Stormblood and the off-hand equipment slot

Has there been any information released about what (if anything) they intend to do with this slot for all the other jobs? Maybe return the option for one-handed main hand with off-hand for casters? Combine sword and shield and just remove the slot?

...why should they do anything with it? ALL crafters and 2/3 gatherers are using the off hand slot... Its a lot more than just sword and shield for paladin.
It is however pretty obvious that the other battle classes wont be using the offhand anytime soon (they havent added one weapon and shield for casters with HW and even changed some of the old one-hand-weapons - coil, ifrit, mog, titan... - into two hand versions) - but since every crafter is using it, I really dont see any need to change it? Why is that empty slot a problem for your whm, bard or warrior?

In Final Fantasy XI, there were items such as: Grips, Ammo and other items. Maybe FFXIV's "off-hand" is something similar?

OH for machinist should be a second gun :D LOL

There's the possibility of combining Paladin weapons into one just for the purposes of more suitable itemization while still maintaining the current tool setup for all DoH and the two DoL classes that implement this system. Given that Paladin has been constantly stated to be getting a major overhaul, this would probably just be one more thing on the list.

I haven't seen much of the endgame/HW content, but wouldn't that mean removing the player's choice between block strength/rate? Simplified, sure, but removing some of the variety we get (and we don't often get very much of that).

I'd really like them to bring back the Chakram in the off-hand slot we had in 1.0 for Monk, it was nice being able to pull something at range. It certainly didn't do much damage but it got the job done. Then again they could just add that as an ability.

The problem with adding to the off-hand slot is that it becomes a requirement and another item slot you need to keep up to date and further inventory woes, like a Paladin with their shield. There is no real need to split them up when they can just consolidate the stats into a single weapon you need to obtain.

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Originally Posted by Kazrah

There's the possibility of combining Paladin weapons into one just for the purposes of more suitable itemization while still maintaining the current tool setup for all DoH and the two DoL classes that implement this system. Given that Paladin has been constantly stated to be getting a major overhaul, this would probably just be one more thing on the list.

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There is one reason, and one reason alone why this won't happen, Glamour. It is a massively backwards step to combine the sword and shield and force people into combination pairs that they maybe don't like. I have glamoured shields that I don't like to be paired with swords that I do, and that system works. Their solution to the problem was to have swords and shields always drop at the same time in loot tables, and that is IMO all that needs to be done.

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Originally Posted by Lambdafish

There is one reason, and one reason alone why this won't happen, Glamour. It is a massively backwards step to combine the sword and shield and force people into combination pairs that they maybe don't like. I have glamoured shields that I don't like to be paired with swords that I do, and that system works. Their solution to the problem was to have swords and shields always drop at the same time in loot tables, and that is IMO all that needs to be done.

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OR like the ARR caster 1-handed weapons, they could just transition out of them, offering it as one item rather than as individual items. I'm sure they could find some means of setting up a glamour system for it that would work the same as it does now.

I like to mix and match pally tools too, but I know that like caster 1-handers, the idea that they should stay separate items when the dozens of Paladin players mostly use weapons of the same set is logically pointless and mechanically outdated.

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Originally Posted by Vidu

...why should they do anything with it? ALL crafters and 2/3 gatherers are using the off hand slot... Its a lot more than just sword and shield for paladin.
It is however pretty obvious that the other battle classes wont be using the offhand anytime soon (they havent added one weapon and shield for casters with HW and even changed some of the old one-hand-weapons - coil, ifrit, mog, titan... - into two hand versions) - but since every crafter is using it, I really dont see any need to change it? Why is that empty slot a problem for your whm, bard or warrior?

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Because why not? As a Black Mage I think it would be bad ass to be able to have some type of totem in that hand or something (Like in Diablo III). I wouldn't say I view it as a "problem" as you put it but more so of a way to add another element.

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Originally Posted by rxnin

OH for machinist should be a second gun :D LOL

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You want to make a John Woo styled machinama don't you? :)

Grips and ammo would be a great addition if they don't decide to give us real weapons/shields.

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Originally Posted by Jim_Berry

In Final Fantasy XI, there were items such as: Grips, Ammo and other items. Maybe FFXIV's "off-hand" is something similar?

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If they ever add anything to the slot, this is my expectation. Honestly I'm ok with DoW/M except for PLD using it now as It seems fair PLD gets more then the default material slots as PLD is in such a bad way that it feels ok that it is an advantage for them alone.

That said if they boost PLD like they are planning it will quickly become very unfair. "All the tanks are now equal in strength.... oh snap PLD gets an extra 24 DET/CRIT on their shield? PLDs only for this raid boyz!"

I think it's time SE adds off-hand items to even this out.

Ideas
DRK/WAR/DRG - Grips
BLM/RDM/WHM/AST - Charms
SCH/SMN - Quills
NIN/MNK/SAM - Beads

Would be fun.

