Petition to Remove Classes & Just Have Jobs

[Oniji]

Having both a Class and Job system creates unnecessary complexity. And complex does not necessarily mean better.

Try explaining to a newcomer how the class-job system works, in terms of cross-class action restrictions, gear restrictions, class restrictions, level prerequisites etc..

It can be done, to be sure, but you begin to realise that it is not a very elegant system.

I understand that some people like the option to fall back to their class, so they can access things like Raise, Cure, Sentinel, etc. But to be honest, it feels more like a crutch than anything. If the only reason people want classes still is to have these sorts of survival abilities for situational encounters or for soloing, then the problem is more to do with how the job is designed and not the lack of classes.
All jobs should be designed with some solo sustainability baked into their skill set. It should not have to be borrowed from another job. Likewise, an encounter should not be balanced in such a way that X and Y spell are required or make an encounter trivial.

By abolishing the Class system, you make the system a lot more clear-cut. You can give the jobs more identity and flexibility because you are not weighed down by having to make the job conform to the class. Just say you want to add Summoner, Thief, Samurai, Ninja, Musketeer Jobs to the game. You are forced to either create a whole new class to make them fit into the world's lore. Or attach them onto existing Classes. Creating even more complexity.

If you were to add a new Job to an existing class E.g. ARC can become a RNG or BRD. This means that you are essentially creating little extra content for a high production cost. Let me explain. Using the "Archer can become a Ranger or Bard" example. You would need to create job specific gear, quests, abilities (as you would have to do either way), but for those that already have ARC to 50, they would essentially be given 2-3 hours worth of extra content? By abolishing classes, it means that sure you would have to create more abilities and more weapon assets, but it would ultimately mean players are getting content equal to the time it takes to level up from 1-50 plus all the previously mentioned content. Some people say that leveling up is not considered content, but I disagree. I have always enjoyed leveling up in FF games. I know a few people who said that they wanted to leave all their characters at 30 for 1.21 so that they could experience leveling up to 50 as the job, and not the class.

Abolishing Jobs also solves the issue of Class/Jobs for DoH and DoL. Since all DoL and DoH could just be transitioned over to Jobs, and they could just then add additional DoL and DoH as they saw fit. Not being forced to feel as though they had to create "Angler" or "Master Tailor" just for the sake of giving all classes Jobs.

[Radav]

I think the Job system will eventually lead to the class system becoming obsolete. I don't want to see the devs trying to balance the game between solo and party play. I think that will only cause more problems in the long run. I'd rather they focus on what everyone is here for. FF style story + cooperative gameplay. I can't imagine there are many people here interested in "solo" play which is what the classes are supposed to be about. Once you hit end game it's all about group content and that's where Jobs are supposed to come in. Focus on the jobs please and let the class system fade into the darkness where it belongs.

[Katella_Avenlea]

I think the Job system will eventually lead to the class system becoming obsolete. I don't want to see the devs trying to balance the game between solo and party play. I think that will only cause more problems in the long run. I'd rather they focus on what everyone is here for. FF style story + cooperative gameplay. I can't imagine there are many people here interested in "solo" play which is what the classes are supposed to be about. Once you hit end game it's all about group content and that's where Jobs are supposed to come in. Focus on the jobs please and let the class system fade into the darkness where it belongs.

Except... I'm not sure that's what "Everyone is here for". People assume a bit much I think. Not everyone shares the view that every single thing has to revolve around large full party endgame pursuits. Just because you don't have any desire to see other aspects of the game developed doesn't mean that there aren't paying customers who would. I'm not sure why some are so adamant against giving players options. Why be so opinionated about it if it doesn't affect you or your play-style? Classes already fill the soloing/casual role they are supposed to, and jobs will continue to be massaged into the roles they need to be. Why hate on the classes? They are still viable to those who play them.

In my lowly "un-elite" opinion, it seems reasonable to have content for both. We all know that party content will always likely have the most available, but it wouldn't hurt to have some decent challenges to undertake when we are on our own for a few hours and/or when LS members are not available.. would it?

I understand people are reluctant to think about things being any different than how they've "always been", but it doesn't mean its not possible. I really believe that what they have in place already is a real decent start at offering the casual/hardcore options they promised. If you don't like classes, don't play them.. its your choice.... no reason to remove them though. As long a there are people who have the desire to play, are willing to pay their subscriptions even though they have limited playtime, or even just introducing new people to the game, there will be a place for classes to exist in FFXIV.

