What Makes A {Veteran} Vs {Amateur} Player?

Seems to me that a good number of players don't know exactly what makes a "Veteran" player. Normally in shout groups, you'll see someone asking for "SMN {Veteran} PLD {Veteran}". I happen to shout fairly regularly for various groups, and I use the term often.

However, from time to time, when I push back and ask if they are a veteran at their job, sometimes they reply "define veteran". Some people don't really know what makes a veteran player vs an average player, and was wondering what the community's general consensus and benchmark for being considered "Veteran". Because while there is clearly an acceptable standard of what is expected of a player when they join an event, there are also (at times) an unrealistic benchmark that give players a bad vibe as to what they are expected to have before joining something (Ever see a shout for something like Leviathan VD or SR asking for a REMA BLU ?)

Here's my list of what I would and would not consider criteria for being a Veteran:

A {Veteran} {Job} must:

• Have to be able to follow a strategy. This may include skillchains, magic bursts, and other things.
• Have invested a good amount of time into the job. Simply being lvl99 and geared is not enough anymore.
• Understand when to use JAs/Spells and how they affect monsters/party. You cannot be a WAR and not understand why you need to merit Savagery (Warcry). Unacceptable.
• Must possess all WS/JAs and spells that are expected at any level of play, including seemingly useless ones, unless they are extremely impractical in nearly every scenario (This may be debatable depending on what job you play. WAR probably doesn't need to unlock Stardiver, for instance); i.e. COR should have every roll, no exceptions. You do need to buy spells like Frazzle 1 and Flurry 1, even if you have the lvl2 version on your RDM main.
• All Support jobs unlocked for your main. This includes /sch for mage, /sam, /drk, /run for DD, and /blu for tanks.
• Possess a DT50% build, or very very close to it. No exceptions, mage, tank, or melee.
• [If you're a DD] Possess the requisite amount of accuracy for the content. If you're a mage, you will need magic accuracy for the content.
• [If you're a DD] Have advanced job knowledge and monster mechanics. You cannot just spam CDC all day. You'll need to visit forums and websites to learn some things. You'll also need to know what you're fighting before we fight it. Do a small bit of research.
• [If you're a DD] Have "sets" for different situations, and the appropriate gear that augment special abilities, like Diffusion and Angon. This is very important as it adds some pretty potent boons from just having it equipped on activation. (It drives me crazy when I see 3~minute diffusion MG from BLUs)
• If you're a tank, you may need an REMA, or maybe not...at the very least a combination of good play, good gear, and great sets (including enmity, damage taken, healing, and occasional DD) to be worth inviting.
• If you're a mage, must have all skill levels unlocked/maxed.
Maxed Potency which is reasonably attainable through time and gear (for instance, 900 skill GEO, High lvl Bar spell WHM or max Curna set for WHM)
• [If on job that uses MP] Possess a FC set. It's no longer acceptable to take 4 full seconds to cast stoneskin.
• You need to bring meds, regardless of your job. This includes RR, Vile+1 if needed, silent oils if needed, remedy/holy water/panacea/echo drops at the very least. This is probably debatable, but it makes the difference sometimes.


A {Veteran} {Job} does not need:

• Master JP. Master is not required, but certainly helps your argument, as it means you've spent time on your job and you're more likely to understand it.
• a REMA, though it certainly doesn't hurt and may make you more attractive in content.
• HQ abjurations or the like. You could be an above average geared player and perform well. But gear does make a ton of a difference, so it doesn't hurt to have "good gear".
• To have cleared said content previously, but it helps to have some knowledge of the NM and its tricks.
• To be the best of the best, elitist by some people's terms.

Discuss how you would define a Veteran Player. I hope this thread can actually educate some people who may have been unfamiliar with what the term specifically meant, because I have noticed it has different meanings depending on who you ask. Its good to get the answer out in the open.