Thread: Request: 3.0 Job Customizing

As it stands the only difference between two people playing the same job is gear, along with the 30 stat points to put in one of two stats actually needed by your job. We can customize greatly how we look, but why not how we play our jobs?

One of my favorite aspects of the Final Fantasy series has been character playstyle customization, most notably : FF5, FF7, FFT, and yes, FF11. (Thank you, Lexia.)

Why should we have the ability to customize our jobs?
Players could enjoy imagining fun, creative builds, even knowing that they may not be the perfect choices. Besides, those “perfect” builds may not work best for some players. The fun is finding what works best for you.

It would open up certain jobs to those who would never play because it is stuck with a single role. I know of plenty of people who would love to be a Paladin if only it weren't a tank role only. This would also solve many player’s gripes over the Dark Knight being categorized as a tank.

An added feature to the game that would draw in players on the fence or simply turned off by how simple or bland the jobs are.

False arguments against this funtastic idea:
1. “Choice is an Illusion.” If I understand correctly, this is one of three player types.
a) Those who are punished by difficult content to the point of needing perfect builds just to get by.
b) Players who want the very best set up so they can perform their best.
c) Those who haven’t the time, interest, or are scared to make their own decisions.

False. All of those players would chose to look up a premade optimal build to enhance their experience, effectively giving them but one choice. Nothing would change for them except the fact that they have made a decision.

2. “It would be hard for the devs to do.” More variables would lead to further imbalance, ultimately breaking the game.

False. The challenge would be greater, though I still wouldn't argue this when we have the some of the most talented devs in the world working on this game. There are other games out there with a balanced custom class system in place. There’s no reason SE couldn't do it and do it better!

3. “The mess that’s already the Duty Finder would only get worse. People who have made poor choices may potentially join the DF keeping me from completing content."

False. This is a self-inflicted wound whereas the more difficult content in any MMO should not be attempted with random players. If they are struggling in a low dungeon, a little kind advice goes a long way and completion would be possible. As I see it, if you're so against it then DF should be a last resort, not your primary go-to for content completion. Try the Party Finder. Join an active FC. Go make some friends who share your playstyle and have fun again. IMO that is the true spirit of the MMO.

Ultimately it is up to SE on if and how to implement such a feature, though I’d like to throw out some suggestions:

A combination of FFXI and ARR:
Pick a subjob or a combination of two where the player may take most of the lvl 1-30 abilities. (with a 5-10 cross-skill maximum)

More fun with Traits:
Sure we could cross-class them, but what about adding trait materia? Most equipment would have 1 or 2 trait slots which anyone could socket no matter the profession.

Talent Trees: (Yes I know they’re cliché, though anything would be an improvement.)
(WHM)
+1-5 points to raise all magic healing potency 1-5%
+1-5 points to reduce casting time by 5-25%
+1-3 points to increase Cure 2 potency by 5-15%
+1-2 points to increase max MP by 5-10%... and on and on.

FF9 inspired system
Instead of learning abilities from equipped armor as it was in FF9, why not add traits, buffs, and various ability upgrades by spiritbonding lvl 51-60 gear. The bonuses could be attached to the gear or they could be attained from the gear.

The first option would make just simple stat comparisons to armor a thing of the past and add another deciding factor to player choice. An example for a healer would be: One piece of fear has a trait that gives + 3% increase in healing potency while the other piece of gear has a trait which makes Esuna or Leeches a party-wide ability.

The other option would award the player the bonus after spiritbond, and then could be slotted as a bonus trait for the player's job regardless of weather or not the player has the piece equipped. There would only be a limited amount of slots available to keep a player from becoming too powerful.

This would be a meaningful way we could have alternate builds for our jobs.

Extreme/1.0:
Allow jobs access to something around 75% of all abilities in the game, barring certain abilities which define the job. Or in other words; keep locked all skills associated with jobs as they are now, then open up all current class skills to every job. An example would be: Benediction would only be usable by a White Mage, while stoneskin, cure 2, medica, and protect usable by all jobs as long as they have leveled the required job to the appropriate level. WHM still has the improved stoneskin and protect traits as well as the piety and mind to keep its place as the main healer, while other jobs gain a little more versatility or flavor as I prefer to call it. (side note: I love both the FF series since its origins and MMO’s in general. I have played FF14 1.0, briefly. The reason why my friends and I stopped playing wasn’t the class system at that point, it was the frustration of a clunky UI and battle system so bad that I had lost faith in the franchise. ARR fixed most of that, here’s hoping the game gets even better!)

Something I've forgotten? Agree, disagree, or agree to disagree? Then I want to hear more from the community. An official statement on the subject would also be much appreciated.

If anyone can come up with more suggestions on how SE could go about implementing such a system, please post here and I will add it to my original post with proper credit given, of course.

Tl;dr? If you support more freedom of choice as to your job's playstyle in any way, please give a "like" and comment to get some attention to this issue. Thank you for your comments and support!