Ranger?

[DukeBurden]

When is Ranger coming to FFXIV? Currently, the only Bows in the game have a harp add-on/attachment because Bard is the bow class but it's not satisfying to play as a combo support job.

Ranger in FFXI could use Bows and Guns with interchangeable weaponskills, the only difference I really remember was whether you wanted to use a Bow or a Gun. This would be great in FFXIV for those of us that would like to be a Physical ranged, Bow class without the support aspect caked into the job.

Considering how much inspiration FFXIV takes from previous games, I'm shocked Ranger(RNG) isn't in FFXIV yet.

What are yalls thoughts on this?

[LilimoLimomo]

The likely answer is that it's not. In the same way that I wouldn't expect Thief to come to FF14 because Rogue is already a class, I don't expect Ranger to come to FF14 because Archer is already a class. Both are classes that could have been their own thing all the way to level cap, but they got absorbed into a different class and thus never got to reach that potential.

[DukeBurden]

Technically, Arcanist broke off in Summoner and Scholar so it can be done.

[Mikey_R]

Technically, Arcanist broke off in Summoner and Scholar so it can be done.

Except the Dev team have already stated that it was a nightmare to work with, which is now why Summoner and Scholar are essentially different jobs which share nothing from Arcanist (except Resurrection). Pretty sure, if they could go back, they wouldn't have done it.

If they were going to do it, they would need a weapon that hasn't been used yet, so maybe a Crossbow rather than a Bow. Regardless, it isn't coming any time soon, as wereotter pointed out.

[LilimoLimomo]

Technically, Arcanist broke off in Summoner and Scholar so it can be done.

What you're saying doesn't track, so I'm guessing you may not be aware of the history of this class. Initially, Arcanist only became Summoner. Later on, Scholar was added. So this example only works as a counter-argument to my point if you think that Scholar is a more robust version of Arcanist...which I'm guessing you surely don't think, since Scholar is an entirely different type of job with an entirely different kit and job focus (Arcanist being DPS, and Scholar being a healer).

As far as what can technically be done, there are no limits. If CBU3 decided to, they could of course add Thief and Ranger and Fighter and Black Belt to the game; there are hundreds of ways they could go about this. If you want to talk about what's possible, then anything you say, no matter how unlikely, is fair game.

My answer was not based on what is possible, but rather what is probable. Reviewing the most prominent job-based Final Fantasy games — FF3, FF5, FF Tactics, and FF11 — each of them have either Archer or Ranger, but never both. Presumably, much like Rogue and Thief, this is because one of the following is true:

• despite the variation in class name in different games, these are overall seen as being the same class, and the difference is simply an issue of nomenclature
• the classes are different, but not different enough to ever warrant having both in the same game

And indeed, if we look at Archer/Bard, we can see that it already has the ability most frequently associated with Rangers: Barrage. I read this as an indication that the developers are treating Ranger and Archer/Bard as the same class in FF14.

If you want to hold out hope, that is your choice. But personally, I find hope that is never fulfilled to be draining and painful, which is why I wouldn't recommend it in this case.

[DukeBurden]

What you're saying doesn't track, so I'm guessing you may not be aware of the history of this class. Initially, Arcanist only became Summoner. Later on, Scholar was added. So this example only works as a counter-argument to my point if you think that Scholar is a more robust version of Arcanist...which I'm guessing you surely don't think, since Scholar is an entirely different type of job with an entirely different kit and job focus (Arcanist being DPS, and Scholar being a healer).

As far as what can technically be done, there are no limits. If CBU3 decided to, they could of course add Thief and Ranger and Fighter and Black Belt to the game; there are hundreds of ways they could go about this. If you want to talk about what's possible, then anything you say, no matter how unlikely, is fair game.