The shields for pld dont have meld slots. And the stats on the shield are taken from the sword.

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Originally Posted by Valkyrie_Lenneth

The shields for pld dont have meld slots. And the stats on the shield are taken from the sword.

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You sure? I could have sworn some shields have them. I could be wrong of course. I just get the tome shields and things for PLD as I main DRK these days. I know the tome shields don't but I remember seeing slots on crafted shields.... I think I do anyway.

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Originally Posted by ErikMynhier

You sure? I could have sworn some shields have them. I could be wrong of course. I just get the tome shields and things for PLD as I main DRK these days. I know the tome shields don't but I remember seeing slots on crafted shields.... I think I do anyway.

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A good amount of shields have meld slots, but the 250 player made and shire shields don't have meld slots.

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Originally Posted by ErikMynhier

You sure? I could have sworn some shields have them. I could be wrong of course. I just get the tome shields and things for PLD as I main DRK these days. I know the tome shields don't but I remember seeing slots on crafted shields.... I think I do anyway.

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They havent had slots since like 240? and those only had 1 on the sword and 1 on the shield, so it was still 2 slots combined. they just moved both slots to the sword with the 250+ gear.

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Originally Posted by Hasrat

I haven't seen much of the endgame/HW content, but wouldn't that mean removing the player's choice between block strength/rate? Simplified, sure, but removing some of the variety we get (and we don't often get very much of that).

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Block strength/rate have been identical to each other on any given shield for good long while. Couldn't tell you offhand what ilvl it started, but either way there'd be no problem just making a new stat for the PLD main-hand called "Block" or some such and just converting the existing stats to it.

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Originally Posted by Lambdafish

There is one reason, and one reason alone why this won't happen, Glamour. It is a massively backwards step to combine the sword and shield and force people into combination pairs that they maybe don't like. I have glamoured shields that I don't like to be paired with swords that I do, and that system works. Their solution to the problem was to have swords and shields always drop at the same time in loot tables, and that is IMO all that needs to be done.

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You glamour concern would be easily fixed with the glamour log the community has been collectively asking for since forever, just saying.

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Originally Posted by kattzkitti

You glamour concern would be easily fixed with the glamour log the community has been collectively asking for since forever, just saying.

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But it doesnt has to be fixed in the first place since there is no reason to create that problem at all - almost half of the classes that are in the game is using the offhand slot. Why would it need to be removed?
There are certainly intresting ideas about things that could be done with the offhand-slot (thinking about two different knifes for ninjas for example or some of the suggestions that have already been made in this thread) and until they do that (or not do that) whats the problem with an empty offhand?
Specially for casters I see no point in having onehand+shield. Shields are used to block and with the way the game is set up, there shouldnt be the need for a caster to block an attack...

I don't really understand why you would want it removed. Does an empty slot bother you that much? As Vidu said, all of the crafting classes and 2/3 of the gathering classes have an offhand. You say the glamour log would fix the issue of the shield going away, but glamours apply to the item, and if the item goes, then how do you glamour it?

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Originally Posted by Vidu

Why would it need to be removed?

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Originally Posted by Valkyrie_Lenneth

I don't really understand why you would want it removed.

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Where am I asking for it to be removed? Rhetorical question, as I'm not asking for removal, as can be easily seen in the OP.

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Originally Posted by kattzkitti

Where am I asking for it to be removed? Rhetorical question, as I'm not asking for removal, as can be easily seen in the OP.

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The last question you're raising in your OP is to combine shield and sword and remove the slot - completly ignoring that there are classes beside paladin that are making use of an offhandtool.
Afaik they havent announced anything official in regard to the offhandslot - but why would they? Looking at the game atm its unlikely that any battle-class beside paladin will be using the offhand (no onehand-weapons for casters added; old onehands made exchangeable for twohands - I kinda remember them even saying that they wont do onehanded weapons for casters again) - but that doesnt mean that the offhandslot is useless, seeing how almost all non-combat classes are using it.

You are not a crafter it seems, so you probably dont know how important that offhandtool is for crafting classes - for endgame-crafting you have to reach certain stats and the offhand is giving you a good amount! Combining mainhand and offhand makes you face the problem of gearing up being more difficult. Right now I can choose to invest more into the best mainhand and go for a slightly worse offhand and so on - spreading those stats out on various pieces makes it easier to reach them. So as a crafter I'd really like my offhandtool to stay...

I simply dont understand what the issue is even - some classes make use of the offhand, some dont. Even if the offhand is a relic from 1.0 they found a way to make that meaningful to almost half of the classes while it just stays empty and has no effect for the rest of them - seems like its working pretty decent the way it is right now to me? Why would the system at all need changing?
So my guess is: It wont be changed at all - since there is no reason to do that.

