Dear weapon designers, books are the most boring weapon

[hagare]

That is also a good point, given the inside of a book is very visible from the player's perspective.

In my memory the most different might some of the Far Eastern ones with Doman writing, but other than that, they don't really go very far in that aspect.

I distinctly remember one book has a different content. But I can't remember which one it was.
The usual one is the geometry pictures.

[Midareyukki]

I distinctly remember one book has a different content. But I can't remember which one it was.
The usual one is the geometry pictures.

Some Stormblood books have Hingan brush strokes on them. I think there's a PvP one with such an effect.

[hagare]

Some Stormblood books have Hingan brush strokes on them. I think there's a PvP one with such an effect.

I see. Interesting.
Book designs CAN be varied. But they don't seem to be too interested in venturing too much outside of the standard box form.

here are some of it

[Raikai]

I see. Interesting.
Book designs CAN be varied. But they don't seem to be too interested in venturing too much outside of the standard box form.

here are some of it

That book shape on the left is beautiful. Again, departing from a square shape puts a lot character into the design, and we have very few books that go beyond that.

Another interesting concept would be investing into really robust spell effects instead of the book itself. Think like a plain book, but when opened an ethereal Egi would pop from the pages? Or the book's diagrams are actually a rift and an Arhiman voidsent pops from there and keeps flying above the opened book? Due to the casting animations, probably this one would necessitate the creation of a new book type model, to allow an attached element (like RDM's focus that is animated separately)... Well, Monks got THREE distinct weapon templates (as seen in the contest itself), I don't see why other jobs can't have that as well.

[hagare]

That book shape on the left is beautiful. Again, departing from a square shape puts a lot character into the design, and we have very few books that go beyond that.

Another interesting concept would be investing into really robust spell effects instead of the book itself. Think like a plain book, but when opened an ethereal Egi would pop from the pages? Or the book's diagrams are actually a rift and an Arhiman voidsent pops from there and keeps flying above the opened book? Due to the casting animations, probably this one would necessitate the creation of a new book type model, to allow an attached element (like RDM's focus that is animated separately)... Well, Monks got THREE distinct weapon templates (as seen in the contest itself), I don't see why other jobs can't have that as well.

The square start should be a guide, not a necessity.
I say if it has a spine and a place to hold it with fingers, it can work as a book.

And yes, your idea would work as well.
The only problem would be how it works with all the animations in regards to how the weapon is held.

[Raikai]

The square start should be a guide, not a necessity.
I say if it has a spine and a place to hold it with fingers, it can work as a book.

And yes, your idea would work as well.
The only problem would be how it works with all the animations in regards to how the weapon is held.

Yeah, because the hovering entity would look really bad being attached to the axis of the book, being moved alongside its animations, that's why to execute this they would need to create a Type-B weapon model.

[MonsutaMan]

FFXIV places too much emphasis on weapons. The fact a Warrior cannot wield a sword, despite doing it in other FF titles is insane......

Just make it like Champions Online, your weapon is an accessory to your powers. Powers dictate your role. You can wield guns as a healer, fist as a tank, or staves as a dd/dps.

(I feel like I already typed this and my power went out or something.......)

[Raikai]

Hah, sorting my old files, I found the rough sketch from the book idea I had planned for the contest before realizing I couldn't participate:


- Small box made of ornate wood, cushioned inside. Opens sort-of like a book
- From inside, big crystal pops out, floating with some small ones
- Idea for dyes is to let the wood remain with its original color and the crystal is the thing you can dye, alongside with the cushioned lining of the box.

[Kurando]

I only wish SCH and SMN had unique weapons. Sure one of them can keep all the books (grimoires/codexes), but give another something completely different. Maybe Scrolls (akin to elder scrolls, or far east types), you still read and write on them like books, or even something crazy like a Magic Quill. The quill would write things in the air using aether, so it wouldn't need a solid object to write on, but it would be neat.

[Deveryn]

I'm pretty sure we're stuck with books as they are. Any change in weapon means going back and changing way too many items, along with all the related animations.