Discussion: User Created UI Addons?

[Reiterpallasch]

-- Number Crunching: It can be interesting or even fun to optimize for numbers. However, do we want a game where that is necessary? So far, every Final Fantasy game I played did not care if I optimized for equipment/skills/whatever. I would either win or loose. If I loose, get something better. If I win, then I'm good enough to carry on to the next adventure. FF is not a combat simulator. It's a story telling game where children save the world from evil do-ers.

That's essentially saying that the game does care for optimized gear/skill/etc. If you can't win, then you need to improve until you can. Obviously, better gear should equal better performance. If it doesn't, then it's a player issue. The issue is that most people can't distinguish between a bad player or bad gear based on the numbers alone. I myself would much rather group with a good player who has bad gear, than a bad player that has good gear. The good player will eventually become great, but the bad one will still just be bad.

I'd certainly hope people want a game where it's necessary to optimize for numbers, otherwise you'd be able to wear anything to kill anything, completely negating the need to ever progress in the game. Lots of games follow "Kill mob > get gear > kill harder mob > get better gear > kill hardest mob > get best gear", and MMOs are typically not all that different.

[Asiaine]

That's essentially saying that the game does care for optimized gear/skill/etc. ..

Please note: Better does not mean optimized.
Upgrading from level 40 sword to level 50 sword is better.
Upgrading sword to the best possible sword for that slot in order to take advantange of maximing each stat is 'optmizing'.

So far, Final Fantasy has only cared: Do you have a decent enough sword for this area.
It has not said: You have to have the best gear in order to finish this quest.