Puppetmaster

[Blueyes]

Let’s talk about Puppetmaster. All are welcome to share their hopes and expectations for this fan favorite job.

Puppetmaster is a latecomer to the Final Fantasy franchise with its first named debut in Final Fantasy XI. In that game, Puppetmaster was proficient in hand-to-hand combat and was accompanied by an automaton that could be customized for a variety of combat scenarios.

The way I see it, Puppetmaster’s representation in FFXI was just one of many possibilities. I see the presence and involvement of a puppet companion as the most important aspect. What weapon the job uses and how it functions are areas open for exploration.

Puppetmaster as a Melee DPS

The version of Puppetmaster that most people are likely familiar with is the version that appeared in Final Fantasy XI. In that game, Puppetmaster was a melee DPS who was proficient in hand-to-hand combat. However, due to hand-to-hand already being covered by Monk (including variations like “claws”) it is likely that Puppetmaster would require a different melee weapon.

Looking at past Final Fantasy titles as inspiration, Luca from Final Fantasy IV can be considered a Puppetmaster. Luca is known to use a hammer as a weapon which is an option that could work. Having a hammer as a primary weapon could also serve as a clever nod to Serendipity and Gigi, as Goldsmith also uses a type of hammer.

My main concern with Puppetmaster as a melee DPS with a one-handed weapon is that it may feel too similar to Beastmaster, assuming SE intends to implement both. Although the two jobs are distinct in FFXI, due to the way job design works in FFXIV, it’s much more likely that there will be overlapping elements. This also assumes that Beastmaster would be a one-handed melee DPS which feels like a safe assumption given certain evidence that has surfaced.

Puppetmaster as a Physical Ranged DPS

There are multiple ways in which Puppetmaster can operate and one of those is the possibility of Puppetmaster wielding a physical ranged weapon. In FFXI, the Sharpshot frame came equipped with a crossbow. Puppetmaster could be armed with a crossbow themselves, or a variation like Rinoa’s Blaster Edge from Final Fantasy VIII.

Rinoa could serve as an inspiration for Puppetmaster as a physical ranged DPS. She has access to a coordinated attack that involves her Blaster Edge and her companion, and although it is rather comical, it may seem more practical with a puppet as a projectile. That inspiration is a foundation that Puppetmaster could be built upon which could lead to a result that is fun and a little whimsical.

Puppetmaster as a Magical Ranged DPS

To help imagine Puppetmaster as a magical ranged DPS, let’s look at a well-known character from Final Fantasy X. Lulu. In FFX, Lulu is a black mage, but she uses a unique weapon known as an animated doll. Translating this to Final Fantasy XIV, the puppet itself could be considered the weapon of the Puppetmaster. If that proves to be too demanding from a development standpoint, then a more sophisticated version of the animator that was used by Puppetmaster in Final Fantasy XI could serve as a weapon, except treated as a magical item used to command the puppet.

Regarding the type of spells Puppetmaster would cast, it would be refreshing to see a job use unaspected magic to a greater degree than what we’ve seen thus far. Alternatively, they could focus on the core elements that appeared in FFX, those being fire, ice, water, and lightning. Considering Black Mage already heavily utilizes fire and ice, it would be nice to see focus placed on water and lightning.

This interpretation of Puppetmaster would be very compatible with existing job design for FFXIV. With Lulu as a key point of inspiration, that could be used as a means to emphasize the master over the puppet, though even if that turned out to be the case, it’s likely that the puppet would be involved to a greater extent than dolls were utilized by Lulu in FFX.

Adding credibility to this approach, if one were to read the journal description of Wind-up Lulu, she is referred to as a “powerful mage and master of puppets.” SE themselves have nearly outright called Lulu a Puppetmaster. They seem quite aware that there is a similarity. All they would need to do is draw a line that connects the two dots.

Closing Thoughts

Out of these options, Puppetmaster as a magical ranged DPS is my personal favorite. I feel that it has the strongest identity and that it puts the greatest emphasis on the puppet as the central focus of the job.

But what do you think? Do you have a favorite? Would you prefer something entirely different? Share your thoughts.

[aveyond-dreams]

I would enjoy Puppetmaster best as a caster dps. Lulu is one of my favorite characters from FFX and I would love to see if that job could get an outfit similar to hers. What I will note is that I will absolutely not interact with the class at all if it turns out to be a limited job.

[ItMe]

I would adore any job that lets me have my own Medabot regardless of what form it takes.

[Hanayumi]

Prolly end up the way of a limited job unfortunately. Pretty much any job that requires you to do more than just simply level will get the limited job treatment and yeah puppet parts/pieces will likely be why. They could turn it into a regular job easily by giving them some prebuilt automatons, but yeah would draw far too much similarities to mnk and mch.

[Sylvain]

The issue is that what you want falls into the limited job categorie.

