[dev1210] Why Not Merit Weaponskills ??

[Afania]

Yes, I feel quite special when I can't max out that new job I fell in love without nerfing that other one I also love. When I can't bring something to the table I get nothing but praise and appreciation from those around me. It's like that time before I had all my BLM spells, and everyone was just so impressed that I was lacking spells that other BLMs had.

If you have other suggestion about how to improve the role playing experience in FFXI, feel free to let the dev know.

Until then the merit point system or something similar is the best this game can get.

You could say that about everything really, but many of those other things have no limits. So why is it a good thing here but not everywhere? Why am I allowed to obtain and upgrade all the JSE sets for example? Why, if I had the resources, am I allowed to make all the RMEs? Why am I allowed to learn all the spells on my BLM? Why can a BST call any jug pet? Why can your PUP call all the automatons? Wouldn't you rather have specialization and only be able to call one or two auto types? That way yours and someone else's are potentially different.

Now you're starting to give bad examples lol.

First of all my character stands out from others quite a bit because I have no interest in leveling or gearing every job, and my choices are rather eclectic. I'm also an Elvaan female and the only one who runs with my groups these days. Most of all, my play style and personality set me apart from others, for better or worse. I don't need an arbitrary limit to make me unique. I don't feel diminished when other people have the same stuff as me or can do the same things. Conversely I don't feel good when I can't do something they can.

I don't believe your "play style" can set you apart, this game doesn't allow players to develop their own play style. This isn't FTG or RTS, this is a RPG and the right way for a RPG game to develop play style is through stat limitation and skill selection.

Also, your personality doesn't set you apart either, because it doesn't affect the game play. When I'm talking about "being unique" it's from gameplay's POV.

Don't tell me that. Tell the exclusionary party leaders who demand perfection and completeness even where it isn't required.

If the limitation of the number of merit WS is affecting the job performance that much, then the right solution is to buff the 2nd best WS choice, not removing the RPG element.

Bow RNG with 1/5 apex is just fine cuz they can use JR, MNK with 1/5 merit is just fine because they can use VS. I've never seen a pt lead complain about VS MNK and JR RNG. The merit WS is situational.

But it does! Just because it works for you doesn't mean others aren't suffering ill effects from the limitations. If you don't have all your ducks in a row on a job but 3 other people do then who's going to get chosen? It won't be you unless you have an in with the group leader. The "system" may not limit you, but perception is reality and the prevailing perception is that if you don't have it you are weak compared to someone who does. And that job you decided to focus all your merits in at the expense of all others because you love it so much? Chances are high that it's a job that's considered useless compared to the 5 or 6 that are favored.

This is what makes RPG RPG. When you click "+" on STR and DEX your WIS and INT is forever gimped and vice versa. You simply shouldn't be allowed to be the best at everything because thats how RPG goes for past 30 years. RPG is supposed to be life simulator focus on stats and number. Irl most ppl can't get everything. Someone spent their entire life getting stronger gets higher STR but lower INT WIS, someone spent their entire life studying gets higher INT WIS but lower STR. Because you only have 24 hr a day and you can't get everything, you can only pick one area and focus.

In game you can't really simulate the result of your choice since the time flow is faster, if you don't set limitation everyone can just get everything and they no longer need to make choices. So the only way that can force the player to make choices about life is through + and - on stats. Or else there are no decision to be made and everyone just cap everything.

If you want equal footing with other players, play RTS or FTG. But please don't kill my RPG experience. I want "+" and "-" on stats in this game like in other games.

B.

But like I said, I know my view is unpopular, because the general thinking of everyone is "why have less when you can have more? Give us everything, there's no reason for us to not have everything!" rather than "I want to focus on being the best summoner and blue mage I can be, so I'm going to spec my merits for those jobs. I've got a geared pld too, so I can use that if necessary, but I'd perfer to play my favored jobs."

Nah, I support your opinion and that makes it two of us

Specialization is still the antithesis of the job system. They should remove category caps.

No specialization is the antithesis of MMORPG. Job system is just a system, MMORPG is the genre of this game, the fundamental of a game. If the system contradicts the fundamental, fundamental takes the priority.