Why are there no skill trees?

[Kosmos992k]

OK, I get that the game has a very simple formula based on sets of 4 players, a tank, a healer and 2 DPS. The skills of each class are chosen to enhance each class (and job) within their overall role. Great.

However, there is really no flexibility in this system for the player. Similarly the way you enhance your character beyond the simply level growth has virtually no impact on your character, the only thing that does is gearing. Even then you are limited by the role you play in the trinity of classes.

Almost every JRPG (yes, I know, this is an MMORPG, but it's also a FF game which is a series that is JRPG to the core) I've ever played brought with it some kind of skill system that let me choose my path through the skills. You could choose skills from other trees, but with out the intrinsic class bonuses many of those skills were simply not nearly as potent as they could otherwise be. Those skill systems typically include passive skills to boost attributes like strength, Dexterity or Intelligence as well. By using their allocation of skill points players have the option to make the character their own within the boundaries of the system Many western RPGs and MMOs have skill systems like this also.

Since FFXIV is already in place along with the skills 'system' that is has, there's no chance of a sea-change in the skills of the classes - I understand that.

However I was thinking about this and wondered whether there is an opportunity to use the traits to enhance existing skills, and allow players to spend 'trait points' or whatever on these additional traits so that they can customize their character further.

For example, I play a Paladin, if there were traits that boosted the effectiveness of my healing, or allowed me to raise in battle, or boost my ATK or DEF, boost my VIT or HO directly, or increase parry and dodging rates or block strength. I could choose between making a tank with more healing ability, one that contributes more to DPS, one that is even more of a defensive tank able to withstand more damage, or a Paladin that lives up to the billing of creating a dance with shield and blade to deflect and avoid damage while keeping the enemy attention.

A system such as this would not damage the roles that we play, but they would enhance the individuality within the jobs and roles. Personally I think players enjoy making their character their own, and we all have out personal style of play. At the moment though, the FFXIV skill abilities and traits lack the flexibility to allow individuality. Which is a crying shame.

[JatohCynn]

Problem is those systems are hard to balance and almost never make everyone happy.

They always have a thin veneer of "Play how you want!" attached but we all know they end up with a game that has one very specific spec per encounter and the min/maxers will rage on anyone who doesn't use it.

It adds depth but rarely affords more freedom of customization.

[Kitfox]

Because customization is extremely hard to balance. Sure, if you have one person using a mix/max efficiency build, it's not a big deal right? But what if you have a full party using one? The party is suddenly a whole lot more efficient than party that's not using any optimal builds. Then which one do you balance the encounters based on? If you use the min/max end, you'll get a well balanced fight for them but for everyone else the fight might be impossible. If you go for the other end, you make the game too easy for the people who actually know how to build an efficient customization.

That's the problem with all customization options in every game possible. Either it has to be very, very negligible or cosmetic, and in both cases it's completely irrelevant at that point. Or you could just have a completely unbalanced game, that's fun too.

Now different skill trees to do the same things with different abilities are a valid point. But I think we're getting those in terms of different classes and jobs. Please look forward to it.

[OPneedNerfs]

Have fun paying extra for a skill reset because nobody wants you for going the lousier spec.

[Kosmos992k]

That's the problem with all customization options in every game possible. Either it has to be very, very negligible or cosmetic, and in both cases it's completely irrelevant at that point. Or you could just have a completely unbalanced game, that's fun too.

Now different skill trees to do the same things with different abilities are a valid point. But I think we're getting those in terms of different classes and jobs. Please look forward to it.

I understand about balance, although I think the problem can be overcome, not within the existing trinity set up, but I think it can be overcome.

Even within the skill trees by class, I'm not sure how different they are, the last time they were balancing jobs/classes, the primary changes to warrior were to make it more paladin like. In the end it feels somewhat homogenized to me.

[NintenPyjak64]

I'd like to think jobs are essentially skill trees. Arcanist is a good example, you can spec to INT or MND to play SCH or SMN. We'll see how new jobs branch from old classes go to improve this

[Felis]

Maybe if we can buy specific skills at the guilds with guildmarks again.
Of course at level 50 everyone with the same classs would have the same skills again because they bought every skill available.

Crossclass skills are also like skill tree. But we need more crossclass skills again. Maybe not all skills as crossclass skills like it was at the beginning from 1.0 (except the ones the players bought in the guilds), but more than we have now.

[Gormogon]

All I want is Subjobs + PvE action points.

[Saccharin]

For example, I play a Paladin, if there were traits that boosted the effectiveness of my healing, or allowed me to raise in battle, or boost my ATK or DEF, boost my VIT or HO directly, or increase parry and dodging rates or block strength. I could choose between making a tank with more healing ability, one that contributes more to DPS, one that is even more of a defensive tank able to withstand more damage, or a Paladin that lives up to the billing of creating a dance with shield and blade to deflect and avoid damage while keeping the enemy attention.

I would like it if the attribute points you earn while levelling could be put into secondary stats and not your primary since it makes no sense not to put it into your main throughput stat or vitality.

I wish cross job skills would get fixed. Some jobs have nice cross skills but some have a poor choice and when it is good it's severely neutered. Cure on pally springs to mind.

Problem is those systems are hard to balance and almost never make everyone happy.

They always have a thin veneer of "Play how you want!" attached but we all know they end up with a game that has one very specific spec per encounter and the min/maxers will rage on anyone who doesn't use it.

It adds depth but rarely affords more freedom of customization.

Indeed that's why Blizzard decided to go down the path they did. Hybrid builds were either complete junk or in some rare cases they were very overpowered. Most people went with the theorycrafted best spec.

The only game that offers that (from what I know) is Rift. Each calling (class) has nine souls (trees) and you pick three to make your build. Putting points into a specific role tree increases your effectiveness in that role. If you want a damage build pick three damage trees and you'll get the full benefit. Put your points into a tank tree and get survivability etc. Some people don't like it but I do. If you want to be good at single target damage then put the all the points you can in a single target soul if you want an AoE soul then place most points in that. If you want a hybrid then you have neither a best single target or AoE build. To balance it they have had to neuter lower branches of the tree though.

[Musashidon]

illusion of choice doesn't mean there is actually choice there.