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Originally Posted by kattzkitti

Where am I asking for it to be removed? Rhetorical question, as I'm not asking for removal, as can be easily seen in the OP.

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Originally Posted by kattzkitti

Has there been any information released about what (if anything) they intend to do with this slot for all the other jobs? Maybe return the option for one-handed main hand with off-hand for casters? Combine sword and shield and just remove the slot?

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This is where you asked. Clearly written in the OP.

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Originally Posted by Vidu

The last question you're raising in your OP is to combine shield and sword and remove the slot - completly ignoring that there are classes beside paladin that are making use of an offhandtool.

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Wasn't even thinking about the crafting/gathering jobs, as those aren't something I have much of an interest in. Either way, you could easily just apply the same thing to them, combine their tools.

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Originally Posted by Vidu

Afaik they havent announced anything official in regard to the offhandslot

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Thanks for actually contributing an answer to the thread's question.

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Originally Posted by Vidu

but why would they? Looking at the game atm its unlikely that any battle-class beside paladin will be using the offhand (no onehand-weapons for casters added; old onehands made exchangeable for twohands - I kinda remember them even saying that they wont do onehanded weapons for casters again) - but that doesnt mean that the offhandslot is useless, seeing how almost all non-combat classes are using it.

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Is there a particular reason you keep going off on these tangents?

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Originally Posted by Valkyrie_Lenneth

This is where you asked. Clearly written in the OP.

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Context is a powerful tool of reading comprehension, I suggest you apply it in your continued foruming. If you had, you'd realize that I was just tossing potential things they could have brought up if/when they announced their intent to do something with the off-hand slot.

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Originally Posted by kattzkitti

Wasn't even thinking about the crafting/gathering jobs, as those aren't something I have much of an interest in. Either way, you could easily just apply the same thing to them, combine their tools.

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Nope, you cant. Crafting and gathering offhands are different than the shields. The mainhand and the offhand for a crafter offering the same amount of stats. Endgame-crafting recipes are requering a certain amount of stats to even be attemtepted and either way it is simply much easier to gear up when you have more choices there. Combining the tools into one would make that tool basically overpowered, spreading the stats out on two tools makes it easier to catch up.
(To do a bit of math here: the ilvl200 offhand and mainhand are both offering 315 craftmanship and 169 control. Current 4star items are requiring a minium of 995 craftmanship and 955 control to be crafted - using those tools you'll be getting 630 craftmanship - almost 2/3! - and 338 control from the tools alone. The tools are already pretty powerful, but combining those stats into ONE item? Having ONE item give you 2/3 of the needed stats to craft? - I hope you can understand the issue here)
While I could imagine it for paladin (seeing how sword and shield are almost aquired together since they combinded the drop), crafters and gatherers work differently and allow for a lot more mix-matching when it comes to mainhands and offhands.

Can you also please explain to me what you mean be "tangents" that I'm going off on? Maybe its due to english not being my first language but I dont understand what your problem is there?

And you still havent explained what it even is thats bothering you with the offhandslot - you're ignoring all the classes that are actually using it, so it might appear useless and easly removeable to you, but its not.

by asking if they ever annouced that they would change the offhand slot, you seem to imply that you expect/want the offhandslot to be changed - you even suggested it to be removed when you were tossing out ideas. But why do you believe that anything has to be done differently with the offhandslot than it is right now?

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Originally Posted by kattzkitti

Context is a powerful tool of reading comprehension, I suggest you apply it in your continued foruming. If you had, you'd realize that I was just tossing potential things they could have brought up if/when they announced their intent to do something with the off-hand slot.

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Except it came off as the slot is useless, do something or remove it when it is not useless and doesnt need anything done to it.

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Originally Posted by kattzkitti

I don't even craft/gather and I know that's complete bullhonkey just by taking a quick look at the market board ingame (or the wiki). The crafting/gathering equipment follows the same progression as battle equipment, you always upgrade as soon as the next tool is available because there's no horizontal progression in the game anymore.

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You realise you're making statements about an aspect of the game here that you dont even know, right?
The way the gear progression works is EXCATLY why its very useful to have mainhand AND offhand as a crafter/gatherer. Because its possible to go for a cheaper tool first and still reach the needed stats. Because its possible to get one tool from red scrips within a reasonable amount of time and buy or craft the second one. Because its giving you the freedom of choice and an option to min-max. The way crafting and gathering are working right now, the offhand is a very important tool to add to your stats - cramping all of that into the mainhand would make that item way to powerful...
Please dont dismiss the offhand just because its not important to the classes you enjoy - you dont enjoy the parts of the game that are using the offhand and thats okay. No need to become all "aggressive" towards them...
The system right now seems to be working fine - no offhand when its not needed, offhand when it is. Why think of ways to change that? Dont fix what aint broken...