Optimistic Speculation on Specialization + Links

[StouterTaru]

This wouldn't be a bad thing, if those crafted items were equal in ilevel, and an alternative (where you could pick different stats than a pre-made) to the max ilevel items, rather than being 10-15ilvls lower.

If crafted gear was equal ilvl to top level gear, it would be BiS every single time. It's very often comparable, occasionally situationally better than gear 20 levels up.

[Darra]

If crafted gear was equal ilvl to top level gear, it would be BiS every single time. It's very often comparable, occasionally situationally better than gear 20 levels up.

It wouldn't be bis every time, if you removed the materia slots. Or by leaving the materia slots in, it'd give players the chance to make different gear sets, rather than forcing everyone to wear the same, or be gimped.

[StouterTaru]

It wouldn't be bis every time, if you removed the materia slots. Or by leaving the materia slots in, it'd give players the chance to make different gear sets, rather than forcing everyone to wear the same, or be gimped.

If no materia slots, then it would be BiS in many cases, and with the materia slots players would be forced to wear it, or be gimped.

[Sibyll]

If no materia slots, then it would be BiS in many cases, and with the materia slots players would be forced to wear it, or be gimped.

Why would it be best in slot without materia slots? Wouldn't that depend on what the stat choices were for the token and raid drop gear? It'd essentially be another alternative for stat combinations.

[StouterTaru]

Why would it be best in slot without materia slots? Wouldn't that depend on what the stat choices were for the token and raid drop gear? It'd essentially be another alternative for stat combinations.

Yes, that's why it would be BiS in many cases. SE has made it clear that the top gear for the game isn't going to be available at the MB. If everyone was expected to buy 3-4 pieces of gear at 5-10M each every time they raise the ilvl, RMT would be much worse than it currently is.

[Darra]

Yes, that's why it would be BiS in many cases. SE has made it clear that the top gear for the game isn't going to be available at the MB. If everyone was expected to buy 3-4 pieces of gear at 5-10M each every time they raise the ilvl, RMT would be much worse than it currently is.

Actually, I was initially quoting someone saying they didn't want weekly lockout on crafting materials. I was saying it wouldn't be bad if it was an alternative to the weekly tomestone gear, so you'd only be able to make the item for yourself, so having items crafters make for themselves & untradable, would be a viable alternative. If you aren't already a crafter, you would get less options yes, but I'm fine with that, seeing as those who do not raid now can not get full bis anyway, you'd not be creating a new situation.

As for bis, in general I think it's a silly concept. If all secondary stats were equal, then you could for example, play a spell speed scholar, instead of being crit spec like 100% of the other scholars. It would create some diversity, and make it so that no-one, crafter, raider, tomestone farmer, would have anything better than anyone else.

[Sibyll]

Yes, that's why it would be BiS in many cases. SE has made it clear that the top gear for the game isn't going to be available at the MB. If everyone was expected to buy 3-4 pieces of gear at 5-10M each every time they raise the ilvl, RMT would be much worse than it currently is.

Whoever said that a crafted piece of gear had to be sellable? Couldn't it simply require a mat that was BoP from the raid and required a "Request Crafter" option to be able to get the item without doing it yourself? Now you have a 3rd stat option for end game gear that is relevant, crafters feel useful, and high end raid gear isn't bought on the market board.