Dear weapon designers, books are the most boring weapon

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Originally Posted by Raikai

That is also a good point, given the inside of a book is very visible from the player's perspective.

In my memory the most different might some of the Far Eastern ones with Doman writing, but other than that, they don't really go very far in that aspect.

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I distinctly remember one book has a different content. But I can't remember which one it was.
The usual one is the geometry pictures.

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Originally Posted by hagare

I distinctly remember one book has a different content. But I can't remember which one it was.
The usual one is the geometry pictures.

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Some Stormblood books have Hingan brush strokes on them. I think there's a PvP one with such an effect.

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Originally Posted by Midareyukki

Some Stormblood books have Hingan brush strokes on them. I think there's a PvP one with such an effect.

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I see. Interesting.
Book designs CAN be varied. But they don't seem to be too interested in venturing too much outside of the standard box form.

here are some of it
https://i.imgur.com/DXJubMM.jpeghttps://i.imgur.com/BR6bcHW.jpeg

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Originally Posted by hagare

I see. Interesting.
Book designs CAN be varied. But they don't seem to be too interested in venturing too much outside of the standard box form.

here are some of it
https://i.imgur.com/DXJubMM.jpeghttps://i.imgur.com/BR6bcHW.jpeg

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That book shape on the left is beautiful. Again, departing from a square shape puts a lot character into the design, and we have very few books that go beyond that.

Another interesting concept would be investing into really robust spell effects instead of the book itself. Think like a plain book, but when opened an ethereal Egi would pop from the pages? Or the book's diagrams are actually a rift and an Arhiman voidsent pops from there and keeps flying above the opened book? Due to the casting animations, probably this one would necessitate the creation of a new book type model, to allow an attached element (like RDM's focus that is animated separately)... Well, Monks got THREE distinct weapon templates (as seen in the contest itself), I don't see why other jobs can't have that as well.

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Originally Posted by Raikai

That book shape on the left is beautiful. Again, departing from a square shape puts a lot character into the design, and we have very few books that go beyond that.

Another interesting concept would be investing into really robust spell effects instead of the book itself. Think like a plain book, but when opened an ethereal Egi would pop from the pages? Or the book's diagrams are actually a rift and an Arhiman voidsent pops from there and keeps flying above the opened book? Due to the casting animations, probably this one would necessitate the creation of a new book type model, to allow an attached element (like RDM's focus that is animated separately)... Well, Monks got THREE distinct weapon templates (as seen in the contest itself), I don't see why other jobs can't have that as well.

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The square start should be a guide, not a necessity.
I say if it has a spine and a place to hold it with fingers, it can work as a book.

And yes, your idea would work as well.
The only problem would be how it works with all the animations in regards to how the weapon is held.

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Originally Posted by hagare

The square start should be a guide, not a necessity.
I say if it has a spine and a place to hold it with fingers, it can work as a book.

And yes, your idea would work as well.
The only problem would be how it works with all the animations in regards to how the weapon is held.

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Yeah, because the hovering entity would look really bad being attached to the axis of the book, being moved alongside its animations, that's why to execute this they would need to create a Type-B weapon model.

FFXIV places too much emphasis on weapons. The fact a Warrior cannot wield a sword, despite doing it in other FF titles is insane......

Just make it like Champions Online, your weapon is an accessory to your powers. Powers dictate your role. You can wield guns as a healer, fist as a tank, or staves as a dd/dps.

(I feel like I already typed this and my power went out or something.......)

Hah, sorting my old files, I found the rough sketch from the book idea I had planned for the contest before realizing I couldn't participate:

https://i.imgur.com/bggDP92.png
- Small box made of ornate wood, cushioned inside. Opens sort-of like a book
- From inside, big crystal pops out, floating with some small ones
- Idea for dyes is to let the wood remain with its original color and the crystal is the thing you can dye, alongside with the cushioned lining of the box.

I only wish SCH and SMN had unique weapons. Sure one of them can keep all the books (grimoires/codexes), but give another something completely different. Maybe Scrolls (akin to elder scrolls, or far east types), you still read and write on them like books, or even something crazy like a Magic Quill. The quill would write things in the air using aether, so it wouldn't need a solid object to write on, but it would be neat.

