U/U Gear - A reason why we cannot meld. (long post)

Firstly I would like to apologize for sitting another topic about u/u gear on the front page of the General Discussion Forum. I understand Firon's thread about making it useful is still going strong, but I don't believe my topic fits in his thread. Apologies also as it is quite long, but I tried to make it well presented and well thought out to get a point across. Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this.

[The Problem]
Firstly we know U/U gear isn't all that special Stat wise, but it is usually quite special to see people wearing it (when the content initially comes out)

The untradeability of it is needed, it is to show you that beat that dungeon with your team, to show that you bested the demons that lurked within. Making it tradeable would ruin that. I believe this is something that affects Sentinel Gear, I dont know the person wearing that Cuirass is hardcore or rich.

So what can you do, as a battle class that farms a dungeon with a great piece of U/U gear that you want melding?

You have to level a crafter specific to that gear, on your own.

And therein, I believe, lies the problem. It is ridiculous to expect a player to level a craft from 1-50 (have to match gear level to meld) to do a few piece of gear (unless its Blacksmith then its only 1 piece of gear) and Yoshi-P and the dev team must be well aware of this. It is unbelievably exclusive and has been stated that they are aware different players have different activities they enjoy, and crafting is certainly not for everyone.

[The Solution]

So the fix? A Materia Meld Request Menu.

You choose a single piece of Materia, a single piece of equipment, your catalyst- and you name your reward, or make it a fixed reward like the recent gear repair feature.

The % chance can be show to you in the menu as it does not change from player to player, give it a warning "gear may be lost" etc and the job is done.

The Result / Conclusion

Double+ Melded U/U gear instantly becomes the most RIDICULOUS gear in the game. Because if you blow up that Sipahi Turban, that Alpine War Jacket, or god forbid, That Moogle Sword.... You gotta farm another one*.

Old content will be in constant demand again! people will be wanting to get this U/U gear over and over at the chance of a double meld, something that can set them apart! All of your content can become validated by this alone!

And people who don't have time to farm the special U/U gear for the double melds aren't totally rubbished by the people who do, the extra stats you get are small, but the difference is noticeable in looks. When you see a player with a double meld Sipahi Turban. You know what he's been through to get that! even if its only a little better than a Rainmakers with the same materia, it shows what he is as player. It gives people something more to strive for!

*Side note : This ability to explode Primal weapons would also justify an increase to the terribly low Charm/Totem rate


And there you have it. My person Ideology as to why we are in the situation we are in, because features we need (and we really do need this either way) are not currently implemented or even not currently implementable(2.0) and the Benefit that it can provide to the community on a whole.

tl:dr materia request menu fixes all my broken dream blablabla

Been saying this for months.

/vote yes for prop 2

no thks for me

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Originally Posted by Junpei

[The Solution]

So the fix? A Materia Meld Request Menu.

You choose a single piece of Materia, a single piece of equipment, your catalyst- and you name your reward, or make it a fixed reward like the recent gear repair feature.

The % chance can be show to you in the menu as it does not change from player to player, give it a warning "gear may be lost" etc and the job is done.

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Yes please, I just asked about a similar idea if you read the dev interview thread. I said we should not only be able to have a crafter meld materia to our gear without trading them. But we should also be able to have crafters craft us something without trading them.

yes to melding of all types of gear. im so sick of discrimination.

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Originally Posted by syntaxlies

yes to melding of all types of gear. im so sick of discrimination.

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Racist if you ask me, them not letting us meld all those gears.

THEY HAVE SOULS TOO SE!

While I think double melds in general are kind of a dumb thing (too grindy and random - exactly like a crappy korean MMO), we do need meldable u/u gear and a way to do it without having to trade. Right now you have a situation where either you're wearing something that can be produced completely solo or you're wearing something that makes it so you never need materia in that slot again. Dumbbbbbbbbb.

The reason Yoshida gave for not letting rare/ex gear be meldable is that it eliminates the need for crafted gear. While I want rare/ex gear to be best in the game, this idea goes against what Yoshida has planned to keep crafters relevant. They need to make dropped gear actually comparable to double melds like they said they wanted and make triple+ melds the best but very rare. Also rare/ex gear should have stats that aren't obtainable from materia (ex. Haste, increased combo damage, possibly % based damage increases how magic attack bonus was in ffxi, auto refresh/regen)

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The reason Yoshida gave for not letting rare/ex gear be meldable is that it eliminates the need for crafted gear.

