Classes and jobs progression beyond level 50 - A suggestion & improvement

[Nakiamiie]

Hi!

Currently, classes and jobs are designed to be extremely straight forward with a specific role in mind.
This is done in order to keep things simple and casual for the majority of players.

However, this is also its weakness. The classes and jobs system is shallow compared to what it first was. (feel free to disagree with this opinion)

After level 50, players are experienced and can handle more complexity and customization. So, with that in mind, here is my suggestion:

Allow the purchase of stats and abilities expansion for customization.
(This could be done as horizontal progression by completing independent challenges once level 50 is reached.)

Here are some examples along with my reasoning to eliminate weaknesses in the current system:

• Purchase extra potency for secondary stats (not primary stats!).
  Currently, each class/job only uses 1~2 stats. All others are considered useless. For example, a PUG would use STR and some VIT. DEX and INT are totally useless.
  
  However, by purchasing extra potency for these secondary stats, they would become useful for the classes/jobs.
  
  For example, a paladin buying extra potency for MND could cast stronger Cure.
  Another example, a BLM could buy potency for DEX, effectively increasing his chance of parrying at an acceptable level.
  
  The idea here is to give extra meaning to other stats that are otherwise just decorations on your character profile, without overpowering a character nor reducing his potential.

• Purchase of extra skill/trait affinity.
  Currently, only a small set of skills can be used by other classes/jobs. Purchasing a skill or trait affinity would allow the class/job to equip that skill or trait.
  
  However, not all skills or traits would be the same "price" and some could even cost two slots when you equip them. As before, classes would have less restriction than jobs for these cross-class skills and traits.
  
  Furthermore, job skills would NOT be purchasable, only class skills and traits.
  
  The idea here is to bring back the great versatility that the classes had when the game was first released. It was one of the greatest point of the armoury system to be able to level multiple classes and then make your own customized class by mix and matching skills.
  This would be bring back that system to a certain extent.

• Purchase and re-allocation of elemental affinity.
  This would allow you to manipulate your elemental resistance and customize them as it was possible before A Realm Reborn.
  
  It could also be used in conjunction with other debuff resistance. For example, heightening your stun resistance, but lowering your poison resistance.
  
  The current elemental system is very weak and totally uninteresting. This would help unbalance stats to create strengths and weaknesses in your character as an optional form of customization.

• And more!
  As the game grows, so would this horizontal growth system! Thus, passively adding horizontal growth and complexity to those who wish to use it.

I believe this would help patch the holes in the current system. As the game grows, these holes would be patched even more and strengthening the game foundation rather than being a boring vertical progression only.


I'd personally rather work on that during my play time than getting yet another more powerful weapon/armor that will get outdated after a couple of weeks.


Thank you for reading and hopefully the devs will take this suggestion into consideration.