I sort of wish players could only choose one job.

[Rahsch]

I kinda feel like that I wouldn't be attached to my character as much if I had to make multiple characters just because I couldn't be every class / job / crafter with 1 character.

It makes sense that 1 person can do everything. Just think what people can do in real life. They can do multiple jobs or have many hobbies they can do.

And I mean you can build yourself a good reputation with your online community if you stick with one character, if your a bad person and don't like to follow the rules or if you like to steal things from other people, people will know not to invite you. And if you do your best to make the best of yourself by being a hardworker with your crafts and are a great person to take along for travels then you'll be sure people will invite you or buy your wares.

I believe in one character all possibilities.

[Colino]

The conversation was stopped as together they expressed their disbelief that a single character could level all 22 jobs. It was a real pull for them. We went inside and they signed up for the FFXIV Beta straight away.

Exactly, this has happened to me on every single occasion I have spoken to an outsider about the game, even with those who heard the game was bad.

Even more so when I add in that gathering and crafting are their own (almost) full fledged classes with their own content. It's unique and enthralling and the best part of it all is that you can experience everything the game has to offer with just one character, one personality and one "you".

[Reika]

It wouldn't solve it completely, you are right, but it there would content creators would probably be way more inclined to create job balance, so jobs would not get excluded, and the general population would probably try out different combinations for the sheer fact that it would be way harder to put together the "ideal" setup. Again, I support having multiple jobs, but it does create a situation where people will be more inclined to go with the ideal route because it is a lot easier to put together the ideal setup when everyone has every job leveled. Not that doing something with the route of least resistance is bad or anything, it's just that if you want to play a particular job, and it doesn't fit in line with that mentality, tough luck. Hopefully I'm explaining myself well enough, lack of sleep, brain dieing~.

That does raise another point. Being able to switch classes/jobs on the fly only gives them a reason to have class and job imbalance. "Don't like that you cant do this content on your favorite Class or Job? Well switch to another! /trollface". If people would have only 1 job option per character, they would definantly not be able to get away with this.

I do wish they would like, grow some improved service, integrity, and excellence and just do the right thing with what we have tho....

[wdrekx]

I think being able to change jobs makes the biggest difference, I've played a lot of different MMOs but the thing that always made me go back to FFXI was that it was challenging and I only needed 1 character. I hate having multiple characters as it pretty much kills any attachment I might have for one and if I become attached to one then I'll never try any of the other jobs/classes. As to FF or other RPG games whose iconic characters are only one class; all I have to say is that it worked for them because they all had a few unique abilities that were theirs only.

[Kiote]

Honestly, there is no such thing as a Final Fantasy feeling when it comes to Classes. The actual trademark of the series is that the Class system/Ability list is always different. There is nothing Final Fantasy about being locked in to one Job. Most of the Fourteen numerical games do not give characters defined classes. Really only the first and IX do. Most of the games that appear to have defined roles actually only have starter roles. X for example you have Lulu the BLM and Kilmari the BLU, but from the moment you get them, you can jump them to any other Class Skill set and change what they are. VII and VIII let every single character use every Spell and skill. VI gives some class specific skills, but everyone can use summons and magic.

[valetarkus]

I'm glad I can do all the jobs on one character. Makes it so i don't have to go through a lot of the same crap over and over again on a different character just to play another job. And that's what makes this game awesome, versatility. And with the option of crossing over certain abilities which is way handy and the fact that many ff are set up to be anything you want to be. FF3, FF5, FF7, FF8, FF10, FFX-2, FFXI, and FFXII (Haven't played XIII). The ability to be multiple "Jobs" or "Areas of focus" isn't something new to FF. I really don't like in many MMO's that make me stick to one particular class, I get bored with that fast.

In other words I disagree with the OP.

[GavenBylander]

But seriously .

Hahahahaha You guys gifs are great!!!

[Mikita]

I'm not sure if being limited to one class would solve that. Probably it would just mean that if you are not the desired job, you get left out completely and just sit in town waiting for something to do.

It wouldn't solve it completely, you are right, but it there would content creators would probably be way more inclined to create job balance, so jobs would not get excluded, and the general population would probably try out different combinations for the sheer fact that it would be way harder to put together the "ideal" setup. Again, I support having multiple jobs, but it does create a situation where people will be more inclined to go with the ideal route because it is a lot easier to put together the ideal setup when everyone has every job leveled. Not that doing something with the route of least resistance is bad or anything, it's just that if you want to play a particular job, and it doesn't fit in line with that mentality, tough luck. Hopefully I'm explaining myself well enough, lack of sleep, brain dieing~.

Whenever SE released videos to show us new raids, their party set up included every class/job (plus one additional to make a full party of 8).

I really believe they test new content with mixed parties to make sure it can be done without class stacking, before they release it.

Class stacking is just a natural community pattern based on the human tendency to want to do things easily, quickly and efficiently.

Not everyone follows the prescribed party set ups. Our LS never did the Garuda BLM burn and we really struggled with that fight for a while. But in the end we could beat it with several different set ups, often with the only duplicate job being 2 Bards.

And yeah, a small part of me kind of wishes that you can only level one job. It would make people focus on being great at one thing rather than picking up a job and dropping it like one would with gum. But in the end, what's at fault isn't the system. It's not the system that made people treat jobs this way, it's the way we play and the way people treat the game.

I guess it depends on who you play with.

Most of the people I know excel in 1, 2 or maybe 3 jobs, even if they have everything leveled to 50... so I think specialization still happens even when you can play all jobs on a single character.

[Hycinthus]

Lastly I feel like allowing players to change their roles at will takes away from the traditional Final Fantasy experience, and overall makes it less gratifying to play a Job when you can potentially be replaced by anyone and everyone in your party at the flick of the wrist.

I played FFXI, so I was totally used to people having multiple jobs, but I totally and 100% understand where you're coming from. Even in FFXI it happened, but not as quickly since to switch jobs you need to go back to your moghouse. Here it is more apparent because you can change job anywhere. For example I liked being special, the only BLM of the party, and then suddenly when need arises, all 4 or 5 members of my party can become BLM too. And then suddenly they equip the BLM gear too, and better gear than mine, and suddenly we all look the same haha. That hits me hard because I don't feel like I'm useful anymore, and I feel like what am I doing here.

And even sometimes they say, do you have another lvl 50? Let me be the BLM this time and you be WAR since I don't have WAR. I agree it is useful and makes parties flexible. But in one way it's too flexible.

[Taltale]

...the characters were normally reined to one role and thus were indispensable for their unique abilities. (Well, for the most part that is.) It is this, I think that allows others to more readily respect and appreciate the significance of that specific role and player when it isn't so easily replaceable, or if at all. The player and their name sort of becomes renowned with that role.

I agree with this. Not that I like to be labeled, but I do miss having the feeling of identity that came with having a focus in one particular job. Being wanted or even needed because I had that job. Having options to switch it up once and a while is good, I think, though I don't like the idea of every player being able to take on the role of every job (unless they worked hard to be able to take them all on). Passion behind the job is key to a good fighting performance.