Do you prefer New or "Classic" names for Classes and Jobs?

[Minya]

In the japanese FFXIV the names for jobs are different. I'm pretty sure paladin is called knight etc.

[Terin]

Hey, much appreciate the many responses, guys! It's definitely cool hearing different points of view, and I even learned some stuff!

In any case, I still stand by the more "unique" names, but it seems like the biggest issue is that maybe some of the names should maybe be swapped around? As said, "Thaumaturge" sounds more like it would be the White Mage, while Conjurer as Arcanist, and Arcanist as Thaumaturge.

I never played 1.0, so it sounds like the names were more fitting back then, but definitely not quite as much now. Still, like I said, "White/Black/Red/Blue Mage" just all sound super generic to me, and are even worse at translating what those Classes actually are about. I would still have *items* sporting those names -- like "Black Mage's Coat" or "White Mage Robes" -- but as nostalgic as they are, I guess they just don't *sound* as interesting to me. I wouldn't necessarily *avoid* old naming conventions, but I just wouldn't specifically try to adhere to them, either.

[Seif]

Neither? It was both.

That's exactly my point. Fitting it into either of those molds would break the entire point of RDM.

People beg for it on these forums because it was a cool flexible job that gave the player choices.
NOT because they want just a red hat on a DPS or healer character. The skin means nothing if it doesn't come with true RDM actions.

[AmyNeudaiz]

New for classes, classic for jobs. It's unique that way.

[Terin]

New for classes, classic for jobs. It's unique that way.

If Classes are just "crappier Jobs", though, I don't know how meaningful that really is. It's not like they can be creative with Classes when they are fundamentally stipped-down variants of Jobs.

I kind of wish "Classes" as stuck more to what it sounds like the 1.0 Classes were, being wholly unique. Instead of being precursors to better versions, just make them totally distinct, and valuable in their own right. As it stands, though, who would play a Pugilist when the Monk is better in every way? And I assume the same will also apply to the Rogue and Ninja.

[Sapphic]

"So You Wish to Be A Bard"
by: Rathflaed DuNoir
The Black Bard of Meridies, MSoB
mka Stephen R Melvin

So you wish to be a Bard young one,
well listen to my tale,
A tale that’s riddled with success,
and yet the times that I have failed.
Each storyteller tells his tales
until the morning light,
Each line and verse the one that you’ll
remember through the night,
A troubadour will sing his songs
to make people laugh or weep,
And feel the feelings he does feel,
until they go to sleep,
A musician has the power
to make music with his art,
And let his songs reverberate,
to touch the mind and heart,
A Minstrel must do all these things
and do them very well,
But a Bard must also do them,
and between is hard to tell.
For a Minstrel and a Bard could be
the same in word and voice,
And the difference between the two -
a matter of their choice.
A Minstrel’s job to entertain,
a Bard’s to educate,
To urge the men on for honor and love,
and not for malice or hate.
A Minstrel will sing only songs
that please his audience well,
While a Bard must choose most carefully,
the tales that he will tell.
For in your words you have the power
to make or break a man,
And all his good or evil deeds
are yours to praise or damn.
So use your power carefully
and wisely use your art,
For though they might prefer a minstrel’s voice,
‘tis you must touch their heart.
And if the power is not yours,
to move the souls of men,
Then call yourself a Minstrel
and no dishonor do intend,
For when a Bard does sing a song,
the story they do hear,
And yet the choice is for a Minstrel
when the song must please the ear.
So entertain young Minstrel,
or educate young Bard,
But either path of either life,
you’ll find may be too hard.
For when the wind is blowing
and the rain comes down in sheets,
‘Tis ten more leagues that you must go,
to sing for bread and meat.
And when the road is weary
and you have no place called home,
Remember that is was your choice,
to travel and to roam.
And when you think of lady loves
and all the things you lack,
Remember, sir, the one you always
carry on your back.
And remember too, this one last thing,
ere your journey you begin:
A Minstrel does not scream or shout
to carry o’er the din.
A Bard’s not just a storyteller
or harper playing long,
A Minstrel’s job it is to sing,
a Bard’s to be the song.

[Kaethra]

The issue at hand is every FF game does it differently. So there's no 'classical' set of classes. I mean if you want to define classic classes, use the FF1 names:

Knight (Fighter)
White Wizard (White Mage)
Red Wizard (Red Mage)
Master (Black Belt)
Ninja (Thief)
Black Wizard (Black Mage)

If you look at those classes, you'll notice Fighter and Thief. Those two classes were not new to FF. FF was heavily inspired by Dungeons and Dragons and so it took those classes directly from Gary Gygax's creation at the time.

Every other FF game changed things up from time to time. For example in FFIV we say the Knight become a Paladin. We had a Summoner using all the Black Mage spells, and quite a few other things. If you look into games like FFVII, FFVIII, and FFX you don't even have classes defined as they are set in more modern periods. Why have paladins and mages in an era of machinery and guns? Why indeed.. well they didn't.

Games like FFIII and FFV had defined classes like we do now. But even they change them up a bit. Then you have tactics which had classes like Chemists and Squires as 'base' classes. That just proves that some games have their own classes. Which leads to FFXIII and its own unique classes such as Commandos, Ravagers, Saboteurs, ect.

And just imagine if they took FFXIV a little further and allowed us to play Garlean Factioned characters? Would they have Gladiators and Conjurors? Well Garleans can't use magic like Eorzeans, instead using magictek. They would probably have classes called Medicus, Secutor, Signifier, Eques, and so on (now wouldn't that be a cool story to play through?).

So personally I wouldn't get too wrapped up on what classical classes are called, as long as it fits in the lore and doesn't feel arbitrary. Change them up as needed. In the end, they are going to more or less play the same as the original classes they are derived from. Besides, the classes don't make a FF game. The monsters, moogles, chocobos, and Cid do.

[Terin]

Hmm, very well put, Kaethra. I hadn't thought of it like that, but it makes sense.

Also... Oh man, I *LOVE* the idea of a Garlean character! They've got some wicked-cool Armor sets, and perhaps they could consider a Class/Job that, for their starting-experience, begins with them and a small unit defecting, and eventually rebelling? Either way, I definitely like the idea!

[Kaethra]

Hmm, very well put, Kaethra. I hadn't thought of it like that, but it makes sense.

Also... Oh man, I *LOVE* the idea of a Garlean character! They've got some wicked-cool Armor sets, and perhaps they could consider a Class/Job that, for their starting-experience, begins with them and a small unit defecting, and eventually rebelling? Either way, I definitely like the idea!

My idea for them was to not defect at all, and instead of using Soulstones for their 'jobs' they use some form of Magitek to enhance their abilities. Those that get 'jobs' would be considered special forces. Course their jobs would work the same as Erozean jobs, just with different flavors, names, and particle effects. Like a Paladin's Hallowed Ground would be named Magictek Barrier or something like that.

But of course we're getting a bit off topic

To keep it on topic, their jobs could use previous classes such as the ones in FFXIII, Commando, Medic, Ravager, ect.

Paladin - Sentinel
Warrior - Commando
Medic - White Mage
Synergist - Scholar
Ravager - Black Mage
Saboteur - Summoner

Would need something else for Monk, Dragoon, and Archer (and soon Ninja) obviously.