Should we consider combat QOL improvements/changes ?

[Zojha]

I agree, I would like something in the game that allowed us to customize our gameplay.

We already have that: You can ditch your soul crystal in favor of more cross class skills.

Why don't you do it? Note: That's a rhetorical question. We all know it's because it's less efficient than going with your soul crystal.

Customization of stats and gameplay doesn't work out too well in MMOs, because people enforce optimization. You "can" customize your playstyle quite a bit, you can cross-class melee skills as ACN, equip STR accessories and melded gear and pummel people to death with your book. And chances are, people won't even care as long as you do that alone. As soon as you step into group content like that however...oh boy.

This is the core issue of customization in team based online games. The best you can do is to make the whole stat system so extremely convoluted, confusing, unclear and complex that even the smartest math-whiz just cannot possibly comprehend which choices are good and which are bad, so they can't judge others over it. Either that, or perfectly balance all the choices you can make. Good luck with that.

[Saccharin]

I think we should consider elemental strengths/weaknesses somewhere in the future to enhance the combat in this game. Obviously that would require redesigning how some of the classes play, and it is definitely something that occurs (this game wouldn't exist without the intention of reimagining/redesigning aspects of the game).

Elemental or resists is just plan bad game play. It creates false depth. For bosses it leads to x class can't come because the boss is immune or takes less damage; in you example you used a BLM. For raid damage it means resist gear. Now some people see this as the nirvana of 'horizontal progression' but its just a long winded way to stretch out content for no legitimate reason. Resists is an archaic game design that ight work well in a single player RPG but not an MMO with group based fights.

I do feel that melée in particular feel very 'samey', it's down to the combo moves. It's not so bad at high level but I dont feel they get unique enough until you hit the level where you get the jobs.

BLM I think is fairly unique in this game, I dont care about any other FF games. As a caster it is unique, thankfully. Now you just said the 'h-word' an frankly having a spell for every occasion is just bad game design.

We already have that: You can ditch your soul crystal in favor of more cross class skills.

I think that was the original intention of the class job system but the class system hampers creativity of jobs. A level 60 class is just woefully incapable of serious participation with the emphasis on job skill at 30 plus. If you use arcanist as an example. During 2.x, the difference of a summoner and scholar were the few abilities that you got at level 30-50. Now we have additional jobs skills at 60 it feels more unique but it's telling that they didn't add anything at the class level. If it wasn't for arcanist I'm sure they would scrap the classes completely.

[WellFooled]

This is the core issue of customization in team based online games. Either that, or perfectly balance all the choices you can make.

I see your point and balance is always a concern for sure, but no game is perfectly balanced. Even the biggest esports in the world can't achieve a perfectly fair playing field, and they have the most motivation to. Instead, the balance needs to fall within an acceptable margin (which, taking off our soul crystals does not fall into). It comes down to balance vs fun. I think most everyone would prefer a game that was fun, but slightly unbalanced, than a balanced boring game. When it comes to FFXIV, the gameplay of our jobs falls into the latter.