Restricting Weapon skills to original class.

[Roaran]

I was wondering how everyone would feel if all weapon skills were restricted to the original class. I see many complaints on how bland the animations are, and I feel this is, in part, caused by their availability to other classes.

It's tough making unique animations for every single class/race/weapon skill, and then making unique versions of weapon skill for other weapons. I think SE probably made the best choice in regard to making the animations, but I feel as though the flaw in design leaves everything else lacking.

In addition, I don't see much in using other classes weapon skills; my own skills will always be superior in every way. I suppose many classes get some use out of Skull Sunder II, but I don't think it would have much balancing efforts involved to make this change.

[Lienn]

No, thanks.

Mixing skills in this game is an awesome feature, also covering a point that a character can direct the skills to the way they want.

Example: a PGL has no slashing WS but does have weapons with slashing main dagage type, which favors the usage os slashing WS. The only problem is that people need to try out and see what is good for him that time and most just prefer to have everything already ready for them.

A good example: Brutal Swing II, even without axemanship, outdamages my concussive blow II as PGL with spiked knuckles. Would be a shame having this WS stuck at MRD, that actually can only take better usage of it with bardiches, while you could be using them in more favorable classes.

[Cairdeas]

I'd rather they create unique animations for cross class skills.

Ie When a Pugilist uses Wide Volley, Instead of it just a bunch of glitter coming from the sky the Pugilists winds up and thrusts forward a bunch of ghost images of himself hitting all the valid targets.

[Chronic]

I agree 100% that weapon skills should only be able to be done with the correct weapon. Or restricted to class yes

[Nikita]

If by restricting them, they could make them more unique looking and interesting, that would be cool. I like the idea Cairdeas came up with as well. Anything that brings more diversity to a particular weapon is a good idea to me.

[Roaran]

Mixing skills in this game is an awesome feature, also covering a point that a character can direct the skills to the way they want.

I agree, but all your skills will look exactly the same. The only unique skills are ones restricted by class.

If by restricting them, they could make them more unique looking and interesting, that would be cool. I like the idea Cairdeas came up with as well. Anything that brings more diversity to a particular weapon is a good idea to me.

And that is essentially the point, balancing isn't really important as it would be done after the fact, each weapon skill would be different looking, and, therefore, each class would be more unique.

[Kurokikaze]

Restricting weapon skills to that weapon only gets my vote.

[Lienn]

But restricting WS and animation has nothing to do with each other. The classes can have its own animations different and leave cross-class animations decided by damage type as it is now.

I can see they made all exclusive animation WS class exlusive, but this is just the way they did stuff...we could, as example, have the jump animation of seismic shock as PGL and when used by a different class using the default basic attack animation (elemental damage uses the basic attack animation).

Or they could just expand the animations to other classes. Adding a jump animation for every class (which wouldn't even be needed to be for every class...great axe, polearm and staves animations could be exactly the same...sword, wands and scepters too...hand-to-hand and bow too...only restriction would be the way the character acts (using one hand at weapon and one at shield, 2 hands at same weapon or 2 hands at different weapons) is not that hard...just need a bit of good will...specially since here they use similar motion caption for all races so you only need 1 animation for all races instead of one for each race like was at FFXI.

[MeowyWowie]

I agree with the OP. Weapon Skills should be bound to their weapons. Abilities should be interchangeable (most of them, but not all.) As I understand it, what we define as classes in FFXIV are merely just our skill levels with different weapons. There really aren't any classes, per-say. Although, you could argue that your rank with a certain weapon determines your overall strength which is the misleading part. So there's two ways you can look at it, and either way would be correct.

Anyways, animations aside, I think the best thing SE can do to make each class unique is to restrict weapon skills to their parent weapon only. If any class can use any weapon skill / ability I don't see how they'd ever be able to accomplish that. But who knows, everything we know now may change come June. Maybe they have better ideas for class diversity. Honestly, any change is welcome compared to what we have now.

[Physic]

I disagree, some classes would take major losses to usability, i think this can only be done if they rework the whole entire WS system.

I do think that in your native skill set you should get unique animations per skill. I can understand not being able to come with new animations for every class, for every weaponskill, but in your own job there is no real excuse