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Can you source this? I don't remember seeing it. Either way that's a fucking stupid reason because 1) you could just make it so only crafted gear is convertible (and materia is random so it's the only stuff that's really convertible en masse) and 2) it makes it so the way to get the best gear is STILL some stupid solo gambling crap instead of, you know, going out and actually doing stuff with a party that takes coordination and thought.

Even if he's given that reason in the past he's been shown to be open to argument on things (hi server merges) so hopefully he'll make the right choice for the game.

With regards to Crafted gear being un-needed hows this

:example:
Crafted gear has stats directly related to the class it is intended for at say, +10
Whilst U/U gear may have another usefull stat but at a lower amount, say +5

For my example I will say Headgear for Archer
The crafted version has +10 Dex
The U/U drop only has -5 Enmity

So you traded your 10 Dex for something not necessarily better, but otherwise unobtainable in a headgear.

And then maybe the Belt of this U/U set is the other way around, it has +Dex on it, because you can meld -Enmity.

So a pure Dex or a Pure Enmity down set is only possible by mixing and matching?

Making crafted gear the only thing that is convertible wouldn't make crafted gear worthwhile. It would make it the middle man between players and materia. I'm not going to dig through a year of posts to find the quote but he wants crafters to feel like they are valued for more then just being a means to an end. There is a reason dol and doh are even mentioned as partaking in the Hamlet defense that is coming. Come up with a compromise between dropped gear and crafted gear and you'll have yourself a winner.

I never understood why they didn't carry on with the Dodore/Uraeus method.... dropping crafting mats to make the high level gear. Seems that was the way to go, since it allowed for battle and crafting to shine.

Furthermore, it would up the replay value of old content by trying to get enough mats to make a +1 version of the gear.

And on top of it all, it would be mats dropped not gear... meaning those mats could be used in dozens of different synths if they so chose.

Honestly guys look @ your best U/U Gloves or hat or body piece in game, and tell me its worth the trouble to Dbl meld it for a small number like 5+ str on a body piece when you could just get a crafted body part with 3+ str on it Dbl melded with less risk -.-. Materia on U/U gear will not solve this problem.

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Originally Posted by Deltara

I never understood why they didn't carry on with the Dodore/Uraeus method.... dropping crafting mats to make the high level gear. Seems that was the way to go, since it allowed for battle and crafting to shine.

Furthermore, it would up the replay value of old content by trying to get enough mats to make a +1 version of the gear.

And on top of it all, it would be mats dropped not gear... meaning those mats could be used in dozens of different synths if they so chose.

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Probably relates to new claim system. Would be a lot of griefing.

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Originally Posted by Firon

Honestly guys look @ your best U/U Gloves or hat or body piece in game, and tell me its worth the trouble to Dbl meld it for a small number like 5+ str on a body piece when you could just get a crafted body part with 3+ str on it Dbl melded with less risk -.-. Materia on U/U gear will not solve this problem.

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I entirely disagree, I have double melded 3 pieces of Sentinel Gear which arguably should be U/U.

I know all the mages in my LS would die with joy if we could do that with sorcerer gear for the -5 emnity on each piece alone.

I vote YES!
We need to be able to meld u/u gear...
Also been saying this for a long time now.

I've had an idea like this for a while now to make our U/U more unique and actually grind dungeons or primals for more than just 7 weapons and quit. I've told a few people but got shrugged as not needed or just a horrible idea. Glad to see you made a detailed post of it, I hope the devs see it and make note of it.

Yuk no I don't wana see U/U gear blow up, considering how hard it is for some people to get the Ifrit/Moogle weapon of their choice it becomes more like a second kick to the balls.

Yoshida has already said that they are looking into making a player-meld interface similar to the repair system. (I think it was involving the bazaar not the new repair system)

I would be happy if they made U/U maximum of 1 materia meld and increased the stats so that with 1 materia its the best gear in game, for me best gear should always be from dungeon content not about the risk of failing a craft/meld.

If that means make U/U gear harder to obtain, so be it, throw a token system in that requires 10-20 tokens per each piece of gear.

Give us something to work towards that isn't based around the risk of losing everything on random numbers.

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Originally Posted by Firon

Honestly guys look @ your best U/U Gloves or hat or body piece in game, and tell me its worth the trouble to Dbl meld it for a small number like 5+ str on a body piece when you could just get a crafted body part with 3+ str on it Dbl melded with less risk -.-. Materia on U/U gear will not solve this problem.

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This, until the stats are much higher on U/U, the gear is going to be worthless regardless.

