Has the development team decided on Class vs Job relationship/progression?

[Sabaku_Usagi]

My Question: Has the development team decided on Class vs Job relationship/progression in FFXIV 2.0?

My Explanation: I've been thinking lately of this Class vs Job conundrum as if I was in the developer's shoes. With the current design, there are many inherent problems with adding new (to FFXIV) jobs that utilize different weapons typically. IE: Musketeer using Gun, Dark Knight using Great Sword/Scythe, Samurai using Great Katana, Ninja using Katana, etc.

As far as I can tell, there are two choices the development team can make.

Class vs Job progression.

Option 1: They allow multiple Jobs to stem from one Class. Possibly adding an advanced Job tier to each Job later on. Example below:

**Don't take the beast master -> puppet master progression seriously**

Option 2: They don't allow multiple Jobs to stem from one Class, and force the 1 Class = 1 Job relationship (also forces new guilds to be made for each class). Possibly adding an advanced Job tier later on. Example below:

**Don't take the beast master -> puppet master progression seriously**

I really don't know if the current armory system will be able to handle option 1, especially with the differences in weapons that I pointed out previously (I do understand that Samurai could use a lance, and a Dark Knight could use a Sword/Axe). But are there changes being made to the armory system to accommodate these types of changes in 2.0?

Advantages vs Disadvantages:

Option 1: Keeps the number of unique classes low, but also means that jobs are going to be very similar unless certain things (explained later) are done. Some disadvantages with the current system would be limiting the jobs to 1 weapon type & having very similar abilities/traits. I understand they could give the jobs different ability pools, but overall the jobs would be too similar. With the current UI, it seems like this is what is intended.

Option 2: Forces new/redundant classes to be made to support the new jobs such as: Tamer class for Beast Master job, Scout class for Thief job, Evoker class for Summoner Job, etc. This would really put pressure/stress on the developers, because who wants to keep leveling new classes if they aren't any different from the others. This would help them to introduce new weapons, but really how many weapons types are out there? It would be like thm vs cnj weapons they aren't really that different. Which then leaves you to distinguish them with different styles (like scimitars for Blue Mage)

Possible Tweaks/Changes:

Option 1: Lower the number of abilities taken from the class & sub classes. Let's say the class abilities you have access to stop at 30. So currently (although I would recommend each class has their abilities tweaked) Warrior would lose:

Rampage, Path of the Storm, Enduring March, Whirlwind & Godsbane

In exchange for this, they would then gain 5 new unique abilities to help differentiate Warrior further from the other Marauder Job (Beast Master for example).

Option 2: Each new class & job would need their own unique abilities and most likely justification as to why they would contain identical/similar abilities (Cure, Berserk, and Invigorate come to mind). New guilds & possibly cities would need to be created to accommodate these new classes.

Overall, I can see both ways working but it hasn't really been made clear as to what path the development team is making. I think it would be a huge step forward if the developers could give us insight into this so people could make viable contributions and suggestions.

Multi-Job recommendations wouldn't really work if it was a 1 class = 1 job system, and new classes wouldn't really work if it was a 1 class = multiple job system.

Any news I can sink my teeth into would be great, but I do want to say I appreciate those who read this post.

TL;DR - Dev team should make it clear whether each class will have 1 or multiple jobs.

[Scotchio]

I would go for option 2 or even an option 3, that all new jobs would require an different starting class.

The reason is, on option 1, if your already 50 Maruder, you do the Beast Master job quest and you're already lvl 50 Beast Master?

If a new job appears, I for one would prefer to start as lvl 1 and work my my up. I beleive the devs would too. To give players more content to play (call it a time sink if you will, but I would prefer it).

[Sabaku_Usagi]

I would go for option 2 or even an option 3, that all new jobs would require an different starting class.

The reason is, on option 1, if your already 50 Maruder, you do the Beast Master job quest and you're already lvl 50 Beast Master?

If a new job appears, I for one would prefer to start as lvl 1 and work my my up. I beleive the devs would too. To give players more content to play (call it a time sink if you will, but I would prefer it).

