Ninja just ruins the feeling of Rogue

[lolzyking]

I've played lots of rogues(and their similar classes where applicable) over many games, a new player I thought I would enjoy rogue here in ff14.

I was mistaken when I became a ninja, gone was the thematic stabbery and subterfuge, now I am a battle caster akin to a mage, doing big explosions, lightning bolts, bursts of ice and misty waters. I didn't want to be a mage, I wanted a class with one or two daggers, that did things with those daggers, maybe got some dashing attacks, positionals, more ways to get into stealth in combat. I was really enjoying everything that rogue was doing up until I got to the 30's and ninja happened.

I understand from looking into the games history there was once thoughts of multiple jobs per class but that was dumped after a bad experience when trying to implement it on a mage class.

Now, instead of giving me a history lesson on why that can't be implemented, or that rogue becomes ninja in ff1, can someone please tell me which class is a lightly armored non mage, that doesn't do any magery, with fun positionals just a melee rotation to learn. If I can't trust rogue to not do magic I'm afraid to just blindly level something else hoping for a mechanic I will like.

[Vidu]

From the four melees we currently have in the game, monk or samurai might be your best bets - both have some flashy animations (you could always consider turning them off, though), but both are more about melee rotations than magic.

Speaking from a lore-perspective (which bleeds into the gameplay a little bite): Every job uses aether (aka magic) in some shape or form. So you'll always get some more flashy animations for the jobs than the base classes have. If thats whats bothering you when it comes to magic-use, you're better off limiting the animations for your own character.
If its the mechanics, I think any other melee would be fine (even dragoon, which I didnt mention before because its not traditionally in light armor) - they're mostly about dps-rotation, but all have little sidebits added, of course - like party-buffs, dot-management and so on.

In regards to the light armor: There is always glamour and there are a couple of light armor glamour options that every job can use - so... any job appear to wear light if you want that.

[lolzyking]

thank you I'll look into those two then, I just was worried that pugilist/monk would have some sort of ki mini game like how ninja has ninjutsu (I'm not trashing the class or the mechanic, its just not for me)

[Arkevorkhat]

thank you I'll look into those two then, I just was worried that pugilist/monk would have some sort of ki mini game like how ninja has ninjutsu (I'm not trashing the class or the mechanic, its just not for me)

Thankfully, there are just two jobs in the game (as of 5.57) that have this kind of minigame aspect, those being Ninja and Dancer, so looking at other jobs, I wouldn't be turned off by that aspect.

[Styrmwyda]

From the four melees we currently have in the game, monk or samurai might be your best bets - both have some flashy animations (you could always consider turning them off, though), but both are more about melee rotations than magic.

Speaking from a lore-perspective (which bleeds into the gameplay a little bite): Every job uses aether (aka magic) in some shape or form. So you'll always get some more flashy animations for the jobs than the base classes have. If thats whats bothering you when it comes to magic-use, you're better off limiting the animations for your own character.
If its the mechanics, I think any other melee would be fine (even dragoon, which I didnt mention before because its not traditionally in light armor) - they're mostly about dps-rotation, but all have little sidebits added, of course - like party-buffs, dot-management and so on.

In regards to the light armor: There is always glamour and there are a couple of light armor glamour options that every job can use - so... any job appear to wear light if you want that.

I think the jobs that use magic the least are Machinist (Ranged DPS) and Gunbreaker (Tank),

[7x9000]

I think the jobs that use magic the least are Machinist (Ranged DPS) and Gunbreaker (Tank),

Gunbreaker and machinist are both very magical. GNB's attacks are powered via magically-charged cartridges which are basically used to cast spells, while machinst's whole gist is that it uses condensed magic constantly as both projectiles and power sources.

[TeraRamis]

Gunbreaker and machinist are both very magical. GNB's attacks are powered via magically-charged cartridges which are basically used to cast spells, while machinst's whole gist is that it uses condensed magic constantly as both projectiles and power sources.

Machinists are just goofy - nobody should play one. All the unnecessary leaping and acrobatics while shooting make it easily the game's most obnoxious job. If SE wanted machinists to have movements, they should have introduced prone and cover mechanics for the job - you know, the kind of stuff people do while firing GUNS? The backflips and twirls are ridiculous - they don't look athletic, just needlessly showy and disjointed.

[Vyrerus]

Machinists are just goofy - nobody should play one. All the unnecessary leaping and acrobatics while shooting make it easily the game's most obnoxious job. If SE wanted machinists to have movements, they should have introduced prone and cover mechanics for the job - you know, the kind of stuff people do while firing GUNS? The backflips and twirls are ridiculous - they don't look athletic, just needlessly showy and disjointed.

You have a lot of terrible opinions. Each Heated shot for MCH is visually distinct from the rest, whereas prior to heated shots, Slug Shot and Split Shot are virtually identical. The point is to make them distinct. Also it's only gotten cooler with the addition of FFVI references in Drill, Air Anchor, Bio Blaster, and Autocrossbow.

[Styrmwyda]

Gunbreaker and machinist are both very magical. GNB's attacks are powered via magically-charged cartridges which are basically used to cast spells, while machinst's whole gist is that it uses condensed magic constantly as both projectiles and power sources.

Maybe I should have reworded it: Machinist and Gunbreaker are the jobs that don't require as much PERSONAL aether, which is why Thancred is able to be a Gunbreaker and do fairly well despite his handicap. It's also why Machinist is seen as a way to arm the Ishgard common folk, as it requires very little aether to create the projectiles and other affects.

[Flay_wind]

Now, instead of giving me a history lesson on why that can't be implemented, or that rogue becomes ninja in ff1, can someone please tell me which class is a lightly armored non mage, that doesn't do any magery, with fun positionals just a melee rotation to learn.

Pugilist/Monk is probably the closest you'd get. It's mainly punching and kicking stuff, but there's some enegy blasts here and there.