Originally Posted by
Pixela
FFXI has lots of different pieces of gear, they have fast cast stats on gear and they have potency stats on gear (to use an example, there are many others). Due to limitations on the macro system, you can't equip fast cast at the start of a spell and swap to cure potency midcast to get the benefits of both. (the main issue is macro changes are capped to 1 second, which isn't fast enough)
In most cases you have to pick one or the other, you either cast slower and get stronger spells or the opposite. This makes 3rd party tools, almost required. It puts players who don't at a massive disadvantage. This mainly impacts mages but also tank jobs, melee jobs can get away with it and be far less impacted.
Since there is no way to fix the macro system without massive amounts of work the easiest fix is to make more synergy options, allow players to fuse fast cast pieces with potency pieces.
Not only will this allow players to get big boosts to their performance in a vanilla experience, but it also reduces issues with gear bloat.
I'm not talking about all gear being merged, I love being able to swap gear. However in certain cases it just doesn't work right now, fast cast and potency are a prime example.
Alternatively add new pieces of gear for ear / neck that give both fast cast and potency on one item.