Character classes?

[Diango12]

Well it seems the concept of character classes in Final fantasy 12 has been abolished. In other words the "red wizard" finally became a useless class(HA! Take that you over cocky saddle of seaweed magic!)

But this is no good, not for me anyway. What Ive been trying to say is this Sucks! What have they done look iam not a purest but I like my shields err I mean traveling cohorts with a sword and shield in hand, dumb, stupid and buffed up on defense and attack, I like my wizards and spell casters smart, to be purely spell casting characters who are generally superior to the fighters. This is the arrangement made for every RPG since I remember them, now all of sudden my Basch can cut his way through the field with a halberd and cast Curaja! Not to mention Blizzaga! (Yes I was shocked and horrified)

Whats the point to all this?, What class/Role do you have for your characters?

Mine:

Vaan: Red Wizard/fighter
Basch: fighter
Penelo: Ninja
Ashe: White Mage
Balthier: Gunner?
Fran: Black/time wizard

[Setharion]

Check out some of my replies in this thread:

http://forums.eyesonff.com/showthread.php?t=98290

I hear ya man, its a cryin shame that actual classes are being done away with because people cant have seem to handle the idea of being slightly limited.

I like when a character is my caster and she/he isnt going to weild the beast axe, or my tank being my tank and not being able to cast high end magic or what not...it defines a class and doesnt water the game down or cheapen it. I like actual set classes and options within, but not that everyone can be clones.

[Ouch!]

You're acting like this is news.

[Jessweeee♪]

I just got FFXII for Christmas. It's a bit confusing and unorganized now, but I think I'll get the hang of it eventually. I am mistress of the junction system after all.

[Setharion]

You're acting like this is news.

I love a pointless addition to a thread like this, bravo

[TRANS_AM409]

well the individual characters still are greater in certain attributes like basch having a higher standerd attack still though most people tend to automaticly give their characters specific jobs

Bach fighter
vaan- fighter/weak white mage
Fran- ranged attacked/ mage of sorts
i dont have a job for the others because i never use them

[vorpal blade]

I'm not a fan of individuality. Why? I don't like to use up MP before I get to the bosses, and that's the only way spellcasters are going to help (other than being a diversion, like my MP-less WM Galuf earlier today). So until I get to the boss, I simply attack or use other free moves.

Besides, if you have a team of specialists, what happens if that specialist dies? That's why all of my characters are equal, just in case someone kicks the bucket, I can replace him/her with another character. The closest thing I have to job classes is that back in the Ozmone Plain, Fran and Baltheir were my only means of attacking the Zu. So I added gun liscences to Ashe, creating Team Ashe and Team Basch, which remains to this very day. Mind you, I have already beaten the game, so now everyone can use just about anything, but all characters are the same to me.

[Lawr]

Vaan-Dragoon
Basch-Knight
Ashe-Paladin
Fran-Sage
Balthier-Black Wizard
Penelo-White Wizard

Well, thats what I have, but I tink Vaan could be a Ninja, but he [strike]is[/strike] was a Dragoon for the Zodiac Spear. (Just so I could be motivated to get the Liscense early.

[Setharion]

Besides, if you have a team of specialists, what happens if that specialist dies? That's why all of my characters are equal, just in case someone kicks the bucket, I can replace him/her with another character.

Wow...im sorry but this kind of statement blows my mind. Whatever happened to gamers that like a challenge?

I just find this kind of a statement to be a prime example of how gamers these days expect everything on a silver platter, and it totally takes away from what RPGs are meant to be.

What happens if you lose a specialist? Heh thats the name of the game dude...how many rpgs have you played? I been playing them for years and you have to learn how to adapt and how to manage a party. Protection to the healer is number 1, i mean wow...i just cant get over the mentality i see now a days when it comes to stuff like this.

Im not trying to insult or bash here...but i just cant wrap my mind around this mentality. Its like, what is the fun in that?

I dont know, i guess im out of words to explain my feelings for how an actual party in an RPG is supposed to be and the importance of it, and why it makes the genre what it is today.

[Lynx]

main
Vaan - double handed sword so im guessing a knight
Ashe - sword and shield so im guessing a knight again
balthier - guns so sniper

all attackers with very little magic use but together it works.
ashe - has white magic mostly and some arcane. very few techniques
balthier - has time magic and some arcane also. masterd techniques
vaan - has black and green magic. can equip anything

my reserve characters
Fran - archer has the strongest weapon out of all my characters right now.
Basch - axeman
pannelo - double handed sword.

Fran - has every magic spell
basche - very little magic but can use every technique
pannelo - can equip anything

[Ouch!]

You're acting like this is news.

I love a pointless addition to a thread like this, bravo

Then perhaps you shouldn't have responded in kind.

Pointless arguments aside, I'm a fan of the class system. I enjoy having specialized characters, so, to an extent, I did the same in FFXII. Certainly all my characters have similar capabilities, but their roles are rather specific.

I've developed Fran and Penelo as support roles. They sport gambits for healing spells as well as status ailment cures. I rely on them to keep my party alive, for the most part, though the others can do just fine on their own, if need be. Both are equipped with mystic gear sets.

