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

[Alexis_Arteme]

Releasing more character customization options - both at creation and after - would go lightyears toward satisfying the need for 'individuality.' Hair styles, faces, sliders, etc etc etc all go toward a truly unique look. And none of it involves stats or balance or anything.

[AlphaDragoon]

Releasing more character customization options - both at creation and after - would go lightyears toward satisfying the need for 'individuality.' Hair styles, faces, sliders, etc etc etc all go toward a truly unique look. And none of it involves stats or balance or anything.

This. A million times this. Game needs a lot more hair/facial options, and it REALLY needs body sliders. They don't have to be extreme like Aion's where you could have freaky looking things running around, but something like Phantasy Star Universe (or better, like the alpha of Phantasy Star Online 2) would be great.

I also liked the idea of "item remodeling" like Aion that someone brought up on the first page. For example, I love the way the black Velveteen Gown looks, but I can't wear it with my class. But if I could remodel my Toadskin Harness to make it look like the Velveteen Gown, it'd be awesome.

[Holland]

Releasing more character customization options - both at creation and after - would go lightyears toward satisfying the need for 'individuality.' Hair styles, faces, sliders, etc etc etc all go toward a truly unique look. And none of it involves stats or balance or anything.

That is if you tend to run around naked. after everyone is covered by plates of armor, harnesses, trousers, hats, caps, masks that are all the same because thats the only best gear available, then uniqueness goes the way of the Dodo.

[Alexis_Arteme]

That is if you tend to run around naked. after everyone is covered by plates of armor, harnesses, trousers, hats, caps, masks that are all the same because thats the only best gear available, then uniqueness goes the way of the Dodo.

Not really. I've played games with it, and it's there. Enough for my artist's eye, anyway. It's a simple solution that doesn't require a 'system overhaul' like every other damned adjustment.

[Holland]

I think it would be better to say both are needed for uniqueness, instead of one or the other, More character customization options was already confirmed to be coming. Glad to hear they are extending this to gear too.

[Phenidate]

Eh... why not use a modified costume armor system like some other MMOs use... but with the twist being you can only substitute gear models of the same class.

For example, if you are wearing a shirt for stats, you could swap in a half robe for the appearance.

[Alexis_Arteme]

Yes, I believe the theme here is "more". I can't remember an MMO that added more original character creation options after the originals, ever. WoW kind of did, but they just swapped the hairstyles around from other races.

I would really, really like to see that done in XIV. Just give us "more" to work with. A bigger palette.

[Corrderio]

Greetings! This thread seems like a good place to drop another major posts from Yoshida, as it deals heavily on the armor and equipment in FFXIV.

Wow, I really do not like the sound of this.

I'm all for challenges but I really have a problem with how he wants to divide people into hardcores and casuals. And catering to hardcores then dumbing down their content for casuals once they get new stuff seems like a pretty ass backwards concept. Seriously WTF @ the admire statement.

And more crap drop rates? What is with SE and souless grinding? I'd rather be rewarded for my effort, not a random number generator having a 5-10% chance of landing in my favor. Doing an event months after you have it down to a science just for a rare item isn't fun, it's boring as hell.

[Kraggy]

Greetings! This thread seems like a good place to drop another major posts from Yoshida, as it deals heavily on the armor and equipment in FFXIV.

Of all online games, the MMO genre has thrived from everyone playing them for extremely long periods of time. Within MMORPGs, being able to individualize a character is a very important element that makes people continue to play for long periods of time.

Putting on rare equipment that other players don’t have, boasting your style by wearing equipment combinations others hadn’t even thought about, becoming the adventurer you dreamed of drawing a sword engulfed in flames! I am sure the wands that are shining with light that high level character equip will be a strong incentive to level up, clear content, and aim to be a great mage! (We will implement these kinds of weapons sometime soon lol.)

I know you won't read this Yoshi but not everyone is a phat lewt whore who feels the need to pose in Jeuno, Whitegate, Ul'dah, wherever thinking we look impressive.

For some of us gear is a MEANS TO AN END not the END itself, looks barely matter at all.

In any case, several MMOs have worked round the conundrum you seem to be having by the simple expedient of having a 'cosmetic' gear set that those vain enough to want to try [and fail] to look like that special snowflake can do so without the designers having to worry about the much more important aspect of the only thing that matters about gear: its stats.

[jones6]

This game is starting to feel more and more like WoW to me. I am not a fan of the you should envy the guy and want to be like the hardcore guy mentality with shiny weapons. Logged into WoW the other day, so many glowing weapons and huge mounts it was just ridiculous. I thought I was getting away from that crowd to play a more open world game instead of linear questing and hardcore players only endgame. Maybe we can get a gearscore checker to find out the most hardcore players. I really don't want defined roles I want to define my own role.