Thread: Requesting Information on Jobs: Preparing for 1.21

Originally Posted by Zeref

This is just my conjecture but I think switching to Jobs will be like advanced classes in other MMOs, or (lol) evolution in Pokemon, basically you advance your current class into a job, like Lancer > Dragoon, and that's it, your Lancer is permanently a dragoon without a way of switching it back to Lancer. on the other hand it might be possible that each job will have its own unique weapon so that each job will essentially be a new class, though it might make an already cluttered system even more convoluted.

That much I believe is known and has been known for a while that jobs will coexist with classes, however it will work as another layer of the Armoury system. They're more like specializations with party play in mind. I liken them to declaring what role you will be playing in the party. So there will be switching back and forth.

Furthermore as mentioned already the use of a Jobs Stone was mentioned in an interview if I remember correctly. Somehow this item would allow one to switch to the job it is connected to (ie. Paladin Stone, Monk Stone). That's basically all that was disclosed regarding switching and it's been a while since they mentioned that and also haven't given any details as to the process.

Until recently I'm sure a lot of the silence was due to most of the mechanics being in the development stage as concepts. Now that we're approaching the date of 1.21 I'm sure a lot of the mechanics are at least conceptually finalized and either are being developed or tested.

I don't expect information right away, or even soon, but I do want to get their attention and hope they understand that by providing some details in advance it could really help lessen the shock effect of the massive change the job system will bring to endgame full party play, especially in terms of gear.

If jobs were just bonuses there would be no need to switch back, but since they come with constraints, they decided to let players switch back and forth

Originally Posted by northernsky

If jobs were just bonuses there would be no need to switch back, but since they come with constraints, they decided to let players switch back and forth

Yup I believe the idea was Jobs would be very much Full Party focused and dependent on the support of other players. Classes on the other hand would be superior in solo and Light Party scenarios where each given player is expected to be proficient in a number of areas.

I'm just hoping they give jobs separate action bars from classes so that people like me who are very particular about their ability placements won't be screwed up too much when switching between the two =P

Originally Posted by Estellios

I'm just hoping they give jobs separate action bars from classes so that people like me who are very particular about their ability placements won't be screwed up too much when switching between the two =P

Oh yea... it would be completely counterproductive if switching to a job simply removed all your cross class skills and filled in the slots with job skills randomly each time. I honestly expect that jobs will have their own saved action bars.

Originally Posted by Estellios

I'm just hoping they give jobs separate action bars from classes so that people like me who are very particular about their ability placements won't be screwed up too much when switching between the two =P

It's a pretty safe bet that you're going to get new action bars.

Afterall, LNC and DRG are indeed separate entities and you won't have access to the same cross-class abilities (if any). They have only recently alleviated that horrible mess of switching class and having to add your actions to the bar again, I hope they are smart enough to not go backwards.

I'm hesitant to say you will not be able to "cross-class", and in any event I might say that when it's a job using non-exclusive class abilities or weapon skills or magic from other classes it's a relationship more akin to a job and sub-job from 11 instead of the slightly heavier mix we have now that we define as cross-classing. I think per this post:

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...764#post449764

you will have access to whatever you have access to now plus the Job Abilities and Weapon Skills or Magic (which are evidently exclusive). The chart explicitly states what is and isn't exclusive and, I could be wrong, I don't see why that wouldn't carry on.

The question I have is whether or not the 15/10 split will change from main "class" abilities to other random class non-exclusive abilities. I hope that it would change to 20 job/5 off-class if anything but, in any event, for a CNJ/WHM for instance there are only a total of 20 things you can choose from if you add them up anyhow. I think being able to pick up a few key/interesting things from other classes is integral to this game because what the hell would you fill your bars with otherwise? If it stays 15/10 the 15 now representing the max amt. of things you can set from your job then you'll have to be a little more choosey with what things you ignore from your own class. The other thing I simply didn't consider was the possiblity of a 20/10 split which would let you fill your 30 slots completely. That would allow full use of your job and some other crap.

As far as cross classing goes, all we were told was that our ability to do so would be limited when on a job. How it would be limited is a guessing game at this point.

While I see the popular expectations to be having no ability to cross-class or having the number cut in about half. I like to think that the limit may come in the form of what class(es) one can cross class from when on a specific Job. Such as PLD being limited to only CNJ skills.

I actually thought it would be pretty badass if they let us go from being Glad to Pld mid battle. Granted, I wouldnt want it so you could flip back and forth on a whim, so maybe a cooldown timer? BUt imagine starting a fight as Glad, it starts getting tough (assuming you could still find a tough fight) hit a hot key and get a wicked ass animation (bright flash?) as it autochanges you into you PLD af gear and your skills are changed on the fly. WHile I am most certainly sure this will NOT be how it is done, when they first announced these its the first thing I thought of. Having each animation per job be different (like having blms animation be all fire or shadows for the change) would also be pretty sweet.