If you could alter something about the Ninja..

[Kiyosuki]

This is just a what if topic. Not a discussion about what class combo is best etc. :D

If you could yourself, of if Square themselves said they wanted to revise the Ninja job in XI, what would you change about the class? Or alter? It can be a whole new ability or even a minor change in a stat. I'll add my two cents later on from what I've noticed from the class so far up to 30, and what others say. But I'm actually more anxious to know what some of you more high level Ninja's, or anyone who's extensively used the class to greater levels have to say.

I also mean realistic changes, no 10 Blink Utsusemi or One hit kill abilities. :D You know, stuff that could actually be added or changed in the game. Those idea's are much funner don't you think?

I can tell most of you have something you think could be changed with the class. :D It does seem somewhat disadvantaged at times. (although I love Ninja's still)

[Kirk]

One think I wish we had, and think we should have is a ninjutsu form of sneak spell. A ninja who can't sneak? Arn't they supposed to be the masters of stealth?

My two gil.

[Skygto]

Some new skills.

Blood Gulch- You stab a monster with your left hand weapon. When the item is in the monster they will start to lose health and you will gain TP. The weapon will also keep any stat enhancing effects you have. To counter balance it, when the weapon is stuck in the monster you'll gain hate countinously, which will help Ninjas control hate without a Warrior sub job. And during this time the Ninja will still attack the monster with the same delay as having two weapons but the damage will be much less. The skill will stop when the Ninja takes damage.

Smoke Figure- The Ninja will dissapear and reappear behind the monster. This skill can only be used when the monster is targeting the Ninja. During the Ninja's absence the monster will be confused and any attack or skill will give it twice as many hate points. So it's a good skill for Paladins as they'll control hate much easier. When the Ninja reappears they'll do a critical hit, nothing big. And the animation will be the Ninja spinning around once, cross his arms and a smoke flash.

Shuriken Shower- If you have a shuriken and you throw one, they'll split into 5 individual shurikens (but you will only use one in your inventory) and hit the monster, each doing regular demage but since there's 5, that's 5 times the damage.

[Discordian]

I think they could highten the already passive job traits. If they can run 25% faster at night, why not give them evasion and parry boosts at night? They are the masters for that sort of thing since they are trained for it.

Job Trait : Night Fighting.

[TMPikachu]

night fighting? sounds kinda odd to me...

raising their skill in parrying and evasion is all you need, I think they're already quite high

change one thing...
their weapon skills aren't that strong compared to most other weapons (mostly elemental damage)

and let them use scimitars, I don't get why they can't use scimitars, those got a tie in with middle eastern style assassins (like in movies) or asian curved blades in general

[fyrewyre]

I second Sneak.

I would hate to see a RDM run past something with sneak on but a NIN taru's foot steps echo throughout a cave. The only reason i would even cosider guessing on why sneak isnt added to the ability list (i wish it was passive :D ) would be to keep the galka ninjas from tippy-toing their way around vana deil. I've never seen a galka ninja but you'all know what i mean. One great idea/ability would be to either add hastaga to their passive abilities if the whole group are NIN/WHTEVR. Just my thoughts.




Also, add re-reaise to the suicide attack X( or not

[TMPikachu]

DON'T take out the suicide attack!

more damage though, that would be nice

maybe a 'stun' effect

actually... a stun effect

It will let the party run away. Take one for the team.

[Vivid]

Originally posted by Discordian
I think they could highten the already passive job traits. If they can run 25% faster at night, why not give them evasion and parry boosts at night? They are the masters for that sort of thing since they are trained for it.

Job Trait : Night Fighting.

Ninja AF gives all those things. Hehe.

As for my recommendation... More ninjutsu... more weapons... more ninja type clothing... I mean... look at the market, the clothes we wear at higher levels are shared between monks and samurai as well... Ninjas are supposed to look distinctly different from Samurai and Monks.. I dunno, a visible scarf accesory would make me love S-EX.

[TMPikachu]

Don't war/pal/drk's all look visibly similar?

Same with blm/rdm/smn

[Katsuchiyo]

Get rid of blink and make ninjas a really good damage dealer class. Ninja armor isn't sturdy so why the hell are they tanking? Make Ninjas with sneak invisible only at night though since there black camoflauges them. Also add in some smoke bombs if a Monster detects you, you can escape without being seen. Also add in some kicks!! Ninajs should be a little more like monks. Also make there weapon skills alittle stronger, and boost up suicide attack, if there going to kill themselfs let them go out with a big bang. Ninjas climbing up trees and ambushing there enemies is always a plus.

[TMPikachu]

Blink is for solo

and a huge part of ninja mythos, the whole shadow image thing, every ninja does that.

I think you just want a dual wielding dark knight :O


kicking's more of a monk thing, a ninja's not going to kick something if he can stab it.

sub theif if you want sneak attack, subjobs are there for variety and getting more unique characters.

ninja/mnk could be your martial arts ninja

ninja/thief is the sneaky sort that sneak attacks n' triple attacks

[Vivid]

mages are mages
melee are melee
but ninjas fall into an entirely different class.
ninjas are supposed to be cool looking,
not generic like the clothes we are given.