In truth U/U doesn't even need to be meld-able if it has decent stats, ie +25 instead of +5

Green Gear should be equal to NQ + 1 materia.
Blue Gear should be equal to HQ + 2 materia.

To Yoshida if you want people to continue playing content you have to give them a purpose to do so, never mind crafters, they still have SB and materia melding to keep them relevant. (Time to stop pampering those babies)

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Originally Posted by Junpei

I entirely disagree, I have double melded 3 pieces of Sentinel Gear which arguably should be U/U.

I know all the mages in my LS would die with joy if we could do that with sorcerer gear for the -5 emnity on each piece alone.

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Yes but Sentinel is the exception and not the rule, which I'm sure you are aware of.

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Originally Posted by Ryans

The reason Yoshida gave for not letting rare/ex gear be meldable is that it eliminates the need for crafted gear....

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Who cares if it makes crafted gear the middle man for materia or not, that IS a NEED. And it calls for crafted pieces to be bought repeatedly to make materia still. Thats more than most games can provide crafters. Content has no purpose if its gear doesnt have a chance to be better than crafted gear. The only good dropped loot atm is primal weapons because of how brokenly high their stats are. All the other dropped gear is /meh Even Sentinels is meldable for some reason.

Best gear in the game should be awarded to those who have explored all the content, not just one aspect of the game. This gives a reason to have all classes leveled, and pushes players to move along with story progression. He's a quick example of how it could work.

A player, having moved through enough missions/quests opens up a dungeon, that leads to a boss fight, which ends with a U/U item being dropped, Lets just say its a piece of armor. This armor would be the best item for that slot unless...

The same player, being a trained gatherer, knows of a legendary tree sap that when applied to even the toughest metals can further improve their hardness. This would open a quest to acquire some other U/U material that could be applied, without crafting skill, to boost the base stats of the dungeon armor.

Now that same player, a master armorer, would like to take that same suit of platemail and customize it to enhance his strengths and offset his weaknesses. This could open a series of progressively more difficult quests, each providing 1 additional risk free slot for materia.

It may look like a grindfest to do, but I see it as a way of making all forms of progress and play relevant to endgame.

Something needs to be done to make both U/U and and crafted gear worth having. Why does there have to be only one single piece of equipment that is "the best"? Why do U/U or crafted gear have to be better? Why not make U/U on par with the "best" base crafted equip and allow melding materia to both? This way, there will be more variety in equipment and not everyone running around in the same setup.

Example: have a crafted armor give +5 to str and another U/U piece give +5 to int for the pugilist (both useful stats), while having same def.

It's not a bad idea, but I would like to see that "need or greed" system first. I've done so many Moogle fights, and i've yet to get that sword. So blowing it up, and then having to run another 60 fights is way to excessive.

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Originally Posted by Soukyuu

Something needs to be done to make both U/U and and crafted gear worth having. Why does there have to be only one single piece of equipment that is "the best"? Why do U/U or crafted gear have to be better? Why not make U/U on par with the "best" base crafted equip and allow melding materia to both? This way, there will be more variety in equipment and not everyone running around in the same setup.

Example: have a crafted armor give +5 to str and another U/U piece give +5 to int for the pugilist (both useful stats), while having same def.

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This would be fine if that worked, problem is that there are so many piece of gear craftable with alternative stats.

of slaying and of invoking in your case above.

It would require of slaying to be craftable and of invoking to be U/U.

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Originally Posted by Jinko

It would require of slaying to be craftable and of invoking to be U/U.

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I don't see a problem with making one variation craftable and the other one dropable. That way people have a choice to go hunt it or just craft it while keeping both of the items useful.

I'm so against U/U gear being meldable. I would like to have different stats on my sword other than what materia can provide. Materia is very limited with what stats can go on what gear. Please do not make that the bulk of my stats come from materia on my U/U. I want my U/U to have unique stats and abilities unable to be provided by materia. For example, Ifrit Bow has Att. Pow, Fire resist, and bonus fire damage. I like this because these are not stats able to be put on a bow with materia.

Let crafted gear by empty vessels to fill with the limited materia system, let my U/U gear be pre-fill vessel with unique stats.

Dunno if anyone else has touched note on this but Yoshi-P said himself the reason why U/U gear is not meldable, and it is not because you would have to level the craft yourself.

Their current model is that U/U gear surpasses basic crafted gear in strength, while crafted gear with materia melded into it will surpass the U/U gear. This is the idea they wish to stick to, and how they intend to balance the power of gear.

