Add a Socketing System

One of the main addictive qualities of any good RPG is customization. FF14 attempts to achieve a deliciously customizable game experience through horizontal leveling, the armory system, and player-set attribute points yet comes up short on a wide variety of points.

There are a lot of other RPGs that have a socketing system to allow players to further customize and personalize their gear - Diablo II comes to mind a a very successful game with a solid and entertaining socketing system.

It wouldn't even be "copying" another game's system. There already is precedent for socketing in the Final Fantasy universe as far back as 14 years ago: Materia socketing in Final Fantasy 7.

Now, it can't work exactly like how it did in FF7, but the basic concept of gathering items to use to make your existing gear stronger is a good place to start to add more depth to the current armory system.

It can be as basic as +stats, to perhaps something more exotic like "chance to proc 'stun' on hit", or "leech 1% dmg", or "+2 enmity", or "Sub-class affinity +10" or "add fire dmg", etc etc.

Whether these socketable enchantments are found as mob drops, synthed by crafters, or collected by gatherers, it'll give one more thing for everyone to do, and can help to spur the economy as well.

Items could be socketed by crafters, or perhaps by an NPC for a gil fee (we do need more gil sinks after all...)


Since socketing, in one form or another, is a positive factor in a lot of other successful RPGS, and since there already is a form of socketing in the Final Fantasy universe, I don't see any reason why this idea can't be implemented into FF14 as well.

Yoshi-P posted something about a "Materia Crafting System" in the japanese forums. We're waiting on translation.

Isn't there a hint that this is what they plan to do with the new Materia Craft System ?

I guess we will need to wait until someone translates the latest yoshi-p post or he reveals more about it.

EDIT:- Beaten.

yeah..we need variety in equipments...and SE do need to enhance difficulty for enemies, so possibility for more strategies using varied equipments are needed. more battle > more equipment > more crafter happy

Quote:

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Originally Posted by origamikitsune

Yoshi-P posted something about a "Materia Crafting System" in the japanese forums. We're waiting on translation.

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Oh yeah? Hopefully it's some kind of customization thing. I've been asking for socketing in this game since retail launch. There's many good ideas from past Final Fantasy games that they can draw on (materia, triple triad, etc), and I'd advise them to borrow as much as they can since they're running out of time.

*goes to check JPN forums*

I did like socketing in Diablo, especially the part where you would combine gems using the horadric cube, maybe they'll let us combine crystals here in ffxiv for various effects like:

Fire Crystal + Fire Crystal + Fire Crystal = Fire Cluster (Socket effect: Increased fire/melee/ranged damage OR Added fire effect)
Fire Cluster + Fire Cluster = Flame Cluster (Increased effect fire cluster)

3 Umbral type Crystals = Umbral Cluster (Added umbral effects)
etc.

Obviously different elements have different effects on melee/range (such as increasing defense(Earth), evasion(Wind), etc, but with spellcasters, it would simply add bonus effects to relevant spells.

Although obviously would require more than just 3 crystals cause that'd be too easy.

Did a rough translation, but I'm not sure what he's getting at for some things. Might contain errors. Guess we'll just have to wait for more details.


http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...ll=1#post81366


＜新規クラフトに関して＞
About New Crafts

プロデューサレターでも紹介しましたが、これは実はクラフトの新規要素とのみならず、より経済を活性化するものとなるべく、現在企画しています。

We are now planning a new component to crafting, something that I introduced in a Producer's Letter, that not only adds new craft concepts, but also stimulates the economy.

製作に対する施策ではありますが、経済と流通を活性化させること、
また全てのクラスにメリットと動機を持たせることをコンセプトに掲げて企画をしています。

We are planning to implement a concept of a crafting system that stimulates the economy and circulation of gil, and gives all classes a sense of merit and motivation.

開発ではこれを「マテリアクラフトシステム」（仮称）と呼んでいます。

We are temporarily calling this the "Materia Craft System"

愛着のある武器/防具を魔石マテリア化し、ギャザラーが調達した触媒を使って、
クラフターの手によって行われる、新たなクラフトシステムです。

It is a new craft system that changes your favorite weapons/armor with magic stones made by crafters from catalysts that are collected by gatherers (I think? I might be interpreting this part wrong)

・ファイターやソーサラーは、新規クラフトによって得られるアイテムに愛着が持てるように
This will let fighters and sorcerers put more personal love into their own items

・クラフターは、その需要に貢献できるように
Increase demand for crafting services

・ギャザラーは、新規クラフトに必要な素材を獲得できるように
Give gatherers even more stuff to collect.

詳細はまたスレッドへポストしていきますね。
Will post more details in a new thread.

I like the sounds of it. especially the part of putting more "personal love" into our items =P

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Originally Posted by Neogohan1

I like the sounds of it. especially the part of putting more "personal love" into our items =P

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Yeah, it's an awkward literal translation, but I think he's trying to implement the concept of having people be more personally invested in their favorite items with this new system.

I think they're just looking for a way to remove surplus gear from the system, which is what the crafters have been discussing about on these forums.

Obviously more info will be coming out of the woodwork soon, but I like the idea of the parts only being collectible by gatherers.

I like the sound of this :) Looking forward to hearing more details soon hopefully!