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

[Terin]

Just thought I'd start a discussion. I've recently been on a bit of a "Final Fantasy binge", and something I've been thinking about is the rather inconsistent naming-conventions for Classes and Jobs in FFXIV. For example, the Gladiator is basically a Squire, and the Paladin is basically a Knight, or even a Holy Knight (which existed in FFTactics). At the same time, though, you have the very direct translation of White Mage and Black Mage.

On the one hand, I kind of dig the "New" names. Conjurer, Thaumaturge, Gladiator -- those are interesting-sounding names, which play nicely with the expertly-localized text in the game. It feels more "true fantasy".

But on the other hand, there's something very nostalgic about things like the classic "Black Mage". When we ask for new Classes and Jobs, we always refer to them by their old names; would a Red Mage still feel like a "Red Mage", if he were called something else?

Personally, though; I lean towards the "New" naming convention. Instead of "Dark Knight" -- and let's just be real, if they ship a Job called Dark Knight, we're going to be battling Batman references for the next decade -- maybe name them "Soul Eater", after their signature ability. Or "Geomancer" could become "Earthcaller", or something else a little tougher-sounding".

But I wonder; what do *YOU* guys prefer?

[Titor]

"Warrior" to me is so lackluster for a job, and for something warranting a soul crystal. You can call pretty much any soldier a warrior. The other names sound interesting and rare, like Summoner or Black Mage, but... Warrior just sounds so boring and un-notable.

[TouchandFeel]

Classic names!

There are enough classic and preexisting classes in the Final Fantasy series that they should never really need to not use one.
I could be more flexible with the base class names to a point (Rogue = Thief for example), but imo all Job names should be classic FF classes.

How the jobs function could of course be tweaked slightly as long as the overall flavor, feel and look is in line with the classic manifestation.

[Terin]

See, I actually think, "classic" though they may be, a lot of the old Job-names are kind of boring. Having a White Mage, Black Mage, Red Mage, and Blue Mage seems far less interesting to me. I totally agree in keeping the spirit of those Jobs the same, such as having sets based on classic sprites, but I dunno; I just don't care for the old names. Just like Paladin; that's actually a wholly-unique name for the franchise, yet it seems a better fit than "Knight" or even "Holy Knight".

Also, as for the above poster on the name "Warrior"... I'm actually okay with the name, but I think the issue I have is that the Class itself. When I think "Warrior", I think of a primitive, Barbarian-like character, wearing leather and fur, sort of a primal "berserker" type of character. Being clad in heavy-armor, though, you're right; it just feels like "a soldier", instead of a true "master of war".

[Terin]

Totally agreed on spell-names; I have having numbers! "Cura, Curaga, Curaja"... much better!

As for Class/Job names, the only ones I don't really care for are "Lancer" and "Archer". Also, "Rogue" seems a step-down from "Thief", but that still leaves the majority I feel like are better with the "new" names over the "classic" ones.

Like I said, I'm all about nostalgia, but "White Mage" just isn't as interesting. Not sure "Conjurer" really fits their established role, but still... :P

[Shamo_Lomenzo]

Classic names for life. Being a healer just wouldn't be the same if it were called "conjurer" and not "white mage".

[EdwinLi]

I can't say since I perfer the Gunblade class/job of FF series but the Gunblade class/job doesn't have a official name.

[Sigia]

I get that old feeling of nostalgia whenever I join a party and there is a Black Mage, White Mage, and Monk to complete my Warrior.

[Sammich]

Not sure "Conjurer" really fits their established role, but still... :P

Yeah, I've always wondered about the rationale behind this name. Would have suited a summoning class like Arcanist better imo.

[Exstal]

I'd like to let you know that in the Japanese version of FFXIV, Paladin is actually called, ナイト (lit. Knight). I believe it was named Paladin due to the fact that it was kind of changed to that in the previous English translations and it has "WHM" as a secondary to unlock the job.

As such, classic names for "jobs" would be intelligent design. Classes should be throw-away names like we have now.