Letter from the Producer, XXIX (06/04/2012)

[Elexia]

Keep talking like your opinion matters.

Hm?

Thank god Dark Knight was absolutely last on the list of new classes/jobs. My faith in the playerbase has risen slightly.

Oh I see, wonder what color that kettle is.

You got me wrong here. I assume balancing will be done before 2.0, no idea if balancing actually will be done in SE's meaning. So if they balance the Jobs before, we should get those 2 Classes before 2.0, no?

It depends if in 1.23 there's any more adjustments being done or not, since if it isn't yeah it's possible since Sept is pretty much the start of 2.0, so they only realistically have 1.22b/c and 1.23 (and possible 1.23a/b/c) left.

SCH is not a WHM, they can use the best DoTs seen in FFXI, light arts and dark arts to enhance that school of magic, stratagems to aoe single target buffs, enhance spells, half MP cost, etc etc, control weather what can WHM/CON do like that?

SCH would be a good addition to FFXIV because it requires alot of knowladge of how the job is played and all their abilities, lets take Garuda, we need dps on them, so a SCH could dark arts and nuke away, then if things aren't going well they can light arts and help the WHM, then switch back to nuking mode.

If they wanted a clone of FFXI ebulance (sp?) and nukes for more damage spike damage, and if they gave helecies just like FFXI we would be throwing out DoTs for over 100 damage/tick. Can a WHM do that?

Yep, WHM/CNJ/THM may have a few similar abilities but not in full nor in full effect, also it would be Ebullience and Focalization.

[Velhart]

It depends if in 1.23 there's any more adjustments being done or not, since if it isn't yeah it's possible since Sept is pretty much the start of 2.0, so they only realistically have 1.22b/c and 1.23 (and possible 1.23a/b/c) left.

Well, there will always be job balances in every major patch, it is just how MMO's work. I think as it is right now, the 1.xx development team is having a hard time balancing job abilities, content, and convenience of one job and another. I can't say it for sure yet, since we haven't seen 2.0's new system, but I think job balancing will be a lot better on there since everything caters to that system. These systems were never meant for 1.xx and the 1.xx team are doing what they can to make it "work", which it technically does.

Right now however, the community looks at jobs and not people, they look at what job is more convenient than the other. I do truly believe in 2.0, the new server structure, people will depend on someone who is well geared and experienced over what job they are. To make an example, lets say you are doing Aurum Vale and need a DPS for Mizer. Today, you would pick someone who can use their Monk on Mizer. But I believe in the future, you will pick a DPS who is well geared enough to help take Mizer down quick. Jobs should not have an extreme advantage over another. Between a DRG and a MNK, whoever is the better geared should be the one dishing out more DPS, not because one has more potent abilities on a boss than the other.

Uhh the tl;dr, Gear > Job. Because right now, in AV, people will take a not so well geared Monk over a well geared Dragoon or Warrior DPS.

But back to the main point. I think 2.0's new server structure will help out a bunch with job balancing. >_>

[Elexia]

Yeah, the new server structure is pretty much the main thing that will help, since even with the combo system it's still a bit delayed in calculations.

[Zezlar]

Gathering/Crafting too hard to level? Wut?

The one thing in this game that actually requires effort, even if it is boring.

[Velhart]

Yeah, the new server structure is pretty much the main thing that will help, since even with the combo system it's still a bit delayed in calculations.

I remember in WoW whenever I responded to a PUG Raid, I would be asked ilvl(Item level), Achievement(Proof I have experience in the dungeon), and what class I was (So the group would be diverse and less competition for class specific gear.). I "kind of" hope that is the state of mind people go into.

EDIT: Also on the thing someone mentioned about Dark Knight. I want it as much as the next person, but you have to look at it on a large scale. We need more "roles" in this game. Adding in DRK would just be adding another swing at the mob job. We need something unique for players. A stealth or pet class fits the description. Musketeer I would vote also if it can differentiate itself from Archer to the point it is it's own class. So basically, I welcome anything unique as long as it is useful.

[Delsus]

Gathering/Crafting too hard to level? Wut?

The one thing in this game that actually requires effort, even if it is boring.

Idk about crafting but gathering do leves you will be 50 in 4 or 5 days absolute most. how is that too hard?

[Fear]

I remember in WoW whenever I responded to a PUG Raid, I would be asked ilvl(Item level), Achievement(Proof I have experience in the dungeon), and what class I was (So the group would be diverse and less competition for class specific gear.). I "kind of" hope that is the state of mind people go into.

Hell no >.>, I dont want this game to turn into one where everyone HAS to have a set amount of equipment/experience etc. things never get done

[Delsus]

Hell no >.>, I dont want this game to turn into one where everyone HAS to have a set amount of equipment/experience etc. things never get done

Exactly, you cant do endgame without endgame gear, but how do you get the endgame gear because you have no endgame gear and cant to the endgame.

[Kafeen]

Gathering/Crafting too hard to level? Wut?

The one thing in this game that actually requires effort, even if it is boring.

I think this is the difficulty in it. Not that it takes some skill to be successful, just enough time and patients to put up with something so dull.

[Fear]

Exactly, you cant do endgame without endgame gear, but how do you get the endgame gear because you have no endgame gear and cant to the endgame.

Yup, it begins a cycle of elitism, I hope that SE never allows people to see stats such as DPS etc. (weapon DPS doesn't count since it doesn't include player stats/materia)