Lack of character "skills" customization...?

[Snat]

Was going to start a new topic with something like this in mind but found this and thought I would post an idea related to sub-skills that I think would help a lot (I am aware my idea is not balanced but to be honest I am a player, not a designer so I can't say if it would work out or not). Will copy and paste what I was about to post but will sound odd as I have not edited it in response to any of the posts - it simply is a idea related to this.

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Off-Weapon

I have been playing this game with my brother (we are finding it a great game – his first MMO and my second from FFXI) and he decided to role as his favourite job system dating back from the IV game – a Paladin.

Now he started off having no idea what he was doing but have been able to tank very well to near end game and we are just about to finish it but one thing he was looking forward too was being being able to tap up the curing of the party and other basic White Magic but as I am sure you know – it sucks with a Paladin.

Then just yesterday he was playing as a miner and got a hammer and it made me think, what would it be like if the jobs should use the weapon from the second class with a few changes coming with it.

I am going to use White Mage as an example as it is the main job that I know from experience.

So lets say in this example I have a Level 30 Conjurer and a Level 15 Arcanist. If I had a one handed weapon equipped such as the Yew Wand, I could then also equip any one handed weapon that a Arcanist could use up to the level I have (such as any level 15 Arcanist weapon). In doing so it could gain the stats from the weapon and a few other skills from the Arcanist list (such as being able to summon a Carbuncle etc, whatever makes it more useful but still balanced). The plus to this is it will allow the player to focus on their main role but also be able to do something on the side IF they needed to fill in for something that their sub-class is apart off.

However with this there would be a down side. The first is they could not use a two handed weapon (so in White Mage's case they would have lower mind, Paladin defence would suffer etc) which would make them to suffer a bit with their main role – something they would need to balance and think in advance. Another side effect would be the player would lose ALL other possible abilities from other classes that is not the sub class such as White Mage would no longer be able to use Swiftcast. Which as you know would make them suffer if raising is needed.

I am aware some classes do not have one handed / two handed weapons but it would also be great to see what they come up with regarding one handed weapons (and again not a designer or anything but such ideas for Archer like a one handed cross bow).

This would allow us to think differently with our jobs and thus new ideas to bring onto the battle field. I do understand a lot of it would need to be balanced, but hey its a start … or there could be a good reason why this would not work out

[Fire-Dragon-DoL]

Was going to start a new topic with something like this in mind but found this and thought I would post an idea related to sub-skills that I think would help a lot (I am aware my idea is not balanced but to be honest I am a player, not a designer so I can't say if it would work out or not). Will copy and paste what I was about to post but will sound odd as I have not edited it in response to any of the posts - it simply is a idea related to this.

----

Off-Weapon

I have been playing this game with my brother (we are finding it a great game – his first MMO and my second from FFXI) and he decided to role as his favourite job system dating back from the IV game – a Paladin.

Now he started off having no idea what he was doing but have been able to tank very well to near end game and we are just about to finish it but one thing he was looking forward too was being being able to tap up the curing of the party and other basic White Magic but as I am sure you know – it sucks with a Paladin.

Then just yesterday he was playing as a miner and got a hammer and it made me think, what would it be like if the jobs should use the weapon from the second class with a few changes coming with it.

I am going to use White Mage as an example as it is the main job that I know from experience.

So lets say in this example I have a Level 30 Conjurer and a Level 15 Arcanist. If I had a one handed weapon equipped such as the Yew Wand, I could then also equip any one handed weapon that a Arcanist could use up to the level I have (such as any level 15 Arcanist weapon). In doing so it could gain the stats from the weapon and a few other skills from the Arcanist list (such as being able to summon a Carbuncle etc, whatever makes it more useful but still balanced). The plus to this is it will allow the player to focus on their main role but also be able to do something on the side IF they needed to fill in for something that their sub-class is apart off.

However with this there would be a down side. The first is they could not use a two handed weapon (so in White Mage's case they would have lower mind, Paladin defence would suffer etc) which would make them to suffer a bit with their main role – something they would need to balance and think in advance. Another side effect would be the player would lose ALL other possible abilities from other classes that is not the sub class such as White Mage would no longer be able to use Swiftcast. Which as you know would make them suffer if raising is needed.

I am aware some classes do not have one handed / two handed weapons but it would also be great to see what they come up with regarding one handed weapons (and again not a designer or anything but such ideas for Archer like a one handed cross bow).

This would allow us to think differently with our jobs and thus new ideas to bring onto the battle field. I do understand a lot of it would need to be balanced, but hey its a start … or there could be a good reason why this would not work out

The idea is nice but it's definitely not doable, while just being able to unlock some traits with some stats it's quite easy, changing the ground of the game: WEAPON = CLASS it's a big issue, they can't do it easily from a technical point of view.

[Snat]

The idea is nice but it's definitely not doable, while just being able to unlock some traits with some stats it's quite easy, changing the ground of the game: WEAPON = CLASS it's a big issue, they can't do it easily from a technical point of view.

Don't see why it would be a problem though. Its clear enough they can bring out two types of weapon for each (such as one handed weapons and two handed weapons) and whatever is equipped in your main hand is your class. Whatever is equipped in your right hand simply does the above. Would also think it would be easy to do if you limit it just to jobs as they would just check = main hand & Soul to see what job you are.

It isn't like a miner equipping a hammer changes their class after all (and I am quite sure they could bring out hammers as a weapon in future without it causing a issue - all it is internally is just IDs). Although I suppose if they couldn't do that, they could bring out a second set of weapons (basically it looks the same and does the same as the sub-class but internally the IDs would be different enough for it not to see it as another class).

Although sorry if I mis-understood you half asleep

[Giantbane]

I rather liked what they did with the sub job system in FFXI. It felt like the sub job abilities better complimented and helped define how you performed your main job.

Cross class abilities seem very limited and do little to effect how the main class plays in this game. Especially for jobs as you have access to fewer cross class abilities and have fewer cross class slots available.