FFVII and Classes: What could have been...

[Wolf Kanno]

So Ultimana's have revealed that in the early stages of VII's development the cast of VII was meant to have actual classes (Aerith was meant to be a Geomancer for instance) yet the idea kind of got scrapped due to the Materia system, though its easy to tell that characters still retain parts of their original classes like Cid, Yuffie, and Vincent.

Now, one criticism laid against VII has been that the Materia system prevent sthe characters from really standing out beyond story purposes and that your "party" is basically your three sets of Materia builds. So my question is, do you think VII may have been a better game had they employed an FFVI style class system in cooperation with the materia system? You know have Cid always have the dragoon Jump command and Aerith with an actual Geomancy ability that can't be removed?

[qwertysaur]

Cloud: Fighter
Barret: Sailor/Gunner
Tifa: Monk
Aerith: Geomancer/White Mage
Red XIII: Red Mage
Cait Sith: gambler/Black Mage
Yuffie: Loli Ninja/Thief
Vincent: Morpher

[Raistlin]

Yeah, I do agree that FFVII could have really used something in addition to materia, or at least some greater restrictions on their use. As-is, there isn't a whole lot to distinguish between the characters and play style. I can do basically the exact same things with Cloud/Tifa/Cid (my usual party) as I can with Cloud/Yuffie/Red XIII. It only depends how to decide to use materia that matters.

[VeloZer0]

I don't really get all that attached to the idea of different character being different. All that means is that I get to use the ones I like without it affecting how I decide to set up my party.

I would probably only enjoy a class-like system layered on top if it were to make the party set-up aspect of the game more interesting. If it just made the game more restrictive and pigeon-holling I will take a pass.

[Sephiroth]

Cloud: Red Mage, Paladin/Dark Knight
Aerith: White Mage, Summoner, I don't call her "Geomancer" the both mentioned job classes describe her completely, anyway.
Tifa: Monk, Gambler
Barret: Archer
Nanaki: Dark Knight (not because of personality but because of his physical attacks and his offensive magic), Berserker
Yuffie: Ninja, Thief
Cait Sith: Tamer, Gambler
Cid: Dragoon
Vincent: Archer, Berserker, Blue Mage (both because of his LIMITs)
Sephiroth: Super powerful Red Mage (not that it would stop him from knowing all spells), Summoner

Technically everyone can be called Freelancer or Red Mage there, of course. I just wrote some things depending on their personality, their techniques, how they start and all.

[Pumpkin]

I like the idea of them having classes to distinguish, which is why I gave them all certain materia and kept it there. No switching around, or just giving it to the three I like most, so that way each character has a strength (and weakness) and I have reasons to use each and every one of them. For example, Barret has poison on his add status attack and he absorbs lighting damage. If I am against someone vulnerable to poison or an enemy that does lighting damage, Barret will be in my party. Yuffie can steal, and had Leviathan for water damage. Red XIII absorbs fire magic, has Ifrit, and Fire materia. Cait Sith can morph and manipulate, etc.

[ShinGundam]

I don't like class system at all. I prefer characters that have lots of abilities and spells rather than just a handful of abilities.

[Skyblade]

What if it wasn't actually restrictive? How about any character can use any Materia, but each character has an affinity for certain Materia that improves their effectiveness with it?

An attack multiplier, increased chance of an attack hitting, free added effects, etcetera.

[maybee]

Cloud: Fighter/ Summoner. Gains the power to Summon after the Black Materia event to replace Aerith's skill.
Aerith: White Mage/ Summoner
Tifa: Monk
Barret: Gunner
Nanaki: Red Mage
Yuffie: Ninja, Thief
Cait Sith: Gambler
Cid: Dragoon
Vincent: Gunner/Berserker

[SteahMeLee]

Well, I'm the classes fanatic but I shall say that I prefer that the characters have this free development with Materias so that I could be the one to re-create the traditional classes myself without having to accept pre-created classes already assigned to characters like in IV or IX...

