How would you feel if they scrapped the current "classes"?

[Mortikhan]

I can't say I am thrilled with the new system but also not thrilled with the FFXI version either. Maybe an implementation of both systems is in order. Bear with me here this might be a bit lengthy.

Assuming this:

Class = Skill set
Job = Role

Keep the Classes as they are including the current max level. Upon achievement of certain class levels you can unlock an "advanced" class. These advance classes would be the more traditional named jobs. The hook to this would be that these advanced jobs would require multiple classes to unlock.

Example:

Red Mage would be an advanced job. To unlock the quest necessary to become a Red Mage you might have to achieve Conjurer 30 and Thaumaturge 30 and complete the individual class quests associated with them. You might even want to throw in Gladiator 20 as a requirement as well.

In short you would need to train your "Classes" (skill sets) before you could perform your main "Job" (role).

When you graduated into your new role you could still use any and all abilities that you could from those classes needed to gain access to the new job. However you would be limited to selecting from those classes when setting up your skill bars for your job. The new job would also have its own set of specialized skills only available to that specific job. You would then start leveling your job and getting the new abilities that it offers and still have the option of reverting to the individual classes to train them further (possibly for gaining access to other jobs or gaining access to other abilities that may help the job your are working on).

Using this style of system would also allow the introduction of job specific abilities such as 2-hour abilities. This would also allow SE to implement more classes and jobs to the game based simply on the requirements necessary to get a job you may want to try and implement more questing content into the game. In addition you would also gain the ability to use multiple weapons which would only be restricted to the classes needed to gain access to a job. For Red Mage you could use Sword, Shield, Staff and Wands to go one step further with the example above.

One last note I would like to make about this style of doing things would be that I am seeing a lot of posts about how people are upset about how easy the game can be at times and how it seems to be so "solo" oriented. Using this system would allow for both solo and party based content. The quests you would unlock for your classes would be primarily solo content while job related quests would allow for a more difficult curve and have more of a requirement for party play.

Just some thoughts on how to have the best of both worlds...Sorry for the wall of text.

Mort

PS. You could also work other classes like crafting and gathering into the requirements. (ie. The Alchemist job would require Alchemy to a certain level as an obvious example.)

[Kimahri]

I can't say I am thrilled with the new system but also not thrilled with the FFXI version either. Maybe an implementation of both systems is in order. Bear with me here this might be a bit lengthy.

Assuming this:

Class = Skill set
Job = Role

Keep the Classes as they are including the current max level. Upon achievement of certain class levels you can unlock an "advanced" class. These advance classes would be the more traditional named jobs. The hook to this would be that these advanced jobs would require multiple classes to unlock.

Example:

Red Mage would be an advanced job. To unlock the quest necessary to become a Red Mage you might have to achieve Conjurer 30 and Thaumaturge 30 and complete the individual class quests associated with them. You might even want to throw in Gladiator 20 as a requirement as well.

In short you would need to train your "Classes" (skill sets) before you could perform your main "Job" (role).

I have heard this from other threads, but I feel that what you're trying to do is jump the gun and install new advanced classes too soon. There are far too many problems with the original seven classes we have now. I do not see how this relates to anything regarding a unique quality of the classes.

It's basically like saying, "Here. Level this class to this level, and we'll give you another class with everything and then some!" It's some really good thinking, man. I'm being honest. However I just don't feel like this is the solution we should stride for.

[gifthorse]

I have heard this from other threads, but I feel that what you're trying to do is jump the gun and install new advanced classes too soon. There are far too many problems with the original seven classes we have now. I do not see how this relates to anything regarding a unique quality of the classes.

It's basically like saying, "Here. Level this class to this level, and we'll give you another class with everything and then some!" It's some really good thinking, man. I'm being honest. However I just don't feel like this is the solution we should stride for.

He's not trying to install new advanced classes. He is trying to develop jobs/roles with defined directions within the skill sets available.

[AlexiaKidd]

He's not trying to install new advanced classes. He is trying to develop jobs/roles with defined directions within the skill sets available.

But even still the underlying problem is the Armoury system itself, it allows way to much freedom and is just going to create an army of completely over powered players and if you don't have every job levelled up to create these OP classes then you fall behind. The need restrictions and FFXI did that perfectly with the sub job system only allowing you to have one full class and half of another. Being able to pick and choose skills from any class will always create unbalance.

[Mortikhan]

I have heard this from other threads, but I feel that what you're trying to do is jump the gun and install new advanced classes too soon. There are far too many problems with the original seven classes we have now. I do not see how this relates to anything regarding a unique quality of the classes.

It's basically like saying, "Here. Level this class to this level, and we'll give you another class with everything and then some!" It's some really good thinking, man. I'm being honest. However I just don't feel like this is the solution we should stride for.

As I had said further in my post. The restrictions would come into play with the jobs. You would ONLY be able to select abilities from the classes needed to unlock the job. Using the example in my previous post: Red Mage for example would not be allowed to choose from Marauder or Archer skills to augment their skill set. The generic classes would have a more broad skill set but limited by their level. The jobs would be more powerful but have a specific role and the skills gained by their leveling would fit that role and only be accessible to that job. I also stated further on in my post that content introduced for the the jobs would present a marked difference in difficulty. This would offset the current "omgzors I am a godling" feeling of the armoury system at present. The current system allows you to tinker with all of the skills you have to produce a skill set you would like to have and then when you get the jobs you will have to sacrifice some of those skills based on what you can or cannot use with that job. You would have to make a choice on what role you really want to serve and have the more difficult content that will require those "amplified" abilities you will gain. With that choice however you would also be catering to weaknesses that you would require other people to compensate for.

