This is a topic that is actually pretty near and dear to me. Granted I'm sure it's been touched on before by far better people than myself but since it isn't in the obvious first few pages, I'll bring it up here.
Essentially, here is my question; how do you handle a character that multiclasses?
I've found this subject to be a bit touchy at times, so I'll approach this delicately. I have found (and this is just my experience) that in games that allow a player to swap classes on a whim (Final Fantasy XI, Champions Online, Final Fantasy XIV, The Secret World), that roleplaying characters tend to also have all of the multiclassed abilities. Now, on the surface, I understand this completely. I build my character's skill sets around what I see them having. For instance, I took up some Arcanist so Tarot could have magical 'tricks' and took Lancer to reflect Tarot's skills with a staff. Once Rogue/Ninja drops, he will move to that and likely stay there for the foreseeable future.
But here is where my question comes into play. I know full well that a number of people like to complete everything. Max all classes because they are there and to get all the amazing gear etc. I know I likely will too since I love playing dress up. But what about all those skills?
Is it okay that your character who has played as a dragoon suddenly 'has some knowledge of thaumaturge'? That sounds reasonable. But then he is a lancer, and a thaumaturge AND a Monk AND a Bard AND a White Mage AND a Paladin. Suddenly, the character is ranked alongside someone as powerful as Louisoix simply by their complete breadth of knowledge in every aspect of adventuring.
Now, I know what you're thinking; 'Oh Tarot, why don't you just play the way you want, and I will play the way I want and we can be friends! 8D' (And yes, you totally think in emotes! I CAN READ YOUR MIND EMOTES!)
Well, yeah, sure we can, but part of the problem is a bit of player ego mixed with logic. One more or less must assume that time passes in Eorzea despite us maybe not noticing it. Days pass--technically weeks and months pass while you're leveling. Within the game's system, you're actually taking quite a long time to level cap any given job.
Now, add in something else. How you divvy your time. If you're character is a Paladin, and they decide, 'You know, I should learn how to use a lance'. That means they are dividing their attention between the two weapons to learn them both to a point where a player can consider them 'useable as a threat'. But then he/she decides they want to pick up magic too. Suddenly, their attention is divided three ways--because even though you have learned a skill, you CAN lose ability to wield a sword if you don't practice.
What all of this leads to is this; giving a free pass to a character becoming skilled or well-versed in every class/job especially in the course of a week or so to the point where they can use said class/job effectively in battle decreases the viability of any player. It makes the players that specialize in a single class or two essentially useless in out of dungeon RP and it makes suspending disbelief in the characters that do learn this plethora of classes that much more difficult. How can a White Mage be something special when Chester B. Arthur over there can heal AND exploded things AND stick things without any consequences? If you were going to pick one to be on your team, who WOULD you pick? You'd pick Chester because Chester can do all those things when he really shouldn't be able to, right? I know I would.
Wrapping up this rant explaining my feelings on the subject, I want to hear others opinions. I've discussed this with people on both sides of the fence but never within the same community. This provides a good opportunity to hear the opinions from folks that have played FF XIV (and possibly XI) and what they think on the matter.
Again, not saying that the 'All I Learned' style is necessarily bad or wrong. I just want to hear how folks handle this situation or explain it--maybe there is some logical answering that I missed and if there is, I would like to hear it!
Essentially, here is my question; how do you handle a character that multiclasses?
I've found this subject to be a bit touchy at times, so I'll approach this delicately. I have found (and this is just my experience) that in games that allow a player to swap classes on a whim (Final Fantasy XI, Champions Online, Final Fantasy XIV, The Secret World), that roleplaying characters tend to also have all of the multiclassed abilities. Now, on the surface, I understand this completely. I build my character's skill sets around what I see them having. For instance, I took up some Arcanist so Tarot could have magical 'tricks' and took Lancer to reflect Tarot's skills with a staff. Once Rogue/Ninja drops, he will move to that and likely stay there for the foreseeable future.
But here is where my question comes into play. I know full well that a number of people like to complete everything. Max all classes because they are there and to get all the amazing gear etc. I know I likely will too since I love playing dress up. But what about all those skills?
Is it okay that your character who has played as a dragoon suddenly 'has some knowledge of thaumaturge'? That sounds reasonable. But then he is a lancer, and a thaumaturge AND a Monk AND a Bard AND a White Mage AND a Paladin. Suddenly, the character is ranked alongside someone as powerful as Louisoix simply by their complete breadth of knowledge in every aspect of adventuring.
Now, I know what you're thinking; 'Oh Tarot, why don't you just play the way you want, and I will play the way I want and we can be friends! 8D' (And yes, you totally think in emotes! I CAN READ YOUR MIND EMOTES!)
Well, yeah, sure we can, but part of the problem is a bit of player ego mixed with logic. One more or less must assume that time passes in Eorzea despite us maybe not noticing it. Days pass--technically weeks and months pass while you're leveling. Within the game's system, you're actually taking quite a long time to level cap any given job.
Now, add in something else. How you divvy your time. If you're character is a Paladin, and they decide, 'You know, I should learn how to use a lance'. That means they are dividing their attention between the two weapons to learn them both to a point where a player can consider them 'useable as a threat'. But then he/she decides they want to pick up magic too. Suddenly, their attention is divided three ways--because even though you have learned a skill, you CAN lose ability to wield a sword if you don't practice.
What all of this leads to is this; giving a free pass to a character becoming skilled or well-versed in every class/job especially in the course of a week or so to the point where they can use said class/job effectively in battle decreases the viability of any player. It makes the players that specialize in a single class or two essentially useless in out of dungeon RP and it makes suspending disbelief in the characters that do learn this plethora of classes that much more difficult. How can a White Mage be something special when Chester B. Arthur over there can heal AND exploded things AND stick things without any consequences? If you were going to pick one to be on your team, who WOULD you pick? You'd pick Chester because Chester can do all those things when he really shouldn't be able to, right? I know I would.
Wrapping up this rant explaining my feelings on the subject, I want to hear others opinions. I've discussed this with people on both sides of the fence but never within the same community. This provides a good opportunity to hear the opinions from folks that have played FF XIV (and possibly XI) and what they think on the matter.
Again, not saying that the 'All I Learned' style is necessarily bad or wrong. I just want to hear how folks handle this situation or explain it--maybe there is some logical answering that I missed and if there is, I would like to hear it!
![[Image: tumblr_na3nykiJYw1tj8x6po1_400.jpg]](https://31.media.tumblr.com/9aff6ba119629667e6fc2104ce65b848/tumblr_na3nykiJYw1tj8x6po1_400.jpg)
