Specialist System in 3.0

[LineageRazor]

Or stop crafting at all, or just stop playing.

Another slim minority. I'm sure SE is terrified of the lost subscriptions. Don't let the door hitcha!

I totally get the Specialist angle: It does create more "demand" and trade, but the downsides are there as well. If we had Specialization / Lockout:

Your arguments aren't bad - except for the fact that things like monopolies, finding crafters, etc., only become a concern if there's something the crafter can make that you absolutely have to have. There isn't. Crafters make glamours, furnishings, and side-grades to equipment that are already sub-par. Anyone that tries to pump up prices due to holding a monopoly will find that people simply won't buy. If you want your stuffed cabbage minion, but none are up for sale and you can't find a CUL specialist, well, the world keeps turning - it's not like you can collect every minion anyway, given all the preorder and event-only minions whose boat has sailed.

In FFXI, situations like you described could be a problem as, at various points in the game's history, certain crafted items WERE the best items, and people were willing to shell out bigtime for them. Crafting in this game has been painstakingly nerfed to ensure that nothing a crafter makes is essential, and I don't anticipate that policy ever changing.

I am neither for nor against specialization in crafting. If it happens, I'll shrug my shoulders and keep on keepin' on. I certianly don't see it as any kind of dreadful horror, though. I think folks are overreacting.

[HrumHrum]

Another slim minority. I'm sure SE is terrified of the lost subscriptions. Don't let the door hitcha!

Minority here, minority there, and voila! we don't have subscribers anymore!

[Sibyll]

Minority here, minority there, and voila! we don't have subscribers anymore!

I'd rather a game try to cater to a specific group and do it well than have them fall into the trap of trying to please everyone. You will always fail if you try to please everyone.

[HrumHrum]

I'd rather a game try to cater to a specific group and do it well than have them fall into the trap of trying to please everyone. You will always fail if you try to please everyone.

But "please" everyone in this case cost nothing and harm no one.