In what direction are armor, weapons, and other equipment heading in the future?

[Estellios]

Uh.. where did it say the armory system is going away?

I'm glad they are heading in the direction of mixing function with appearance. I'm sure most people hated wearing Walahra Turban/Optical hat when they were THE hats to wear. Opening up multiple avenues for getting powerful gear without having to look like a jackass or the same as other people sounds good to me. Crafters will stay relevant too if this pans out.

[Lienn]

Uh.. where did it say the armory system is going away?

I'm glad they are heading in the direction of mixing function with appearance. I'm sure most people hated wearing Walahra Turban/Optical hat when they were THE hats to wear. Opening up multiple avenues for getting powerful gear without having to look like a jackass or the same as other people sounds good to me. Crafters will stay relevant too if this pans out.

By the time that, to properly change a class, you have to go withdraw/deposit gear the armory system will be dead. And this is what class/rank restrictions will cause. Because no one will play a class naked so, even if he can change class right where he is, he won't by the simple fact the inventory does not support the burden of 20+ classes with each one having its own restricted gear.

And the oddiest point is...if the restrictions are so others can identify your class just by looking to you...why a command to hide weapon? The weapon define the class...you JUST needed to look at the weapon...

But after reading it i guess they should also add the "XXXXX examined you." like we had in FFXI...this way people can count how many losers his brand new e-peen caught the attention while he was AFK. :/

[Estellios]

But they said there would be a mix of restricted and nonrestricted gear, as well as more retainers and bags (or a bag size increase?)

[Meimei]

Why not add something like vanity equipment slots? Promoting both individuality and practicality at the same time. Look exactly how you want without sacrificing the valuable equipment you are really wearing.

Considering how we have options to hide our headgear and weapon, without actually losing the bonuses they provide, I don't see how this would be beyond the realm of possibility.

[Lienn]

But they said there would be a mix of restricted and nonrestricted gear, as well as more retainers and bags (or a bag size increase?)

"The restriction mentioned above materializes when a particular equipment is crafted with its “performance geared towards a specific class.” The overhaul on recipes this time is meant to add variety and allow crafters to craft equipment for general purposes or with certain classes in mind. The majority of the basic equipment will now have level recommendations but no class restrictions. However, with the implementation of materia craft and the eventual expansion of its system coupled with the competition over drop items from new battle content, the chances of the ultimate equipment being created are very much real. An item that matches the greatest level of freedom with extraordinary performance just might be born."


He will generalize favor system, making certain generic armors suitable to more classes (like making shirts All classes or harnesses favoring Disciple of War and Land instead of only the current classes) but in exchange there will be rank restriction.

I really hope it was just a misunderstanding of my part and that the common crafted gear stays with optimal/favor system...i myself even suggested them this...having class restriction lessened and keeping optimal rank, but when you start adding class-specific materias to a common gear (like adding a materia that "Enhances Sentinel effect" to a leather subligar) having, as side effect, some restrictions (if the materia is specific for GLA then obviously the subligar would become restricted to GLA instead of just favoring GLA)...but the more i read the less i believe that it will be like this.

[Estellios]

Read it again, level recommendations, not restrictions. Pretty sure that's Optimal ranks but the gear will be All Classes, customizable towards specific classes using the colorant stuff so we have more appearance options.

[Lienn]

Read it again, level recommendations, not restrictions. Pretty sure that's Optimal ranks but the gear will be All Classes, customizable towards specific classes using the colorant stuff so we have more appearance options.

Btw...where did you read about dying being class-related? It would be even worse IMO...while (once again) i suggested color being class specific, it was only regarding NM gear...like having Conquistador Elmo favoring the classes that can equip it and having the colored version class-specific...more like a "vintage" version of NM drops...good lord the more i read the less i want to see this 1.19 ><

[Renshi]

I dunno... I like the fact that Notorious Monsters' and Dungeons' Gear has some restriction with the classes and favors. I prefer it that what WE can craft can be weared by anyone paying attention to the Optimal Rank/Level and the Favors, which is what we'll get, as I see.

In itself, this patch is becoming pretty good day after day! I can't wait to touch it so I can constructively suggest on some things =)

[Estellios]

@Lienn: Dying isn't going to be class-related. In fact they are making it so all dyes within a given craft can be used on all materials (ie: red cotton dye will become usable on all types of cloth).

Back when Yoshi-P posted about the craft simplifications he also posted a recipe for some gear that used a new "colorant" item, that would alter the finished product's stats, with the example he gave altering the item's stats towards tanks. We'll probably be able to use colorants to change this All Classes gear into more specific sets like DoW/DoM, or things like Tanks/DDs/Healers/Nukers to get stats we like with the appearance we want.

[Lienn]

I dunno... I like the fact that Notorious Monsters' and Dungeons' Gear has some restriction with the classes and favors. I prefer it that what WE can craft can be weared by anyone paying attention to the Optimal Rank/Level and the Favors, which is what we'll get, as I see.

In itself, this patch is becoming pretty good day after day! I can't wait to touch it so I can constructively suggest on some things =)

I agree with NM/endgame stuff having restrictions and about common, crafted ones not having. I'd pop you a "like" if wasn't some major discondances regarding 1.19 ^^::