Lets think about the class system/Amoury system...

[Rustyhagun]

.... for the future of 2.0 can we really say we all think the armory system is a wise move.

They should just get have a base class for every Job, that basically evolves to that Job. Have story & lore focus around it and separate quest.

Just get rid of the Armory System we have now, as it's just gonna look silly a few years from now and difficult to create new Jobs from this formula, we each class only able to wield 1 weapon.

Bring back an evolved version of the weapon system in FFXI class are each able to equip a 1-3 different weapons, Warrior being able to hold most all of them with a grade system of which weapon is the strongest in the hand of each Class/Job.

Equipping any of the allowed weapons(correlating to each class/Job) still allows the user to equip the classes Soul Stone.

Now the fun part. Each Job has its own evolving class storyline/lore that leads up to the user unlocking the Job. Some Jobs down the line will need multiple Jobs to be a certain level to be able to have them unlock.

Starts as Becomes
Squire ---------------> Paladin
Animist --------> Beast Master
Gladiator ------------ >Warrior
Lancer --------------->Dragoon
Sage ----------------->White Mage
Fencer --------------> Red Mage (eg.also having Black and White Mage at lvl 35)
Kendo --------------->Samurai
Pugilist --------------->Monk
Archer --------------->Ranger
Muse ---------------->Bard
Assassin ------------->Ninja
Archanist ------------>Summoner
Elementalist --------->Black Mage
Soldier -------------->Dark Knight
Pilferer -------------->Thief
Musketeer----------->Corsair/Pirate/Chemist

Yoshi & team need to make adjustments now while they still can. (Forgive me if you are already doing this). And feel free to call classes whatever you deem.

You all are doing good stuff for this game regardless. Just throwing my 2cents in and hoping a change similar to this will happen.

[KamikazeMan]

I always felt that jobs should be treated as advanced classes. For example: Thaumaturger can be changed so that there is no reason to want to use it once you unlock Black Mage. Black Mage should be able to use all spells that THM can use and be able to equip all weapons/armor that THM can since it's essentially the next level of Thaumaturgy....which is why the class exclusive stuff makes no damn sense to me.

Idk, but as it stands, I feel that classes are an afterthought and yes, I agree that it will only make things confusing down the road to keep the system the way it is.

[Zantetsuken]

The OP has some good ideas, but I don't think we will see any changes.

Keep in mind that the current Japanese names for each class are directly tied to the Armory system and are named specifically after what weapon/tool is used:

Marauder = 斧術士 (Axe Master)
Lancer = 槍術士 (Spear Master)
etc.

And since the Armory system is here to stay, we won't see multiple types of weapons for each class (at least not radically different)

However, the relic system shows us that jobs can have different weapons than their respective classes (they auto-equip the job soul needed ).

So DRK could be another job for MRD but have access to Greatswords or Scythes where MRD (and WAR) wouldn't*

*just an example.. I don't want to start an argument over what class DRK should come from.

[Orophin]

I've posted in other class vs job threads before, and here's my suggestions:

1. Have classes and jobs truly branch off from each other post level 30. THM gets THM only skills at 30+ whereas BLM can use all the sub-30 THM skills plus all the new abilities it learns at 30+. If they really want classes to have some utility, they need to make it to where they bring something totally different to the table than their job counterpart.

2. Get rid of the job stones and make job specific weapons. This would enable multiple jobs to branch off from classes and what you play is dictated by the specific weapon you have equipped.

I don't really care for the class system, because possibly apart from PvP, I don't see them being very useful in many situations. I feel jobs can solo just as well, if not better, than classes in most cases, so that's really not working in their favor either.

[Crevox]

I really think the armory system is silly, especially being able to switch classes anywhere. Your class becomes a meaningless choice.

1. People want you to swap to the job that is most effective for the situation, all the time; too bad if you want to play X, you're forced to play Y or be kicked. In FFXI I'm sure this happened too, but mid dungeon they're like "we're against coincounter? you can't play melee, swap to ranged now or we're kicking." This happened for many encounters. In other games such as FFXI it was like "I know that job you're playing isn't THE BEST for the situation, but I'm sure we'll get by." People also don't seem to understand that just because you have the class/job doesn't mean you want to play it and doesn't mean you are experienced/geared/skilled with it. I played WHM a lot and sometimes I was asked to go BLM and I said I probably wasn't going to be comfortable with it (lack of gear, didn't play it enough to feel safe on enmity, didn't want to take the risk) and people just didn't seem to understand why I wouldn't go BLM for them (and I was seen as rude).

2. It's not fun when you're like "oh check out my cool dragoon armor and lance" and the other guy goes "oh yeah" and just swaps to it too immediately. It ruins individuality, and gets rid of the ability to say "I AM A DRAGOON" (because technically you can be anything anytime). The class/job choice you make is meaningless, and you just don't have that good feeling about it.

