As is, merit points accumulate much more than we can utilize them. After a few hours of working on a friend's empyrean weapon, I re-maxed out all my merit categories, and I'm back at 20/20 9999/10000 - without anything to spend them on. I think it's time to look at additional uses for this system.

New uses for merit points outside the merit point system

- Addition of the ability to expend one merit point for one level of skill increase in any uncapped magic or combat skill.

New merit point categories

Due to the nature of these, I think the merit point cost of these should be fairly high.

Auto-Regen: Gradually restores HP. One HP/tick per upgrade, maximum of five upgrades. Cost: 5, 10, 15, 20, 20

Auto-Refresh: Graudally restores MP. One MP/tick per upgrade, maximum of five upgrades. Cost: 5, 10, 15, 20, 20

Critical Hit Bonus: Increases critical damage by 1%. Maximum of five upgrades. Cost: 5, 10, 15, 20, 20

Quickening: Increases chance of "Quick Magic" by 1%. Maximum of five upgrades. Cost: 20, 20, 20, 20, 20

Damage Boost: Increases chance of doing double damage by 1%. Maximum of five upgrades. Cost: 20, 20, 20, 20, 20

Nul-Blaze: Fire resistance +5, 1% chance to nullify damage. Maximum of five upgrades. Cost: 20, 20, 20, 20, 20 (repeat for the other elements)

Physical Shield: Physical damage taken -1%. Maximum of five upgrades. Cost: 20, 20, 20, 20, 20

Mana Shield: Magical damage taken -1%. Maximum of five upgrades. Cost: 20, 20, 20, 20, 20

And more merit categories that might be interesting...

- Increased meal duration.
- Save TP
- Increased Cure Potency received
- Receive extra benefit from enhancing magic

Food for thought.