Nerfing Ukko/Vsmite so lazy players can be more useful?

[kingfury]

There have been some comments asking for other weapon skills to be adjusted so that they are stronger. We actually looked into this, but due to the very large differences in values we determined it would be difficult because of the way it would tie into the balance of power between jobs. (In the case that things stayed the way they are, the chances that future abilities and equipment would have lower stats or simply not be possible to add would become increasingly high.)

The principle behind the current weapon skill adjustment follows the same principles for the aims of why warrior has been adjusted (Restraint, etc.):

1. Prevent becoming overpowered
2. Establish balance between warrior and other jobs (make it easier to balance)

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I was going to toss my hands up on this topic seeing as I'm very bias on the subject being a 9yr career WAR, but the need to chime in on the matter of finding a creative solution to the "Balance between all jobs" problem is far too strong to just be quiet about. I can voice my opinion comfortably without falling victim to my bias however, so this shouldn't come off as a "Warrior's Cry" for no change to the job.

I can't speak for everyone that voiced their wishes to enhance the damage dealt by other jobs in FFXI to the point of WAR and MNK, but when I suggested "Make other weaker Weapon skills stronger", I didn't mean to just increase raw damage values across the board to match that of WARs and MNKs. I'm suggesting something that would require SOME NEW creative work and strategy from the DEVs indeed which could create a sense of balance across every job that would still give players a feeling of pride as to how they deal damage similar to how WARs feel now.

I for one was extremely proud of my Ukkon damage both in and outside of Abyssea because it gave me this feeling of "It's about damn time I was rewarded for all my skill-ups and hard work all these years!" I was happy even though I felt a little guilty that other jobs couldn't reach the same damage numbers, because I felt it was WARs natural "High-level" progression to slaughter enemies with their new found abilities and weapon skills. That's not to say that it was fair, but it did feel really natural to me. That leads us to where we are today though however, the point of how other jobs can achieve the same natural "High-level" progression with their respective weapon skills. My suggestions are as follows:

1. Don't bring Damage Dealing jobs (WAR, MNK) that excel at producing high damage backwards to meet the lackluster numbers of other jobs, because their numbers SHOULD NOT be lackluster in the 1st place. Instead...
2. Create new Job specific abilities/methods that help to "naturally" increase the weapon skill damage potential of other jobs in comparison to that of what WARs and MNKs can produce.
3. Don't encumber any of the FFXI job's ability to produce high damage AT ALL after years of skilling up their respective weapons for their jobs. Instead reward them with new found DEPTH with their weapons that enhance game play and their dedication to perfecting the way they deal damage.
4. (For example) Give a WHM the option to activate a new ability that would unlock their potential to couple their "Buffing" magic to greatly enhance their club weapon skill damage. Alternatively, they could embed their Divine magic into their weapon skills for a time that greatly enhances their potential to deal heavy damage.
5. Give every job this new type of Job specific methods of enhancing their potential to deal heavy damage so NO ONE has to be weaker. No job has to be left out of the wonderful feeling of "It's about damn time I can slaughter something!" Give every player that has worked hard for years to build their characters the reward of true and unique power for their respective jobs.

I don't believe that any job has to be powered down after 25 levels of supposed "new found power". Thanks for listening to our feedback.