My answer was not based on what is possible, but rather what is probable. Reviewing the most prominent job-based Final Fantasy games — FF3, FF5, FF Tactics, and FF11 — each of them have either Archer or Ranger, but never both. Presumably, much like Rogue and Thief, this is because one of the following is true:

• despite the variation in class name in different games, these are overall seen as being the same class, and the difference is simply an issue of nomenclature
• the classes are different, but not different enough to ever warrant having both in the same game

And indeed, if we look at Archer/Bard, we can see that it already has the ability most frequently associated with Rangers: Barrage. I read this as an indication that the developers are treating Ranger and Archer/Bard as the same class in FF14.

If you want to hold out hope, that is your choice. But personally, I find hope that is never fulfilled to be draining and painful, which is why I wouldn't recommend it in this case.

I like your breakdown and reply, ty! I agree here. I guess I just need to continue hoping Ranger comes to the game. I've been playing since ARR launch on PS3 so it's not like I haven't been here the whole time. I suppose I can go play WoW to achieve Bow class fantasy but.. I just wish it was in this game and not there because this game decided to do Bowharps.

[fulminating]

What you're saying doesn't track, so I'm guessing you may not be aware of the history of this class. Initially, Arcanist only became Summoner. Later on, Scholar was added. So this example only works as a counter-argument to my point if you think that Scholar is a more robust version of Arcanist...which I'm guessing you surely don't think, since Scholar is an entirely different type of job with an entirely different kit and job focus (Arcanist being DPS, and Scholar being a healer).
.

Citation please.

[Kimmay]

What you're saying doesn't track, so I'm guessing you may not be aware of the history of this class. Initially, Arcanist only became Summoner. Later on, Scholar was added. So this example only works as a counter-argument to my point if you think that Scholar is a more robust version of Arcanist...which I'm guessing you surely don't think, since Scholar is an entirely different type of job with an entirely different kit and job focus (Arcanist being DPS, and Scholar being a healer).

This is entirely incorrect. Arcanist was a job I'm the game's files for 1.0, but Arcanist, Summoner, and Scholar were all offically added into the game with 2.0 (ARR). There has never been at point that arcanist was usable that Scholar did not exist. Back then, the entirety of Arcanist's kit was available to Scholar, and that was the issue with the job. It learned Adloquiem at lv30, Succor at 35, Leeches at 40, Sacred Soil at 45, and Lustrate at 50. Every other spell and ability it had was shared with Arcanist and Summoner. Theyve done everything in their power to separate Scholar from the other two, besides actually breaking its ties to Arcanist.

[wereotter]

This is entirely incorrect. Arcanist was a job I'm the game's files for 1.0, but Arcanist, Summoner, and Scholar were all offically added into the game with 2.0 (ARR). There has never been at point that arcanist was usable that Scholar did not exist. Back then, the entirety of Arcanist's kit was available to Scholar, and that was the issue with the job. It learned Adloquiem at lv30, Succor at 35, Leeches at 40, Sacred Soil at 45, and Lustrate at 50. Every other spell and ability it had was shared with Arcanist and Summoner. Theyve done everything in their power to separate Scholar from the other two, besides actually breaking its ties to Arcanist.

Was playing at the launch of ARR, can validate

Also to add a little more to this, a lot of why they've gone to such lengths to separate the kits of the two jobs was for job balance. If they needed to buff scholar, then that would buff summoner too. If they needed to nerf one, that would nerf the other as well. This caused a lot of issues in Heavensward as well as Stormblood where often one of the two was over turned in an effort to make the other balanced in its role.

And, it doesn't see in the design philosophy of the team at this point, even if they hadn't said absolutely never again for branching jobs, for them to give us a job that starts at level cap. (or only 10 levels under if it launches with an expansion) Every time they've added a new job it starts at least 20 levels below the current level cap, and even more when you look at ninja and the jobs added for Heavensward.

[ThorneDynasty]

The likely answer is that it's not. In the same way that I wouldn't expect Thief to come to FF14 because Rogue is already a class, I don't expect Ranger to come to FF14 because Archer is already a class. Both are classes that could have been their own thing all the way to level cap, but they got absorbed into a different class and thus never got to reach that potential.

It seems like Viper is going to be exactly the rogue option without Ninja's aesthetic baggage though, just like Ranger or whatever would be for Bard.