Crafting in General - OMG Fix It

[Valen]

Dear SE,

I am very glad to hear the words "Materia System". I think that, if done right, this can add a whole new dimension to the game. Very glad as well that everyone here seems to be enjoying the idea also.

I hope you guys can do a materia system for FFXIV as awesome as the one found in FFVII (albeit I am sure it will be fundamentally different than that one, given the fact that FFVII character abilities were all defined by materia, whereas in FFXIV we have classes/jobs).

I strongly suggest that you guys look into the possibility of "leveling materia" (as we did on FFVII). I have no love for grinding, don't get me wrong (although it is very fun sometimes), but the idea of having materia that has different levels and different effects for each level (even if it is just extra bonuses) is compelling and engaging. It would give everyone a renewed sense of purpose, seeking new and rare materia, leveling them, watching them reach MASTER status and then having them multiply (if I remember well, once a materia reached MASTER level in FFVII it "reproduced" and gave off a new level 1 materia of the same type). Maybe MASTER materia would give access to some nice new skills and enhancements, something to truly look forward to.

Being able to customize weapons and armor with materia that fits the situation adds a nice strategic dimension to game, one that is much needed as things are. Please make materia somehow swappable after it is added to the weapon/armor, that way we can build more strategies around the system. Also, having to buy the same weapon and other materia again just because I decided the materia combination I put there isn't what I want would be awful (same would happen when you upgrade weapon: you would lose all the materia that is "glued" to the previous weapon). Swapping and customizing materia on equipment (even if that requires a crafter) is a must for the system to be enjoyable.

With the leveling of materia we would also have to think about finding room in weapon/armor slots for the materia we want to work upon, even if it is not ideal in the combat situation. Maybe some will say "I don't want to spend endless nights grinding AP for 20.000 different materia", but I remember clearly the sense of accomplishment I had in FFVII when I my first materia reached MASTER level (of course it was a Cure materia hehe). I would very much like to feel that excitement again, to look forward to it. Hopefully others will feel the same way.

In closing, thank you for the wonderful news about the Materia System. I hope you guys can perfect the system soon and bring it to Eorzea!

Yours sincerely,
Valen