[ Idea ] Stat Transfer System

Attention Square Enix,
I've briefly included an idea for modification to the FFXI Online game. Thank you in advance for considering this idea.

[ Stat Transfer System ]

Presentation / Introduction
In the past, as players advanced in levels within FFXI, we got to see a diversity of gear & equipment that helped inspire a sense of individualism and variety. It made the game more fun to look at and thusly, more enjoyable. Nowadays, lower levels are neglected for easier methods of leveling up and this renders mid-level gear almost irrelevant. As such, we see less variety between players making the environment blander. A lot of equipment at mid-levels is no longer used, this can be verified by the lacking sales of low level gear within the Auction House. Most gear on sale or otherwise obtainable with ease are low level gear or high level gear. In addition to this, the current 'trend' seems to be Perle, Aurore, and Teal to job corresponding seal-type gear. In an effort to support the players appreciation for individualism and variety within the world of FFXI I present this modification. Although, I'm sure, this lacking variety hasn't been the direct cause for loss to FFXI I feel that this and similar elements combined, do or can. And so I propose a solution that would help strengthen the diminishing desire to play and replay FFXI Online in its players by restoring a sense of variety and making the game more visually appealing. I feel this idea will greatly help in the effort to ensure that FFXI Online remain both enjoyable to its players and profitable to SE.

Prospective Idea
Allow players to change the 'appearance' of armor pieces they have obtained to the 'appearance' of other armor pieces they obtained.

Modification Details
Players must obtain 2 pieces of similar type armor such as two [HEAD] pieces or two [BODY] pieces. One piece should be the piece that contains the stats they'd like to transfer, this is the 'Stat Piece', while the second piece represents the appearance they would prefer, and this is the 'Visual Piece'. The trading process is irrelevant and can be handled numerous ways but the first method that comes to mind is something along the lines of the Trial Moogle trade method. Players trade the Stat Piece followed by the Visual Piece or vice versa along with a cost requirement. The Visual Pieces statistics are all wiped and replaced with the Stat Pieces statistics. The player ends up with an armor piece of their visual preference that holds the stats they already earned.

For Example, if a player would like to transfer the stats of a "Chersos helm" ( Head piece... DEF:42, VIT+7, Evasion -7, Physical damage taken -4%, Haste +4%, Lv.93 WAR/PLD) to a "Fourth Division armet" (Head piece... DEF:18, VIT+3, Set: Increases HP, Lv55 WAR/PLD/DRK) the result would be a "Fourth Division Armet" ( Head piece... DEF:42, VIT+7, Evasion -7, Physical damage taken -4%, Haste +4%, Lv.93 WAR/PLD ) because both pieces can be used by WAR and PLD but not by DRK, so a DRK loses the ability to wear the End Result. This ensures job types meant to benefit from equipment stats and visually appear in that armor type are still able to while restricting job types that weren't meant to do either or. In another example, the result of a stat transfer from a "Asura samue" ( Body Type... DEF:60, VIT+6, Store TP+4, Subtle Blow+5, Enmity+5, Lv.99, MNK/SAM/NIN ) to a "Versa Hauberk" ( Body Type... DEF:62, INT-4, MND-4, Attack+14, Physical damage taken-3%, Enmity+5, Lv.77, WAR/PLD/DRK/BST/SAM/NIN ) would be as follows. "Versa Hauberk" ( Body Type... DEF:62, INT-4, MND-4, Attack+14, Physical damage taken-3%, Enmity+5, Lv.77, SAM/NIN )

The key element to focus on is the job types that can use the armor piece. Any job types that can't use both armor types will be unable to equip the End Result.

In addition to this suggestion I propose the following for implementing stat transfers that include Rare/Ex/Aug items. Allow stats to be transferred as usual between Normal Quality, High Quality, Rare, Ex & Aug. The Tags for the Stat Piece could carry over to the End Result excluding the Tags of the Visual Piece. In addition to this, any armor piece that is put through the stat transfer process could be imbued with the Ex/Aug Tags to restrict that item to that specific player. Special exceptions could be made to prevent certain types of Rare/Ex etc gear from having stats transferred if necessary.

Pieces of equipment with the trait 'Cannot equip headgear' and the likes cannot be used for the stat transfer system.

The racial requirement to any armor piece put through the stat transfer system will be dominant and will carry over to the End Result regardless of whether both pieces share that same restriction type. Therefore, players transferring stats to or from an "Elder's surcoat" ( Galka race requirement ) will end up with an End Result that contains that very racial requirement.

Charged use abilities in Armor Types can be transferred as long as the charges are not used up, or they can be automatically erased.


Closing Statement
This modification could be small, medium, large etc as preferred. Players could be required to undergo additional quests or the likes to obtain Key Items to proceed with a Stat Transfer. Select pieces of gear can be excluded from this transfer process. This addition is more of a privilege a player has earned to change the appearance of something he/she has already earned. With 'cost' focused on both armor type’s levels and rarity it will limit the ability to transfer stats between new players and end gamers alike. New players will enjoy transferring the stats of their new gear to old favorites while end gamers can transfer their hard earned equipment stats to the appearance of anything they prefer. Players will be motivated to obtain pieces of gear they might not ordinarily bother with, such as original Artifact Armor types and the likes.