This is intended to keep crafters relevant to the game and economy. If all the top-end gear was U/U, nobody would need to craft. Likewise, if all the top-end gear is crafted, why do you need to farm bosses or dungeons for gear.

I think the best solution lies in dungeons and bosses dropping both U/U gear with stats superior to non-melded gear, as well as rare crafting materials from which high-end crafted gear can be made and then melded for the most high-power gear. This setup ends with PvE content remaining relevant, and crafters remaining relevant.

I will state my personal opinion that U/U gear does not need to be meldable due to the above model. It has its place as a stepping stone and trophy, but making it meldable essentially kills the market for crafters aside from them just melding materia... and that seems exceptionally counter-productive.

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Originally Posted by Riaayo

Dunno if anyone else has touched note on this but Yoshi-P said himself the reason why U/U gear is not meldable, and it is not because you would have to level the craft yourself.

Their current model is that U/U gear surpasses basic crafted gear in strength, while crafted gear with materia melded into it will surpass the U/U gear. This is the idea they wish to stick to, and how they intend to balance the power of gear.

This is intended to keep crafters relevant to the game and economy. If all the top-end gear was U/U, nobody would need to craft. Likewise, if all the top-end gear is crafted, why do you need to farm bosses or dungeons for gear.

I think the best solution lies in dungeons and bosses dropping both U/U gear with stats superior to non-melded gear, as well as rare crafting materials from which high-end crafted gear can be made and then melded for the most high-power gear. This setup ends with PvE content remaining relevant, and crafters remaining relevant.

I will state my personal opinion that U/U gear does not need to be meldable due to the above model. It has its place as a stepping stone and trophy, but making it meldable essentially kills the market for crafters aside from them just melding materia... and that seems exceptionally counter-productive.

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he also said tht was just the way it was for now and they'd keep an eye out on it and make changes if needed. Why have SH gear if its junk. waste of resources to even produce the SH's.

even if Sh gear was meldable crafted would still have the potential to be more powerful with x2 melds being a common occurrence.

SE is gonna need new customers and the MMO world in general wont like crafted being best in game and if nothing else will leave for that reason. Most people dont like spending hours of time farming vanity gear.

It would not kill the market for crafters. people would have to buy gear to farm SH gear. At the low drop rate a person could easily turn 5 full sets of gear into materia farming one item. that would stimulate the market not kill it.

The problem I see with this is when the level cap goes up, all the current U/U gear and content becomes obsolete regardless if you can meld materia on them.

A more permanent and proven solution used in other mmo's to keep gear drops and old content usefull is by having a Item remodelling / Display slots feature.

Allows you to have the appearance of the U/U gear while maintaining the stats of any other gear. This keeps the U/U gear and it's associated content always usefull even if it's from a level 15 quest, you can still use it at level 99 and create a unique look for your character.

For more info on this feature please visit these threads:

Item Remodelling
Display Slots

to anyone who thinks melding rare gear makes crafted unwanted i only need to give you one example sentinel gear. it is tradable therefore allowing it to be melded and has no negative impact on the game.

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Originally Posted by Klive

I would like to have different stats on my sword other than what materia can provide. Materia is very limited with what stats can go on what gear.

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Else everyone would stack the same stats in all slots, for example STR.

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I want my U/U to have unique stats and abilities unable to be provided by materia. For example, Ifrit Bow has Att. Pow, Fire resist, and bonus fire damage. I like this because these are not stats able to be put on a bow with materia.

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You can put ATK+ on a weapon, not sure about fire resist but the way resistances seem to be working atm, that stat is nearly useless.

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Let crafted gear by empty vessels to fill with the limited materia system, let my U/U gear be pre-fill vessel with unique stats.

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It could work, but it would make one of the choices less potent. They would have to make U/U at least as good as crafted single melded versions. That way you'd go for materia melds if you are willing to risk to gain more and use the U/U as the safe method. Though in the end, it makes U/U inferior again.

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Originally Posted by syntaxlies

he also said tht was just the way it was for now and they'd keep an eye out on it and make changes if needed. Why have SH gear if its junk. waste of resources to even produce the SH's.

even if Sh gear was meldable crafted would still have the potential to be more powerful with x2 melds being a common occurrence.

SE is gonna need new customers and the MMO world in general wont like crafted being best in game and if nothing else will leave for that reason. Most people dont like spending hours of time farming vanity gear.

It would not kill the market for crafters. people would have to buy gear to farm SH gear. At the low drop rate a person could easily turn 5 full sets of gear into materia farming one item. that would stimulate the market not kill it.

