[dev1033] Class name changes -> Specialization/Talent Trees Into Classic FF Classes

[Kurokikaze]

Sorry I just gotta say this... Great LS name. LOL

[Tyrant]

I'm a fan of quest driven ability unlocks, and what is being discussed here in this thread would be a great candidate for that system.

I advocate dedicating FFXIV's advanced jobs to being mastered through questing and only questing. Divide the abilities into bundles and require sufficient training with the advanced job through unique quests. Have these advanced job quests crisscross other advanced job quests and normal quests to encourage mutual aid, so that two different advanced jobs on the same phase - albeit only for their respective advanced jobs - would coincidentally find one another by virtue of being tasked to the same dungeon. Let these two adventurers then strike up a friendly conversation and join forces, performing all the more efficiently despite being on separate quests.

Akin to fame building, the adventurer acquire abilities through accessing and completing unique quests by accessing and completing other unique quests. This need not be linear. The quests can form a web instead of a chain, governed by player choices and circumstances such as whether the weather is rainy. The intrepid hero can track down all possible unique quests if he wishes, but completing enough quests on a ring of the grand web would allow him advancement to the next ring. Create multiple mission arcs around advanced job mastery, culminating in missions that unseal tiers of the talent/license/grid for that advanced job.

I miss the aspect of old FFXI, when I played, where players assisted one another to tear down job access and level barriers. The old FFXI barriers against character progression may deserve complaints, but I did admire the banding together that it generated among players. Here is a chance to make players undertake well-designed fun quests to earn abilities and support server communities.

SE has already made a feeble attempt at such a system for FFXIV: Guild Marks. The Guild Marks are awarded by adventurer guilds through the utilization of random leves and random rewards. These should not be used for advanced jobs and instead remain as an introductory mechanism for the basic jobs. It would prepare newer players for when they eventually have to truly earn their stripes from unique and non-random advanced job quests. Let deeds and renown be the currency with which great respect and skill are earned, not the coin of petty guilds.

I believe this would lead to basic jobs concentrating on ranks and guild leves for progression while advanced jobs concentrated on quests and missions for progression. This should provide significant content, lasting gameplay, and goal-orientated drive. SE certainly could use the motivation to generate a large number of quality FF quests.