[byr1001] Uncapping the Merit Point Categories

[Economizer]

2) A limiting merit system has always been the antithesis of the job system. - One of the major draws to FFXI is that the game lets you play through with only one character, which you are free to become attached to. There are certainly times when you need to change your role, and the job system accommodates that. It is silly to suddenly reverse this at the level cap, which is where players spend almost all of their time these days. When the cap was at level 75, you go 1 to 75 as a Red Mage playing however was convenient in any type of party, but Tier 2 merits forced you to decide whether you wanted to use your Red Mage to solo or do Salvage.

This is the main reason. Specialization arguments are stupid, as are the people making them. The only specialization I need is FFXI to be special from other MMOs, and this is one of the key reasons FFXI is unique. Do we really need the merit system's limiters on our ability to change jobs when gear already does that adequately?

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Here's to looking forward to the day when I can have more effective Banish spells and use Divine Seal without feeling like I'm gimp, because I don't have to choose between the best choices and the bad choices. Or not having to feel bad about meriting Club or Realmrazer (which is better then Hexa Strike unlike you said SE!) because I like to melee as a White Mage.

Here's to the day where a crappy merit category is just something else you fill out with merits at some point, because you're meriting everything. Here's to the day where Ninjas everywhere don't have to choose between Ninja Tool Expertise, San spells, or Sange. Here's to the day were every Red Mage has Phalanx II and Dia III, AND Slow II and Paralyze II merited. Here's to the day where Black Mages and Red Mages don't have to worry about the element of the spell they cast because of merits, but only because of gear and spell power.

[Xantavia]

This is the main reason. Specialization arguments are stupid, as are the people making them. The only specialization I need is FFXI to be special from other MMOs, and this is one of the key reasons FFXI is unique. Do we really need the merit system's limiters on our ability to change jobs when gear already does that adequately?

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Here's to looking forward to the day when I can have more effective Banish spells and use Divine Seal without feeling like I'm gimp, because I don't have to choose between the best choices and the bad choices. Or not having to feel bad about meriting Club or Realmrazer (which is better then Hexa Strike unlike you said SE!) because I like to melee as a White Mage.

Here's to the day where a crappy merit category is just something else you fill out with merits at some point, because you're meriting everything. Here's to the day where Ninjas everywhere don't have to choose between Ninja Tool Expertise, San spells, or Sange. Here's to the day were every Red Mage has Phalanx II and Dia III, AND Slow II and Paralyze II merited. Here's to the day where Black Mages and Red Mages don't have to worry about the element of the spell they cast because of merits, but only because of gear and spell power.

I think this comes down to how you look at merits. You seem to see full merits as being the baseline, and anything less is gimp. I see the default skill as the baseline and any added merits as extra. So for the guy with 4 points in elemental magic, you see him as being sub-par for nuking, I see him as being a little better.

I feel that these conflicting views on merits is what divides the players on the specialization of jobs. Unfortunately, since neither view is right, we'll never come to an agreement.

[Mirabelle]

I think this comes down to how you look at merits. You seem to see full merits as being the baseline, and anything less is gimp. I see the default skill as the baseline and any added merits as extra. So for the guy with 4 points in elemental magic, you see him as being sub-par for nuking, I see him as being a little better.

I feel that these conflicting views on merits is what divides the players on the specialization of jobs. Unfortunately, since neither view is right, we'll never come to an agreement.

I think the specialization view worked pre-abyssea. It was harder to level jobs. People cared about their favorite jobs and merits was equivalent to getting the best gear for your best jobs. Now levelling is easier, jobs are viewed as much as tools as special roles and gearing decently is much easier with AF3. So the "specialization" view just doesn't cut it as much. Right now the only thing that keeps people from playing a large number of jobs to a high level are merit limitations and inventory limitations. Before is was xp grind, macro limits, and merit/inv limits hold us back.

SE should be working on both inventory and merit limits as a much higher priority than they are currently doing.