This game needs depth, Please implement a second weapon (playstyle) for each job

[Starplayer]

Hi there guys,

I've been un-subbed since a month before the release of the Leviathan patch. The reason I left is because I got bored of playing my jobs and classes the same way. The only variety I experienced with my bard was merely upgrading gear and seeing more DPS output. This was interesting for a while, but got stale real fast, especially since everyone else was also forced into playing the same way.

I just recently tried out WoW, (good but nowhere near the potential that FFXIV has) and while playing, I couldn't help but continually tell myself things like, "Hmm, this system is just what FFXIV needs". The system I'm referring to is the ability to change specs. Wouldn't it be cool if a Paladin had the option of choosing between a sword and shield, greatsword (or hammer), or a staff? Or even just a choice of 2 weapons? This choice would alter the way you play the job (tank, DPS, healer), and would add variety and uniqueness to the game. It seems like a logical thing for an expansion but this would go against the philosophy that Yoshi seems to be operating under (simple). I believe a system like this could be implemented without complicating the game too much. In my opinion, this is the area in which this game fails miserably (depth and variety).

Do you guys think that this may be implemented at some point during the life of the game? It's probably what it would take to make me return. Thanks in advance for your responses guys.

[Tashigi]

I agree, the game needs more depth. But I don't think your suggestion would be easily implemented, given that they've based the entire class/job system around the weapon itself.
They could allow you to tweak your build more or to improve abilities via a talent spec, such as what you probably grew fond of in WOW.
Honestly though, this would be met with a lot of resistance from this community.

[Welsper59]

Technically, this is completely fulfilled by the fact you can change your job/class on the same character. Unless what you're getting at is something along the lines of a PLD using a bow to tank with... which just seems odd lol. Or even under the idea of role changing based on it, you already have that option, as I indicated on the first sentence. Unlike other games, your character, through changing weapons here (effectively changing your role/job/class), is actually doing exactly what you're thinking of.

The idea for multiple weapons could be interesting, but it'd certainly have to be VERY limited. This game, unlike others like WoW, is more about the flashiness of it than otherwise. The way this game is set up to play (slower/fluid action animation and combat than things like WoW) wouldn't allow for such options in the near future. Classes themselves would have to be altered, both abilities and stats, which really is just not going to happen here. FFXI also had things like this, and while it was fine at first, it kinda just came boiling down to a specific weapon type per job.

[Issac]

XI did this right. Jobs could use a range of different weapons, weaponskill was independent of your own level, you chose what to master and how fast.

[Gilthas]

FFXIV already has specializations, it's called equip a different weapon/soulstone to change your job. Specializations are only really needed in games where you can't change classes.

"But I want to be a DPS that uses swords!"

You're going to have to wait for them to add another job to Gladiator then.

XI did this right. Jobs could use a range of different weapons, weaponskill was independent of your own level, you chose what to master and how fast.

Most jobs used the same weapon type for the whole of their career. Not only that, but switching to a different weapon (for the most part) didn't really change how you played your job.

Its just they haven't implemented similar jobs for the other classes...and possibly never will. -_-

Not really sure why you're saying this. I'd say that it's way more likely for them to add second jobs to each class than to add new class/job pairings since it's less work to implement.

[Gardes]

Most jobs used the same weapon type for the whole of their career. Not only that, but switching to a different weapon (for the most part) didn't really change how you played your job.

I dunno, if I came into a leveling party as a pld and then busted out my great sword, I'd be out of the party faster than a monk's 2 hour. Standing around in jeuno and actually tanking things sounds like a completely different playstyle to me. You can argue that standing still in jeuno isn't a play style but most FFXI dragoons would beg to differ.

:^)

[Kimikryo]

snip

fixing yourself on a single weapon for a class? oh look my whm50 doesnt need swiftcast.

My Bard had different sets. One for massive DPS, one for support and hexing only, one for Pulling.
My Paladin, while most of the time using sword and shield, to needed to know when I need to play like a plain meat shield and when to be agile like a couerl (tanking Byakko, try it in pure meatshield version and you die faster than you think).
Thief, when do I use daggers, when rapiers, when clubs? You needed to know all, capped weaponskill.
Same for dancer. Just dancer also needed to be main healer at times.
Any class with ranged weapon skill needed to be able to use it.
Samurai had different playing styles too, very specific as they might have been, but a Dynamis samurai needed to do different things as a colibri and even an imp exp party.
Even WHM had skills for mainly offensive use and even DPS sets.
Don't even get me started on Bluemage.

I still don't see how it would be any different from how it is now. The only difference would be the naming. You want for when a GLD equips two handed to still be called GLD but that's just a word on your character description.

Your character can use sword, shield, axe, knuckles, spear, book, staff, wand, summons, bow, daggers soon. The more you play with a weapon the more skills you get for said weapon. GLD, WAR, WHM are nothing else but names for the proficiencies of a particular weapon. They just needed some names. You want for your warrior to use a spear? Equip one and now you can use a spear.

Do you even actively play this game?

[Felis]

XI did this right. Jobs could use a range of different weapons, weaponskill was independent of your own level, you chose what to master and how fast.

FF XIV 1.0 was also like this before the character level got removed (class level worked as weapon level, because your weapon is your class)

As example here:


You gain 14 experience points = Your character get 14 exp
You gain 108 conjury skill points = Your conjurer weapon get 108 exp

[ShinkuTachi]

XI did this right. Jobs could use a range of different weapons, weaponskill was independent of your own level, you chose what to master and how fast.

Eh, that's only somewhat correct. Only Warrior could use a "range" (ie: many different weapons); however, most jobs could use a few. This sense of depth or variety was simply an illusion though, as every job specialized in only one or two specific weapons. You couldn't just use whatever you want on any job and achieve equal results.

I think Darknight, Beastmaster might want to have a word with you. To a certain extend als Bard, Samurai, Thief and Ninja

War could pretty much use every weapon in the game, all other jobs could only use a handful.
Also, most jobs could only skill up a certain weapon or two to the point that a DRK, for example, could skill up a Scythe and a Great Sword. So I don't understand what you're trying to refute here.

[Kimikryo]

Eh, that's only somewhat correct. Only Warrior could use a "range" (ie: many different weapons); however, most jobs could use a few. This sense of depth or variety was simply an illusion though, as every job specialized in only one or two specific weapons. You couldn't just use whatever you want on any job and achieve equal results.

I think Darknight, Beastmaster might want to have a word with you. To a certain extend als Bard, Samurai, Thief and Ninja