Basch, Balthier, Ashe, and Vaan are all damage dealers, though they serve different purposes. Both Balthier and Vaan are set up to debuff enemies with both magic and technicks. Basch is an all out damage dealer, set up with the Zodiac Spear for heavy damage. Balthier is a ranged attacker, sporting light armor. Basch, Ashe, and Vaan all use heavy armor. Ashe is a tank, through and through. Sword and shield combo and the likes. Currently Vaan uses the same weapon set-up, though I plan to equip him with the Genji Gloves and the Masamune as soon as I obtain them.

Not the most specialized, but they certainly perform specified roles in the party. As it stands, I use Vaan, Basch, and Penelo in one party, and Ashe, Fran, and Balthier in another. I rarely mix the two.

[vorpal blade]

Besides, if you have a team of specialists, what happens if that specialist dies? That's why all of my characters are equal, just in case someone kicks the bucket, I can replace him/her with another character.

Wow...im sorry but this kind of statement blows my mind. Whatever happened to gamers that like a challenge?

I just find this kind of a statement to be a prime example of how gamers these days expect everything on a silver platter, and it totally takes away from what RPGs are meant to be.

What happens if you lose a specialist? Heh thats the name of the game dude...how many rpgs have you played? I been playing them for years and you have to learn how to adapt and how to manage a party. Protection to the healer is number 1, i mean wow...i just cant get over the mentality i see now a days when it comes to stuff like this.

Im not trying to insult or bash here...but i just cant wrap my mind around this mentality. Its like, what is the fun in that?

I dont know, i guess im out of words to explain my feelings for how an actual party in an RPG is supposed to be and the importance of it, and why it makes the genre what it is today.

Ah, but doesn't having specialists make the game easier when you come across enemies with high physical or magical defenses? You just switch in whichever specialist is best suited for the task at hand. Besides, I'm not in it for the challenge so much as the chance to wander around in a new world and watch a cool story unfold. And isn't that really "what RPGs are meant to be"?

The name of the game is strategy, and my strategy is that everyone should be able to heal and everyone should be able to do damage. And if you that's a lame strategy you should know that I suck at strategy games, but still managed to beat FFT and FFTA.

[Setharion]

Ah, but doesn't having specialists make the game easier when you come across enemies with high physical or magical defenses? You just switch in whichever specialist is best suited for the task at hand. Besides, I'm not in it for the challenge so much as the chance to wander around in a new world and watch a cool story unfold. And isn't that really "what RPGs are meant to be"?

The name of the game is strategy, and my strategy is that everyone should be able to heal and everyone should be able to do damage. And if you that's a lame strategy you should know that I suck at strategy games, but still managed to beat FFT and FFTA.

Well dude, i dont know what to tell you. I been gaming for 25+ years now and the idea behind RPGs is to have a team that helps each other in areas they themselves cant. Thats what MMORPGs are all about too, you have your healers, your tanks, your casters...all of them form a team with their own identities and characteristics to build a party and get rolling.

I grew up with earlier FFs that had no mercy...when you died, you died. You didnt get wiped then switch your other team in and run away...ive adapted to so many RPGs over the years that its a given to love and understand for me how having set classes and a diverse team that can support each other in different ways. This is the kind of stuff that devs cater too and imho makes it too easy.

I just assume any who love RPGs would not want their team to be clones, i dunno...i find it to be something that will ruin a game to be honest.

[Bunny]

Besides, if you have a team of specialists, what happens if that specialist dies? That's why all of my characters are equal, just in case someone kicks the bucket, I can replace him/her with another character.

What happens if you lose a specialist? Heh thats the name of the game dude...how many rpgs have you played? I been playing them for years and you have to learn how to adapt and how to manage a party. Protection to the healer is number 1, i mean wow...i just cant get over the mentality i see now a days when it comes to stuff like this.

How exactly do you go about protecting the healer? Monsters are set on a Gambit system. Typically it is to kill the weakest character first, more often than not the healer is the weakest character. The only way to stop a Gambit, as far as I can tell, is to use the spell Decoy. Decoy doesn't always work, sometimes it misses, therefore making it pretty ineffectual in the run of things.

I don't use character classes. Some of my characters are more focused on certain aspects and skills, sure, but they generally run pretty equal to each other. It works for me.

P.S. Get off your high horse. Just because you've had a longer run with video games, does not mean you understand the meaning behind them any better than the rest of us do. And don't assume things.

[Setharion]

How exactly do you go about protecting the healer? Monsters are set on a Gambit system. Typically it is to kill the weakest character first, more often than not the healer is the weakest character. The only way to stop a Gambit, as far as I can tell, is to use the spell Decoy. Decoy doesn't always work, sometimes it misses, therefore making it pretty ineffectual in the run of things.

I don't use character classes. Some of my characters are more focused on certain aspects and skills, sure, but they generally run pretty equal to each other. It works for me.

P.S. Get off your high horse. Just because you've had a longer run with video games, does not mean you understand the meaning behind them any better than the rest of us do. And don't assume things.

Im not on a high horse...i just been playing rpgs for years and would assume that most rpg fans realize the point in having casters be casters or fighters be fighters and respect the system thats been built.

Hey if thats how you guys want to play then so be it. I find it a sad day though when the traditional roots of RPGs are being ever so slowly wiped away and let everyone be everything in RPGs.

And how do you protect a healer? Well thats for someone to figure out and find their own methods...i play this game manually therefore i protect my healer just fine.

Listen though, im not here to fight or argue or get into a flame war. I have my opinion, you guys have yours.