Question to Developers & Players: Class/Job switching mid-instance/event

[Darkshade]

Moving forward there is a question on my mind that has been bothering me.

I know many of you will point in laugh "Ha ha, gimp!" as I ask this, but bare with me for a moment.

So I've talked to multiple players, that in order to be the most efficient possible, switch their gear, abilities and main hand to change class during the rank 45 instance currently available.

Now I'm not trying to take away freedom or your fun but what worries me is that players who have the time to grind every class/job to max will overshadow those with lesser time. I'm worried that when challenging content comes out there might be strategies developed that explicitly require certain classes/jobs to switch to another class/job multiple times at key points and that players who don't have these hybrid builds that aren't able to switch on the go and have each class geared will be considered worthless players.

I guess what we can't do with gear-swapping efficiency, will be done with class switching efficiency.

I kind of feel like certain instances/raids/events or what have you should have a status that prevents changing classes while within them, or limits this. I feel that if class switching was limited to some extent that both difficulty would be kept higher due to not allowing these types of cheese/zerg strategies to develop and it would offer more reward to all players while remaining fairer.

So what are your thoughts on the matter? Am I a crazy gimp arsehole who's overreacting? Are these points valid? Discuss!

Thanks for taking the time to read my thread.

[Charismatic]

I don't believe job switching should be part of the strategy of all instances. Maybe some, I think it should be locked for all but the absolute hardest content.
You know, content harder than anything in the game currently.

[Jinko]

It's a tough one really, I see it as both being unfair to new players that this can happen, but then its kind of unfair for people have taken the time to level up more than one class not to be able to take advantage of it.

I guess If I had to go one way or the other I would agree that it should be limited, just hope that all you mages don't die :P

[Darkshade]

I see. I'm not wanting the players who have spent the time to not be at an advantage, I just kind of feel that the added bonus on classes to be able to equip the broader assortment of abilities and traits and be flexible for many types of groups is already benefit enough. I kind of feel like "That's cool if you're more flexible in different setups because you can play many classes" but you should only be able to change outside and plan your strategies accordingly.

[weeble]

even though i don't think job switching in instance should be part of it, reality to me is you either 1. are able to step up to the challenge and do it without all the job changes. 2. have lots of time on hand and it becomes little easier. 3. you suck and also don't have time to play, an just don't complain and deal with it.

they are gonna hopefully try and make all battles challenging, if it gets easier for some doesn't mean it's how it needs to be done. just means you need to be more on the ball. all battles in mmo's get easier as time goes on and newer gear and things are added, these people have that little edge already is all. i'm sure nothing they make will be like AV for people with only 1job and there subs.

an even though i don't think changing mid instance should be part of it, it probably will be specially when things get more and more challenging. like in ffxi i always went from blm to switch to mnk and come all way back for DL fight in dynamisis.

i been saying this from the start, endgame should go large scale, as you can see, an i called it, most that complained about ffxi or anything challenging then and now will still always be complaining. it's actually a worse scenario for them then it is for people who enjoyed it.

[Chardrizard]

Contents are probably balanced properly with no job changing into consideration, but if said group of players manage to do it easier by swapping around classes, kudos to them. That's their reward for their time and effort spent, being more efficient. Why limit those? Even right now, players that has most classes levelled up will have benefit from the arrays of skills they get to choose from and that is what armoury system is about. Should they lock your action bar too upon entering an instance?

[Felis]

Gear switching I can understand to be useful
Skill switching too
But class switching? What is the benefit for this?
1. You loss some seconds during the switch
2. You need to manage the skill bar new
3. You can use most skills you learned without switching the class, just switching the skills you would need

[Meow_Zedong]

It's already been stated that class-switching mid-dungeon is a viable strategy that the devs approve of. It's not going anywhere.

[weeble]

Gear switching I can understand to be useful
Skill switching too
But class switching? What is the benefit for this?
1. You loss some seconds during the switch
2. You need to manage the skill bar new
3. You can use most skills you learned without switching the class, just switching the skills you would need

it will probably become usefull when dungeons are used with jobs. u could all zerg dsp then switch classes per boss battle or what have you. what the occasion calls for.

plus by the time this game goes pay to pay, pretty sure switching will be very easy. gear memory, bar move memory and no more allocating points. so really it will be as quick as switching your weapon. it can come in handy at times i'm sure.

[MeowyWowie]

I would agree that classes should be locked upon entering an instance. Those with multiple classes ranked up already get the benefit of equipping abilities from those classes, making their current class more powerful.