Itemization in this Game is One-Dimensional

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Originally Posted by Galliano

And there is also the issue of power creep that a system like current one can cause. here's a great video on power creep by the extra credits team.

http://youtu.be/Bxszx60ZwGw

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I liked that short movie. It really does address my issue with itemization. It's just a numerical progression, while I would like to see those effects they called "incomparables". Those were the effects I was saying can make that I-score fuzzy, depending on the situation.

Thanks! It not only explained some of my issue, but also validated some of my suggestions for helping.

Vanity should solve most of the issues. It allows you to wear and use whatever you want to. As others have said, it's not like you ever have much choice anyway. You're always forced to choose whatever is deemed to be the "best" regardless.

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Originally Posted by Versiroth

Vanity should solve most of the issues. It allows you to wear and use whatever you want to. As others have said, it's not like you ever have much choice anyway. You're always forced to choose whatever is deemed to be the "best" regardless.

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The "best" is clear in a numerical progression system. It is not as clear in a system that uses varied effects in addition to stats.

For example - In EQ (Luclin), I traded a decent stat neck for a neck with negative hps, but it had some stats and flowing thought (mp regen)... I made a choice to give up some stats to increase my longevity as a healer. I couldn't compare stats 1:1.. it was a style issue. I might give up stats on something to get mana preservation... or enhanced healing... or improved range.

When you only have numerical values, things are black and white. When you have more, things become gray and interesting.

The problem is that for a system like that to work, developers have to create many varied items.... and it's easier to just go the lazy route and use the numerical progression, make "sets" and call it a day.

Heck even in Planes of Power, there were the ornamental "sets" and the elemental "sets" (First and Second more powerful set)... but those weren't the "best"... they were just good sets for raiding tiers... the tiers dropped lots of items...different items in the same tier that were different with different effects. You had choices.

(I kept my epic through Velious and Luclin to PoP... and My prayer shawl through Luclin to PoP....)

Didn't they say they would possibly branch out with new stats and such after they were satisfied with the balance of the classes? Let's hope so. Adding passive abilities and other things would also make crafting more relevant (assuming they let us craft decent gear).

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Originally Posted by ApolloGenX

I liked that short movie. It really does address my issue with itemization. It's just a numerical progression, while I would like to see those effects they called "incomparables". Those were the effects I was saying can make that I-score fuzzy, depending on the situation.

Thanks! It not only explained some of my issue, but also validated some of my suggestions for helping.

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No problem. You should check out some of their other videos, they have quite a few on the issues we face in MMO gaming.

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Originally Posted by Galliano

No problem. You should check out some of their other videos, they have quite a few on the issues we face in MMO gaming.

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I liked the one about "Skinner Box" design. It seems like something that if you are newer to a game, you either don't see or don't mind as much... but the longer you play games, the less tolerant you get toward that design. At least I have. It seems like FFXIV had the great storyline going, and once you beat that, you get to the cheap Skinner Box design end game.

I miss the bonus attributes for job abilities we had on the original JSE armor from 1.0.

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Originally Posted by ApolloGenX

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Yeah that's a really good video as well and the skinner box theory can definitely be applied to ARR.

Here's some of the others I really like.

When Difficult Is Fun

http://youtu.be/ea6UuRTjkKs

Toxicity

http://youtu.be/n9A8VJBh_Yc

The J.C. Penny's Effect

http://youtu.be/QxfkWZPAUg4

Harassment

http://youtu.be/Dt9GwmOWoqo

Not a Babysitter

http://youtu.be/wmKj_wnhN9g

Depth vs Complexity

http://youtu.be/jVL4st0blGU

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Originally Posted by ApolloGenX

One of the main problems I have with the game so far is that everything and everyone is so "cookie-cutter"

Since all gear is basically just a "stat-stick" for a certain slot, there is very little variety, and a very strict upgrade path.

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I agree. This game's character development is shallow and not very interesting. It seems to rely heavily on booby traps on the ground instead of complex character options to make combat challenging. I think they do this to try and appeal to a broader audience, rather their core RPG audience who actually enjoy that kind of stuff.

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Originally Posted by PallasLloyd

XIV is 3 years old. Gear and stats used to have much more variety and room for customization and they made the explicit design decision to dumb and simplify it all down. It's not something that will just get better in time. They remade the entire game and that was something they REMOVED on purpose.

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Are you forgetting that a majority of that time was spent remaking XIV practically from the ground up? It's not like they were sitting around just working on content.