My favorite FFs are those like VII where you can freely create classes and it's not true that your characters are the 3 sets of Materia, I have a set for any character and any of them reflects a traditional Job Class of the brand...
I think they would have added classes just as mere titles like they are in FFVI where you can assign most magic and commands to whoever you want...


Anyway, let's come to how I assign classes here:


Cloud - Mystic Knight
110px-FF5-MysticKnight.png

Materia: Lightning, Ice, All, Elemental
Equip: Buster Sword, Escort Guard, Tetra Elemental
Limit: up to Level 4

Attack
Magic

Item

He is a SOLDIER and although being a swordsman he has a proficiency with magic, he is based on having an element imbued to the weapon and many elements to absorb via Materia, Armor and Accessory so that he can also heal himself with his attack spells.



Barret - Knight/Machinist
110px-FF5-Knight.png

Materia: Cover, HP Plus, Slash All
Equip: Gatling Gun, Warrior Bangle, Tough Ring
Limit: Level 1 (constant Sadness status)

Slash-All


Item

A Knight/Machinist as seen with FFVI Edgar! He is the tank specialized in defense and allies protection and uses the Mindblow Limit that is the typical Knights Magic Break to cut MPs. It fits with him being strong but protective and he is sorta a knight of his cause although in a modern way! Slash All act as Machinist Tools.



Tifa - Monk
110px-FF5-Monk.png

Materia: Deathblow, Counter, Counter Attack
Equip: Leather Glove, Gigas Armlet, Champion Belt
Limit: up to level 4

Attack
Deathblow

Item

Tifa could only be a Monk, it's just to decide how and Deathblow with the counters are the sole answer. Counter is paired with Deathblow for a multi-counter!



Aeris - White Mage/Summoner
110px-FF5-WhiteMage.png110px-FF5-Summoner.png

Materia: Barrier, Full Cure, Heal, Destruct, Restore, Revive, Shield, Seal, Exit, Choco-Mog, Shiva, Ifrit, Ramuh, Titan, Odin, Leviathan, Bahamut, Kjata, Alexander, Phoenix, Neo Bahamut, Hades, Typhoon, Bahamut Zero, Knights of the Round
Equip: Guard Stick, Wizard Bracelet, Circlet
Limit: up to Level 4

Attack
Magic
Summon
Item

Aeris is the recurring White Mage/Summoner seen also with Dagger, Eiko and Yuna but I give this setup to others healer girls in the series! This setup hides other purposes that could be noted by some. For example being her the Summoner and because she dies, it's not possible to "cheat" with Knights of the Round. Of course what I'm saying is that after her death these Materia are not used anymore! Losing a character means also losing his/her class and role in battle!



Red XIII - Berserker/Scholar
110px-FF5-Berserker.png110px-FF3-Scholar.png

Materia: Fire, All, Sense, Added Effect, Mystify
Equip: Mythrill Clip, Mythrill Armlet, Power Wrist/Fury Ring
Limit: up to Level 3 (constant Fury status)

Attack
Magic
Sense
Item

Pretty absurd and funny combination of Berserker and Scholar is the good reflection of a wild beast with an intelligence outmatching humans. He has Sense (from Scholars) and some spells (Ultimania describes him as a SOLDIER of sorts due to Hojo's experiments) but the rest of what he has is of a Berserker! He has Mystify + Added Effect in the weapon being able to put both the enemies and himself in Berserk attacking or cast the Berserk spell, or he could start already in Berserk with the Fury Ring.



Yuffie - Thief/Ninja
110px-FF5-Thief.png110px-FF5-Ninja.png

Materia: Steal, Throw, Speed Plus, Enemy Away, Added Cut, Steal as Well, Pre-Emptive, Gil Plus, Sneak Attack, Luck Plus
Equip: 4-Point Shuriken, Chocobracelet, Sprint Shoes/Sneak Glove
Limit: Level 1

Attack
Throw
Steal
Item

Of course Yuffie is the Thief/Ninja combination and she has all that can be expected from these classes that are often combined as the same or one the evolution of the other! Dexterity and speed with stealing & throwing abilities!



