AF4

[SpankWustler]

I'm curious if the sets would be as focused piece-by-piece as the Empyrean sets, or a shotgun blast of random base stats along with enhancing a seemingly randomly chosen ability per piece in the post-modern style of Rune Fencer and Geomancer AF.

Stuff like the complete absence of Magic Attack Bonus, Magic Damage, etc. on the the piece of Geomancer AF that enhances "Cardinal Chant" gives me a case of the costernations. A real bad case. Similarly, I'm sure Rune Fencers often take advantage of Enhancing Magic skill while using Gambit or hitting things with things. It's not like things could have been moved around to put the +skill bonuses on a piece with tons of Haste and Fast Cast on it.

Contrast this with most Empyrean pieces, on which almost every generic and Job-specific bonus worked together. For example, the Estoqueur's Gantherots +2 that enhance Saboteur have generic bonuses dedicated to enfeebling magic accuracy or potency. The Ferine Quijotes +2 that enhance Stout Servant have ideal TP set stats for their time, thusly it wouldn't hurt a Beastmaster to well nigh full-time them for the benefit of his or her pet.

That isn't to say that the new sets are bad; they're great. I just can't help but imagine how much better Job-Specific armor of this level could be if more than one or two pieces per set actually seemed to have some sort of direction or purpose.