So either they make it a limited job with all the proper fantasy around it sg the cost of not being usable in current content, or they make a fake similinlike RDM for instance which can do current content.

By that I mean, ff14 RDM is a red mage just in visual, (white and black offensive magic). It has 1 heal ... For the sake of having it and can spam rez.. but usually RDM are much more versatile. They can dps and heal. Ff14 RDM can dps and rez... And maybe do a bit of single target heal for emergency.... But beside dungeon and Ex trial you're not gonna keep more than 1 person alive with vercure..
RDM is a DPS, and nothing more (fine rez is useful). And it is a main job because they cut all the white magic aspect of it, beside the offensive spell

So compromise has to be done somewhere. For BLU they went full fantasy route and made it limited. I believe they'll do the same for Beastmsster and Puppeteers. But if they don't, well don't expect much beside cool visual. It will be 24 skills with a fixed rotation and that's it.

[jon041065]

The issue is that what you want falls into the limited job categorie.

So either they make it a limited job with all the proper fantasy around it sg the cost of not being usable in current content, or they make a fake similinlike RDM for instance which can do current content.

By that I mean, ff14 RDM is a red mage just in visual, (white and black offensive magic). It has 1 heal ... For the sake of having it and can spam rez.. but usually RDM are much more versatile. They can dps and heal. Ff14 RDM can dps and rez... And maybe do a bit of single target heal for emergency.... But beside dungeon and Ex trial you're not gonna keep more than 1 person alive with vercure..
RDM is a DPS, and nothing more (fine rez is useful). And it is a main job because they cut all the white magic aspect of it, beside the offensive spell

So compromise has to be done somewhere. For BLU they went full fantasy route and made it limited. I believe they'll do the same for Beastmsster and Puppeteers. But if they don't, well don't expect much beside cool visual. It will be 24 skills with a fixed rotation and that's it.

RDM has been pretty well received though. To myself and others it is a red mage in the sense of 14's world. It uses white magic (earth, aero, holy, cure, and raise), black magic (fire, thunder, and flare), and utilizes sword attacks. I do wish there was more melee gameplay to it but it does fit the definition of red mage.

To those of us against limited jobs, yes there's blue mage content in the game but we still desire there to be a proper job we can play the game with in the same manner as we can with the combat jobs. We understand that some things will have to be changed but still desire that core fantasy of the jobs. I'm assuming this point will fall flat in your eyes but that's the same with the point you are making.

[aveyond-dreams]

I will take a Puppetmaster that I can use in current content over the ability to tinker with the characteristics of the puppet. If the puppet is just a visual or a weapon that we swap out for different dolls like Lulu in order to act as a conduit for magic, I'd be happier with that than a limited job.

[ItMe]

I will take a Puppetmaster that I can use in current content over the ability to tinker with the characteristics of the puppet.

And personally, I'd rather get a more robust and involved puppet system than, just, earlier access to content I'll ultimately be able to run anyway.

[aveyond-dreams]

And personally, I'd rather get a more robust and involved puppet system than, just, earlier access to content I'll ultimately be able to run anyway.

I shouldn't have to wait 2+ years to run current content when a *new* job is released. Limited jobs are scarcely active outside of their 2 week post-update period and during content lulls when they bring out the moogle event. Assuming you don't already own those rewards from just playing the game normally with the other jobs. There is no reason to gate a Puppetmaster class to...only overworld levelling and preformed parties. It just does not make sense.

In any case customization at the cost of class balance brings with it all the problems WoW continues to face with its designs and if they add a customizable puppet a meta will be found and people will adhere to it. There is no reason for Puppetmaster to be limited to party finder only because its not like they have an increased chance of learning a spell just because other Puppetmasters are there.

[ItMe]

Limited jobs are scarcely active outside of their 2 week post-update period and during content lulls when they bring out the moogle event.

Maybe in your neck of the woods, and I'm sorry to hear that.
My FC has been having fun doing BLU stuff together almost bi-weekly all throughout ShB.

Assuming you don't already own those rewards from just playing the game normally with the other jobs. There is no reason to gate a Puppetmaster class to...only overworld levelling and preformed parties. It just does not make sense.

It's because that's the form I would have the most fun with.
Your dislike of limited jobs has been thoroughly noted, but I'd enjoy Puppet Master more like that.

In any case customization at the cost of class balance brings with it all the problems WoW continues to face with its designs and if they add a customizable puppet a meta will be found and people will adhere to it. There is no reason for Puppetmaster to be limited to party finder only because its not like they have an increased chance of learning a spell just because other Puppetmasters are there.

K, and that's a bad thing?
Considering the incredible balance the rest of the game has, limited jobs are more interesting to me because they have a meta about abusing broken stuff.
Like Hildebrand, they're a breath of fresh air for me.