Suggestions for Specialized Cross Class Weapons

[Cairdeas]

These are just simple ideas for weapons that could be implemented. These are mostly aimed at Cross Class masters, people who want to excel at certain roles, but do not want to be stuck to specific classes for those roles. Because Remember SE some of us actually like Mix/Matching our classes to be specialized in a role as we see fit. Some of us like freedom. Instead of identifying specific weapons though I'm just going to define a Pre-fix. IE "Healer" Prefix can be attached to an Axe, Lance, or other weapon.

Healer's Weapon (DoW/M Except Conjurer): Bonus to Magic Potency when casting Healing Spells (Cure, Curaga, etc)

Corrupter's Weapon (DoW/M Except Thaumaturge): Bonus to Magic Potency when using spells that leave a detrimental status effect on the monster, has even higher bonus for Damage over Time status effects.

Stellars' Weapon (DoM): Grants a boost to Attack Power when using elemental weapon skills.

Berserker's Weapon (DoW): Grants a bonus to Attack Power and Accuracy when using any Cross Class Weapon Skill.

Dualism's Weapon (not Duelist: DoM): Grants a boost to Magic Potency when using a cross class spell.

Mancer's Weapon (DoW): Grants a boost to Magic Potency and Magic Accuracy when casting elemental spells.

Stalker's Weapon (DoW/M Except Archer): Grants a boost to Attack Power and Accuracy when using any physical ranged ability

Subverter's Weapon (Any): Grants a boost to any ability that is only effective from a monsters blind sides.

Escort's Weapon (DoW/M Except Gladiator): Grants a boost to any ability that increases a uses defensive abilities, or adjusts monsters enmity.

[Anonymoose]

I like where this is going.

We all have our worries, to some degree, that the armory system and job system at the same time will start to restrict us to chess-piece like roles on occasion. Though time will whether that restriction will feel empowering (voluntarily giving up aspects of the class we don't need for that set-up or event in exchange for bonuses to those we do) or restrictive (having to nerf some things we want to do in order to do things the party needs us to do), having weapons like these be options on the side seems like a fun idea.

To be honest, I think we all geared ourselves in FFXI to do just this: SE implemented a lot of items that seemed to serve no use other than to put out more items - but, every now and then, one was useful enough to throw on solo just to have some fun with, even if our parties would never allow it. (I'm a recovering Ice Shield Paladin.)

[Cairdeas]

Anyone else have any interesting ideas?

[Amaeo]

I was recently thinking about a similar idea. I went back to some of the things that I used to see in FFXI, in which a certain class might use a weapon that was not the standard (for instance a samurai with a polearm or a paladin with a great sword). On occasion these unusual combinations could be both very interesting to play and very potent. Of course, the major issue with applying this to FFXIV is that the weapon you are using determines what your class is.

The idea posted here, is a good one because it grants a method of circumventing the issue. If you were to use, for example, a healer's lance you could potentially (depending on the way it's implemented) have the casting power necessary to provide decent healing to a party while also giving your natural lancer support. The current variety of weapons in the game is definitely lacking, and there generally isn't much tactical point to using anything but the most powerful weapon you can lay hands on. However, using a system like this you could sacrifice the natural speed and strength of DoW weapons, or the magical potency of DoM weapons, in exchange for the powers of a different discipline.

I don't think it necessarily needs to stop there though. Weapons could potentially be implemented for a specific class that are specifically suited to some particular aspect of that class. Let's go with lancer again. They could get a new spear type that focuses more heavily on the rapid accumulation of tp (something lancers can do quite effectively when they put their minds to it) in exchange for giving up some of the brute force of their attacks. Conjurers might get a weapon type specifically suited to using aoe attacks (probably by increasing the strength of the spell when cast as an aoe and decreasing strength when cast as single target).

Basically, my thought here is that this idea is a good one in that it allows the current classes to use the same weapons but achieve a different goal or play style. I also think there's a lot of room for this idea to expand.

[Cairdeas]

Thanks Amaeo.Very Well Written.

[Amineri]

Very much like the idea, Cairdeas. I personally would very much like to create a hybrid LNC/CON as my character concept (so please forgive my using that as an example). I find it interesting that LNC has one of the highest MP pools for DoW, yet has no in-class abilities that consume MP.

My ideas:

Bonuses for cross-class weapons:
Weapons that increase affinity for a particular class. This would work similar to the "adds 10 affinity skills" currently available.
Weapons with more hybridized acc/m.acc or att / m.pot stats. Currently, all DoW weapons have fixed m.acc and m.pot that is strictly defined by the rank of the weapon, with the converse being true for DoM. Releasing weapons with varying 'off-class' stats could create more interesting combinations.
Weapons that grant access to a particular "class-only" skill from another class. For example, a more caster-oriented LNC with appropriate weapon could equip the skill Tranquility.

Penalties for cross-class weapons (clearly the bonuses have to be balanced out):
Reduced acc/m.acc or att/m.pot. This is an easy one to implement. If I get more m.pot out of a DoW weapon, seems natural for it to have reduced att.
Reduction of affinity for classes. For example, a LNC weapon with increased affinity for CON might grant reduced affinity for the other DoW classes, helping to prevent creation of "have it all powerhouses."
Locking out certain in-class skills. For example, if a particular LNC weapon were to grant access to the CON Curaga spells, the LNC abilities of Speed Surge and Life Surge would no longer be equippable to the action bar.

[Cairdeas]

Another good addition Amineri