It can be pretty difficult to say what an NPC is in terms of Job or Class. Take it as an example of a character not being defined only being a Job or Class. There is a line blur that exists because Classes are professions as well as areas of combat study. For example, a Gladiator is someone that is trained to fight with a sword and shield, that is the training the guild offers. A Gladiator is also anyone that earns their living fighting on the Blood Sands of Ul'dah. There are several known Gladiators that do not fight with sword and shield at all, including one famous former champion.Â
We do have examples of NPCs being defined as specific Classes, but it is still murky even there. Thancred is defined and referred to as a Rogue, yet he has also been called a Bard on more than one occasion (despite the fact we never see him fight with a bow ever). Y'shtola uses lots of funky magic, and according to her VA (more than one, if we wish to get down to brass tacks) is referred to in story and production notes as a WHM (and yeah, her VA absolutely knows what a WHM is in terms of this game's story and such). She certainly has access to WHM only abilities, but she has at no time been outright called a WHM by the game. Why? Probably because it doesn't matter to the story. It may never matter to the story, or it may be such a big deal that it is being saved for some later point in the plot. At present, this little tid bit only serves the role of being a point of debate (usually as to the ability for characters to be non-shroud bound WHMs) and whether one agrees that Y'shtola is a WHM or isn't is fairly immaterial, since we do not know how she acquired those abilities in the first place.Â
NPCs have whatever abilities suit the needs of the story (whether through narrative or just through a fight) and the same is true of our own RP characters. As long as a widget/job/class/maguffin is used in service to story, it doesn't matter what it does or is. In the end, it is an aspect of the character, and not necessarily the most defining point. In general, it is hard to go wrong when using this approach. My two cents. Hope it has been helpful. ^ ^
We do have examples of NPCs being defined as specific Classes, but it is still murky even there. Thancred is defined and referred to as a Rogue, yet he has also been called a Bard on more than one occasion (despite the fact we never see him fight with a bow ever). Y'shtola uses lots of funky magic, and according to her VA (more than one, if we wish to get down to brass tacks) is referred to in story and production notes as a WHM (and yeah, her VA absolutely knows what a WHM is in terms of this game's story and such). She certainly has access to WHM only abilities, but she has at no time been outright called a WHM by the game. Why? Probably because it doesn't matter to the story. It may never matter to the story, or it may be such a big deal that it is being saved for some later point in the plot. At present, this little tid bit only serves the role of being a point of debate (usually as to the ability for characters to be non-shroud bound WHMs) and whether one agrees that Y'shtola is a WHM or isn't is fairly immaterial, since we do not know how she acquired those abilities in the first place.Â
NPCs have whatever abilities suit the needs of the story (whether through narrative or just through a fight) and the same is true of our own RP characters. As long as a widget/job/class/maguffin is used in service to story, it doesn't matter what it does or is. In the end, it is an aspect of the character, and not necessarily the most defining point. In general, it is hard to go wrong when using this approach. My two cents. Hope it has been helpful. ^ ^