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Sorry for being dense but I am not sure what you are abbreviating with SH.

However as I said, Bosses would drop not only U/U gear which players could use to upgrade from non-melded gear they might have, but also crafting materials (that would not be obtainable anywhere else) to make crafted gear that you could more or less consider dropped from that boss. Your linkshell's crafters would be able to make that gear from the materials, and then meld for highly superior gear which would essentially be the third tier (Non-melded gear < U/U < Melded gear).

I do realize they might change the model if they need to, but I'm not sure I see why they would if this is how it would work? You're not "just farming vanity gear" if that U/U is an upgrade for you at the time, even if it's replaced later.

But what do you expect SE to do? Alienate anyone who is a crafter by rendering them effectively useless because nothing they make is all that desirable? While I do think it's hard to get the best models while keeping crafting highly relative, crafting is a staple of the game and I think to betray the people who have put lots of time into their crafts is a bad idea.

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Originally Posted by Riaayo

Sorry for being dense but I am not sure what you are abbreviating with SH.

However as I said, Bosses would drop not only U/U gear which players could use to upgrade from non-melded gear they might have, but also crafting materials (that would not be obtainable anywhere else) to make crafted gear that you could more or less consider dropped from that boss. Your linkshell's crafters would be able to make that gear from the materials, and then meld for highly superior gear which would essentially be the third tier (Non-melded gear < U/U < Melded gear).

I do realize they might change the model if they need to, but I'm not sure I see why they would if this is how it would work? You're not "just farming vanity gear" if that U/U is an upgrade for you at the time, even if it's replaced later.

But what do you expect SE to do? Alienate anyone who is a crafter by rendering them effectively useless because nothing they make is all that desirable? While I do think it's hard to get the best models while keeping crafting highly relative, crafting is a staple of the game and I think to betray the people who have put lots of time into their crafts is a bad idea.

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strong hold,sorry

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Originally Posted by Riaayo

Sorry for being dense but I am not sure what you are abbreviating with SH.

However as I said, Bosses would drop not only U/U gear which players could use to upgrade from non-melded gear they might have, but also crafting materials (that would not be obtainable anywhere else) to make crafted gear that you could more or less consider dropped from that boss. Your linkshell's crafters would be able to make that gear from the materials, and then meld for highly superior gear which would essentially be the third tier (Non-melded gear < U/U < Melded gear).

I do realize they might change the model if they need to, but I'm not sure I see why they would if this is how it would work? You're not "just farming vanity gear" if that U/U is an upgrade for you at the time, even if it's replaced later.

But what do you expect SE to do? Alienate anyone who is a crafter by rendering them effectively useless because nothing they make is all that desirable? While I do think it's hard to get the best models while keeping crafting highly relative, crafting is a staple of the game and I think to betray the people who have put lots of time into their crafts is a bad idea.

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im starting to think you dont play the game lol

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Originally Posted by syntaxlies

im starting to think you dont play the game lol

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I'm not sure why you would assume that, especially since you can lodestone my character and see I play a pretty great deal. Furthermore even if I played a lot or a little, neither lessens or strengthens the truth about anything I've said.

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Originally Posted by Riaayo

I'm not sure why you would assume that, especially since you can lodestone my character and see I play a pretty great deal. Furthermore even if I played a lot or a little, neither lessens or strengthens the truth about anything I've said.

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ok, no one is gonna farm a coffer piece as a middle step step to materia gear,lol. Sentinel gear can be melded along with some of the NM gear. So would you say that the buccaneers hat or sentinel gear has had a negative impact on the game.

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Originally Posted by syntaxlies

ok, no one is gonna farm a coffer piece as a middle step step to materia gear,lol. Sentinel gear can be melded along with some of the NM gear. So would you say that the buccaneers hat or sentinel gear has had a negative impact on the game.

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Not to be rude but have you experienced other mmos? They have multiple tiers of gear and people do not just go from hitting 50 to the best gear without getting things inbetween (and you can bet people do do it).

The sentinel gear is gear for basically 2 classes of 7, and things like Silver Tricorn are a hat... not a multitude of U/U gear that can fill every slot and effectively moose out the need for crafted gear. You ask me why would anyone farm U/U gear just to be able to kill bosses to get craft material for better gear, but flip it around and why would you waste money buying gear just to fight the boss to get the U/U gear? The answer is you'd probably do both, but why flip the model if it's already going to work?

