Dear weapon designers, books are the most boring weapon

[Raikai]

I wonder if I'm the only one thinking like this... I love Summoners and Scholars, but it's a bit hard to stand the weapon they wield sometimes. It would be great if we could we get at least one book that looks like something else for them.

We have examples with nearly every other job of weapons that don't look like their designated type, like Monks with kettles, Black Mages with a big brush, Dragoons with a pole staff, White Mages with a scythe, Gunbreakers with a club... As long as it follows the basic shape of the job's arms.

Books, however, are probably the most boring weapon of them all, because they rarely go outside of the box. The ones that may look a bit unorthodox like the level 87 dungeon book, still look like books with pages in the end of the day.

I feel that it can be still possible to abide to the shape with different formats, like a book with a holographic display instead of paper (why the Scaevan ones aren't like this?), or a tablet with a bunch of floating crystals, given in XIV crystals can also be a repository of knowledge. I don't even think not having pages would be such a huge issue animation wise as the weapon itself is still static (as in, no actual pages flipping over).

Also a disclaimer, I'm not advocating for a complete change in the weapon design, but at least one or two cases of something different for once.

edit: I do have many ideas for books, and I am aware of the weapon contest and the fact that I could propose an idea with a submission. However, I live in a country that (after extensively reading the rules) I found out it is not eligible to participate.

[Kranel_San]

Kid books should do the work... :v
Tbh I think this is the hardest weapon to be outside its box.

[Raikai]

Kid books should do the work... :v
Tbh I think this is the hardest weapon to be outside its box.

Yeah, it surely is... But what about a "Emperor's New Book" that might be a book with an invisible model, and when un-sheathed it actually shows some floating diagrams and runes as a SFX? Red Mages actually have that for their last Bozjan weapon with the focus... is invisible, but when the weapon is drawn it's actually a swirling rune.

[Shibi]

Kid books should do the work... :v
Tbh I think this is the hardest weapon to be outside its box.

Hmm, could be cute popups in the spell book!



that would allow a lot of outside-the book (or box) thinking.


Edit: Ah I see hagare says it XD

[Raikai]

Hmm, could be cute popups in the spell book!



that would allow a lot of outside-the book (or box) thinking.


Edit: Ah I see hagare says it XD

This would be actually really distinct visually looking! The moogle book has a papercut moogle and looks great. I could see the idea kind of amplified for this concept. I could see that cutout theme being executed with a Wondrous Tails themed book.

[Kakurady]

This would be actually really distinct visually looking! The moogle book has a papercut moogle and looks great. I could see the idea kind of amplified for this concept. I could see that cutout theme being executed with a Wondrous Tails themed book.

Khloe's Storybook is one of the winners of the weapons design contest. It might not have any pop-up pages though.

An Ironworks created "computer tablet" would probably also work since aetheric manipulation is part of their designs yet I can't see how it would look significantly different from a book.

Which is why I really like the Portable Summoning Terminal finalist from the weapons design contest!

[Deveryn]

Hmm, could be cute popups in the spell book!



that would allow a lot of outside-the book (or box) thinking.


Edit: Ah I see hagare says it XD

This could work for scholar, but summoner now slams their book down pages first.

[Shibi]

This could work for scholar, but summoner now slams their book down pages first.

Hmm, Pop up spiders!?

I'd certainly nope that book right down and ask my MCH party-mate (Named Hans, or not) to flammenwurf it, on top!

[hagare]

Hmm, Pop up spiders!?

I'd certainly nope that book right down and ask my MCH party-mate (Named Hans, or not) to flammenwurf it, on top!

ooh.... a haloween themed book with spiders hanging on webs on the edges of the book would be nice.
Extra points if when the books are opened, bats come out with a poof

[Krotoan]

There are a few "different" models out there.. but they are rare. As someone who is always on the lookout for a book weapon that's not "just a book" I do remember there are a few with kind of digital readout or panel looking pages, some with slide out extra panels as well. The japanese themed ones are pretty good too..

I've got an image in my head that there were some scroll ones but I don't remember if that was in the weapon design contest and not released yet not.