I think locking access to new Jobs is a HUGE mistake..

[Terin]

As someone who tried Final Fantasy XI briefly, I would strongly advise learning from the mistakes made there, in regards to "unlocking" new Jobs. I found the initial available Jobs in FFXI to be bland and uninspired, and as much as I wanted to play that Dark Knight and Blue Mage, I simply couldn't force myself to play a character up in order to unlock them, despite having purchased all of the (then available) expansions.

The reason people get excited about Classes and Jobs has nothing to do about "what their buttons do", but rather the sorts of themes they revolve around. A lot of people will be picking Heavensward up because, in all honestly, they probably just love the idea of a Dark Knight. I played a Death Knight in World of Warcraft, and I know a lot of others who share a similar taste, and might find themselves bored with the 1.0 Class selection.

While I think the 1.0 Classes absolutely provide something to the game (and I seriously hope they are refined, to still be useful even after unlocking the current Jobs), I think it would be a huge mistake to force players into playing them from the start. I highly recommend changing your plans, even if it means adding more "Classes" to cover their pre-Job incarnation (ie. "Acolyte" as a precursor to the Dark Knight). Otherwise, you risk alienating the very players to whom the new jobs are supposed to appeal.

Obviously, this close to launch, it's asking quite a lot of the Devs to completely rework their plans. So, I suggest billing it as a "head-start" for current players, accessing the new Jobs from the get go. However, in the next major content-patch, make the new Jobs (or again, lesser "Classes" based on them) available for new players.

Personally? I'd really dig having a new Starter-area entirely, as a small Au'Ra/Doman refugee-camp on the coast of Ishgard (just a small taste of the Expansion, before getting sent to join the other Grand Companies at lvl 15), or even carving out a small section in Mor Dhona to level them. Barring that, of course, you would simply add them to existing City-States (Astrologian would fit right in with Gridania, not sure of the others).

Either way, I think this is something that could really wind up hurting the game, as I feel it did FFXI, if left for too long.

[Adrian74]

I think you explained very well your argument, and by that way I hope they'll look into it, since, it really affects them after all....

My personal opinion is... I'd enjoy it as long it starts level 1 (What has already, sadly, been confirmed to not be that way). I'd like to experience low areas and stuff with the new jobs, not just go right straight with they to new areas. Just my opinion, others would like to explore new areas already the first hour in heavensward with their new job....

[Gralna]

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...n-of-2.0-Story

[Gunspec]

We don't know exactly how unlocking the jobs will work, how we will level them (possibly starting at level 30 or higher?), or even how complex they will be. One can assume the jobs will be about as complex as the class + job abilities are for the existing classes, and you don't access THOSE classes until level 30 at least. Or maybe the jobs will be more complex and require a greater knowledge of game mechanics.

The thing about FFXI and XIV is that you aren't locked into a single job like in WoW. If playing lancer isn't your thing, just get it up high enough to learn "Invigorate", then switch to something else and move on. You only want to be a conjurer? Well, than you won't be unlocking white mage, unless you feel like playing a little thaumaturge.

And for the longest time, even a death knight in WoW required you to get at least one character to level 50 on the account before you could create your first Death Knight character. Guess what level 3.0 will start at? Yep, same deal, only difference is you will also need to clear 2.55 story.

[Zohar_Lahar]

Has any of this even been confirmed? There was so many contradictory and confusing statements in "interviews" that I'd rather hear from the English community representatives.

[Sammix87]

Personally I don’t see how locking these jobs behind the expansion will really hurt the game. Ninja was only unlockable to all players who had completed the envoy quest at level 15. Basiclaly if someone really wants to be Dark Knight, Atrologian or Machinist then they will simply level as required to unlock it.

FFXIV isn’t anything like XI in terms of levelling and as the leader of an FC I have seen new players pick up levelling and questing rather quickly and getting to 50 in no time at all.

I remember, I don’t have the source to link, that these jobs are ‘advanced’ jobs which are why they are only unlockable in the new content. As we don’t know anything about them we can’t really speculate too much but the fact that they all start at level 30 initially points me to thinking that perhaps they involve certain mechanics or something and as someone else said we don’t know how exactly the new jobs will be unlocked.

Also going back to the mass craze that was Ninja levelling. DF times on my server were abysmal and selecting all languages made no change to the times what so ever because vast majority of players were levelling NIN. Imagine what it would be like if newer players could all level Dark Knight/Machinist/Atrologion on day one of expansion….

[Satia]

...but the fact that they all start at level 30 initially points me to thinking that perhaps they involve certain mechanics or something..

All "Jobs" start at 30... this is nothing special. ^__^

[Adire]

Also going back to the mass craze that was Ninja levelling. DF times on my server were abysmal and selecting all languages made no change to the times what so ever because vast majority of players were levelling NIN. Imagine what it would be like if newer players could all level Dark Knight/Machinist/Atrologion on day one of expansion….

DF was like this due to the fact that NIN was the only class released at that time. People who normally played tanks and healers most likely were queuing as dps.

With Heavensward, we have a new class for each role to please people who prefer each role. I doubt it will be a repeat of the NIN chaos, or would be even if newer players could use those classes. Seems like it would really keep things as balanced as always, though you'd be seeing parties made of up a Dark Knight tank, an Astrologian healer, and 2 Mechanists more often than not.

[Satia]

...With Heavensward, we have a new class for each role..

No no no Not "Classes"... Jobs.

I know that is what you meant but some people seem to be getting them confused is all and that is why they cant understand why they are not starting at level 1.

[Adire]

Yes, Jobs, whatever the right word is. My point remains the same.