Rotations: Making them DIFFERENT

[ty_taurus]

There's no reason WHM has to go 76 levels before getting 'AOE Lily spender'. In fact, there's no real reason for it to only get it's job mechanic (lilies) at 52 with Solace. For SGE, add Holos (the shield part) early, and upgrade it to have the mit later at current level. Or add Krasis-but-10% earlier to help Kardia feel like it does something. Physis1 and Physis2 is a good example of it being done 'right', I think. You get 1 early on, and at 60 it upgrades to 2 and gains the 'bonus heal%' effect on top. Do that more

Also once this next expansion's over, we're gonna be level 100. Halve every duty's level requirement, and cut our max level to 50. ARR becomes 1-25, each expansion is a 5 level bracket instead of 10. This helps populate the levelling process, as you'll be getting your skills-or-traits every level pretty much.

Regardless of how anyone feels about the EW rework of monk, something I think they really nailed with it was doing exactly this. The rework made sure to introduce core gameplay elements very early. Chakra is obtained at level 15 now, and you basically have your full rotation at level 50, which is what I think every job should have. Levels 15, 30, and 50 should each feel like a big step for every job.

The summoner rework also does this mostly well too regardless of the quality of the job as a whole. Having the Carbuncle Astral Flow available as an early Bahamut was a great way to make the core aspect of new Summoner available right away.

You don’t necessarily need a Physis be Physis II scenario involving two different animations (because animations are expensive), but just simply reduce the potency of other actions and then bring them back up later through a trait. I mentioned for dancer bringing Flourish down to level 50 and Saber Dance to somewhere between 50-60, but actually it should be Flourish at 30 and Saber Dance at 50. Fan Dance II is a pathetic “capstone.” (And personally I’d prefer to see Fan Dance I upgrade to II, stay ranged, but gain the AoE. Bloat isn’t a dancer problem, but I hate buttons bloat that exists for dungeon trash only.)

As for a level squish, there was a somewhat recent interview about making it to level 100 in the next expansion, and that we would probably stay at level 100 long term as it’s an iconic level cap for Final Fantasy. Afterward we’d look to alternative forms of progression.