Expanding the Limited Job System

[Mibgestalt]

Now that Square has decided to introduce the limited job system, I think it warrants some ideas for expansion. It allows jobs to be played as they were fully intended, and, honestly, other jobs are missing out on the chance to truly recreate the classic Final Fantasy experience they were based on in FFXIV. Here are a few ideas.

Black Mage: Black Mage in the FF series has always been about exploiting an enemy's elemental weaknesses. It's about using the triad of elemental spells that are functionally the same, but deal different damage to enemies of different susceptibility. I think we can agree their iteration in FFXIV does not represent this at all. Thunder, Fire, and Blizzard should all be retooled to have elemental tags, and monsters should be given elemental tags so that classic feeling of experimenting, strategizing, and then exploiting your enemy's weakness can really come to the forefront. Of course this couldn't be allowed in high level content or duty finder, because Black Mage would either be way too powerful, constantly exploiting for huge damage, or completely useless if players don't understand the elemental weaknesses. Still, a Black Mage limited job would be a truer incarnation. Imagine how true to the Black Mage you will feel when you're out doing 60% of an open-world mobs' health with one Fire III because you knew it was weak to fire? That's the Black Mage I know and love.

White Mage: White Mage in the FF series has always been a supporter, a sole healer. White Magic has had almost no titles where it can do anything but heal, or damage undead exclusively, outside of Holy. In today's FFXIV, you spend the majority of the time as a White Mage dealing damage with Stone. It's honestly so far from the classic FF White Mage that it's a surprise no one has recommended this job to be limited. White Mage simply shouldn't be allowed to deal damage to non-undead, nor take part in solo content, to make sure the core identity of the class remains unblemished. Yes it will miss out on the Main Story quest because it won't be able to deal damage until it gets Holy, but that's what being a White Mage is all about! You empower your team to stay fighting against the most dire threats. Being able to defeat enemies yourself goes against everything the job stands for.

Bard: Bard is a full support class in most of it's traditional iterations. They've never been known for slaying enemies or even using a bow! Bards are known for two things: Songs, and Hide. The Perform action is the closest thing we have to a true Bard experience, so we should absolutely expand on that. Songs should have effects when played correctly with Perform, and Bards should barely be able to defend themselves with their harp. Instead, Bards should be capable of Hiding, giving them absolute safety as long as another player is around. Yeah you won't be able to queue for current content, because obviously this wouldn't fit into FFXIV's systems, but imagine how much fun you'll have being the true support a Bard as always traditionally been! Not to mention it will help the game world feel alive, with Bards running around the open world playing songs for other adventurers as they complete FATEs and other content. It will be a boon to new players, too!

Summoner: Summoner is all about grand, spectacular summons with huge wind up and massive, flashy effects. You literally summon the being itself, but in FFXIV you just hold a fraction of that power while primarily casting Black Mage spells. It really makes no sense. Summoners should be able to summon the exact models of Primals, and have them do their one, huge signature attack. A massive AoE that just destroys almost anything! Obviously they wouldn't be allowed in group content because they wouldn't fit into the system of FFXIV, but it would be the true Summoner experience. Imagine how much fun you'd have walking into Ifrit and then summoning Ifrit to attack him! Or how new players would appreciate when you instantly finish a FATE because you call upon Bahamut to cast Mega Flare! It'd help keep the open world alive, too!

Samurai: Samurais have traditionally been heavily armored bushido warriors, whose signature skill is Gil Toss. Not implementing Gil Toss is a huge detriment to the class fantasy and a giant missed opportunity to FFXIV. It even fits in perfectly with FFXIV's crafting system! Make money using crafting or gathering jobs, and then do max damage with Gil Toss! How awesome would it feel to obliterate your enemies with max damage throwing hard-earned money at them? Though, obviously this could not be allowed in group content, because of how strong it would be, or how Samurai without funds might be excluded from parties. But is anything more impactful than walking up to a FATE, open world mob, or level 50 boss and literally crushing it with your wallet? Tell me you wouldn't love that!

Red Mage: Red Mage is way too far on the Black Mage spectrum in FFXIV. It should only have access to half of White Mage's spells, and half of Black Mage's spells, along with more powerful auto attacks to keep it in line with how it has always been. This amalgamation of damage dealing with only TWO support spells is so far from it's roots, I'm surprised no one has suggested this first! Obviously you wouldn't be allowed in group content, because you can't provide the full role needed to help your party within FFXIV's systems... but imagine how true to the classic Red Mage feel you'll get when you walk up to a FATE or open world mob and can cast Fire II to kill it and Cure II to keep yourself alive! You'll really feel as versatile and jack of all trades as true Red Mage is.

Dragoon: Dragoon is defined by one ability: Jump. A classic move where you leap high into the air, and, after a period of absolutely invincibility, come crashing down on the enemy for massive damage. It is so iconic with the class, that when Final Fantasy Tactics was made and they expanded on other classes like Monk and Geomancer, they just give Dragoon MORE Jump range, because that's pretty much all it is. So why on Hyadeln's brown earth does Jump not make you invulnerable in FFXIV! People who want to play Dragoon want the true Dragoon experience. Expertly timing your maneuver to dodge even the deadliest blow the game has to offer! Obviously this would not be allowed in group content because being able to avoid enrages or mechanic failure moves would absolutely be unbalanced, but it's worth the trade off. Imagine how nimble and like a true warrior of the sky you'll feel like when a mob in a FATE spools up a massive AoE attack, and you leap into the sky and take zero damage before landing on it for a huge hit!

Ninja: Ninja is, traditionally, about throwing things. The Naruto mini-game Mudras really have nothing in common with the classic Ninja gameplay that we came to love in Final Fantasy. Ninja is about making use of every tool at your disposal, tossing shurikens, bombs, broadswords, a freakin' SPOON! Imagine how cool it would feel to play as Ninja and to stock up on items in town, ready to throw them at your enemies... that perfect loadout of Swords, or that vast array of elemental scrolls! Of course OBVIOUSLY we couldn't have it in group play, because Ninjas who don't have money to purchase these tools would be excluded from content, but it's totally worth it, right?

Astrologian: Astrologian has been in exactly one other FF game, FF Tactics. In this game it has exactly one move, but boy howdy is it powerful. Astral. Stasis. It casts Stop on every enemy in the map. Imagine, playing Astrologian, walking into the Ruby Sea and... ASTRAL STASIS! Every enemy on the map is frozen for 30 seconds. Holy. Crap. How powerful would you feel? What an AWESOME experience! Obviously this wouldn't be allowed in group content, way too broken, but that's a small price to pay for such an authentic and enriching Astrologian experience.

Fact is, these jobs simply, objectively can't work in Final Fantasy XIV's systems. If you disagree with any of these then you don't really love your job and want a watered, dumb-downed version of the job and not the REAL job.