Job Personalization: Can I Have It?

[DreadRabbit]

snip

Well SE is already attempting to do the former in regards to forgetting about classes. The problem is I don't think they anticipated the 3 new jobs being as poorly received as they have been so they're scrambling to improve them. Unless they change how those work offering more cross class abilities for them won't do much good because they're already built to be a "hybrid" of the two other jobs that share their roles (or Machinist's case the...one other job x--x ).

And I think that attempt to hybridize them is what made this seem like all classes were losing their individuality. Before they came there wasn't really that much of a complaint as all of the classes/jobs actually played pretty differently from one another. And most of them haven't changed in that respect, I just think people are blowing those changes out of proportion. Again, except the three new jobs. They feel too samey. So it feels like we didn't get anything new gameplay wise. Which is why I think we're not really going to be able to get a handle on how to "fix" this issue until they figure out how to balance the new jobs while giving them a unique identity (aka make the mechanics behind them that were supposed to make them unique actually useful. That seems to be the biggest complaint on that front from what I've been reading).

But the idea of skill books in general sort of like recipe books for the crafters, that might potentially be possible since we already have a similar system. As much as I like cross class abilities I'm willing to admit it's clear they're trying to move away from the system. So rather than being "cross-class" abilities I guess it would be more semblance of an optional PvE skill set you could hunt for whatever lore reason. Like "Oh look! BLMs could heal after studying the CNJs'. We can do something similar with the dark powers of the void" or however you'd go about it.

Or like was suggested earlier in the thread: give people the ability to aesthetically change how their skills appear.

which would add considerable workload to the dev team who are already busy bringing samurai and blue mage to the game.

And this I want the devs to get back into adding really unique jobs. Blue Mage in particular could have a lot of what people here are asking for.

[Bishop81]

But the idea of skill books in general sort of like recipe books for the crafters, that might potentially be possible since we already have a similar system. As much as I like cross class abilities I'm willing to admit it's clear they're trying to move away from the system. So rather than being "cross-class" abilities I guess it would be more semblance of an optional PvE skill set you could hunt for whatever lore reason. Like "Oh look! BLMs could heal after studying the CNJs'. We can do something similar with the dark powers of the void" or however you'd go about it.

Pretty much what I was getting at with the first alternative.

" Extend the number of cross-class skills Jobs can take and let the "skill book" acquired skills be unusable in raids. "

Currently we are limited to like 5 skill slots and we can barely fill them. Extend them to the full 10 - or however many; I never actually counted.

Skills from Skill Books can be or not be limited to specific Classes/Jobs. e.g. A "last stand"-like ability that heals you to full at the cost of 50% of your remain MP and TP can be made available to all Jobs. A dash attack should probably be limited to melee Jobs since casters will want to stay at range. ...

Or like was suggested earlier in the thread: give people the ability to aesthetically change how their skills appear.

That would be boring ... no gameplay at all. -_-

[DreadRabbit]

Pretty much what I was getting at with the first alternative.

Okay, now I better understand where you were coming from.

That would be boring ... no gameplay at all. -_-

Well, this whole thread is about personalization and making it so that all players enjoy their classes. And for a vast many they just want a simple change. Just like how not everybody raids, not everyone really wants the gameplay of their class to change (look at the Bards), but would rather be able to somehow make the class their own in other ways.

Just shows that no matter what idea is offered up you're not going to make everyone happy. A lot of people play FF14 to get away from how traditional MMOs handle classes and specs and skill trees. It's one of the few out there that doesn't adhere to that system and it's refreshing. Yet here we are, people who want that (not saying you do, just using this thread as an example) placed here too. They're not wrong for wanting those systems as they enjoyed them, but that's why there's so many people that flat out oppose the idea.

And more what I was trying to get across to you too earlier. There's not going to be a "you don't have to do content you don't want to do" or "no one has to feel left out." Someone is always going to be left out or get the short end of the stick because ideas are imperfect.

