(05-03-2014, 02:06 AM)JFrombaugh Wrote: So that begs the question: If I'm RPing my character to be mostly an independent Adventurer who wants to fight for the greater good, yet isn't well suited personality-wise to being a "military woman" per se, is SCH actually a better fit than I realize, given that it doesn't really exist today and therefore isn't bound to serve a city state in the same way as a WHM or DRG would be?
Considering 75% of those military factions to which Jobs belong don't exist any more, you're still perfectly fine playing any job without being a "military woman."
-The Monk and Lancer legions of Ala Mhigo were wiped out 20 years ago.
-Black Magic has long been forgotten, and forbidden to all who do remember it.
-White Magic is murky water, but they were the Magi of Amdapor, which was wiped out over 1600 years ago during the War of the Magi. The art was lost but then re-gifted to the Padjal for safe keeping 500 years ago. Until now, the art has never been trusted with outsiders. (Tried to make that as 'PC' as possible so we don't start a WHM brawl.)
-Summoners were the military might of the Allagan Empire, which was destroyed between 4000~5000 years ago.
-Scholars went extinct with Nym 1500 years ago.
-Warriors used to be mercenary forces, but the art died out centuries ago from disuse and now can only be found in isolated Hellsguardian villages in Abalatia's Spine.
-True Paladins are the royal guard of the Sultana.
-Free Paladins have no military ties. They are simply trained by the Sultansworn, but free to follow their own path.
-It's true, Bards inspired soldiers with powerful ballads on and off the battlefield. But the last war that they were used in such a capacity was the Autumn War which took place over 100 years ago.
-Dragoons are tied to Ishgardian elite military. The Dragoon title simply refers to any Ishgardian Knight that kills a dragon. The Azure Dragoon is chosen by Nidhogg's Eye once a generation. That tradition has lasted 700 years, until our Player Character screws it up lol.
So the only Jobs that are actually "nation-locked" are Paladins, Dragoons, and White Mages. Technically.
The revival of these arts is largely by random, independent adventurers and Scions, like yourself, happening across someone who is aware of one of these ancient arts. And by magical happenstance, they're willing to train you. So if you choose to become one of these ICly, you don't owe it to any nation to stick with them or their military. As a Scion you can do and go whatever or wherever you like.