#FFXIVHEALERSTRIKE

[ForsakenRoe]

I think that, given we're going to a completely new part of the world with each expansion, it'd have made a bit more sense to have a bit of divergence in the aesthetics for each Artifact Set. I think the biggest winner for DT sets is SMN, and specifically because they actually made it look like a fusion of what we know of SMN, and the Turali fashion direction. So for something like WHM, I'm fine with 'white robe with red trim' because that's the WHM 'thing', but I think it could have stood to have a little bit more... variety? Compared to other WHM sets. For example, a more 'nature' inspired design, a more 'shamanistic' look, or even just having some extra details like some vines/flowers growing on the dress.

If you gave me a picture of most of the job's AF sets, I could tell you which expansion it's from. But for healers, I'd have varying degrees of struggle. Some of the SCH ones feel super samey (probably because they're all olive green), AST feels like it's had the same set since Stormblood (I miss the HW aesthetic) and SGE feels like the 'its the same picture' meme with the two sets it got so far. Meanwhile, the one time it'd have made sense to have an exact 1:1, the Monster Hunter collab, and the Rathalos armour we get from it, SE says 'nah we thought it'd be more interesting to make a new armour set appearance, like it's 'what would Eorzean armoursmiths come up with using Rathalos materials', instead of just copying MH'. So they CAN come up with 'unique set, influenced by the location it's made', they just... choose not to, for most AF sets?

I can't wait to see the 100 BLU set when that finally gets updated that far, because as it stands, I expect it to look very similar to the sets we have already, and have zero aesthetic connection to the Whalaqee

Edit: I suppose the full swap over to 'haha twinkly lights' aesthetic for WHM means any references to nature are out the window, but an idea just came to mind: Imagine, IDK if there's a term for it, but basically, imagine a WHM set that has some vines growing on it as a 'detail'. But also, when a Lily blooms in the Lily Gauge, it also blooms on your character's armour. I'd have liked to see such a thing from the Abyssos weapons (eg the MCH weapon's fire getting more explosive while in Hypercharge, the BRD bow lighting up each of the 3 fires depending on your Pitch Perfect stack count, the WAR axe flaring up with each Fell Cleave, etc), but alas, probably too much engine work or something