I don't think our Job's combat system needs to change because it's fun as it is to me. We just need more unique jobs and possibly add the support role alongside tank, healer, dps. If i want to change how I play I just switch to another class. But clearly other people don't like that hence why this thread exists. The game has 4 million accounts with the combat as it currently is. They did something right in the eyes of those who joined and stayed.

[LandricFrey]

If i want to change how I play I just switch to another class.

True, but you have to level that other class. If leveling meant people learned that job better, I'd be all for it(actually I wouldn't because I hate leveling), but most people just fate grind or leve grind and learn nothing about how to play for group content.

[Bishop81]

A lot of people play FF14 to get away from how traditional MMOs handle classes and specs and skill trees.

Define "traditional MMO".

The only definition of "traditional MMO" relevant today is "WoW style MMO".

Yes, you are right, I did started playing FFXIV to get away from the "traditional MMO". The "traditional MMO" of fixed classes with no real free form customization because it would impact "raid balance".

Where you don't choose your gear to fit your specific needs, e.g. stack TP to a specific number to allow you to chain the skills you have chosen. Instead you just pick the gear with the biggest numbers in your predetermined "prefered" stat.

Where you have limited to no choice in your skill loadout. Where every "choice" presented to you has been curated such as to maintain the precious raid balance. Where you either "git gud" or reroll.

I'm tired of "living in a box" where the developers lead me around by the nose, telling me what to do, when to do it and even HOW to do it - every rotation you can put together with the semi-fixed skill loadout has been tested extensively by the developers to ensure it stays "within parameters"; everything that is "out of specifications" is "fixed", e.g. Remember when BLMs exploited MP regen tick timing to double Flare? "Fixed".

Where everything I do, I do only because the developers allowed it.

PS: If I want to play such a game, I would just go back to playing WoW.

[DreadRabbit]

PS: If I want to play such a game, I would just go back to playing WoW.

I woul too. Yet I'm never going back. To me FFXIV feels very different from WoW or I wouldn't have stayed after making the switch. Just because you think it's a WoW clone because of the game's progression structure doesn't mean the rest us of do.

You don't have to stay inside your box. You can literally switch whatever box you're standing in by equipping a different weapon type without any disadvantages to you whatsoever. We both agreed on that or I thought. I guess I misunderstood.

Games centered around raiding didn't start with WoW. WoW just took the idea and ran with it. That's like calling any creature-collecting game Pokemon without looking into the finer details as to what makes said game unique. This game is built on progression, and that core idea is not going to change. You have to progress through the storyline to open all the areas and see what happens next. As you level you need new gear. And every class/job is designed with a role in mind for those who enjoy playing in a group. But pretty much all of them can solo a lot of content past a certain level for those that don't want to. And FF14 is not centered around raiding. Trust me, the raiding crowd of this game would be much happier if it was. This game is centered around storytelling and casual play. The reason for fast leveling is because of general playermindset overall: "leveling is boring and I want to get to end-game NOW." You can't blame devs for giving people what they wanted. How fast you level is a player choice.

Even though I already know you're probably going to hate the graphics and F2P-ness aspect of it, but seriously: go try Mabinogi. It was brought to NA in 2008 and is still up and running strong. I'm not telling you to leave FF14 or anything like that. I'm trying to tell you that your general ideas do work, go see them in action. If a game is designed from the very beginning to surround itself in those ideas. You'll notice almost instantly just how differently the game runs at its core.

But once you have a progression game there is no changing it from being a progression game. Even gatherers and crafters have to deal with progression. That is one thing that no matter what idea is implemented will not change about this game.

[Bishop81]

You don't have to stay inside your box. You can literally switch whatever box you're standing in by equipping a different weapon type without any disadvantages to you whatsoever. We both agreed on that or I thought. I guess I misunderstood.

From one box into another. By grinding FATEs no less. /smh

[DreadRabbit]

From one box into another. By grind FATEs no less. /smh

And having a roaming world bosses or grinding mobs to use those skill books you talked about is different...how?