[Kimahri]

As I had said further in my post. The restrictions would come into play with the jobs. You would ONLY be able to select abilities from the classes needed to unlock the job. Using the example in my previous post: Red Mage for example would not be allowed to choose from Marauder or Archer skills to augment their skill set. The generic classes would have a more broad skill set but limited by their level. The jobs would be more powerful but have a specific role and the skills gained by their leveling would fit that role and only be accessible to that job. I also stated further on in my post that content introduced for the the jobs would present a marked difference in difficulty. This would offset the current "omgzors I am a godling" feeling of the armoury system at present. The current system allows you to tinker with all of the skills you have to produce a skill set you would like to have and then when you get the jobs you will have to sacrifice some of those skills based on what you can or cannot use with that job. You would have to make a choice on what role you really want to serve and have the more difficult content that will require those "amplified" abilities you will gain. With that choice however you would also be catering to weaknesses that you would require other people to compensate for.

I completely understand what you're saying. What I'm saying is we need to worry about advanced classes further down the line. I'm concerned with the original seven. I don't want a RoZ expansion already when we haven't fixed the original. Being able to unlock a RDM simply by leveling two jobs will not help the two jobs it's coming from. Why can't I just use Marauder and be unique? Why does it have to be a required tool in order for me to obtain say Berserker?

There is only one way I think you'll be able to do something along the lines of what you're coming from. A progression of the basic class to an "advanced" class could be achieved by slowly turning a job such as Gladiator, into a more defined role such as Paladin or Dark Knight. Here's how.

At some point down the line, let's say Rank 25 since it's in the half-way mark, you will be able to access a quest with your Rank 25 Gladiator that allows you to start training you Gladiator into a more defined role.(Again either Paladin or Dark Knight) This would go a long way into keeping the original seven classes unique since they will turn into more defined roles as either DD, Tank, Healer, Magic DD, Buffer, etc.

We would also need to keep the ability to cross abilities from only a certain other jobs, like you said. For one, I don't think we should swap DoW with DoM abilities. (Only exception would be the Paladin & Dark Knight options since they also require magic in certain ways.) This would be a far better ploy to go on than just leveling Gladiator, Thaumaturge, and whichever else you said to 30 and then leaving them high and dry. That would just make the original seven pointless to level since there's no incentive there to level them other than the fact that you'll have the same stuff on just another, more "advanced" class as you would say.

[Mortikhan]

I completely understand what you're saying. What I'm saying is we need to worry about advanced classes further down the line. I'm concerned with the original seven. I don't want a RoZ expansion already when we haven't fixed the original. Being able to unlock a RDM simply by leveling two jobs will not help the two jobs it's coming from. Why can't I just use Marauder and be unique? Why does it have to be a required tool in order for me to obtain say Berserker?

There is only one way I think you'll be able to do something along the lines of what you're coming from. A progression of the basic class to an "advanced" class could be achieved by slowly turning a job such as Gladiator, into a more defined role such as Paladin or Dark Knight. Here's how.

At some point down the line, let's say Rank 25 since it's in the half-way mark, you will be able to access a quest with your Rank 25 Gladiator that allows you to start training you Gladiator into a more defined role.(Again either Paladin or Dark Knight) This would go a long way into keeping the original seven classes unique since they will turn into more defined roles as either DD, Tank, Healer, Magic DD, Buffer, etc.

We would also need to keep the ability to cross abilities from only a certain other jobs, like you said. For one, I don't think we should swap DoW with DoM abilities. (Only exception would be the Paladin & Dark Knight options since they also require magic in certain ways.) This would be a far better ploy to go on than just leveling Gladiator, Thaumaturge, and whichever else you said to 30 and then leaving them high and dry. That would just make the original seven pointless to level since there's no incentive there to level them other than the fact that you'll have the same stuff on just another, more "advanced" class as you would say.

I think we are both looking at the same destination but approaching it from separate routes. Either way works. Basically creating a hybrid of two or more classes to create a more refined and specific job that executes the intended role more efficiently. You are saying to expand on the current system but make the new creation more specific in nature by unlocking other aspects of the main classes. I am seeing the current classes as "starter" classes to acquire the skills necessary to achieve the intended role by meeting the minimum requirements to serve that role.

As far as abandoning the initial classes I am not saying that at all. I am saying that you must level the initial classes to the minimum levels before being able to explore the job you want to explore. You would still be able to continue with the original classes and continue to add to that job skill pool by leveling the classes involved in making up that job. Keeping with that objective in mind, you would not be able to max out the job until you maxed out all of its comprising classes. Kind of a "tools of your profession" situation.

Your way works as well with the "evolution" method of advancing into a more specified field. You advance the first class to its prerequisite level and then choose an aspect of that class to define the role of that class while still maintaining the base of the class.