/end.poeticlookingformat

[Kiyosuki]

I think the problem with the Ninja class is that it lacks focus. Its main purpose right now is to blink tank in most cases ofcourse, but that seems more like an inventive purpose rather than a central focus of the class. I mean, the Ninja has all those other abilities but in most cases they take second stage to nothing but Utsusemi (Unless you make a really good Nin/Thf and thats way later to be most effective) It just seems like such a waste to me. What I think would better focus the class are these.

Auto Sneak: Like someone said, and I completely agree, the Ninja class is supposed to be a master of infiltration and stealth. Yet all we get is Tonko and Ghetto sneak (Stealth). I think this aspect of the class has been horribly neglected by the programmers, it just seems like common sense to me. It wouldn't be overpowering too if the ability maybe came to you at 40 about, so it wouldn't be really subbable. Give the Ninja's they're own niche. :D The idea of making it work only at night is pretty good too, but in general Ninja's need to make no sound. For a class thats supposed to be an unseen warrior in its official description its just horrible at it. Just imagine how useful this could be for Quests/Missions! For the Ninja himself and others.

Thats the most realistic addition I think should really be added at a later update. But as for battle stuff, here's what I think...

I think the programmers should take a cue from how the Ninja class has been in previous FF titles, especially FFT and FFTA, which seems closest to how the Ninja in XI was intended to be.
The Ninja were never the hardest hitter's in any game, which I actually agree with. Flurry of hits over single hit power is the Ninja way. However what should be improved on is the Indirectly offensive strategy that Ninja's are usually known for, yet lack for the most part in this game. I think what would give the Ninja much more of a Niche on its own rather than just for mostly one or two abilities is being a Status Ailment machine.

Like think an ability that you activate like Sneak attack, and which adds a status infliction to your regular attack(It would have a time limit ofcourse). So rather than stop your attack to cast a Ninjutsu enfeeble, you can focus yourself to add status ailments and do damage at the same time. For extra insanity you could make the Ninjutsu(Both Ichi and Ni. :D) enfeebles stack with the physical attack enfeebles. As you get higher in level the attack enfeebles could have a higher chance and higher potency of working. Maybe this next would would be going a bit over the top, but if you have a status effect on your weapon that could stack too with everything else.
If this happened, Atk shouldn't be improved as it would be too powerful then. But if this happened you would deal moderate, quick damage and enfeeble quickly and powerfully, making you a very indirectly deadly class. Maybe lessen the rather harsh delay stack just a tiny bit(Not too much.) to make it truly potent Thats much more like how Ninja's have been in the past, and I think if this happened it would give the Ninja more of a focused purpose throughout the levels, not just at the very high end of its career.

Another idea if the above wouldn't work is an ability to have Ninja damage ignore defense, or break defense perhaps (although that one is too similar to the Warrior's later abilities...) Perhaps another ability to deal a critical hit that ignores defense to a certain % (Which increases as levels increase, but not all the way ofcourse) And make it so that it attracts very little hate (Which can be a problem for All fighters later) Hateless damage goes with the whole "Stealthy Warrior" motif I think. It sounds good on paper but I'm not 100 % sure about this one though.

Another ability though, I really was surprised Ninja's didn't have, was Throw. I know Ninja throwing is A+, but perhaps an ability to increase Throwing ability, maybe make it so that later on you can throw two of one ammo like weapon like Shurikens. And ofcourse, be able to throw actual main weapons that you don't use, although that'd be a real last resort ofcourse. :D But make it so that it deals great damage for that one time. I hardly think it would take away from the Ranger job at all as its so much more focused on range, but Throw if balanced right seems like such a Ninja mainstay thats missing.

Out of all these idea's, the Status ailment thing, and Auto sneak are things I think could focus the job a lot more. Ninja's are assassins man, not damage dealer's. Make then very deadly in a non direct way and I think you have something much closer to what the programmers intended. Lately with the new abilities given to the Paladin, and the Warrior always being an awsome tank, as well as ofcourse the dissapearance of Yokodama its become a heck of a lot harder to be a reliable Blink tank it sounds like, and I think the programmer's intended it that way to make Utsusemi tanking much harder. If they'd really want to change a Ninja's focus away from that, they should really consider tweaking its offensive options a bit. Nin/Thf at high levels I've heard is actually quite potent now with the new WS's, but Ninja's I feel need more focus in they're own abilities. No matter what I'll play the class but one can't play it in this game and help but feel like something is kinda missing.

Edit:And going by what Vivid(sexiest ever. :D )
said armor wise, there's something....very vital missing. Where are Ninja masks? I mean, Ninja's without masks are cool too, but there should be at least an armor mask or a scarf mask or something. Many similar classes do share Armor but at least Samurai get Hare Ate, and Mnk's have some exclusive non AF equip too, why shouldn't Ninja's get masks or something? :D Maybe those fish net like things they wear sometimes.

[Rakhir]

First, this is just a overall thing. Capes need to be shown. Somehow I think any job would look better, and more heroic even, with a cape blowing in the wind if you were wearing one. Of course, things like mantles made of leather wouldn't blow around as much, but you get the idea. Back on topic. I'm only lvl 32 so far in this whole ninja thing (don't even have Utsetsumi omg omg!) and can't see anything I'd like to change so far. Good suggestions above though.

Edit: If anything I'd want to be able to use Santo-ryu sword style
<----:spin:

[TMPikachu]

I'm kinda glad capes aren't shown, it would just look wierd to me

earrings and finger rings would be a nice touch though