Suggestion Materia - De-Randomize or Add Skill

[Bingo]

Adding multiple materia to a piece of equipment involves a random chance of the entire piece of equipment being trashed. This is a frustrating basis for a system.

I am not opposed to risk/reward, but when no skill is involved, it is frustrating. If I am to take such a large risk, I want to be in the driver's seat, trying to do whatever I can to ensure success. (Not press a button and hope).

This system rewards luck much more than it rewards effort.

If player skill was somehow added to this system, it would seem more reasonable. Alternatively, if the random chance was removed in favor of just needing to provide that many copies of the materia, that would seem fair as well. IE: Instead of a 25% chance to apply the materia, you just have to provide 4 of them.

As it stands, the few players who happen to get lucky gambling will have the best gear. The players who actually invest time and effort into this system (trying to make amazing gear) are still likely to never get that gear.

In this context, raw probability does not work itself out in a way that is fair. It instead, arbitrarily selects winners and losers.

I absolutely love the direction you have been taking with the game, but please consider this. Thank You.

[Invalice_Vangaurd]

Alternatively, if the random chance was removed in favor of just needing to provide that many copies of the materia, that would seem fair as well. IE: Instead of a 25% chance to apply the materia, you just have to provide 4 of them.

I agree with most of what said, aside from the quoted portion. I also hate that luck is so heavily favored, but I do feel the system needs to have some element of chance, yet not as focused on chance as it currently is. Eliminating all chance merely by adding multiple copies of materia seems too simplistic to me, and eliminates all risk. Not to mention, would you need to provide materia that has exactly the same bonus on it?

There needs to be some way for players to increase there chances, instead of mindlessly just attempting to meld over and over again.

[Haru]

I like that idea..
Except for the fact that eventually there will be so much materia that the markets are flooded and people would gladly put up 25 materia's to have that 5th materia 100%

What most people havent realised yet is that boosting the stats on your tools using materia helps the percentage quite a lot.

Instead of 7% for the third you can get it up to 10% with a couple of control materia.

[Bingo]

I agree with most of what said, aside from the quoted portion. I also hate that luck is so heavily favored, but I do feel the system needs to have some element of chance, yet not as focused on chance as it currently is. Eliminating all chance merely by adding multiple copies of materia seems too simplistic to me, and eliminates all risk. Not to mention, would you need to provide materia that has exactly the same bonus on it?

There needs to be some way for players to increase there chances, instead of mindlessly just attempting to meld over and over again.

I agree. The risk makes it more fun. I'm just trying to suggest multiple solutions.

Honestly, a cap on how unlucky you can get could go a long ways. Say if the probability is 2%, and you haven't succeeded on the last 49 tries, the 50th try automatically succeeds. When dealing with a coin flip, an unlucky person will still win within 10 tries or so. When dealing with 2%, and unlucky person could hopelessly spend a thousand.