Vanity slot restriction concerns.....

[Obreck]

One of the things brought up a recent vanity costume discussion was how many MMO place arbitrary restrictions on what can be used in their vanity gear systems.

EDIT: The "Reasonable Restrictions" are the restrictions I could live with. I don't actually support any restrictions its more of a "what I could personally compromise with."

Given its likely at least a few months before FF14's vanity system goes live I'd like to express a few concerns about restrictions in the (likely futile) hope that Square will see and try to keep any of their own restrictions as lax and reasonable as possible.

REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS (IMO):

Combat class restrictions: Square already stated this would happen. Mages can't dress in tank armor. Tanks can't wear mage robes. Fair enough.

No seasonal gear: I don't agree and think it will annoy far more players than please, but if Square doesn't want people running dungeons in bikinis and reindeer suits for lore reasons kind of hard to give a counter argument. So long as they are aware lewd people will still dress provocatively and trolls will still mix up lore friendly gear into immersion breaking messes.

EDIT: Global Vanity Toggle Option: Basically a simple toggle switch that hides vanity gear from your PC's perspective, similar to the Hide Helmet option. This would allow players that oppose vanity systems to disable the system from their perspective without affecting everyone else (We see vanity costume, they see normal costume).

A Toggle Option would also allow players to disable the Vanity System for situational reasons, such as wishing to see their opponents true gear in PvP or encountering a player in Duty Finder wearing a costume that makes their eyes bleed. It would prevent forcing their situation needs on the general population through mandatory restrictions.

THINGS THAT SHOULD NOT BE RESTRICTED PERIOD (IMO):

Using field (crafting/gathering) clothes for combat classes: Its not uncommon to see official RPG characters wearing casual clothing over combat savy gear. A ton of players will want to emulate this trend.

"Field" gear is the richest source of causal clothing. For the mage that doesn't want robes or the tank that doesn't want to clunk around in plate mail field gear will be the easiest way to dress in something more "general clothing" in theme. So please allow using crafting/gathering clothes for combat class costumes.

Restricting gear to certain quality tiers or level: Not only will assure the vanity system will get hammered with angry criticisms the moment its unveiled, but almost defeats the purpose of a vanity system.

If someone finds a standard tier (white quality) and/or low level piece of gear they like: just let them use it in the vanity system please. I've never met anyone but a developer that thought quality tier restrictions on vanity gear is a good idea.

EDIT: No Vanity in PvP = Bad Idea: There is a small part of the PvP community that swears by this as a strategy. However a full fledge ban on vanity in PvP to cater to this minority would just annoy the general community. A better solution to cater this group of players would be a Toggle system. They could then just Toggle Vanity Off when they PvP, allowing them to see everyone's normal gear without their point of view being forced onto everyone else.

[SirDiscoFrog]

These concerns are well thought out and nicely put.
I definitely would have to agree with everything you said. Especially the standard tier part. If the class can wear it in general, they should be able to wear it for the vanity slot. Makes sense to me

[Archie_Griffs]

These restrictions are very fair, nothing overboard, and nothing that completely kills immersion.

Speaking of killing immersion, maybe have the no seasonal restriction in just dungeons + PvP, you have to be able to kill things in bikinis somewhere D:< (Yes I'm a perv, I know)

[Zfz]

Using field (crafting/gathering) clothes for combat classes: Its not uncommon to see official RPG characters wearing casual clothing over combat savy gear. A ton of players will want to emulate this trend.

(snip)...the easiest way to dress in something more "general clothing" in theme. So please allow using crafting/gathering clothes for combat class costumes.

This one I'm a little wearywary about.

In my opinion this breaks immersion as much as seasonal gear does. A tailor shooting big fireballs at Titan? A fisherman withstanding the wrath of Bahamut? I see it as down right ridiculous.

Then there's the question of class restrictions. Some crafting gear is for that particular crafter class only. It is also a reward for the hard work and resources put into leveling that class. Now you let everyone wear it, the prestige suddenly disappears. Same as gatherer gear.

[Fleur]

In principle, I believe that you should be able to use anything in vanity slots that you can currently equip normally. The only issue I see with this is something that I have always thought was a bit "unfair" in general: most (basic) mage gear is equippable by all classes, but the same is not true of heavy armor and leather gear. So you couldn't have a a WHM in a Haubergeon, yet you could have a WAR in a bliaud, which makes even less sense. >.<

I see no problem with DoH/DoL gear available for vanity slots, I think the basic stuff looks like "civilian" clothes anyway and could mix 'n match with DoW/DoM items to create unique looks. Of course you'd have to be able to equip it, but the basic stuff is generally for all classes.

Oh, and I don't really see why seasonal items couldn't be used . . . the only ridiculous ones (Reindeer!) don't allow several slots equips so probably wouldn't work anyway. And a lot of event gear is just jewelry. -points to Moonlet earring on current avatar-

[Calyanare]

This one I'm a little weary about.

OT, but this drives me nuts. Weary = tired. Wary = watchful, cautious.

You may now get back to your regularly scheduled thread.

[Azures]

I don't recall Square ever saying we couldn't use seasonal gear as vanity items link please.

[Obreck]

-snip-

Well for the class specific reward stuff, sure to reasonable extent.

As for other field gear as Fleur stated the field clothes tend to look like civilian clothes and not some specific trade.

And one of the biggest benefits of the vanity is cherry picking part of individual piece of gear and making an ideal costume. For example most of the pants options as a tank look like hobo pants with a codpiece worn on top. Access to the rather basic designs of the field gear leg pieces would make it much easier to set up that part of my outfit.

[AmalahRose]

I don't like too many restrictions when it comes to dressing up my character the way I want them to look, vanity should be fun. In my opinion if somebody wants to be a bikini warrior let them. I believe that if your class can equip an item it should be able to vanity that item.

[Malamasala]

Should never be any restrictions at all. Else you might as well not have it at all because someone decided it should only be active while you AFK.