Furthermore, you clearly have not seen the effect Transmogging gear has had in WoW, as people constantly go back to old content to farm pieces JUST for the vanity look because they want their character to look a certain way or different from other players. Being unique is a powerful force; it's the same force that makes you want your U/U gear you beat the boss to get to be the best so you can show it off.

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Originally Posted by Riaayo

Not to be rude but have you experienced other mmos? They have multiple tiers of gear and people do not just go from hitting 50 to the best gear without getting things inbetween (and you can bet people do do it).

The sentinel gear is gear for basically 2 classes of 7, and things like Silver Tricorn are a hat... not a multitude of U/U gear that can fill every slot and effectively moose out the need for crafted gear. You ask me why would anyone farm U/U gear just to be able to kill bosses to get craft material for better gear, but flip it around and why would you waste money buying gear just to fight the boss to get the U/U gear? The answer is you'd probably do both, but why flip the model if it's already going to work?

Furthermore, you clearly have not seen the effect Transmogging gear has had in WoW, as people constantly go back to old content to farm pieces JUST for the vanity look because they want their character to look a certain way or different from other players. Being unique is a powerful force; it's the same force that makes you want your U/U gear you beat the boss to get to be the best so you can show it off.

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im not arguing your concept. im arguing the current system. lol.

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Originally Posted by syntaxlies

im not arguing your concept. im arguing the current system. lol.

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I'm not sure I understand then since what I am saying is supposed to be SE's philosophy overall?

Lets take for example... if you can meld U/U gear, you would be able to meld the all rank 50 crown with +10 to all stats. Now, you have effectively replaced most (if not all) head pieces in the game. On the flip side as it stands, while the crown is very good, there are certain crafted pieces (Silver Tricorn being a good example here, not so much a good exampel above) that when double-melded can be potentially superior for a specific class than the crown. Had the crown been meldable, it would have just sit ontop, and everyone would wear it. How unique or interesting is that? Or fair, for that matter, as you effectively don't need any other headgear crafted. Now, apply that to every other slot.

I think we have not seen SE strike the ACTUAL intended balance yet. Right now we see Ifrit and Moogle weapons completely decimate all other crafted weapons, even with multi-melding, simply due to their huge base dmg. So, I don't know what to tell you in those regards... currently U/U weapons are the best, while crafter armor is the best... sorry blacksmiths?

I think if balanced right their intended model is smart, but I won't try to argue that it's perfectly or correctly implemented and balanced as of this moment in the game. I don't think we will see that for a bit.

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Originally Posted by Riaayo

I'm not sure I understand then since what I am saying is supposed to be SE's philosophy overall?

Lets take for example... if you can meld U/U gear, you would be able to meld the all rank 50 crown with +10 to all stats. Now, you have effectively replaced most (if not all) head pieces in the game. On the flip side as it stands, while the crown is very good, there are certain crafted pieces (Silver Tricorn being a good example here, not so much a good exampel above) that when double-melded can be potentially superior for a specific class than the crown. Had the crown been meldable, it would have just sit ontop, and everyone would wear it. How unique or interesting is that? Or fair, for that matter, as you effectively don't need any other headgear crafted. Now, apply that to every other slot.

I think we have not seen SE strike the ACTUAL intended balance yet. Right now we see Ifrit and Moogle weapons completely decimate all other crafted weapons, even with multi-melding, simply due to their huge base dmg. So, I don't know what to tell you in those regards... currently U/U weapons are the best, while crafter armor is the best... sorry blacksmiths?

I think if balanced right their intended model is smart, but I won't try to argue that it's perfectly or correctly implemented and balanced as of this moment in the game. I don't think we will see that for a bit.

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i dont think blue rare items should be melded. I was specifically talking about Sh gear.

but even if you can meld blue rare it wouldn't kill anything cause materia benefits are low as is. The materia choices for helm are mostly magic so if someone slaps another 10 mind on their crown its not gonna be a game changer.

totally disagree. u/u should not be able to be melded, i mean, it would be cool and awesome and revitalize most of the gear but it completely goes against the whole premise of melding; making a normal piece of gear useful or just settle for a [free] u/u that has some stats not obtainable through melding.

u/u gear just needs to be balanced with crafted --> melded gear and i love the idea of u/u gear carrying stats that are unable to meld; i have the theory that these stats are going to be on the AF gear, making them the gear of choice over melded gear.

i do agree with the meld request list-trading and repairing is so annoying sometimes and makes everything such a long, arduous ordeal...especially when you can only trade 4 items at a time :(