My immediate problem with the Delve system...

[Horadrim]

So, I was reading about Delve on the main SoA site; while immediately I was interested and intrigued -- I found myself at odds with the direction they chose for the upgrading of gear.

Specifically, while looking at this picture I found myself disenchanted:



Now, there are a few things here.

First, I'll preface this by saying I completely understand and appreciate that we can't really know the real depth of the system until people start to explore it after next week's update. That is a given.

Secondly, I understand that the stats shown are likely demo/faux values and aren't representative of the actual paths, but...

I can't help but find myself being a tad concerned about this "three paths of development" system. Using the example image, the first augment is pretty much the A#1 that will be used by people. Why? Because it is more or less exactly what the community currently goes for it (at least, as far as I've seen). You've got bonus damage, bonus accuracy, bonus base stats -- the only thing it is missing is haste.

The second option is still desirable, but noticeably less so. I don't know that I know of anyone who would 5ATK + 1STR for 4ACC (let me know if there's actually a situation where that is viable.) And mind you, this gear will be Rare/EX and you likely won't be able to have two of them, I'm assuming -- though I suppose other augment gear has allowed for multiple pieces, so that may be their rational?

Finally, the last option is a huge question mark. My best guess, and my scope on this kind of thing is admittedly limited, is that this would be more of a tanking or solo'ing path... But who, with access to a group for Delves, would need an end game piece specifically designed for soloing and what Paladin (the prime tanking class featured on this piece) would build this piece for tanking over using other gear better suited for the task such as Meikogai, Toshugai+1, or even AF3+2 (I don't play PLD btw, so I don't know what pieces are used for tanking, I just assume that a piece with a lot of -PDT would be a better choice)?

Now, considering these as phase 1 upgrades, you can imagine that the depth of the advancements gets greater and greater. I can't imagine the final path being used by anyone unless you find yourself nuzzled in a great amount of Evasion/PDT or something of that nature that makes it really, really worth it.

So, my problem/concern is basically:

Why would they choose a system of predefined paths where-in most people who will have access to this system would likely (if the stats in each one are similar to this one) use the exact same one instead of allowing us to select and upgrade specific bonuses in each individual slot? Why "Raw Stats + ATK" path and "Evasion/Accuracy" path, instead of each slot allowing for specific attributes (ATK/ACC/MATT/PDT/A raw stat, etc) and upgraded them in appropriate phases? Why not a system that would allow us to develop gear to suit the specifics of our primary job? (Say, allow Blue Mages to add, specifically, Blue Magic skill to their gear or pet jobs to get plus Pet stats -- I can't imagine the 3 path system allowing for that kind of customization, which is exactly what it should.)

Is anyone else concerned about this? I'm not overly worried, as it is still early and there's no telling what the paths will look like, but I can't help but notice my lips curling like someone farted in the cubicle next to mine.

[Luvbunny]

Those seems like random augments to me, so you get random stats that you need to re-augments over and over, and do the activities over and over. If you hate RNG then you will hate this just the same. Almost 80% of the population (or more) won't be able to touch Delve for a good 6 months or even more, until they make more adjustment and make it accessible for general public. Right now, its "a beta" content, but presented as a "privilege" for those willing to test it and make reports so they can "adjust" it. Go at it if you have a chance, or just ignore SoA completely and pretend it does not exist, at least until a year when enough updates and tweaks are made, and you have contents that are adjusted. Everything else outside SoA don't really change much and your current gears are still good for those.

[Zumi]

It seems to me like you know the old system where you get your Adaman Hauberk, get tatters trying to get that 6 store tp and 3 double attack on it. Only delve you have to kill some monsters to get the augment making you do it over and over again till you get the one.

[Hawklaser]

If look at the details regarding the different pieces above, something else to keep in mind is that A, B, and C are at different amounts of progress. The gear seems to level up, which is indicated by the rank portion, and in the examples given are at 6, 5, and 2 respectively. Would need to see what ends up at the farther parts of the upgrades, as it looks like these go up to Rank 7 at least.

[Kristal]

The return of the evolith system, but without the hidious "on the 7th day of the 6th moon while the sky is clouded and you are fighting lizards with a club and casting divine magic on red mage: Attack +2"

I wonder if that NextRP is something like itemXP but based on Reive Points instead?

[Horadrim]

The return of the evolith system, but without the hidious "on the 7th day of the 6th moon while the sky is clouded and you are fighting lizards with a club and casting divine magic on red mage: Attack +2"

I wonder if that NextRP is something like itemXP but based on Reive Points instead?

I believe its the new XP system, and yeah, probably based on Reive participation. I'd kind of prefer if they gave us slotted gear and made actual materia we can level up a-la Final Fantasy VII. Like each one has 10 levels and EXP/LP/RP (these new points) level it up as you have it equipped.

Then they could make it where you could equip/unequip them to/from gear at your leisure. If everything had 3 slots, and there were 100's of options, like chopping up Atma, suddenly they'd have a lot more content for us to working on leveling and building.

I just don't know that this system will be nearly that interesting.

Those seems like random augments to me, so you get random stats that you need to re-augments over and over, and do the activities over and over. If you hate RNG then you will hate this just the same. Almost 80% of the population (or more) won't be able to touch Delve for a good 6 months or even more, until they make more adjustment and make it accessible for general public. Right now, its "a beta" content, but presented as a "privilege" for those willing to test it and make reports so they can "adjust" it. Go at it if you have a chance, or just ignore SoA completely and pretend it does not exist, at least until a year when enough updates and tweaks are made, and you have contents that are adjusted. Everything else outside SoA don't really change much and your current gears are still good for those.

I was thinking that as well, but they make it sound like they have a couple of semi-rigid paths you go down, which kind of worries me because SE is historically incredibly bad at understanding that different jobs need different stats. (SMN, BST, and PUP, for example, need heavy Pet boost stands instead of personal stuff -- especially SMN -- and Geomancer would benefit from Pet +HP)

[Merton9999]

Like you said, the worth of the system won't be known until the possible mods are. But for multi-job equipment I like the concept of choosing augments (if that's what they allow you to do and they're not random). For job specific equipment, I would agree that there would probably be an obvious path and just an illusion of choice. But if I can use the mage armor for five mage jobs, I'd definitely see the intrigue in maxing it out for stats that fit my favorite among them, and ignoring the stats that might be good for that job I just come as because I occasionally have to.