[dev1072]Concerns regarding character uniqueness and class-specific stat allocations.

[Yeldir]

Am I the only one who's worried about this change? Have another look:

Attribute and element points will be abolished, and character development will be automated based on class level. A system whereby players can voluntarily allocate attribute points to each class will be implemented in patch 1.20 or later, along with class balance adjustments.

This could mean one of two things; that each class has its own unique pool to distribute as the player sees fit, allowing anyone to fill any role at any time; or it could mean that players have one pool in addition to any automated stat growth to allocate among all of their classes. The latter option seems quite unlikely (although I'm in no position to rule it out), so I won't address it for the time being.

I am deeply concerned about the first possibility, though. This would eliminate all differentiation between top-end characters. Everyone is level 50 in everything, and they have the ideal stat allocation for each class. That means every character is identical. No creativity, no touch choices about what you want to do with your character - everyone is everything.

This completely undermines the theme and the appeal of the class system that (nearly) every major MMO has followed to date. Every wizard is a warrior, and every warrior is a wizard. I can't imagine I'd want to play a game like that.

Perhaps I've misunderstood the development logs. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[DGMart]

It means exactly like it's said. Basically it's like having the current system but per class. So each class will be optimized.

[Kraggy]

I think the OP greatly overstates the 'uniqueness' possible with XIV's class/job/whatever system: even now there are a very few cookie-cutters specs that are generally 'accepted' by the elitists, already the game is dictated by the mix/maxers who are beginning to tell people what gear is 'needed' to do X, Y or Z.

There is little 'creativity' allowed in MMOs at all.

[Frein]

I'm not sure I understand what the OP's problem is. Is he worried that someone can have good tank stats while on GLD and then swap to THM and have good caster stats? How exactly is that bad? That's exactly what everyone have been asking for since beta because compromise isn't fun or efficient.

[BlaiseLallaise]

A system whereby players can voluntarily allocate attribute points to each class...

... is the complete opposite of a system that ...

...would eliminate all differentiation between top-end characters.

It literally means that I can choose where to put my attribute points in each of my classes, however I want, without regard to what the elitists say I 'should' have. If anything, what's coming next, where the growth is automatic, that is closer to a lack of differentiation than what they have planned down the line. But once Materia comes in, that will add a whole new element of differentiation that elitists can then pick apart to tell me what I'm doing 'wrong'.

I don't think there is any reason to fear a lack of differentiation. As stated before, you can't stop elitists from dictating the 'best' setups in any MMO, but you can choose to ignore them. And when you do, good luck finding someone who chooses to grow their character in the exact way you do.

[Yeldir]

I don't seem to be conveying myself effectively. Let me try again.

By giving everyone access to every play style on every character, they are limiting character customization with an illusion of broader choice. Allow me to explain why: Customizing your character means making permanent and meaningful choices about what special role they'll play during your journeys. You could make your character a durable tank with a huge hp bar, or an archer with sky high accuracy, or a flimsy caster with devastating magic damage, and so on. These choices set your character apart from other characters, be that good or bad in the long run.

By changing this system to allow per-class attribute specs, the choices you make about what your character is going to be are rendered meaningless. You're not making choices about what your character is going to be or do. You are everything. We're looking at the removal of the class system. I think that's bad. I don't want my character to have the option to suddenly be a tank or an archer, and I don't want anyone else's character to have the option of suddenly being me. At this point we might as well be playing an FPS, because the only thing that's going to set our characters are our guns.

Apart from the timesink factor, concerns of elitist vs casual really don't apply here, as under either system there will be specs you are required to play in whatever role you're trying to fill. That's a fact of MMO life. I'd just prefer the choices I make regarding my character's development to be meaningful. You guys get what I'm trying to communicate, here? We're losing the power to choose what our characters are supposed to be.

[tymora]

You might as well champion for the restriction of 1 class per character then?

I don't want anyone else's character to have the option of suddenly being me.

Why does something that you won't possibly know bother you? Other than the equipment looks, everything else "may" be different and you will have no clue "if" there is a difference.

they have the ideal stat allocation for each class.

The only thing stopping you now from that is that wait between de-allocations.
Besides you can also say, they have that "non-ideal" stat allocation for each class as well. Mages can no longer set their str and dex to be as low as possible to maximize int, mnd. Everything is up to SE now.

[Yeldir]

Okay. Well, I guess everyone likes dumbed down class systems but me. You can forget I spoke up, and rest comfortably knowing that the MMO industry is on your side, by and large. They should probably remove the "main class" feature in the forums, though. It won't mean anything, soon.

[Frein]

Okay. Well, I guess everyone likes dumbed down class systems but me. You can forget I spoke up, and rest comfortably knowing that the MMO industry is on your side, by and large. They should probably remove the "main class" feature in the forums, though. It won't mean anything, soon.

You're literally promoting a one class per character system. Or do you honestly think your 50 levels of GLD will be worth anything if you've invested all your points into "frail caster"?

[Yeldir]

I was literally promoting a one-role per character system, which we are presently playing under. (Not including gradual but accessible respecs, of course.) I can respect the opinion of the people here who have understood what I said and disagreed with it, but you, buddy; you're just dumb. You're so far off of the discussion here that you might as well have lifted your post out of some other thread.