Yoshi, your reply to Q22 in the XVIII Live Letter was false and dishonest.

[Ramath]

Yoshi and team, your reply to the 22nd question of the XVIII Live Letter was not only false, but dishonest.

Q22: Are there any plans to remove restrictions on the glamour system (unable to glamour gear that the job/class cannot equip)?

A22: Unfortunately, there’s a certain image that we would like to sustain for FINAL FANTASY XIV. We feel that it would confuse the new players if they see casters in heavy armor and tanks in mage gear.

However, if there’s any specific gear you would like to glamour, we will consider those requests individually so please request them through our official forums.

On an abstract or conceptual level, I can understand your intention and sentiment. You want tanks to look like tanks and mages to look like mages. I get that. However, the reality of the state of the game does not fall in line with the idea that you claim to uphold.

First, let's take the Cotton Cowl as our first example. It is a level 15 chest item, worn by "All Classes." It's stats are clearly intended for a mage, including both Intelligence and Mind. This piece can be worn by a tank, thereby making him look like a mage. However, on the flip side of the coin, we have the Bronze Cuirass, a level 15 chest item, worn by GLD/MRD/PLD/WAR. Yet, the mage isn't allowed to wear it.

So now we have two problems. The first being a direct contradiction to what you claim; a tank looking like a mage. The second being a blatant and unfair lack of balance when it comes to glamour options.

Second, let's take the Acolyte's Robe as our next example. This is a level 15 chest item dropped in the first three dungeons. It is able to be equipped by "Disciple of Magic." Which, on the surface, seems fair enough. However, the exact same model is found in the Cashemere Robe of Healing and the Direwolf Robe of Healing, both of which are only usable by CNJ/WHM/SCH. These are the only dyeable robes of that model in the game, to my knowledge.

This brings up a few more issues. You claim to want to keep certain looks within general roles, yet you lock out the BLM and SMN from wearing mage's robe; a look that is already theirs by right. These aren't class specific, such as the Artifact gear. These robes are the same as another robe we can wear, only the lower level one isn't dyeable.

Third, let's take a look at what you claim to want when placed next to the general glamour system as a whole. You said you wanted each role to maintain a certain aesthetic, or general identity to match their place in a party. Yet, anyone is able to show up to combat in a purely-glamour based item that doesn't depict combat readiness in the slightest.

So are you telling us that a paladin showing up to an end-game raid wearing nothing but a leopard speedo is what you had in mind for heavy armor-wearing tanks? Or did you feel that a nimble rogue showing up in a flowing stark white wedding dress was in line with what a stealthy class should be seen in? How is this any less "confusing to a new player" than a BLM or SMN showing up to combat in a black dyed Direwolf Robe of Healing?

While almost everyone appreciates the options to change their appearance without having to sacrifice statistical effectiveness, it is full of contradictions from your above statement, leaving us with only two logical assumptions for the current state: laziness or incompetence.

Please just do us, and you, a favor and simply lift the restrictions on the glamour system. It's not preventing what you claim to want to prevent, while simultaneously restricting that which you claim to want to preserve. Besides, Glamours are already meaningless from a statistical point of view, so please just let us appear as we wish.

[Kyoskai]

Request: Elaborate, meatbag.

[Riepah]

I met this tank in roulette today;


So, yes. Please give us an honest answer, SE. What is the real reason you're restricting glamours? Server load, again? Do you just not feel like giving us more options? Perhaps you're planning to push things that go against this "certain image" into the cash shop at a later date?


My personal guess is that you'd make a whole lot of people happy by lifting the restrictions. Those new players you're worried you might confuse with it will get used to it fast. They just have to look at the class symbol and/or weapon, done.
You should, instead, take an actual look at vote kick abuse. It's much more confusing for a new player when they get kicked out of duty for not knowing what they're doing than seeing tanks in robes or mages in armor.

[Jamillion]

So I get where everyone is coming from (my tank is wearing taffeta gear and I like freaking people out by hiding my axe until I pull it out) but I really hope this doesn't cause some re-evaluation of the system and results in the loss of the aforementioned glams.

[Cutie_McSnuggles]

Yes, please. Lift glamour restrictions. They don't really make any sense and they are incredibly inconsistent.

Thank you. ^^

[DeadRiser]

This so much. A shame considering there are a lot of people with "dated" gear that can glamour armor on any job/class.

It's glamours for a reason.. and isn't fair that Ms. Bimbo Baggins can wear her very revealing clothing on her tank yet I as a mage can not even wear sabatons. I mean look at Louisoux, Yda, and Papalymo...

[Kyoskai]

That's still a blatantly stupid way to answer that question.

Is the glamour system not based on armor ranks like every other MMO, where you have access to everything below your class' level of armor Heavy->Medium->Cloth->Misc?

[RiverTams]

I still don't understand why tanks want to look like healers.. or vice versa? I don't get it.

[Eul]

I wonder what's the reason mage can't wear leather subligar

[Sadana]

Yep, I agree. I've posted a thread about this before, myself. I included a screenshot of a DRG in mage's gear (hat to shoes, all was level 40 stuff made unarguably for casters that is listed as "all classes"). How is this fair?

Tanks - can wear tank, melee, ranged, and mage gear
DoW - can wear melee, ranged, and mage gear
DoM - can wear mage gear

=_=

The ONLY stuff that should be restricted is the class iconic AF gear.

eta: Upon re-reading the quote, Yoshi did goof up by saying specifically "tanks in mage gear" as going against the "image" when they CAN wear mage gear. If SE is being a stick-in-the-mud about how things look, then they need to get rid of glamours completely. A tank or anyone fighting in a bikini or reindeer furry suit doesn't exactly hold up an "image" either. :/ To clarify, I am NOT advocating removal of glamours, just the stupid restriction.