Job Personalization: Can I Have It?

[DreadRabbit]

snip

I guess by offended I mean more like when people think that's the only thing worth doing. You're right, fire and ice is our bread and butter for sure.

You make a good point with enemy identity though. And I have to agree that I'm hard pressed to find a solution to that one to make things like elements have a meaningful difference. But if they can do that in say, open fields like you suggested, I'd be on bored for that one because then it's like adding another game mode without messing with what we already have.

[Sandpark]

I guess by offended I mean more like when people think that's the only thing worth doing. You're right, fire and ice is our bread and butter for sure.

You make a good point with enemy identity though. And I have to agree that I'm hard pressed to find a solution to that one to make things like elements have a meaningful difference. But if they can do that in say, open fields like you suggested, I'd be on bored for that one because then it's like adding another game mode without messing with what we already have.

FFXI had abyssea. It was either a godsend or a bane depending on the user. In those zones a system of needing certain skills to mix and if combined correctly would grant you lights that extended your play time in those zones or cause enemies to drop rare items. Abyssea was different from the outside world. In there, you were a god. Outside, you were a normal human again.

While the endgame content before Abyssea was fun, comparable to FFXIV dungeons but more open. I never had any content before that let me do stuff outside the party only mantra and have worthwhile rewards. Well later I did, when I figured out my blm, monk, and rdm could solo things meant for parties. Fun as hell though, when I didn't feel like doing standard group content.

So it changed the rules outside the normal game we were used to but I never got bored or had problems adjusting to the outside world. The content did kill most other open world leveling due to being able to enter at 30 and leech though and it made the gear a little too good. It sent most gear acquired over years rendered obsolete for a time.

[Bishop81]

/sigh

Couple of points,

• Need non-"punish the whole group for the failings of a few" group content. Punish just the failing individual.
• Customizable Classes can then do such aforementioned content - in addition to existing solo content and easy group content like FATEs and Hunts - since tight balance won't be an issue,
  • no one being underpowered is going to affect anyone else's success hence will not get "sat".
  • no one being overpowered is going to steal anyone's raid spot.
• Bar customizable Classes from traditional raids so masochistic WoW-style raiding is unaffected and such players can continue to be as exclusionary and toxic toward each other as they want.

That is all.

PS: 15 posts a day really cramps having long discussions.

[Vickii]

And it does work in every MMO that uses it.

I kinda disagree on this. I only really see customisation working in way of specs (which is basically just another class and all specs have little customisation within them) or with really basic choices. which boil down to the same thing.

For example 'drop feather on ground which gives player run speed' vs 'cast x spell on player which gives them run speed'. That's the only time when people have a choice that doesn't imbalance the game or 'nerf' the player for choosing it. Even then people still tend to flock to the same thing.

Honestly, i don't believe it works in most MMO's.

[zcrash970]

/snip
.

1) This is a mmo. A TEAM based game. One person failures should affect the entire party.
2) If a class is underpowered it will be "sat." Let's look at bards. The general opinion is their dps is underwheming and they are kicked from groups. AST, are kicked from endgame goups because their heals are weaker and do not have reliable utility. In 2.4-2.5, SMNs weren't wanted in endgame groups because they
weren't as good as BLMs.
3) If something is OP, then it will certainly replace the class with the same role. That's why a lot people want DRGs for a melee spot. BL is a giant dps buff with a pretty low CD.
4) Then why have something if it cannot partake in all content. It is pointless developing time. If jobs are better than the "customizable" class, no one will use them.

From reading your previous posts, it sounds like you haven't played many mmos. What you want have existed in mmos before and they always end the same way.

[Cinicus]

Star Wars "The Clone Wars"!!! I love this game!!! oh wait....this is Final Fantasy "The Clone Wars"...not so fun now...

[Amiaze]

For the sake of discussion, let's explore possibilities then. -snip-

Very good points. I don't think that the system should be that easy for the player to use, honestly. If it were to be implemented, I imagine it would be a more in-depth system where all of your stats would have to be spec'd according to your gear, perhaps using a limited number of points similar to the bonus points that we already have.

And when I mean all stats, I mean your speeds as well. A NIN could very well focus on their melee or Ninjutsu damage, but have very bad global cooldowns (and attack speed) if they don't balance the points themselves on their own gear.

Would it be hard to implement? Yes. Very much so, and it wouldn't be easy for players to just pick up. But would it be worth it? I think so. It would certainly affect endgame content because they're built with certain mechanics and checks in mind, but that would just be the price we'd ultimately pay for having customization, just like in any game that gives you free reign of your character. You might just not have the right specifications to get through the fight and would have to start all over on your gear/ use an alternate gearset / revert to just using the "optimized" gear purchased via tomestones.

I don't think it's much different from using an optimized deck in a card game (say, Triple Triad) versus building your very own. Your strategy will be different and won't work against all encounters, but at least it's your own.

EDIT: While we're on the subject of limitations, about that character limit... >_>

[Dererk]

There is soooo many more problems that need to be solved before anything like this could go into play. Don't get me wrong I'd love to spend time to buff my main job in literally just camping in Idyilshire doing nothing. But you say choice isnt an illusion but it is I was kicked out of a party in FFXI once because I set my sub job to dancer while I was DRK I only set it as that because I use it mainly for the stealth buffs so I could get to the location but they said no use warrior I said no its only lvl 15 then got booted.

We need more open world content that would bother needing something like this before anything else.
But I wouldn't be surprised if they added the ffxi merit system one day they can work it in a way that once a new expansion comes out all the buffs get taken away from the last patch of the old version and rewards you with a full level or 2 towards the new level cap.

[Fenwick]

Don't much care for this. If they add several interesting abilities, I'd like access to all of them as opposed to a select few based on a build. In reality you'd be losing choice, not gaining choice. At least this is how I see it, the only choice I see is a choice to limit the number of abilities you have at your disposal.

[CGMidlander]

[*]Need non-"punish the whole group for the failings of a few" group content. Punish just the failing individual.

That content will be very easy then.

The worst that could happen is the individual dies. If their death isn't inconsequential, then their failings affect the whole group. (i.e. How it is right now)
But if their death is inconsequential, then the fight is not challenging.

So...CT/ST/WoD