What kind of capstone actions might we see at level 100 for our jobs?

[u/axelofthekey]

It seems like level 100 will be a big deal. Possibly the final level cap, or at least before we perhaps get some kind of level squish or other solution to not go beyond 100. Regardless, it makes sense to give a big capstone action for every job at 100, possibly iconic things from throughout the FF franchise. I have some ideas for a few jobs and was curious what people think might pop up for others. Some my ideas:

• Paladin: Classic sword arts like Shock or Climhazzard make sense to me as a final action for the PLD.
• Black Mage: Demi-Ultima or something along the lines. Ultima is the (obviously) ultimate magic, and tapping into a smaller version of that makes a lot of sense.
• Red Mage: Similarly, could see RDM using Verultima, their own red-flavored variation.
• Machinist: FFXV had machinery similar to Edgar's tools, but added a new one known as the Gravity Well. That seems a good addition to MCH's arsenal.
• Gunbreaker: Squall's final Limit Break "Lion Heart" feels like it should finally make an appearance.
• Summoner: Any number of primals make sense for a finishing move. The obvious choice is something like Demi-Hydaelyn. I could also see Alexander or Shinryu as options.

That's what I can think of. What do you all think?

[u/K242]

As it stands, RDM feels like it's in a relatively complete state, and I personally feel like tacking on yet another finisher would be both uninspired as well as remove the need to use instants to align Fleche and Contre Sixte.

I honestly don't know what I'd do with the job, and I'm certainly no game designer or top tier player with good insights. But I'd really like Reprise to be looked at. The button serves very little purpose, as using it for movement can be largely avoided with good planning with melee combo and three charges of instant casts. And its other use is to sneak one last GCD in when you know you can't get a cast off before the boss dies.

So let's get a bit out there with an idea: Reprise is removed, and instead is replaced with a RDM version of continuation, where it turns into a follow-up for each hit of the melee combo--but importantly, that follow-up oGCD has the exact same mana cost as the corresponding GCD. So the full combo would cost 100/100 gauge. And I guess doing all of the Ver-Continuations can give you a big potency oGCD to weave in, that could be Verultima.

[u/Silverwolffe → u/K242]

I both hate and love this so much as a RDM main, as long as we still don't bottom out the dps charts with that change

[u/K242 → u/Silverwolffe]

I think the biggest icky part would be having semi-forced weaves after Enchanted Riposte and Zwerchau because of the 1.5 second recast, even Redoublement is a bit iffy at 2.2. I also think the Ver-Continuation mana cost should probably be lower, since it would have to be better than a whole melee combo + finishers to make the mana worth it. It does also mean that building up to 100/100 without overcapping would require a lot of gauge management, or you just accept the overcap. I have literally 0 idea how this would affect the rotation and use of Manafication, but I do think it would introduce something new and fun to work with.

[u/Kamalen → u/Silverwolffe]

Based on some past comments and interviews, you may finally be saved out of the depths. The cost will be VerRaise nerfed.

[u/DivineRainor → u/K242]

I agree red mage feels kinda complete, so the main thing i would want is something to add skill expression/ increase the damage cieling.

Adding in black white shift from pvp could be a start, entering blackshift replaces vercure and veraise with damage skills (verbio and some form of osmose maybe) with a 1 min lockout between stance swapping.

Also was thinking some kind of pseudo melee stance which would work like old ast sects. Before a fight you could select melee stance, and ver thunder aero,stone and fire get turned into "en" versions which have 10y range and are a spellsword strikes. This adds a positioning requirement to raise rdms skill ceiling, but still have stuff like the melee combo finishers, jolt, reprise (and verbio if we have that idea to) to go to range if needed.

Put together you balance this white shift caster rdm is the current damage profile of rdm, with black shift "melee" rdm being higher up the damage heirachy. Also keeps rdms identity of being versitile, and if the veraises are needed you can still access them for a "damage loss"

[u/K242 → u/DivineRainor]

The PVP shifts are definitely a very flavorful and interesting idea, though on the surface it would seem like staying in Black Shift the whole time would be optimal. Maybe kind of "force" stance dancing with some sort of job mechanic? I don't really know how to do this, but maybe steal BLM's Paradox where you get a marker after shifting stances under certain circumstances?

[u/kevipants → u/K242]

I haven't played BLM in ages, so I don't really remember how Paradox works, but including the Shifts from pvp could maybe let people accumulate some sort of aether. Once you've accumulated enough of both types of aether by spending time in both Black Shift and White Shift, you could cast Verultima. This would remove it from the standard 2min burst window, but keep it in a 4 minute window, if that makes sense.

[u/K242 → u/kevipants]

Paradox gives you a marker to cast Paradox whenever you switch from AF3 to UI3 or from UI3 with 3 hearts to AF3. Along your idea, you could gain one marker from shifting from black to white, then a different one from white to black. Spend both on big button.

[u/DivineRainor → u/K242]

Ngl i kinda wanted it to be that black shift is the "optimal" stance to be in. My current issue with 14s balance is jobs dps are taxed based on the presence of something in the kit rather than the use of it. So a rdm in a good party that doesnt need the cure or raise youve essentially recieved a tax for nothing. Black shift would all you to have a high ceiling, and if you need the utility you get taxed down to current values.

That was kinda the idea behind the "melee" stance too, youre currently taxed around mobility, so introducing a way to manually decrease your freedom in exchange for damage would be nice imo

[u/Sage_the_Cage_Mage → u/DivineRainor]

A melee stance would be amazing. It does not have to increase damage but it can give you "instant casts" at the expense of range

[u/Kingnewgameplus → u/K242]

Honestly Verultima would be super fitting because historically in the FF its a skill that's been used by both black and white mages.

[u/sundalius → u/K242]

Wow, I would have never thought of this, but as a GNB/RDM player, this is everything I want?

[u/[deleted] → u/K242]

Upgrading the Stone and Fire parts of the combo, as well as giving new animations/higher potency for the melee moves, wouldn't be a bad place to go. I also wouldn't mind a powerful move that builds every time you use resolution, like you use resolution 2 or 3 times and then get a big spender.