So, what is the hold up on Beastmaster?

[MonsutaMan]

XIV has been out for 12 years, counting the version XI killed off from 2010. BST is not some one off class that appeared in one game.

It also appeared in Bravely Default, a FF-esque title.

It is by no means WAR, but it is odd for an MMO not to have a hunter/beastmaster class. If this was FFXVI, so be it........But not a MMO.

FF has Summoner, I get it.....But FF also has Beastmaster.

I also feel BST should get to name pets, and must level them up for group play, hence everyone won't be walking around with the same monsters......Like those Grasshoppers in XI. Everyone is bug catcher Joey in XI (Myself included).

[Packetdancer]

Didn't the devs say that all jobs going forward would be original to FFXIV, specifically because people end up with preconceived notions of a job (based on some other FF game) which don't fit how a job might work in XIV? (Honest question, not rhetorical; I am fairly sure I remember that being said in a live letter, but it's almost midnight and I am far too tired to go digging through live-letters to check myself on that.)

I mean, beyond that, this game has been steadily moving away from pet-based combat; the SCH fairies are two appearances for the same thing, SMN pets no longer have HP, etc. Whether you think that's a good thing or not, it is a thing... and an XIV version of BST seems like it would be a sharp U-turn in that regard, which I suspect is unlikely.

[rainichan]

When the devs introduced BLU as a limited job, they made sure to make mention of BST in the same breath as "we're looking into other limited jobs such as..." and since BLU has a very... mixed opinion of it, I'm not really sure if they're going to continue with limited jobs. At this point, only the devs know if they'll keep putting money into a limited job, and if they'll bring out BST like that if they do.

[Payadopa]

Didn't the devs say that all jobs going forward would be original to FFXIV, specifically because people end up with preconceived notions of a job (based on some other FF game) which don't fit how a job might work in XIV? (Honest question, not rhetorical; I am fairly sure I remember that being said in a live letter, but it's almost midnight and I am far too tired to go digging through live-letters to check myself on that.)

I mean, beyond that, this game has been steadily moving away from pet-based combat; the SCH fairies are two appearances for the same thing, SMN pets no longer have HP, etc. Whether you think that's a good thing or not, it is a thing... and an XIV version of BST seems like it would be a sharp U-turn in that regard, which I suspect is unlikely.

Without wanting to sound mean, I think it's a bit of a cop-out by the devs. I'd say it's just an excuse so they can balance it into the ground and turn it flavourless without fans of that job being annoyed. I think that's all that is. Doesn't make me too hopeful for the future. lol

[NekoMataMata]

When the devs introduced BLU as a limited job, they made sure to make mention of BST in the same breath as "we're looking into other limited jobs such as..." and since BLU has a very... mixed opinion of it, I'm not really sure if they're going to continue with limited jobs. At this point, only the devs know if they'll keep putting money into a limited job, and if they'll bring out BST like that if they do.

Considering the weird mess that BLU is I don't think people would really want them to bring out BST. But... if they bring it out in a similar way to BLU, they can probably make it something for people to grind on.

[rainichan]

Considering the weird mess that BLU is I don't think people would really want them to bring out BST. But... if they bring it out in a similar way to BLU, they can probably make it something for people to grind on.

I mean, I don't mind BLU, it's fun and some friends and I were doing some of the harder fights for funsies on it! I enjoy it for what it is, but I know they got a LOT of backlash for it not being a full class, not being exactly like the other FF games (XI in particular since it's a full job there), a lot of people get irritated with BLUs when they swoop into FATEs to one-shot them during things like relic item grinding, etc. so while I think BST would be fun in a limited capacity, trying to balance it as a full job would end up being more of a SMN but with dungeon monsters sort of deal but less fun (or... more, I guess, if you don't like the SMN rework lol.) The limited job idea in general was a pretty mixed reaction to some enjoying the idea of something to do during downtime, and others complained that it should just be a full job, the devs were just using the balance issue as a cop-out, and so on.

Time will tell if they go ahead with more; I personally hope they do because I always enjoy more content to do when I'm not doing main content prog haha.

[Jojoya]

Considering how terrible pet AI (especially pathing) tends to be in MMOs, I suspect they probably scrapped the idea even if they had ever considered it seriously. They've already pretty much eliminated pet function for ACN/SMN/SCH and haven't touched Chocobo Companions since HW.

[ICountFrom0]

The holdup is that there is ONE update for limited classes every 2 years, give or take.
Beastmaster had to wait behind BLU.

Now that BLU is done (it reached 70, as it was designed to from the start, done.) there is time to work on beastmaster.

[CKNovel]

Multiple problems:
Pets are so much a problem SMN received a whole rework for it.
We basically have 3 types of pets in the game:
-The Glorified Dot, Automaton Queen and Living Shadow. Terrible AI, works badly against multiple targets and they're so forgettable you mistake them for players.
-The Good Bahamut&Phoenix, stands like a turret and execute Akh Morn on command. The best pet at the moment.
-The fairies, you put them in the middle and they execute order.

The thematic of Beastmaster
Beastmaster captures and use pets. This will not be possible.
I've played MMOs with this mechanic, there was always a pet superior to the other and most of the time it would break the balance.

BLU reception is mixed
Many players are complaning that BLU wasn't a full job and were disappointed about its limited status.
You can't enter content where it would shine such as Eureka, Bozja or Deep Dungeon, you can't queue as a Blue Mage, you can barely do anything as a blue mage.
What should've been a fun job with barely any limits is now an infuriated mess that can't access most of the content.

In conclusion
If Beast Master is released, it will be a generic job with a fixed pet probably close to the Glorified dots or Bahamut&Phoenix, maybe a completely new type of pet if they surprise us.
The best beast master we could have would be a generic job with a pokemon mini game as a side content.

[Thaciscokidd]

Considering how terrible pet AI (especially pathing) tends to be in MMOs, I suspect they probably scrapped the idea even if they had ever considered it seriously. They've already pretty much eliminated pet function for ACN/SMN/SCH and haven't touched Chocobo Companions since HW.

With the improvement of the trust/duty support AI and the relatively static nature of terrain in most dungeons(not so much in open world but not as bad as other games with pet classes) they could pull it off if they wanted to.

I think the main couple of problems would be:

1) how to manage the pet in general. Do we get assigned a pet or do they let us catch em all per se.
2) how to manage damage between pet and player. Since the changes to the Arcanist route of classes it would be interesting to see how they balance this aspect.