Possible removal of Classes

[bass9020]

This topic is starting to pop up a lot lately, even in interviews done by Yoshi. We all know the classes go back to 1.0 and are heavily involved in the lore. (more so in 1.0) People keep talking about how they should get rid of the classes and only have jobs, I'm curious why? I get that for jobs like Summoner and Scholar sharing a base class isn't very good, also once you get to level 30 you never use classes again. I still enjoy the classes I think they make a nice starting point.

Before Heavensward was released we all speculated and tried to figure out what the next set of classes and jobs would be. Then we were hit with the bombshell, no more classes and the new jobs would start at level 30...... Now with Stormblood more jobs with no classes and starting at level 50!(possibly, most likely....)

Now there is talks to remove classes completely. How would this work? How will this affect the lore already established? Is this honestly needed? I get people don't like leveling and think classes are boring but you gotta start somewhere in a game. I remember in 1.0 the class guilds were much more important, we even had a token called guild marks which allowed us to buy abilities and other things for our classes. Its a shame we don't have more involvement with the classes maybe if we did there wouldn't be as much hate for them.

Im just curious how others feel about this drastic change?

[MicahZerrshia]

They will likely start new characters and jobs at or above lvl 30, that would be the simplest solution and get rid of a lot of hours leveling. So win/win. The leveling grind, while it shouldn't be removed entirely, it fairly outdated at this point. I actually like the way ESO does it, you sync to the lvl of the zone you are in and "leveling" is more gaining points to unlock abilities and traits.

They can keep classes in the game since jobs are supposed to be something special that sets you apart from every N, P and C roaming the streets.

[Vidu]

I havent played 1.0 so to me this doesnt feel like a drastic change. So to me it doesnt feel like its taking away anything. I actually like it - for two major reasons:

1) We all know that past level 30, when you get your job, your class is useless, so there is no point in keeping it. You'll never play your class again and wether you level up a class or a job doesnt matter to met, its just a different name in the end. More so: removing the classes actually makes sure everyone is playing their job - since a lot of major and important abilities are lokced behind your jobcrystal (for example: the tank-stances - imagine a gladiator in DD or AV) I think its actually good to "force" people into that.
2) The current dev-team has THEIR (or Yoshis) vision of the game now - its not 1.0 anymore and even though I understand all the sentiment from your old vets, I can also see why the new dev-team wants to make this their game with their ideas. And if classes and guilds doesnt fit in there anymore, I think we're better of with scrapping them alltogether instead of half-assing something that doesnt make anyone happy.

The only thing I really liked about the class/job-system (not saying I hated it or anything, just neutral on the rest) is that it made you try a second class before you could unlock your job, so you'd get to try something new. Even though its extremly annoying to level the first 15 levels (without quests...) I always liked that encouragment.

But I dont really see this as a big change - they're STILL inlcuding lore and stories in the jobquests (and it makes more sense to me to just add a new job-master instead of adding new guilds "Oh, look, a guild we never noticed before!" - granted, they could be in the new areas, but anyways) so for me nothing gets really lost here.

[Alerion]

To piggyback off Vidu's post I was a 1.0 player and I never liked the classes so I feel no attachment towards them. I know it amounted to little more than a name but it never felt very "Final Fantasy" to me. I am all for the removal of classes and a semi rework of the armory system so that job crystals determine the job you are, not your main hand weapon. I realize this would actually require quite a bit of work in redoing 1-30 stories and properly splitting Scholar and Summoner but I would definitely appreciate the streamlined result.

[Moomba33]

I'd be sad to see the classes go to be honest. I really like the class stories and trainers and would rather not see them removed from the game.
I also like the idea of your character starting as a class when they're a newbie adventurer then becoming a job as they grow into the Warrior of Light.

I have no problem with new jobs having no starting class or doing something like making the transition to the ARR jobs easier by removing the requirement to level another class. I could also see SE making the transition mandatory by capping classes at 30. I would just be sad to see the class stories disappear entirely.

[Thunda_Cat_SMASH]

I would be quite ecstatic to know that there's gonna be no more jobs in game. They're annoying and pointless, and while a few class stories were cute (Rogue...) all the rest were a pain in the arse. (^ω^)

[Recruiter]

Classes have been garbage and players been requesting for them to go away since 1.0. We thought they were going away when jobs were introduced, then we thought they were going away when 2.0 came out. Then we thought it was curtains for classes when DRK/AST/MCH came out but nope they start at 30 instead of 1. It seemed like the new format is that all new jobs start at 30 and now SAM/RDM are added and starts at 50.

I wish SE would unify the system. Something like:

1- You start as a job.
2- Level 1.
3- You change jobs by changing crystals instead of weapons.
4- More weapon types per job.
5- Advanced jobs require a certain level to unlock but start at lvl 1.
6- Cross classing abilities either done away with or made perfect. None of this old jobs can't use new jobs abilities junk.

[Airget]

Removal of classes would give them the opportunity to fix SMN and I think that's the only reason why they would do it. Since if they only have jobs, then it gives them an excuse to re-evaluate and recreate the SMN job with skillsets that focus more on the pet and less of an DoT with pets on the side.

Also think it comes with the mentality that while lv 60 as a class might of be semi viable in a handful of situation, 70+ it's going to become a lot less viable since with each level cap that's another -10 levels of missing said abilities, and no amount of cross-class abilities is going to help you overcome that hurdle.

[Ririta]

Im just curious how others feel about this drastic change?

When I started playing this game I thought that all classes would one day be like arcanists and have multiple job choices. The way it is now is so disappointing, more of that problem that I always had with this game - never wanting to do anything beyond the bare minimum, always taking the easiest route (and by that I think it's safe to assume that classes will never be removed).

At this point, the job and class system is so butchered and disconnected that I couldn't care less. Makes me wonder why Yoshida even wanted to add jobs besides fanservice, they add nothing to the gameplay and completely destroys Tanaka's original vision. If I had a say, the jobs would be the ones to be removed, but even for that it's too late.

[Thunda_Cat_SMASH]

If I had a say, the jobs would be the ones to be removed, but even for that it's too late.

Classes were the mistake though. Taking out jobs would be akin to telling people to pay cash to watch an Avengers movie and then giving them MLP episodes 1-3. Classes have less than nothing to do with the FF series, which has always had jobs as the main focus. Take out jobs, and it's a completely different game and aesthetic, one I would abandon in a heartbeat. I'm here to play an FF game, not a generic MMO with generic classes with no identity.