Job class difficulty options

[Salabanana]

Imagine we had two modes for each job, a normal mode and a hard mode, both can do all current content and are still valid choices for whoever decides to play them, this allows players to choose the level of difficulty that they find fun or engaging within ALL content.
Normal mode is the base version of a job, it has the core mechanics of the job and everything required to complete content with no fail state.
Hard mode adds on top of normal mode by introducing more complex elements and a fail state, but also being more rewarding for those who like that.

Normal Mode
Examples of what normal mode might look like with some jobs:
Astrologian: Can switch between nocturnal and diurnal sects, cards are not random. [Current Astro, but nocturnal and diurnal sect are back]
Scholar: Can only summon one fairy that heals the party.
Black Mage: Astral fire and umbral ice don't have timers, cast times are the same as other casters, the effects firestarter and thunderhead don't expire.

Hard Mode
Examples of what hard mode might look like with some jobs:
Astrologian: Cards are random when pulled, and have different bonuses, pull and use a certain amount of cards of differing types to execute an ability. [Stormblood Astro]
Scholar: Can summon two fairies, one that is for healing and another that is for DPS. [Stormblood Scholar]
Black Mage: Astral fire and umbral ice have a 15s timeer, cast times are longer, the effects firestarter and thunderhead have 30s.

That was my idea and examples of what we could have for job difficulty and engagement, I'd love to hear your input on examples that you'd like to have for things I missed or different ideas for the ones mentioned.
Hope you all have a lovely day/evening.

[Miracle_Diva]

Hard Mode
Examples of what hard mode might look like with some jobs:
Astrologian: Cards are random when pulled, and have different bonuses, pull and use a certain amount of cards of differing types to execute an ability.

That's what original Astro used to be, they changed it to remove RNG factor and streamline the job to fit 2 minute "meta" better. Cards had different effects from what we have now and it was more fun imo.

[Jeeqbit]

This is pretty much my perspective on this, because all games should have an easy mode and a hard mode, because there are so obviously two types of gamers: ones that want to pass the time (but for it to be easy), and ones that want a challenge.

There might be hope for it if they do skill trees which they mentioned as an example in the media tour.

[Mawlzy]

This is pretty much my perspective on this, because all games should have an easy mode and a hard mode, because there are so obviously two types of gamers: ones that want to pass the time (but for it to be easy), and ones that want a challenge.

There might be hope for it if they do skill trees which they mentioned as an example in the media tour.

It's amazing how much push-back this simple idea receives. It's almost as if some of those who "like a challenge" want everyone else to suffer through it too.

Also worth noting that, even within the same game, there are players who might prefer easy PvE, but challenging and competitive PvP. Possibly this extends to fishing.

[Kozh]

Astrologian: Cards are random when pulled, and have different bonuses, pull and use a certain amount of cards of differing types to execute an ability.

I honestly don't know whether to laugh (in irony) or cry when reading this. As mentioned by others, this is what AST used to be. We have 6 cards, each with different effects, and you have to rely on RNG (though you also have redraws). You can even burn a card so that it becomes bonus for the next card (royal road is the skill name, iirc). You can either make it 200% bonus, extent the duration, or make it aoe buff (this is the strongest buff if you can pull Balance or even Spear card). Then you can even extend the duration even more with Time Dilation.

If you're curious about how it's played, please look up Larryzaur's Astrologian guide video. It's less about guide and more introduction to job, but it's really funny.

Also, I am 80% sure Sch used to have 1 fairy for healing (Eos) and one for dps (Selene). Or rather, Selene give speed buff? I'm not sure about this past. I wasn't able to play sch that much before ShB was released.