[dev1032] Class uniqueness or character customization?

[Sephrick]

Just curious what the general opinion is on these two concepts?

From the recent tidbits of information, it seems the developers are working to make each class its own specialization.

When I first started following news of XIV prior to it's release, the ability to mix and match abilities to create my own specialized character within a Final Fantasy universe was incredibly enticing.

Though, things didn't exactly pan out as I had imagined, I thought the horizontal leveling system was a success within the game. It was neat to me that you could take, for example, two Lancers and never have them be the same. With the correct combination of cross-class abilities, on could be a DD power house and never get hate like a Thief in XI, while the other could focus on using abilities that debilitate the foe.

I guess my only concern with "class uniqueness" is that classes will fall into socially expected rolls and will lose some of that openness.

I believe that the ability to make your character it's own class can be made purposeful with the addition of strategy-based content. Currently, in my experience, players don't seem to bother too much with carving out a niche for their character because there's just no need for it due to the lack of that sort of content.

What would you all rather see? Defined rolls for each class through changing and addition of abilities, strategy-based content that would give reason to define your own character or a combination of both?

[Cairdeas]

I think classes are fine, Job Titles to go ontop of them would be awesome, instead of replacing class name implement titles that augment and modify current skills and give bonuses for equipping the jobs tenant skills.

White Mage job title gains bonuses for equipping White Magic, etc.

[Kirith]

The character specialization is a matter of immersion for me. I hated the "social roles" of FFXI jobs, but at the same time the current FFXIV system is good only on paper. It is amazing and interesting to be able to use any class ability once you acquired it, but each class lacks its own "true" characteristic abilities.

Simply said, i think each class must have its unique abilities. Lancers should get a skill like jump, for instance. The issue with this is that "Lancer" isn't a Dragoon. It's a generic name for someone using a lance. How can you make a class with a generic name less generic? The only option i see is returning to traditional FF jobs, but this won't happen.

FFXIV wasnt designed to have class uniqueness in the FFXI way. We will probably get some bonuses to certain battle strategies with each job, but i think that won't bring class uniqueness back and will just harm customization... unless i am underestimating the devs and they are going to change the classes more radically.

[Sorel]

What will help with class uniqueness is enforcing the Armory System. The Armory System basically states when you use Weapon "A", you are Class "X". So why allow characters who are not currently Class "X" to use weaponskills that belong to Weapon "A"? Restricting weaponskills (and only weaponskills) to players who are actually using that weapon will go along way to enforcing class uniqueness, I think. Abilities, traits, and spells should remain unrestricted and cross-classable, though.

[Ouka_Ranbu]

Right now FFXIV class is so broken it's hillarious. For NM all you need are three classes.... that's tank, archer, and thm... because archer damage is out rageous if you get enough weapon skills archer deals more damage with lancer/pug/mrd weapons skill then lancer/pug/mrd can do at their 100% affinity. It doesn't mean archer needs to be nerfed, it just means that other class needs their own role.... like pug(monk) ability to becoming off tank and what not. Lancer is the only melee class with some uniqueness due to speed surge/life surge ability.

[Malakhim]

What will help with class uniqueness is enforcing the Armory System. The Armory System basically states when you use Weapon "A", you are Class "X". So why allow characters who are not currently Class "X" to use weaponskills that belong to Weapon "A"? Restricting weaponskills (and only weaponskills) to players who are actually using that weapon will go along way to enforcing class uniqueness, I think. Abilities, traits, and spells should remain unrestricted and cross-classable, though.

But I like my "dirty fighting monk", Sorel!

[Abriael]

there's plenty differentiation in the current class system.

People just see something completely different from the same old crap and automatically assume it's "wrong".

Try tanking anything sizable with a clothie if you can. Try main healing on a marauder. Try dealing damage with a gladiator. Lemme know how well you do.

Of course skills can be ADDED on top of what we have to increase characterization further, but the armory system is a very good base. The ones that want it removed (funny, since it's the whole base of the game, removing it means having to redo the whole game) should go play wow or some other game that fits their playstyle better.

You know, not all MMORPGs need to be the same.

[Visch]

Uniqueness and customization are for people who don't know how to play MMOs.

Optimal set ups will be found and developed for each class no matter what. If you don't use said optimal set up/gear then you're not good.

[Luhy]

In my opinion, every DD is exactly the same. If your WS has a different name, it doesn't matter. You do the same damage and the attack animations all look alike. Healers just heal. They aren't allowed to do anything else if they want to be useful.

That means we need class uniqueness. PGL is supposed to be the Evasion job, yet at rank 50, I have 420 DEF and only 150 EVA. That isn't right. THM is supposed to manipulate good and evil. All it does is cure. Shouldn't it give bonuses and such to itself or others if they are injured? Those two examples just run with the job's themes. That's all SE has to work on.

[Abriael]

Uniqueness and customization are for people who don't know how to play MMOs.

Optimal set ups will be found and developed for each class no matter what. If you don't use said optimal set up/gear then you're not good.

LOL. Yeahssure. Because playing with a cookie cutter spec found in a forum is SO pro

The more options and possibilities are available, the more viable combinations can be found. It's simple logic.