Specialist Recipees: Why do the developers keep listening to bad requests?

[Joronas]

There are no issues with specializations being enough so that you can craft any recipe for that class. No one does. Saying that we don't want new crafters to be able to craft is completely incorrect. EVERYONE thinks that specializations should be made useful.

What most people have an issue with is being told "no, your months of effort and grind mean little or nothing for classes 4-8". With the cap of 3 specializations, we are being told that we've wasted time. Remember, you CANNOT ADD A 4th SPECIALIZATION! If those buy new soul of the crafters let you add a 4th spec, then you'd have a point, right now, you don't. You can't have a 4th specialization. CANNOT. I don't know how much simpler I can make it.

And taking away the ability to omnicraft is blatantly taking something away from people. Which in turn is worse then then forcing new crafters to level all the crafting classes. Fix the specialists. Give them USEFUL powers and traits. Don't force people into using that awful system just to be able to craft.

[KleeneOnigiri]

They are not taking anything away, since you can change your 3 specializations. No one stops you from changing your specializations around as much as you want.
And usually, you don't gear up every crafter class at the same time. You focus on one, two or three classes. Then you keep on going for the next ones. You are able to do the same thing with specializations.

Or do you go and buy/craft every main weapon for all 8 classes first, then to the chest armor and so on?

[Joronas]

It takes over a week to change a specialization, in which you lose over a week's progress on everything else you are doing. This is not some trivial side quest or even just a heavy mats & crafting investment. It's a vicious gate. And that's even assuming that specialist recipes DON'T REQUIRE STAYING SPECIALIST. Which is an assumption the size of Coerthas Western Highlands, and one I'm not willing to make.

So yes, adding specialist recipes are taking something away from the people who are dedicated to crafting. And the fact that people don't see it is depressing and shows how little critical thinking goes on.

[Fenral]

Uh, the recipes aren't even out yet and you're already crying over how they've been "taken" from you?

How entitled are you?

[Joronas]

It's a thread saying "these are a bad idea, DON'T DO THEM".

So ... yes ... I'm explaining WHY IT IS A BAD IDEA.

And ... if wanting your time investment to not be retroactively devalued is "entitled" in your book, you need to get over your whole lowest common denominator thing.

[MN_14]

I think it might be a bit early to complain about specialist only recipes at the moment. Although we might not have the ability to craft every recipe at one time, it might not be too bad if they are limited to say intermediate products (like the desynth products required for zodiac items from 2.45) or airship specific items.

I do think that specialization needs a complete overhaul however. The current system is supposed to help crafters who don't want to level many classes to 50, but it doesn't do a great job of it because it's been designed to complement cross class abilities as well. I think that it would be better if specialization locked you out of using cross class abilities but provided abilities that are powerful enough for a single class crafter to effectively HQ an item.

[Joronas]

Treat it like jobs. 5 cross class abilities only, but each class has some interesting specialist only abilities. NOT ALL THE SAME ONES. Change the class locked armor to specialist armor that gives some advantages to specialists (free company style), and general armor for non specialists.

But that would take some effort and planning.

It would, however, make specialization useful for those who haven't leveled everything, interesting, and if there were traits that modified crafting (bonus to quality/progression? Ability to create doubles? Make up something! Don't just do all the same, make it interesting and versatile!) ... then it would be meaningful even for omnicrafters -- and you'd probably see them take it.

[ElHeggunte]

It's a thread saying "these are a bad idea, DON'T DO THEM".

So ... yes ... I'm explaining WHY IT IS A BAD IDEA.

And ... if wanting your time investment to not be retroactively devalued is "entitled" in your book, you need to get over your whole lowest common denominator thing.

This thread is full if crying about a "bad idea" when we don't know anything about the changes yet. SE hasn't given us a shred of detail for what's to come so the amount of complaining is completely unwarranted. People are just letting their imaginations run wild and getting worked up over mere speculation. You would think SE released a 400-page manifesto detailing exactly how they intend to fuck everyone over with the specialization changes instead of what we got in reality, which was a little blurb stating they think the specialization system needs work and they're looking into making adjustments.

[Joronas]

"we're looking at making adjustments, including specialist recipes"

Don't misrepresent the opposition. It's to the bolded underlined part. The first part everyone agrees with.

[Gyson]

I think it might be a bit early to complain about specialist only recipes at the moment. Although we might not have the ability to craft every recipe at one time, it might not be too bad if they are limited to say intermediate products (like the desynth products required for zodiac items from 2.45) or airship specific items.

Actually, this is the perfect time to complain about it.

Why? Because apparently the developers have been listening to complaints about the specialists system not being "special" enough and are considering changing it. Opinions offered after the fact (i.e. after they've decided to beef up specialization, have put development time into it, and have released those efforts to the players) will be (comparatively) much less effective.

The time to give feedback on the idea is now. Looking at the quote below, they are "thinking of upgrading it some more" and "considering specialized recipes". Nothing here is a done deal, and if crafters are hoping to influence that decision the time to speak up is now, not later.

Regarding the Specialist System

We're aware of requests for specialized recipes for specialist, and more features in which you can feel like a specialist. Currently, we feel the effects of specialist isn’t standing out much, so we're thinking of upgrading it some more. We’re considering specialized recipes for each specialist, and upgrades to specialist, so please hang in there.