Specialist System in 3.0

[Kiara]

They have already stated numerous times in interviews and the Live Letter that the intent is to allow people to be able to craft in one or a few classes without being forced to level all of them. They have not said a single thing about any intent to restrict crafters. I don't know why we are still having this kind of discussion.

In short: Specialist = casual crafters can pick 3 classes to not suck in, not that hardcore crafters can only access recipes from 3 classes.

Good points Giantslayer.

I'm still skeptical, but I really hope that this Specialist system turns out the way you're saying, and it sounds like it might be, from the latest Live Letter. 2 key things:

1. I completely agree that our current Crafting was very "harsh" for players who didn't have Max Crafts in All Crafting Classes (to have access to all the Cross-Class Skills), and those that couldn't afford to do Penta-Melds / Quad-Melds for their gear. (I have all Crafts maxed a long time ago, but I still agree with this; I know plenty of players that got discouraged and decided to just give up on Crafting because of this.)

2. So if the new System is akin to players gaining "Specialist Skills" that is the equivalent (or maybe even slightly more potent) of our Cross Class Skills for those of us that are Omni Crafters, then, I'm fine with that. For example, if, say, the Specialist System grants a Crafter (who didn't Max all Crafts) to get a "Rapid Synthesis II" or like a "Byregot's Blessing II" type of skill, where it's as if they "earned" Byregot's Blessing, but without needing to take that separate class to 50, I'm fine w/ that.

It lets players who can't spend all that time / money to be competent. Kinda like the new Artisan's Gear they introduced for Trade-In Items (No Need to Materia Meld). It's not as good as gear you Multi-Meld, but it's close enough that players who can't afford it can craft higher level things.


Only time can tell, but I think if it's along these lines (above), I'd be relieved and think it's cool to make it more accessible to players.

If you look at the other side: The Battle equivalent would've been forcing all DoW / DoM to level All Jobs to 50, to get "required" Cross Class Skills to be "legit" in Final Coil of Bahamut, etc. That would be brutal and unfair, forcing a player who might enjoy, say, Scholar, to have to level ALL Jobs to 50, get all the Cross-Class skills and then be relevant.

[Sibyll]

If you look at the other side: The Battle equivalent would've been forcing all DoW / DoM to level All Jobs to 50, to get "required" Cross Class Skills to be "legit" in Final Coil of Bahamut, etc. That would be brutal and unfair, forcing a player who might enjoy, say, Scholar, to have to level ALL Jobs to 50, get all the Cross-Class skills and then be relevant.

If it weren't for Jobs limiting cross class skills this is exactly how raiding would be. Honestly, it's already like this to an extent. Healers need Swiftcast. DPS need Invigorate/Blood for Blood. If it weren't for Jobs people would all be running around with the same ten cross class skills like crafters currently do.

oh everyone ends up with the same

You mean like the current crafting system?

[Pterois]

You mean like the current crafting system?

Yes... but no. You really don't have much of a choice with cross class skill, you pretty much need all of em. More like how the desynth system started and everyone went GSM because it was the obvious choice but they did level things off a bit once they realized how one sided it was.

[Sibyll]

Yes... but no. You really don't have much of a choice with cross class skill, you pretty much need all of em. More like how the desynth system started and everyone went GSM because it was the obvious choice but they did level things off a bit once they realized how one sided it was.

That was the point I was trying to make. Classes are homogenized. If you can do an 80 Durability 4* recipe on a GSM then you can do it on the other 7. I'd like to see more diversity. Similar to how Good Monk /= Good Dragoon or Good White Mage /= Good Scholar I'd like to see Good DoH /= Good all other DoHs.

Desynth was horribly lop sided in favor of GSM and to an extent still is. Between Crafted accessories and Desynth I get the impression the devs have a real boner for GSM. And I'm not saying make as bad as GSM the rest, I'm saying make the rest on par with GSM. I'd like to see BSM make weapons that could be relevant as a raid weapon. I'd like to see crafted armor be useful beyond the first few weeks before people get their tome gear.

[RiceisNice]

...

Really though, it'd still be tough to change how crafting works for each individual class given that they all run on most of the same baseline abilities, and trying to make crafts that cater to those classes leave much to be desired (such as LTW's waste nots or ALC's TotT). In the end it's just falling onto the same priority/flowchart.

Having recipes exclusive to the specializations is personally enough for me, given that each one has something to bring.

[Sibyll]

Really though, it'd still be tough to change how crafting works for each individual class given that they all run on most of the same baseline abilities, and trying to make crafts that cater to those classes leave much to be desired (such as LTW's waste nots or ALC's TotT). In the end it's just falling onto the same priority/flowchart.

Having recipes exclusive to the specializations is personally enough for me, given that each one has something to bring.

True, at the least I'd like to see Crafts/Control treated as something more than accuracy caps for crafters. Gets a little old when itemization is hitting those two numbers and then eating CP food.

As for the recipes, I really don't mind exclusive recipes so long as we don't get Alchemists with 5* Elemental Ward potions.

[RiceisNice]

...

Control does help by-the-point to an extent; Its just that in our current crafting environment it doesn't matter much (due to our quality successes hinging on RNG anyway) as well as CP. Craftsmanship is static though with how it's tied to progression, I can't really come up with much.

They could make some craftable equipment that is untradable, but is raid quality/unmeldible. That's where the 3 specializations come into play for what class you want to gear (such as LTW and CRP for my bard). Weapons would always be tied to ones like ALC, CRP and BSM, and all classes have gear from different crafts/repair classes. Again what to watch out for is GSM and the accessories...