New Class Idea

[Atlaworks]

So the biggest issue is that in a game where development leans HEAVILY on historical accuracy when it comes to weapon styles, a reaper-style scythe doesn't work due to the fact that it was never used historically as a weapon of war due to problems with weight imbalance and too much strain on the upper part of the shaft (don't laugh ><). There were war scythes, but those were closer to some polearms you'd see on Dragoon. My guess is that that's why the greatsword was picked over the scythe for a Dark Knight weapon, because of that particular preference toward adhering to that weapon style preference (even though they still use the wrong technique for it).

That being said, I did make a concept for a Reaper job that uses such a scythe, but I made it as a spellcaster and a means of explaining what a necromancer-like job would look like in this game.

This dude, QFT. Scythes are farming tools, yo.

[Myvar]

But... Botanists already use scythes.

[hiedra]

But... Botanists already use scythes.

Battle Botanist

[Talraen]

Battle Botanist

Bring back that ridiculous stun non-combat jobs had in 1.0!

[Kazrah]

This dude, QFT. Scythes are farming tools, yo.

Yeah, that's why I called it a greatscythe as well as to differentiate from Botanist scythes.

[kikix12]

(...)doesn't work due to the fact that it was never used historically as a weapon of war(...)

Actually, this is not entirely true. For two reasons.
1) Scythes were used in wars as tools that are...well...deadly. By those that had them and didn't have means of getting any decent weapon. Uprisings etc. used normal scythes which were no less deadly than any other weapon out there. Drawbacks were there, but fighting with a scythe still gave a farmer much higher chance of victory against a sword user than just about anything else they could have. Heck, that farmer had better chance than the sword-using guy!
2) War-scythes were "evolved" from normal scythes, and in fact, very many of the scythes used were in fact remodeled tools. Hence those scythes were technically used in war one way or another.

There were war scythes, but those were closer to some polearms you'd see on Dragoon.

I hope you do know that a scythe, even the farming tool version of it, when used in combat, IS a polearm. A polearm is basically every single weapon that uses a long shaft to hold. Yes, even if that shaft is the weapon itself, like quarter-staff. That means that both conjurers and black mages also use polearms. Hence this is little reason to dismiss it. Dragoons use polearms that are dominantly piercing (though there are halberds etc, which are both piercing and slashing), but scythes are dominantly slashing (heck, most of them are only slashing). And even for those that have spikes, they can't exactly be "thrown" in any way, shape or form. Not effectively anyway (yes, yes...I know halberds aren't ideal javelins either...). So scythe user could very well be reasonable.

Still, I prefer some more details to suggestions like that. Saying that you would love it and that it could have this or that is just not a suggestion. It's more of a plea. Is that fine?! Most certainly. But it's just different than what the thread starter is making it to be.

Are we basing these off guesswork or are we basing these off developer comments cause I know for a fact I remember reading that releasing 3 classes in an expansion was too much dev strain and they likely wont do it again.

Eh...Yeah, that's pretty much what I said...They shafted the third job cause they relocated the resources to a different field...I just limited it to Stormblood, not expanding it to further expansions.

And points 1 and 2 are the reasons for why there are only DPS jobs...Those were in the very same interview in which the reason for two instead of three was given.

[Jonnycbad]

Scythes (as you described) were never actually used in battle and make for awkward and ineffective weapons


Also, this.

[RaijinSupreme]

Scythes (as you described) were never actually used in battle and make for awkward and ineffective weapons


Also, this.

Zasalamel would beg to differ. and will cut you down while differing.

[The_NPC]

Most games I've seen that use a sycthe as a Melee weapon use it more as a mix of Great-Axe & long-pole combat (with Sycthe's that have the S shape handle but lose the 2 hand-holds that would have been needed to use it as its origional tool, a grass cutter)

Granted in the few games I've seen use a Sycthe only Zazamel (not sure on spelling) from Soul Caliber used his in a semi-believable way, as a hook for grabs & using 2h axe/long-pole short range CQC. other times I've seen a Sycthe is as a staff for Nerco-mancer mages or undead farmer zombies (wnich is the best still believable way)

[FallenWings]

Personally I'd rather see more blunt weapons or even a whip before considering adding what would inevitably be another slashing weapon. :x

5 Slash, 3 Pierce, 1 Blunt.

Slash is already a huge balance concern as it is.