3. A large portion of the reason everyone levels up every class/job is because it's so easy. Swap your weapon, gg good to go. It's difficult to feel accomplished saying like "I am a level 50 WHM" in your party. Not only does most of the party have that too, they'll be like "oh I can just switch to that." Sure, you can switch at your house or whatever in FFXI, but that was a LOT more effort to take for a lot of reasons (gotta have the gear which was harder to fully get, had to have the high level job which was harder, and had to spend a long time going back to who knows where to switch and come back). You were appreciated for playing that class, you had individuality, you felt good; in this game, who cares. If a party is 7/8 and just needs a WHM, instead of looking for that dedicated soul who actually is skilled and geared and loves the class, it's just "I'll just switch to WHM" *equip staff*.

In FFXIV 2.0, I'm gonna want to main Summoner. But, what bums me out, is that EVERYONE is going to be leveling it at launch, even though a lot of people have zero interest in it. They're just doing it "because they can." Yeah I know a lot of people want to see the lower level content and don't have any other classes to experience it, but still... what's going to set me apart from the people that are just "summonerlols" and me, a serious dedicated person to the job? It should feel like a strong dedication and others should be like "wow, you got that far with summoner/you have that much gear/SOMETHING" rather than just *swap weapon* "yup I'm as good as you now."

I'm finding it difficult to articulate my point, but I hope you understand.

[Zantetsuken]

There definitely needs to be bigger swings in the focus of jobs v. classes

This can be done in three easy ways:

Passive job traits that shift stats and HP/MP/TP: eg. When changing from GLA to PLD, a player loses 25% of their max TP and STR, but gains a 25% boost to max MP and VIT. Similarly, BLM could lose some casting speed and spell interruption resistance, but they would gain while Magic Accuracy and Magic attack Power increase over THM.

Exclusive class abilities: eg GLD gets the AoE Weaponskill 'Circle Blade' but PLD cannot use it. Likewise, 'Cleric Stance' could become restricted to only CNJ.

Classes get access to a wider range of gear than jobs - Restrict WHM and BLM from using shields, Give PGL the ability to wear haubergeons and other light armor, whereas MNK would be restricted to leather and cloth gear.

I think these ideas could help give classes a more distinct role in the game and push them in the opposite direction than their jobs.

[Royze]

One major element that people have overlooked, that was in early XI but not in XIV, is players identifying with a single job or class.

In the ye ol' early days of FFXI, you had one (MAYBE 2) Lv.75 jobs and it/they were your bread and butter. A lot of players couldn't afford the time/gil to get another job to 75. It took me 1 year to get my first job to 75. As a result, I perfected it. I became known as a Warrior.

That novelty of being known by your trade has disappeared. Everyone is everything as someone stated.

[Zantetsuken]

One major element that people have overlooked, that was in early XI but not in XIV, is players identifying with a single job or class.

In the ye ol' early days of FFXI, you had one (MAYBE 2) Lv.75 jobs and it/they were your bread and butter. A lot of players couldn't afford the time/gil to get another job to 75. It took me 1 year to get my first job to 75. As a result, I perfected it. I became known as a Warrior.

True.

Although, level isn't everything. FFXIV (at least 1.0) is more about upgrading gear to tackle bigger challenges.

I know many with the Paragon's Crown, but a much smaller percentage that actually are geared up or proficient enough to take on any challenge with any job. I think players people identify with one or two jobs and work primarily on those.

Plus, the game might take a much steeper level of difficulty when the cap is eventually raised, which will mean that it will take considerable time to get everything capped.

That novelty of being known by your trade has disappeared. Everyone is everything as someone stated.

Again, lets hope this changes with the eventual cap increase... I also miss that about FFXI

[Karazaki]

My gripe: weapon locking. Options are nice, e.g. a greatsword for PLD or lance for SAM. Sadly I don't expect any major changes to the armory system.

/sadpanda

[Cassandaria]

I like the armory system to be honest, but all of the concerns voiced are good ones. But I'd like to put in my two cents as to why I like it.
First, not everyone has the time to devote grinding a class all the way up to level 50, and being flexible is more valuable in this game than in others.
Now I know people keep harping on the fact that once you get your job you never switch back to your class, but seriously...why wouldn't you take advantage of the fact that you can cross class all across the board? While the overall total skill amount is the same in the end (as you get 5 unique exclusive skills for your job, but have access to 10 skills cross classed) someone who understands the other classes can be incredibly versatile and useful in any role, creating a unique archetype that doesn't quite fit the initial mold anymore. However most people are far too lazy to do this.
The limitation on the weapons is also handy in that it keeps your inventory simple and straight forward for each class, but don't forget that there are class specific weapons now as well, things that your jobs can not equip. Just like you have class specific gear.
Now for all of the people (like myself) that have reached 50 with all of the classes, we are usually skilled in a handfull of these classes, but work passably with the others. For instance, despite having all of my classes to 50, I'm only really skilled as a Paladin/Dragoon or White Mage (or the classes obviously). This means that each person really still has unique skill and isn't based on equipment because equipment doesn't matter if they can't play the class well.
I have never got the knack for managing hate with a black mage >.>.
Something to keep in mind is that the armory system is sort of a guide book for the class to job transition. I mainly like it because it's basically like a specialized class, limiting what you can do within a class and giving you new abilities.
Anyway, I'm sorry I got so long winded, but I hope you can see that there are benefits to it as well! ^_^.