With some Jobs play style completely changed, isn't it time for alternate job specs?

[SeverianLyonesse]

I wonder if we'll get that dps oracle class, and maybe a melee geomancer bruiser?

Both feel like stretches at this point. "Oracles" are now of plot significance (Ryne, Gaia) and represent an exceptional gift/power that kind of outclasses any other job. And the new SMN is basically a geomancer that uses fire instead of water.

The mage options are becoming fairly narrow at this point. While I've generally liked the idea of adding a geomancer, even I have to admit that it wouldn't add much that new SMN already doesn't. I think a chemist is more likely at this point since "water" spells are totally up for grabs. I could also see a Blitzer getting a few water attacks.

[SamsonBlacke]

if you want a job with different specs, play Blue Mage.

[Raikai]

As much as I personally don't like DoT classes, I think the change to SMN actually helps the DoT class concept. It could allow for a proper DoT Mage class in the future that isn't explicitly tied to being a half baked Summoner. With the old SMN, Summoner fans weren't really happy and DoT Mage fans didn't seem completely happy either as the class wavered between how much and how little it actually focused on DoTs VS Pets VS Summons. Now if we get a new DoT Mage (Time Mage maybe?) it could be a real DoT Mage.

Although, as for the original question of the thread, I've always been interested in alternate versions of classes. I know SE finds it a massive pain to work with on the backend, but I would want to see more SCH/SMN stuff instead of less. Of course, for me that comes in the form of a proper DPS bow user to oppose the support DPS of Bard.

I kind of feel that too. The dot playstyle was never fully expanded with SMN, because it had too many things to focus... Same for BRD. Now it really got this empty dot niche that can be fulfilled with a dps job.

Perhaps in 7.0 we'll get 2 dps and one of them could be a caster with dots. Mystic or Geomancer, maybe...

[Oshirigami]

I too would like to see Rock Mage since I think the design would be open to be a melee which plays like a caster and could have a difficult rotation like current SMN and could have alternate positioning requirements like BLM.
The problem is, having more than 1 somewhat difficult DPS job since they're taking 2 away isn't something we should have to wait 2 years for.

Like Geomancer could have things like no positionals, but you have to stay in your sands like leylines.
Or even better: its handful of positionals could be frontals, which means you have to know what abilities nuke what's around the tank and rotate around their use or use abilities it may have to mitigate them. And they could bring back something like double TK in addition to that so you have the challenging rotation.

I'd like to see Square try to make a job that's challenging to play and rewarding. As they said, Reaper and Sage are designed to be easy as they think they'll be popular, which is fine, but the few % of players who like challenging jobs are still a lot of players.

There are many reasons they could have chosen not to nerf SMN in 5.5. It could have been left as is because

- expac is ending and its more hassle than its worth to fix it with a big rework coming, especially since none of the fixes will likely inform the rework.

- 6.0 is right around the corner and maybe the battle team staff just didn't have time.

- They see it as a problem, but not a problem that's hurting anyone. So SMN is a bit overtuned for PvE, what's that gonna do, make the Savage runs your overgeared for even easier? Best to just leave it if it isn't causing problems.

- Maybe they have different data that doesn't show SMN as overperforming and they just don't see the situation the same way you do.

- etc.

They didn't do anything to SMN in 5.5... but that alone doesn't give us enough info to "confirm" anything.

Uhh well SMN has been like this since what, 5.1? And it just got minor nerfs. I don't think it got a nerf in 5.4, either.
Monk got its semi-rework in 5.2 IIRC, and there were many job balance changes in 5.3 and a few in 5.4. IIRC only one SMN ability got nerfed in these.

[ItMe]

Uhh well SMN has been like this since what, 5.1? And it just got minor nerfs. I don't think it got a nerf in 5.4, either.
Monk got its semi-rework in 5.2 IIRC, and there were many job balance changes in 5.3 and a few in 5.4. IIRC only one SMN ability got nerfed in these.

Why were you focusing on 5.5 then?

[Fabbro]

game desperately needs more actual character customization in terms of unique stats, abilities, traits, skills, to each individual player.

[Mikey_R]

game desperately needs more actual character customization in terms of unique stats, abilities, traits, skills, to each individual player.

Technically, each race does have unique stats, it just doesn't matter in the endgame at all, for a good reason.

As for the rest, you don't want anything that aids you in combat as you start to go down the path of 'you need to be X race and clan to play this job in high end content', this also applies if the racial stats had any significance to endgame performance.

[Fabbro]

Technically, each race does have unique stats, it just doesn't matter in the endgame at all, for a good reason.

As for the rest, you don't want anything that aids you in combat as you start to go down the path of 'you need to be X race and clan to play this job in high end content', this also applies if the racial stats had any significance to endgame performance.

Some classes could be exclusive to some races or work better with some. Not everyone should care, nor does it make a difference for 90% of players. Caring for balancing and streamlining, dumbing down, is what killed most MMOs of old. While making things more unique never did so.

Everything in the game should have way more impact than it does, from races to other things, and players should have way more options within their character evolution to make each and every character as unique as possible within reason.

[aveyond-dreams]

Racial-exclusive classes are the same kind of bad as gender-locked races. It's an antiquated concept that has no place in modern mmorpgs, and overall a turn off for me.

[MilkieTea]

Racial-exclusive classes are the same kind of bad as gender-locked races. It's an antiquated concept that has no place in modern mmorpgs, and overall a turn off for me.

The minute I see racial/gender locked classes I uninstall the mmo, regardless of if I paid or not. I refuse to believe that only elves can be mages, or orcs warriors. Likewise with the gender-typing of classes.