Again, thank you for considering or reviewing my idea.

interesting proposal, but unfortunately the way they have designed the data to comply with the PS2 environment, it probably is not practical with the current limitations they are up against. If it ever gets a revamp into a more robust running environment (ie: sans PS2 restrictions and a new core restructuring to take advantage of better OS/Hardware environments), this could be doable. But as it is now, it's not practical so long as they feel compelled to maintain the current structure of the data.

Gaaaah... too much staging and way too complicated for it's intended purpose.

Just say you want costume slots for the 5 visible armor slots. Players can wear iconic armor for their job at anytime, and stop antagonizing mages that want to cure them without losing target due to incessant blinking. :D

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Originally Posted by Kristal

Gaaaah... too much staging and way too complicated for it's intended purpose.

Just say you want costume slots for the 5 visible armor slots. Players can wear iconic armor for their job at anytime, and stop antagonizing mages that want to cure them without losing target due to incessant blinking.

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I don't think you could limit it to iconic gear. I'm sure someone out there's been wanting to wear full homam or that nicely-designed Amir set that has gone entirely to waste because of its stats. I suggested something similar through the evolith revamp I proposed, but costume slots work...kinda. I'm just not fond of them because it falls into the "a wizard did it" reasoning instead of being part of the "natural" game.

One thing about Transmog (too bad WoW used that name already since it'd be a perfect name for something involving moogles) is that it might give people a reason to run through old content for missing pieces or encourage crafting of older gear. That would give some bored folks something to do and may breathe a little life into lower level crafting. That would be a plus of a vanity type system IMO.

One thing though, people will have to be willing to let go of the aversion to being /checked. If you come up wearing domaruuuuuuu (sorry) people are going to need to verify what equipment you're "really" wearing. I'm by no means a hardass, but even I would want to know what you're really using.

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Originally Posted by Duelle

I don't think you could limit it to iconic gear. I'm sure someone out there's been wanting to wear full homam or that nicely-designed Amir set that has gone entirely to waste because of its stats. I suggested something similar through the evolith revamp I proposed, but costume slots work...kinda. I'm just not fond of them because it falls into the "a wizard did it" reasoning instead of being part of the "natural" game.

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Players CAN wear iconic gear... or an iron subligar for all I care. (Please don't!)
As for, 'a wizard did it'... how would you explain people switching entire full plate armor sets for another set in the blink of an eye, or them turning into pink mandragoras right in front of you, without magic?

Costume slots would have the advantage that it works for any job, no conflicts with existing gear, and you can have different sets for different jobs.

But if costume slots aren't your thing, wouldn't it be easier to move the VISUAL appearance to the STAT piece, instead of the STATS to the VISUAL piece? Visuals can be referenced by a single data value, and could be applied as an augment. No problem with job restrictions either.

Chersos Helm would remain the same, but with an extra line where a signature would normally be.

Chersos Helm (Ra)(Aug)
[Head] All Races
DEF: 42 VIT +7 Evasion -7
Physical damage taken -4% Haste +4%
Lv. 93 WAR / PLD
(o)Fourth Division Armet

(o) is an eye icon.

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Originally Posted by Kristal

Costume slots would have the advantage that it works for any job, no conflicts with existing gear, and you can have different sets for different jobs.

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Considering there are gaps in gear for certain jobs (coughlackofmeleegearatlevelsbefore90forRDMcough), I would have preferred something that benefited others outside of people at level cap, but you do make a good point.

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But if costume slots aren't your thing, wouldn't it be easier to move the VISUAL appearance to the STAT piece, instead of the STATS to the VISUAL piece? Visuals can be referenced by a single data value, and could be applied as an augment. No problem with job restrictions either.

Chersos Helm would remain the same, but with an extra line where a signature would normally be.

Chersos Helm (Ra)(Aug)
[Head] All Races
DEF: 42 VIT +7 Evasion -7
Physical damage taken -4% Haste +4%
Lv. 93 WAR / PLD
(o)Fourth Division Armet

(o) is an eye icon.

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I would also be perfectly fine with this. Regardless of the method chosen, the game is at a point where it has the opportunity to give us some control over the look of the gear we use. I might be more welcoming of something like the Royal Reddincote or some of those ridiculous-looking bodies with haste and melee stats if I could change their appearance to something I can stand looking at.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kristal

Gaaaah... too much staging and way too complicated for it's intended purpose.

Just say you want costume slots for the 5 visible armor slots. Players can wear iconic armor for their job at anytime, and stop antagonizing mages that want to cure them without losing target due to incessant blinking. :D

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this is what i'd rather see the dev team do the come out with a compact keyboard 2 control scheme that breaks auto run, which btw why did they feel the need for a compact 2? games been around for 10 years now not to mention i cant make sense of the diagram.

I like the idea itself, maybe not so much the execution or possible requirements.

I'm sure armor coloring has been discussed before, but surely that is not hard to introduce. It'd also be nice to have something where you can choose not to display your helmet but still have it equipped & benefitting from its stats.