Stats Revamp: Auto-Attack

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Originally Posted by Molly_Millions

It's not that it's unfair, it's that is turns gearing your character into a paint-by-numbers game. I'd rather see some variety that comes with a certain amount of guess work. We'd get that variety if base stats were balanced more closely with derived stats.

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While I don't agree with a paint-by-numbers approach, and as I have been saying in this thread already I think such a stat-revamping is somewhat unnecessary (or at least any changes should be to other areas, like the way dLVL effects damage and defense [particularly defense]), this issue already exists and will continue to exist as long as FFXIV disparages incomparables. As long as it is possible to say "Everyone should get this gear because X stat is better than Y stat for Z reason" paint-by-numbers will exist in a meaningful fashion.

It is a well known fact that security through obscurity does not work (hiding your password in 3,000 files does not make your password any more secure). The same principle applies here, formulas should be complex because they add something to the game, not just because they make it "harder" to tell which stat is better.

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Originally Posted by Hulan

It is a well known fact that security through obscurity does not work (hiding your password in 3,000 files does not make your password any more secure). The same principle applies here, formulas should be complex because they add something to the game, not just because they make it "harder" to tell which stat is better.

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While that certainly is true, consider this; showing your password to the world means that everyone knows your password immediately. IMO the emphasis in any stat changes should be placed on balance, thus requiring a larger amount of guess work, the effect of which will be more variety. In other words, there shouldn't be such an obvious choice when choosing gear. If I used attack power over STR, I should be able to achieve very similar DMG output to somebody who favors STR. That is not currently the case unless I really heavily stack attack power.

Perhaps, though I would argue that we should strive towards true balance (or as near to it as is reasonable given the mechanics) rather than simple perceived balance brought on by guesswork. That doesn't bring balance, that just brings on people who guess right, and have technically better gear, and those who guess wrong, and have technically worse gear.

I would bring up perfect imbalance but it seems that these videos are rather unpopular around here (personally I find them fascinating, even the ones I don't fully agree with).

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Originally Posted by Hulan

Perhaps, though I would argue that we should strive towards true balance (or as near to it as is reasonable given the mechanics) rather than simple perceived balance brought on by guesswork. That doesn't bring balance, that just brings on people who guess right, and have technically better gear, and those who guess wrong, and have technically worse gear.

I would bring up perfect imbalance but it seems that these videos are rather unpopular around here (personally I find them fascinating, even the ones I don't fully agree with).

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Ah, I see, we aren't completely understanding each other. I actually am arguing for both; greater balance, and keeping obscurity in addition to greater balance.

Agreed, then. I personally actually quite like the complexity myself, though I think it goes a little overboard a times (it should be complex to add nuance to the game, not just simple complexity). As it stands, you can easily tell a player who truly understands the game simply by talking to them. Not that "truly understanding" the game is required to have fun playing it, but the added layer of theorycraft is quite refreshing for me. Though many disagree.

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Originally Posted by Hulan

Agreed, then. I personally actually quite like the complexity myself, though I think it goes a little overboard a times (it should be complex to add nuance to the game, not just simple complexity). As it stands, you can easily tell a player who truly understands the game simply by talking to them. Not that "truly understanding" the game is required to have fun playing it, but the added layer of theorycraft is quite refreshing for me. Though many disagree.

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I like theorycrafting on a more founded basis :P. I want to know where the cap is, I want to know how many points intelligence is worth.

There is still theorycrafting beyond that (lots and lots). But to be able to know what something does I should be able to ask the game, not consult / or make a 20 page research document. (What does armor do / why is VIT better or worse in some cases "add confusion here on stats")