I'm pretty sure we're stuck with books as they are. Any change in weapon means going back and changing way too many items, along with all the related animations.

The main problem would be the character animations. I doubt they would remove books completely (that would upset a lot of players) so whatever new object was selected would have to work with the same animations. The secondary problem would be the immersion factor not so much from "it's not a book!" but rather than SMN/SCH cast their spells by tracing arcane geometries using aetherically charged ink.

A scroll could fit in both scenarios. Where a book opens/shuts would be the scroll unrolling/rolling. Easy enough to trace the geometries onto a scroll as much as a book.

An Ironworks created "computer tablet" would probably also work since aetheric manipulation is part of their designs yet I can't see how it would look significantly different from a book.

Someone had mentioned floating crystals - would those briefly form into a floating geometry then reset into a "rest" state within a box? That could work since the additional animation would be with the weapon as opposed to the character and crystal are of course aetherically charged.

Staff wouldn't work because of the character animations.

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Originally Posted by MonsutaMan

FFXIV places too much emphasis on weapons. The fact a Warrior cannot wield a sword, despite doing it in other FF titles is insane......

Just make it like Champions Online, your weapon is an accessory to your powers. Powers dictate your role. You can wield guns as a healer, fist as a tank, or staves as a dd/dps.

(I feel like I already typed this and my power went out or something.......)

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Weapon is the class/job identity in this game. They're not going to completely remake the system at this point.

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Originally Posted by Jojoya

The main problem would be the character animations. I doubt they would remove books completely (that would upset a lot of players) so whatever new object was selected would have to work with the same animations. The secondary problem would be the immersion factor not so much from "it's not a book!" but rather than SMN/SCH cast their spells by tracing arcane geometries using aetherically charged ink.

A scroll could fit in both scenarios. Where a book opens/shuts would be the scroll unrolling/rolling. Easy enough to trace the geometries onto a scroll as much as a book.

An Ironworks created "computer tablet" would probably also work since aetheric manipulation is part of their designs yet I can't see how it would look significantly different from a book.

Someone had mentioned floating crystals - would those briefly form into a floating geometry then reset into a "rest" state within a box? That could work since the additional animation would be with the weapon as opposed to the character and crystal are of course aetherically charged.

Staff wouldn't work because of the character animations.


Weapon is the class/job identity in this game. They're not going to completely remake the system at this point.

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Yeah, a complete change of weapon is VERY unlikely to happen because a lot of things would need to be overhauled.

But I mean, if Sages and Monks get to have 3 different templates for their weapons, I don't see why books can't have additional variations as well.

Wishful thinking but I'd love a SMN weapon that is like just a small case with ink and brush (far eastern themed) and the "book" actually has rolled up sleeves into the glove model for painted sigils on your arms.

My only issue with books is how huge they are. 98% of them clip with my arm/glam. I just want something tiny like some of the low lvl books. Or a Hingan scroll that rolls out in combat.

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Originally Posted by Erinellza

My only issue with books is how huge they are. 98% of them clip with my arm/glam. I just want something tiny like some of the low lvl books. Or a Hingan scroll that rolls out in combat.

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There's always gonna be something going on. This is why we get the option to hide when sheathed.

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Originally Posted by Deveryn

There's always gonna be something going on. This is why we get the option to hide when sheathed.

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Sometimes people really want to see the weapon sheathed, and different sizes help with sorting out the ones that won't clip through your things.

Sorry, but I don't think the books are boring. In fact, I kinda like them when you active auto-attack and finish a creature with the "weight of the knowledge" on their very faces xD

This is an exclusive thing, you see?

I really enjoy that! :D

Kupo, it reminds me toons in various universes where the guy cuts with playing cards lol... it just works and we are not supposed to question why kupo <3 rofl jk

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Originally Posted by Raikai

This would be actually really distinct visually looking! The moogle book has a papercut moogle and looks great. I could see the idea kind of amplified for this concept. I could see that cutout theme being executed with a Wondrous Tails themed book.

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Khloe's Storybook is one of the winners of the weapons design contest. It might not have any pop-up pages though.

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Originally Posted by Jojoya

An Ironworks created "computer tablet" would probably also work since aetheric manipulation is part of their designs yet I can't see how it would look significantly different from a book.

