Job/Merit points? (Idea)

[Welsper59]

Only if it were implemented in a way that actually promotes choice and diversity with enhancements rather than just a set, clear path.

However, SE doesn't seem to like integrating any real choice into FFXIV and would rather have more homogenized jobs. I think with the current game design, we would just end up with everyone allocating merit points identically for every job, the same way we do with stats (for the most part).

Choice doesn't exactly exist when it comes to making your character stronger for your own goals. A clear and essentially set path is always going to exist when it comes to the numbers game. The only actual choice that does exist, however, is which set path you want to take. Math destroys the idea of "choice" when it comes to MMORPGs and picking what would be considered the "best" option. Would you rather put points into things that help you solo? PvP? Raid? Those are your choices. From my own experience with these things, the only one that tends to have the most freedom is the solo, and occasionally PvP, approach.

Plus, unless it were purely aesthetic benefits, bonuses to a character must have some sort of appeal to even bother with. The options

- It's having nothing of noteworthy value, e.g. Slightly increases resistance to petrification (the path that has the most freedom of equal choice without imbalance)
- Having some useless options and some decent/good options to choose from (obvious path is obvious)
- Having all decent/good options that would likely end up making the job OP, e.g. reduce GCD/CD, haste effects, stat boosts, etc (parsers will determine which is most worthwhile, so again a set path)

So unless you'd rather they included something generally pointless, you're going to follow some cookie cutter to perform optimally. It's inevitable in every game that involves output performance with customization options.

Having said all that though, I am for the idea of merits. While the choice thing that you're talking about and wanting is not a realistic possibility, the idea that we're not wasting our time doing things along the way (like killing mobs in a dungeon of any level), at least becomes rewarding in its own way.

[Tracewood]

Math destroys the idea of "choice" when it comes to MMORPGs and picking what would be considered the "best" option.

Well I suppose I was naive enough to forget about that detail. Then also remembered how FFXI endgame became that "Must have XXX job with this setup". It's a shame though, I think even for a while people only bought BRDs, BLM, and PLDs to ARR endgame for before SE fixed that now that I had all day to think about this.

Still though, could there be something we could do with our mains? Maybe instead of merit points some kind of spendable token we could spend on something like glamour items, furnishings, minions, mounts, etc. Something to work for at least.

[Khalithar]

Math destroys the idea of "choice" when it comes to MMORPGs and picking what would be considered the "best" option.

This statement is absolutely true and bears repeating. I think a lot people asking for more options forget this.