How can we get more in depth character customization?

[Shurrikhan]

Some great comments but I'm seeing a common criticism that I wanted to bring up.

Yeah, I know more options doesnt actually mean "more options" because of the hive mind MMO players, or gamers in general, seem to gravitate towards. I see more options as no better or worse than having an in-game parser BUT I did present several different ways of getting a similar result. Almost all of you only commented on the most complicated one that would require a hard reset on a lot of the current game mechanics, That would be something only feasible if we had another calamity and had a realm reborn reborn!

There were two different styles I brought up that could work in the current systems like the split class/job/role they did with Arcanist/Summoner/Scholar. I know the devs whined that it was too much work but I could see this FFXIV's version of a talent tree, a job stone for that weapon which gives you a different role/playstyle. A change like that would only happen in increments though unless it was the whole focus of an entire expansion and I'm also aware that, even if they started working on it today, we wouldnt see it until maybe 7.0

So aside from the excuses presented by the devs, what would you guys think of that as a customization solution?

It certainly seems a more sensible avenue into customization, if such is ever necessary. I personally see Monk and Dancer as almost equally tied to the Pugilist school of combat, for instance, but, we could also go further by, say, allowing cross-class in a real capacity again, such that Dancer could choose to build more off Pugilist, Lancer, Rogue, or Conjurer.

Even believing as I do that customization is fundamentally reductive, I still think such a system would be worthwhile just for the immersion it could bring... provided it came with the appropriate mutations to support it.

But, customization will always be an RPG element to me. Outside of the 4-skill restriction of MOBAs, it merely cuts down what would have allowed simultaneously and fluidly available variety of play into a variety of menu selections and fewer actual gameplay choices. I like it my RPGs, but... XIV can scarcely be called one, if at all.