How locked am I in my first class choice?

[Urthdigger]

I actually recommend leveling classes that use the same gear at the same time (tanks, casters, physical DPS, drafters, gatherers) for that reason.

[Sakuraluna]

All you have to do is decide which class/job you want to level and sign up wit that class's guild. Then you'll have that class's quest line and everything opened up for you.

[Kuroyuki-Hime]

You're just as much locked in your class as you allow yourself to be locked in.

I realized that after people started dying on my WHM while I was busy DPSing....


Joke aside, the only restriction of your starter class is your home town and thus the main story until level 15 (or was it 20?).

[Isenveld]

Thanks for all your advice. After getting post 20 on my CNJ I'm having a hard time actually considering playing as anything but a CNJ (later WHM). Even ACN which should be my fave since I was a SMN/WHM in FFXI (loving the updated Carbuncle!) is a bit tough to get to grips with "having" to level.

[Suki-]

Have a play around with the other classes, you may find you enjoy some of them

I recently levelled scholar to 50 and I really enjoy it. Still figuring out how to play it properly but it's fun none the less ^^

[Clavaat]

Thanks for all your advice. After getting post 20 on my CNJ I'm having a hard time actually considering playing as anything but a CNJ (later WHM). Even ACN which should be my fave since I was a SMN/WHM in FFXI (loving the updated Carbuncle!) is a bit tough to get to grips with "having" to level.

I would highly recommend leveling up some of the other classes for their cross-class abilities. WHM benefits greatly from Eye for an Eye from ACN and both Swiftcast/Surecast from THM.

[Isenveld]

I would highly recommend leveling up some of the other classes for their cross-class abilities. WHM benefits greatly from Eye for an Eye from ACN and both Swiftcast/Surecast from THM.

Thanks for the advice, still learning so much about the game. I'm not saying I will never level other classes, just that my focus will be either WHM or SMN

[Grenwal]

Is there a list of cross class capabilities? Can I mix DoW and DoM abilities? Would be nice to target a secondary to throw a spell and give the tank a chance to gain some enmity.

[Urthdigger]

If you look up a class on GamerEscape (such as http://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Lancer) there will be a list of actions it can equip cross-class. Also, any skill that can be cross-classed generally can be used by ALL classes (jobs can only get skills from two specific classes though, depending on the job), with the exception of Cleric's Stance (Only Scholar can cross-class it).

However, using spells on a DoW or melee abilities on a DoM is generally ill-advised. Most of the effectiveness of abilities comes from your weapon damage, with Physical Damage for physical skills and Magic Damage for spells. Your weapon only lists the damage pertinent to your skill (So, for lancer that'd be physical damage) but the other damage can be found via data mining, and will be considerably less than the one shown. In addition, your spellcasting stat (Intelligence for offensive spells, Mind for healing spells) will be rather low on a DoW. That said, buffs like Protect, Stoneskin, Eye for an Eye, Foresight, Featherfoot, Raging Strikes (which effects spells too!) Quelling Strikes, and other such things can be useful regardless of who uses them (Although, the class that earns the ability usually earns traits to make these more effective. So, a thaumaturge and a gladiator can cast Protect equally well, but a conjurer still does it better)

Also, I'm a little unsure of what you mean by "targeting a secondary to throw a spell" to give the tank some time to gain enmity. First off, attacking secondary targets is a BAD IDEA if you're trying not to pull hate. The tank will be building most of his hate on his primary target, switching to a secondary target will likely mean you'll steal hate on your new target, kinda defeating the purpose of letting him regain enmity on the main target. Secondly, why cast a spell? If the secondary target is attacking the tank, chances are it's also in melee range. If it's not attacking the tank (and hence you need the range), you will DEFINITELY be tanking it (again, defeating the point), and the tank has the choice of letting you likely die to it, or pulling it off you meaning he's spending less time building enmity on his primary target, and now has another thing smacking him and making the healer's job tougher.

EDIT: Ok, I am mistaken. DoM cannot use weaponskills, and DoW cannot use offensive spells. Still, my point about weapon damage and stats does still hold, so don't expect your lancer to toss out massive heals. Can still be enough to save your rear though.

[Grenwal]

Good to know I can still use healing spells and buffs . What I meant by breakin off of the main: a few times, I have noticed I become very close to being targeted or am targeted and have to back off my DD. Casting a detrimental spell seemed like it could have been a better alternative to standing around while the tank regains enmity. I'm still very new so it could have been a problem with that particular tank. I've only ran three dungeons so it could have been a one off issue. Thanks for the help and for humoring my curiosity.