Option 2 requires that new jobs exactly that. For every new Job added, they would need to add a new Class as well.

In the Option 2 picture it shows Beast Master getting Tamer as it's class. They are just throw away names, but at least gives us an idea of what each other is talking about when we try to discuss.

[Skies]

I do believe it's been stated previously that Option 1 is the plan. With there being, even perhaps, jobs that are avaiable to multiple classes.

Although the latter was in one of Yoshi's interviews so it's definitely up in the air.

[Scotchio]

I can see the problem. If they want to introduce a new job and then have to introduce a new class to start each job.
There will be a multitude of classes and jobs, too many, really.

And lets face it, once you've got your job unlocked, the class doesn't get used much.

But if new jobs are continued from current classes. They (I) don't really want to earn a new job at an already high level.

Maybe if they introduced new jobs that you have to have some starting classes levelled to unlock, but start the new job at level 1?

But that would go against the current jobs aquirements? I don't know?

[Scotchio]

They could go down the route of Advanced Jobs.

Which require 2 Jobs at a certain level to unlock (rather than classes).
Example: PLD 50 and BLM 50 (or some other levels 30:30?) to unlock Dark Knight. And Dark Knight Advanced job starts at level 1 and needs to be leveled?

I know some would disagree, but I do prefer starting new jobs from level 1 as its nice to start again and level up through the old stomping grounds.

[AceofRains]

The best option is clearly multiple jobs from one class. Theres no reason to make a new class every time you make a job, it just is a waste of efforts.

The job system was made for horizontal growth and that means... multiple jobs from one class

Above that, there is no 'advanced' jobs wtf would be the point? every jobs is exactly that a job. Maybe future jobs should require you to beat your guild storyline first so its harder to obtain than the first ones released and in that sense you can consider then advanced.

[kingkongo]

thumbs up from me =D

[Sabaku_Usagi]

They could go down the route of Advanced Jobs.

Which require 2 Jobs at a certain level to unlock (rather than classes).
Example: PLD 50 and BLM 50 (or some other levels 30:30?) to unlock Dark Knight. And Dark Knight Advanced job starts at level 1 and needs to be leveled?

I know some would disagree, but I do prefer starting new jobs from level 1 as its nice to start again and level up through the old stomping grounds.

The main problem with the "requirements" is that would just be a programming step and not a design step. Would you be able to switch to DRK if you were on your THM/GLA? what about your BLM/PLD? What weapon would it use? They limit the jobs currently to only using the weapons of it's class, so would it make sense for DRK to use a club/staff?

What I think you are implying is it would be a whole new class but you need specific requirements to unlock it?

The best option is clearly multiple jobs from one class. Theres no reason to make a new class every time you make a job, it just is a waste of efforts.

The job system was made for horizontal growth and that means... multiple jobs from one class

Above that, there is no 'advanced' jobs wtf would be the point? every jobs is exactly that a job. Maybe future jobs should require you to beat your guild storyline first so its harder to obtain than the first ones released and in that sense you can consider then advanced.

SE did talk about having an "Advanced Job" so it's up in the air whether they decide to do that or not. Honestly I think it would be cool way to raise the level cap. But overall, SE just let's us speculate and doesn't really give us a foundation to build our ideas on.

[Reynhart]

I'm personaly for option 1.
And the bigger advatage is precisely that you won't have to level from scratch if they add a whole bunch of new jobs. But since job abilities are learned through quests, only "being a lvl50 DRK" is far from the end.

Regarding weaponry, i think they should design a "weapon+shield" and a "2-handed-weapon" set for each class. This is already the case with mages even if they don't really use their weapons.
We should have 2-handed sword for GLA, towards the path for DRK, 1-handed Axe for maraudeur to Viking, ect...

And i'm sure, as the level cap will surely rise in the V2.0, that class abilities will become less important than job abilities (and hopefully, job traits).
The only drawback is that shield abilites are part of the gladiator class. They sould have kept the Sentinel class, as Shield is, by definition, a secondary equipment.

For the ninja-samurai branch, they probably have to make a "Ronin" class that uses Tantos and Katanas.