Concept for a Magic Melee DPS

[Shurrikhan]

The only problem I can see with that is that it means every weapon would have to utilize a near-matching skeleton every time so that they have the same joints to execute the same transformations for the same moves, as opposed to just having multiple weapon "types" under the same umbrella (ie energy longswords, scimitars, axes, etc) like we've been seeing more of this expansion (PLDs with pickaxes and WARs with hammers). That or just expecting extra animation time devoted to one job's weapons so they can each have different behaviors, which might be a bit ludicrous.

I'd rather have the job delayed by massively increased animation costs than for it not to take advantage of its weapon's unique aspects. If it's going to have what seem truly different weapon types, those should probably come with respectively different animations as well. You can share thrusts and share one-handed slashes, but it'd make no sense to start thrusting with your magiaxe or start two-handed slashing enemies with a magirapier.

I could see it maybe going only between lightsaber, lightspear, and (essentially) a palm-blasted light-drill, which would scarcely require making a weapon-swap system integral to the job -- instead electing a far, far more straightforward but brutal use of its power. Just, again, so long as it's seeming to optimize that uniqueness.

[Archwizard]

I'd rather have the job delayed by massively increased animation costs than for it not to take advantage of its weapon's unique aspects. If it's going to have what seem truly different weapon types, those should probably come with respectively different animations as well. You can share thrusts and share one-handed slashes, but it'd make no sense to start thrusting with your magiaxe or start two-handed slashing enemies with a magirapier.

This is assuming a magirapier is part of the kit in the first place, but I would once again direct you to the examples of DRG and PLD who do precisely that, slashing with javelins and thrusting with a pickaxe. While RDM may not use two hands, it does employ reverse-gripped spinning slashes with Moulinet.

I could see it maybe going only between lightsaber, lightspear, and (essentially) a palm-blasted light-drill, which would scarcely require making a weapon-swap system integral to the job -- instead electing a far, far more straightforward but brutal use of its power. Just, again, so long as it's seeming to optimize that uniqueness.

I suppose that's more fair. Probably a limited number of joints -- far shorter than you'd expect for a request like a whip -- which just stretch or compress like an accordian, as needed by the animation?

[Shurrikhan]

This is assuming a magirapier is part of the kit in the first place, but I would once again direct you to the examples of DRG and PLD who do precisely that, slashing with javelins and thrusting with a pickaxe.

And? I obviously find both of those interactions problematic and would rather avoiding them outside of, say, a singular joke item each. That was exactly the point. I consider it important enough not to have ridiculously impractical or ill-suited animations that I'd gladly see the implementation of such a job delayed, even if I was quite looking forward to its gameplay.

I suppose that's more fair. Probably a limited number of joints -- far shorter than you'd expect for a request like a whip -- which just stretch or compress like an accordian, as needed by the animation?

I was thinking of a something even simpler than that -- literally a shaft of variable length, with the design varying from refining its ability to cut to its ability to pierce. Length, shear, and force.