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Which is why I really like the Portable Summoning Terminal finalist from the weapons design contest!

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Originally Posted by Raikai

I wonder if I'm the only one thinking like this... I love Summoners and Scholars, but it's a bit hard to stand the weapon they wield sometimes. It would be great if we could we get at least one book that looks like something else for them.

We have examples with nearly every other job of weapons that don't look like their designated type, like Monks with kettles, Black Mages with a big brush, Dragoons with a pole staff, White Mages with a scythe, Gunbreakers with a club... As long as it follows the basic shape of the job's arms.

Books, however, are probably the most boring weapon of them all, because they rarely go outside of the box. The ones that may look a bit unorthodox like the level 87 dungeon book, still look like books with pages in the end of the day.

I feel that it can be still possible to abide to the shape with different formats, like a book with a holographic display instead of paper (why the Scaevan ones aren't like this?), or a tablet with a bunch of floating crystals, given in XIV crystals can also be a repository of knowledge. I don't even think not having pages would be such a huge issue animation wise as the weapon itself is still static (as in, no actual pages flipping over).

Also a disclaimer, I'm not advocating for a complete change in the weapon design, but at least one or two cases of something different for once.

edit: I do have many ideas for books, and I am aware of the weapon contest and the fact that I could propose an idea with a submission. However, I live in a country that (after extensively reading the rules) I found out it is not eligible to participate.

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Interesting take considering a book in a real life can stop fatal/critical entry of a pointed blade, sharp edge, and even stop a high caliber bullet in its tracks, while the spine of a book can quite literally smash a skull, and incave a person's face. Remember, this example is a RL book. Fantasy books do all of that and can also weave enchantments, spells, and summon beings of untold strength to assist the caster.

What do you want a SCH/SMN to have? Books are friggin awesome as weapons.

I like the HW summoner book :)

I also like the tiny butterflies on the ShB second or third step book for scholar.

But the problem is that this is mostly all of the books I like and use for a while now :D

I liked the new design brought with the level 70 books, that open and there is a little spinning disk. But there is no shiney version :(

Books could have different shapes (like circle shaped book or heart shaped book, or god forbid butterfly shaped book for scholar) and there could be pop out books that could be made as well...

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Originally Posted by Gemina

Interesting take considering a book in a real life can stop fatal/critical entry of a pointed blade, sharp edge, and even stop a high caliber bullet in its tracks, while the spine of a book can quite literally smash a skull, and incave a person's face. Remember, this example is a RL book. Fantasy books do all of that and can also weave enchantments, spells, and summon beings of untold strength to assist the caster.

What do you want a SCH/SMN to have? Books are friggin awesome as weapons.

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I'm not saying or vouching for the extinction of books... but at least one a couple of rare cases of something outside of the box, given everyone else got it.

There's also an extensive list of alternative books styles (written by both myself and others across posts) that could be implemented. Or following your logic - as in tomes to weave enchantments - I wouldn't mind bland designs if they invested more into special effects specific for Summoners, which that case we have only a couple, like the book that pops out bahamut wings. Could it be an arcane diagram, a hologram egi (case for the allagan ones).

Dark Hold and Book of Vishanti says otherwise.

The reason I changed from sch to sge was basically the weapon. Been tired of using the same old books. They could add some flavor to it by simply adding more SFX. Why can't we hold the book floating with magic, or have the runes, letters, geometric shapes come out of the book when we use it. I love the Bahamut summon animation because it looks like we are actually using the book.

Dunno what's worse, books or the dancer weapons.

For dancer they can go with pretty much any throwing weapon there is, but so far it's ring, ring, ring and more rings.

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Originally Posted by Sighearth

The reason I changed from sch to sge was basically the weapon. Been tired of using the same old books. They could add some flavor to it by simply adding more SFX. Why can't we hold the book floating with magic, or have the runes, letters, geometric shapes come out of the book when we use it. I love the Bahamut summon animation because it looks like we are actually using the book.

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That actually does happen, in a fashion, with Tsukuyomi's Moonlit Grimoire:
(Not my pic - credit & thanks to Lilium Wolcott of Eorzea Collections)
https://glamours.eorzeacollection.co...1607451017.png


A cresent moon floats just above the pages.