[FFXIV] The Removal of a Class - Suggestion and Explanation

I would like to take this time to suggest the removal of the class system. I have likely explained this before, and said it would be wise to do this to help players get into the game easier. I have yet to really go in depth in how this would happen. While I hope the developers are ahead on their way to doing this as it is, I'd like to share my thoughts on how they could go about it. Please note, however, I am permanently banned on the official forums, so I cannot make this suggestion there.

■ Scholar and Summoner

Scholar and Summoner are bound together by the singular job, Arcanist. The developers have expressed time and again that making a branching job like this wasn't all that great of an idea, even less so a properly balanced pet system. So I suggest to deal with it in the following manner:

 Players who have unlocked SMN or SCH, but not the other.

Players who have yet to unlock both jobs, but have unlocked one already, will have the other unlocked appropriately, and the level distributed to both jobs. However, none of the job quests for the job not unlocked will be completed.

 Players who have yet to unlock either SCH or SMN.

Players who have yet to unlock either job, should unlock Summoner automatically, as that is the main evolution of the class into a job. Both being DPS.

■ Class Quests, Guildmasters and the Hunt Log

After explaining the major issue with SCH/SMN. I would like to take this time to explain how to go about dealing with the issue of class guildmasters. Since jobs will still start at level 1, there must needs e some way to level up these jobs other than grinding FATEs, sidequests (which aren't repeatable) and potentially dungeons if unlocked already.

I propose adding a repeatable quest system other than leves. They would offer radiant/randomized quests from a list of quests for players to do. These are offered by the class guildmasters up to level 30. Some of them could be solo instances, while others are simply monster kill, gathering a key item, or otherwise. This would also, in turn, make dealing with arcanists' inability to use a tank pet easier as well, rather than forcing the player into situations where the topaz carbuncle cannot gain enmity and thus enemy targets killing off NPCs that fail the duty. This would also mean the abolishment of the hunting log system. It was never expanded upon for jobs anyway, so it doesn't need to be utilized any further if this repeatable quest system is added.

Once the job hits level 30, the class guildmaster will offer a quest to go to the appropriate job NPC to do the appropriate job quests. For SCH, this will be the secretary NPC in Mealvaan's Gate (Arcanist's Guild) as per normal, leading to Alka Zolka as usual.

■ Job Crystals and Retainers

These items required normally to equip job gear should no longer need to be a part of the game. Players would be able to discard them, much like old 1.0 items, such as treasure coffer keys. For lore purposes, some job quests, such as Dragoon, could give the player a key item soul crystal instead for the duration of certain questlines. Or perhaps make it implied that we already have the soul crystals. As a result of this, the soul crystal tab would only be used for the Crafting Specialist System.

Retainers will be affected by this as well. Retainers who currently have a class will havet heir retainer ventures stopped immediately upon maintenance. Their classes will be then upgraded to their appropriate jobs. If gear needs to be unequipped for this to occur, the gear will be forced into either the Housekeeper NPCs, Retainer Vocates, or into the retainer's inventory directly. Levels would be reset, and players would receive a token to obtain a free retainer jump potion/book to 50. Unlike prior, jobs will now start at level 1, rather than 30, 50, 60, etc.

■ Not removing the class system, and its effects.

If the developers never plan to remove the class system for battlecraft, the developers should note that there are people who still level classes all the way to 50 without knowing that they should be doing their class quests. Even with multiple dialogues/etc. saying players should get their advanced jobs, players will often skip cut-scenes, or quickly skip text boxes with clicking both mouse buttons at once. If the developers do not remove the class system, they should at least make it required to be an advanced job to enter Brayflox Normal and any duty higher level than it. (Such as Cutter's Cry, etc.) This would help force players into getting their class' advanced job.