Cait Sith - Black Mage/Gambler
110px-FF5-BlackMage.png

Materia: Comet, Contain, Earth, Fire, Ice, Lightning, Gravity, Mystify, Poison, Time, Transform, Ultima, Manipulate, Magic Plus, Quadra Magic, MP Turbo
Equip: Silver M-phone, Wizard Bracelet, Circlet/Hypno Crown
Limit: up to Level 2

Attack
Magic
Manip.
Item

I pair the Black Mage class with Gambler like I do with Sezter and Quistis since magicians and cards/dices are affine! It's a way to make Cait Sith strong and worthy! It fits the story since Cait Sith is a sort of avatar of Reeve that is a magician or whatever that is being described in Ultimania like an Inspire, someone that can give life to non animated things using magic and move them from afar!



Vincent - Ranger/Chemist
110px-FF5-Ranger.png108px-FF5-Chemist.png

Materia: Morph, Double Cut, W-Item
Equip: Quicksilver, Silver Armlet, Ribbon
Limit: up to Level 4

4x Cut
Morph

W-Item

The classic pairing of Ranger and Chemist, since actually someone expert in bullets and gunpowder could be also expert in alchemy! In this case the 4x Cut is the X Fight and Morph is Poach, skills taken by the Ranger! W-Item is there to give him also some traits of Chemists!



Cid - Dragoon/Blue Mage
110px-FF5-Dragoon.png110px-FF5-BlueMage.png

Materia: Enemy Skill, Enemy Lure, Chocobo Lure, Long Range, Underwater
Equip: Spear, Dragon Armlet, Protect Ring
Limit: up to Level 2

Attack
Enemy Skill

Item

The Dragoon/Blue Mage mix seen also with Kimahri that I apply also to Krilie! The usual Dragoon but with the aid of the Blue Magic versatility! His Jump attacks are used via Limits and also the Dragoon other command Dragon to drain HP/MP.






So, this is how I pretty much create traditional classes although the game doesn't give you fixed ones!
It's one of the FF I studied more with this purpose!

I don't like class system at all. I prefer characters that have lots of abilities and spells rather than just a handful of abilities.

But going too much beyond in this direction characters becomes all the same and flat, without a specific fighting style that can boost their characterization greatly instead of having and indefinite wide set of abilities and spells without a sort of "theme" that makes them having a sense together and it's what a class basically is, even if not taken from the traditional set!

[Depression Moon]

I prefer classes over what VII and VIII gives us. With VII on a future playthrough I'll try and make them have as much distinctive roles as possible. I think I had Cloud with the Bolt spells which I think Square has hinted at for his elemental affinity like Lightning.

Hope The next FF will give us classes again. We haven't had true ones since IX.

[SteahMeLee]

I prefer classes over what VII and VIII gives us. With VII on a future playthrough I'll try and make them have as much distinctive roles as possible.

I agree but with VII or VIII style it's even more fun since you can re-create classes and give roles the way you like without being forced to have pre imprinted ones...

Hope The next FF will give us classes again. We haven't had true ones since IX.

But in that way all the fun to setup them with your creativity is gone, you have everything pre-done...

Better to have a totally free system instead and assigning classes and roles by your choice...

[Jinx]

I prefer already given classes.

[SteahMeLee]

I prefer already given classes.

I accept already given classes as long as you are the one to assign them to the characters even while the classes cannot be customized (FFIII or FFV way, I mean) but I don't like already definite characters (FFIV and FFIX way)... But my best choice is when the recreation of classes is totally up to my creativity (FFVII and FFVIII way)...

[Depression Moon]

Eh, I prefer IV's and IX's.