[elreed]

no, i like it as it is, if u only want jobs then use only jobs is ur choice, i use for soloing war over mrd because its far better in other cases the class is a bit better than the job for solo stuff

[IveraIvalice]

i would actually prefer just jobs, and then make sub jobs like ffxi had to make up for it being slightly more difficult to solo as a job. or at least get rid of that reference to what class you are when you have a job equiped. "Dragoon (Lancer Level: blah)" looks weird, just have it be "Dragoon Level: Stuff"

[Jinko]

I wouldn't have no problem with classes being phased out, that being said if they allow more than one job per class as they have hinted at it would be the best of both worlds.

I don't want to see what the above just suggested and that is Jobs and sub jobs... this is not FF11.

I would much prefer something like Final Fantasy Tactics job system.

[Aldarin]

To be blunt, the reason for classes being so similar to jobs is due to the player base. The original system implied that classes WERE NOT JOBS, but the players put them in that role, and thus the developers essentially made the classes into their corresponding jobs. THEN they added jobs, which weren't actually necessary since they are almost the same as their corresponding classes. For an idea of an alternative system where classes and jobs have separate purposes, see here: http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...orm-Suggestion.
This suggestion is more like the original system, and actually gives classes a role different from jobs.

[Airget]

Classes allow you to be more flexible with your abilities while Jobs focus on certain aspects of your class. While I haven't fully leveled all my classes yet to sub like levels I would still like the ability to use those abilities when I do have them at the proper level to attach abilities.

Perhaps you may find yourself in a dungeon where you might need more healing abilities, or perhaps you have to pull back and use range attacks to reduce the amount of dmg done to the party. Everything comes down to the situation and while you might not have found yourself in a situation where you want to only use a class you may find yourself in that situation in the future.

As mentioned earlier if they do plan on adding multiples jobs to one class, then classes allow for a way to mix and max levels to unlock new jobs without having to go through the redundant process of leveling again just to gain a few unique abilities.

[Sothis]

No. I like having both classes and jobs. No one's forcing you to use your classes if you don't want to, but there's no reason to take them from those of us who do use them.

[Nakiamiie]

Greetings!

As many of you know, the introduction of the Job system has brought focus to an unfocused system. Yet that focus has also brought with it a sense of redundancy.

Why should anyone go PGL when they can go MNK? Why should anyone go GLA PLD when there's GLA? The need for classes anymore, even for solo play, just isn't there (PLD excluded from this statement).

The class system is supposed to be used for solo play and the job system for party play, but last time I checked jobs can solo just as well as classes (WHM excluded). Solo in an MMO means fighting mobs around your level, not 15-20 levels above you.

Having both systems in place puts a burden on player inventories because not only do I have to carry around my PLD gear for when I go afk in town, but now I have to carry a set of gear for GLA when I go do stuff solo or in parties. This concept can be applied to any class/job combination and puts a hefty strain of inventories when your carrying around full sets of gear for GLA/PLD, THM/BLM, LNC/DRG, etc, especially when inventory is supposed to go back to 100 slots in V2.0.

Sure player's feelings might get hurt if classes are scrapped, but didn't people say this exact same thing when a reward system was offered to player's for guild mark reimbursement? Just offer similar reimbursement to people that leveled classes.

In closing, having both Class & Job systems in the game is redundant and nothing more than eye candy to lure new players into seeing all the things they can "level". Maybe this is SE's way of making people actually buy extra retainers? I don't know.. but one system has to go... because my inventory isn't big enough for 20 sets of gear.

(Totally and completely disagree with your opinion)²

It is not because you fail to see the usefulness of classes it means they are useless. For example, I really like the songs of my bard, but it will not replace the versatility of my archer (which I can freely equip any class action I find useful, like second wind).

Jobs are focus for each class to allow more specialized party play and ultimately more strategies. Classes have a lot of versatility by being allowed to equip 10 actions from any class (instead of 5 from two classes), Jobs can't achieve that.
I enjoy them both, I want them both.

If YOU prefer jobs, just play as jobs then and leave us with our classes. Why would you carry 20 sets of armours when you will only play as jobs (as you clearly said classes are useless), that's 7 sets of armours. Your inventory problem is solved, period.