Not that it invalidates your opinion/point, but OP wants to copy XI
I don't think that the OP wants a copy of XI exactly, but I'm sure FF fans miss the time when holding an Excalibur mean something and not just a sword that is sharper than the sword that was used earlier. I'm sure as an FF fan, you miss the time when you were able to use a Flame Sword to cast fire spells or the likes. BTW isn't the design for the current looks kind of dull? All the gear looks like one another w/ the exception of color. Kind of reminding me of when I used to play Destiny...
Yeah guys, let's be forced to gather 1000 different gear sets with different resist types just to be viable on certain encounters. No thanks.
They could add gemming though, to all pieces, so you can have a bit more freedom. I personally think gearing in this game is a bit too linear and there's no room for customization. But the stats as they are now are fine.
WoW back in WoTLK was pretty awsome in that regard.
Think mostly people want some horizontal progression, but every time it brought up usually the people who oppose it take it to the extremes of total horizontal progression when it actually I think
<Pure Horizontal>---------------------------------<Hi I'm Here who with me>------------------------------------------<vertical progression>
I keep hearing about people carrying hella sets of gears. Isn't it suppose to be about performing good at your main job and everything else is just about helping your friends, your FC, and/or your static to fill in the spot where you might be of help? I mean, if you're carrying it to glamour, then you can always take it out of your retainers. You can also take it out of your retainers as you need even for party, all that is needed to be done is to tell you lead to hold on a sec. I'm sure they can wait. Unless you're a crafter/gatherer, in which case then your retainers are full, might want to consider taking some time to clear off what is not needed.
At current; the stats on the armor is dull and the design, on pictures it may looks good (due to angels and posses), but in game, it is dull. We're playing a fantasy game, while monster can enfeeble and spike, we can do neither. It's a fantasy game and not a medieval game with only sticks and steels.
Hunts mark 2 in a dungeon.
You sure about that? Open world dungeon with unique loot, boss pops, half the server rushes to try and kill it, those who don't get there do the screaming Drama Llama dance in /shout. Those who tags it bags it? Then you get the FFXI screaming Drama Llama shuffle instead.
If they drop the equivalant of the best gear, half the server will be trying to kill it. If it doesn't dropthe best gear it will go pretty much ignored.
So your solution?