What if we got the Sub-Job System in FFXIV?

[Nihility]

while being able to change up your subjob to fit different needs was pretty cool in ffxi

ffxiv went from having subjob-esque cross class skills to removing that and giving all classes a "pick 5 of these 10 to be usable" and now even farther away from subjob with "well all 10 are now usable so whatever, enjoy the loss of unique class animations for nothing"

basically 14 is stepping farther and farther away from anything resembling subjobs, going back that way now would probably require more effort than they'd want to commit while also messing up anything they happened to balance around class skills replacing cross-class skills

[Deceptus]

Then this would just be FFXI and would be pointless.

[Delmontyb]

Then this would just be FFXI and would be pointless.

The way I proposed it in the video is that the sub-job introduces passive traits to your abilities. Like giving protect a HOT, a Spike damage, or a regen like effect. Only allowing jobs to "sub" based of the main job would be how it's easier balanced over time, and allow for a "rock/paper/scissors" approach to game design, etc.

[Fawkes]

Then this would just be FFXI and would be pointless.

The difference is that in FFXI the devs weren't afraid to make a job unique, so there was an extreme level of variety that just doesn't exist in FFXIV. Our jobs are already way too samey, so getting access to another job's stuff would just make it even more bland.

[Renato]

I've been thinking a lot about this and honestly, I don't think it would be that hard to implement.

My idea is simply make it to where certain roles can either improve their skillset or alter the role itself in a way. So basically, make it to where a Tank role can either sub a healing job or DPS. In doing so, it will lose certain job actions but gain new ones. And the new job actions wouldn't hinder the original job in any way (so if one chose to just play without a sub, they'd be perfectly fine.)

PLD + WHM for example would lose Clemency and Divine Veil but gain an AOE heal and a skill similar to Holy (Aoe) that combo procs from Holy Spirit.
PLD + SAM would unlock a trait similar to Third Eye that procs certain counter attacks when an attack is blocked.

DRK+ SMN would unlock hard hitting magic attacks like Shadow Flare and would be able to summon "shadows" that would stay on the field for a period of the time and attack targeted enemies but would lose attacks like Abyssal Drain and Dark Passenger.
DRK+ SCH would unlock a trait called "Dark Aether" that would make certain skills usable when stacked but would lose the Blood Gauge. Since this combination focuses more on being a tank/healer, it'd be more about defending the party and less about how much DPS you can do.

Both examples make it so the sub changes the job a bit to make it more efficient in DPS or healing. To avoid too many combinations or some that are more powerful than others, maybe make it where each role can take one other sub from the other roles that synergize the best with them. So PLD would have access to WHM and SAM, DRK would have BLM and SCH and vice-vsera.

[luicei375]

Sounds more like flame wars because you don't have a meta job-subjob combo.

[Lubu_Mykono]

Completely different combat system. Fights are tied to roles and DPS quotas. Impossible to implement in any real way with the coding structure they have at the minute. It's why most the cross class abilities have very little impact on overall fights, some are kind of useful, some are niche, about half are useless.

[PatronasCharm]

Idk about that this far into the game sadly; as fun as it would sound; I remember how much fun I had in FFXI going back and relevling a subjob etc. for my main. But returning in this day and age it would feel more of a chore, since my time is so limited: not talking for anyone else. It would be too much juggling; plus, the way this game is designed, I can't see it working b/c of the shear polish and balance they put into it.

HOWEVER! I do believe if SE were to publish another MMO, maybe making it into a "Bravely Default" MMO, they should definitely bring that classic system back, with a more action oriented approach, and a subjob system intact like FFXI did.

*Quick edit: I recall visiting a webpage that had this really detailed list of "Classes" that branched into more iconic jobs; man, if only that vision continued, that would be so much fun to have seen. Because it would have brought so many more jobs to the table.

[Aurturia]

What if instead of sub classes or jobs we moved a little further to sub roles? As I see it each sub role would add a handful of traits and/or abilities to your current kit. For example a warrior could take the caster sub role for a little extra aoe, or healer for self sustain, melee dps would probably have to be single target or burst dmg, and ranged maybe some sort of support.

[Razard]

The difference is that in FFXI the devs weren't afraid to make a job unique,

That's a funny way of saying "the balance of ffxi was so busted certain classes where treated like lepers and the problems with these classes where not fixed for years after implementation."