have between iLevel 80 and 90 gear) the fact is I will be less inclined to play either both "averaged" jobs or the completely gimped one. Many people play the game to squeeze the optimal ability out of their characters whether that be another 1 DPS or 10HPs cured and having such a poorly thought out system in place dissuades people from choice at best, at worst it actively encourages people to shelve jobs.

[Mardel]

Then the argument should be for them to scrap bonus attribute allocation surely. It's a pointless mechanic anyway because DPS will always go STR/DEX/INT accordingly, VIT for tanks, MND for healers. There's this illusion of choice that doesn't exist except on the one tree where they merged a MND job with an INT job and left one or both gimped.

This is why I want the stat allocation gone, It is an illusion of choice. If anything they should let you choose between 1-3 special traits you can specialize in. I.E. WHM stronger cure or a stronger regen. Scholar, better lustrate or higher pet healing. Things like that.

[Kieren-Dohla]

Yeah, the choices for stat allocation, especially for tanks are pretty much pointless, there really is no reason not to put all the points for PLD into vitality, the equipment makes up for the others stats. Either mostly eliminate stat allocation or give some benefits to putting points into another class, like for example PLD, putting points into Dexterity might significantly increase Parry (I heard it does a tiny bit but is worthless compared to putting points into vitality).

[Mardel]

Yeah, the choices for stat allocation, especially for tanks are pretty much pointless, there really is no reason not to put all the points for PLD into vitality, the equipment makes up for the others stats. Either mostly eliminate stat allocation or give some benefits to putting points into another class, like for example PLD, putting points into Dexterity might significantly increase Parry (I heard it does a tiny bit but is worthless compared to putting points into vitality).

Yes, this exactly. Anything but VIT is pointless.