Yoshi, your reply to Q22 in the XVIII Live Letter was false and dishonest.
Yoshi and team, your reply to the 22nd question of the XVIII Live Letter was not only false, but dishonest.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bayohne
Q22: Are there any plans to remove restrictions on the glamour system (unable to glamour gear that the job/class cannot equip)?
A22: Unfortunately, there’s a certain image that we would like to sustain for FINAL FANTASY XIV. We feel that it would confuse the new players if they see casters in heavy armor and tanks in mage gear.
However, if there’s any specific gear you would like to glamour, we will consider those requests individually so please request them through our official forums.
On an abstract or conceptual level, I can understand your intention and sentiment. You want tanks to look like tanks and mages to look like mages. I get that. However, the reality of the state of the game does not fall in line with the idea that you claim to uphold.
First, let's take the Cotton Cowl as our first example. It is a level 15 chest item, worn by "All Classes." It's stats are clearly intended for a mage, including both Intelligence and Mind. This piece can be worn by a tank, thereby making him look like a mage. However, on the flip side of the coin, we have the Bronze Cuirass, a level 15 chest item, worn by GLD/MRD/PLD/WAR. Yet, the mage isn't allowed to wear it.
So now we have two problems. The first being a direct contradiction to what you claim; a tank looking like a mage. The second being a blatant and unfair lack of balance when it comes to glamour options.
Second, let's take the Acolyte's Robe as our next example. This is a level 15 chest item dropped in the first three dungeons. It is able to be equipped by "Disciple of Magic." Which, on the surface, seems fair enough. However, the exact same model is found in the Cashemere Robe of Healing and the Direwolf Robe of Healing, both of which are only usable by CNJ/WHM/SCH. These are the only dyeable robes of that model in the game, to my knowledge.
This brings up a few more issues. You claim to want to keep certain looks within general roles, yet you lock out the BLM and SMN from wearing mage's robe; a look that is already theirs by right. These aren't class specific, such as the Artifact gear. These robes are the same as another robe we can wear, only the lower level one isn't dyeable.
Third, let's take a look at what you claim to want when placed next to the general glamour system as a whole. You said you wanted each role to maintain a certain aesthetic, or general identity to match their place in a party. Yet, anyone is able to show up to combat in a purely-glamour based item that doesn't depict combat readiness in the slightest.
So are you telling us that a paladin showing up to an end-game raid wearing nothing but a leopard speedo is what you had in mind for heavy armor-wearing tanks? Or did you feel that a nimble rogue showing up in a flowing stark white wedding dress was in line with what a stealthy class should be seen in? How is this any less "confusing to a new player" than a BLM or SMN showing up to combat in a black dyed Direwolf Robe of Healing?
While almost everyone appreciates the options to change their appearance without having to sacrifice statistical effectiveness, it is full of contradictions from your above statement, leaving us with only two logical assumptions for the current state: laziness or incompetence.
Please just do us, and you, a favor and simply lift the restrictions on the glamour system. It's not preventing what you claim to want to prevent, while simultaneously restricting that which you claim to want to preserve. Besides, Glamours are already meaningless from a statistical point of view, so please just let us appear as we wish.