Itemization in this Game is One-Dimensional

[ApolloGenX]

See, to me, iLVL just nuked your idea to oblivion. The idea that ilvl determines what you can enter, and how you gear up, pretty much forces gear to be linear. IF I'm wearing an acc-cap set at i70, why would I think about going for that new ilvl 80 axe with no ACC? because of the iLVL.

Well, there will be min reqs regardless... but it used to be that you had to have a certain level of resist... or a certain amount of hps for a fight- those kinds of things. When fights rely on more tailored requirements, not a flat Ilevel, then you have more flexibility- out of necessity.

However, I tend to agree that Ilevel kind of messes things up. However, when you have a large variety of stats, such as resists, additional effects of various kinds- Ilevel becomes fuzzier... because it isn't a 1:1 stat comparison. Sure, you still have the people that require Ilevel X gear for fights- but if you could have that X level and still not meet the hp or resist threshold, then you have to look beyond iLevel to fight specifics.

[rabbitzero]

Give it time, most games start slow with gear choices, but even WoW, which has been out for close to ten years is basically the same, go for top gear that is available. Once vanity system comes out, i think that will help a lot with everyone looking the same, even though stats might be the same.

You can't really blame companies though, it's players driving it. If there was more horizontal progression, where iLevel capped at say 70 or so, but different effects on items or whatever, players would theorycraft which gave best deeps or what, and if you didn't have that, no group for you. It's why WoW got rid of the old talent trees, it was just an illusion of choice, when everyone pretty much went on elitist jerks for the "best build" anyway.

[ApolloGenX]

Give it time, most games start slow with gear choices, but even WoW, which has been out for close to ten years is basically the same, go for top gear that is available.

Yes, I believe WoW gear actually got much simpler over time. Instead of choices now, they have "sets"... and basically, you just get your "set"... so everyone wears the same "sets" and looked the same until vanity slots happened.

That is fine, but then gear might as well be tokens, while there is fashion gear that you use for your vanity slots. It really kind of disconnects the acquisition of stat related gear and appearance/distinction. That's fine if you want a game where tanks run around in swimsuits, and dps runs around in furry animal costumes... but to me that really just ruins immersion and makes characters feel like paper dress up dolls... I don't know... personal preference.

[Tupsi]

http://ffxiv.mozk-tabetai.com/ < 1.23's Itemization. Certain Armor/Weapons (especially Artificat wise) were much more..obvious as to why they took work to get. While you had gear that replaced it, WHM's AF and original Dark Light enhancing cure and regen? Stuff like that made the stuff seemed so much more worth the work lol. Heck you didn't "need" gear swap, but you had BRDs swapping in-out of gear to enhance songs (!) since the game only penalized Active Mode gear switching.

Oh you could also switch classes in a dungeon when not in a boss fight (or regular fight) so you could even repair everyone's stuff mid run. Just food for thought.

Give it time, most games start slow with gear choices.

This is a 3 year old game and it reused most assets from previous versions - Even yoshi said it's been 3 years since the original version lol. It's more like they're starting over in order to go into a different direction.

[Galliano]

SE stated in the past that vertical progression is the route they were going to take in regards to gear in this game so I doubt we will see what you are asking for OP. With that being said I fully agree with you and would love a chance to mix and match gear sets depending on the encounter I'm going to face. I further agree that I would also dislike macro gear swapping to return but would like to see some variation in stats that would add diversity to our gear and the way we look.

[Raagnar]

False choices just make for poor players. In MMO there is typically a right and a wrong way to do things with very little true customization. If they add things like mog dmg proc your base weapon dmg goes down for balance issues and now you rely on something that doesn't kick in all the time for the sake of variety.

Lets take stat allocation for example. BLM spec anything other then INT: no solid benefits from other stats make this a false choice, INT is always the right answer until they change the game. Please just remove stat allocation.

[Tupsi]

False choices just make for poor players.

No. Players with lack of skill makes for poor players - This is true in any game. How many times have people RQ'd due to said lack of skills or even general comprehension? Lets take Labyrinth of the Ancients for example. No Horizontal gear choices here.

[Versiroth]

Vanity should solve most of the issues. It allows you to wear and use whatever you want to. As others have said, it's not like you ever have much choice anyway. You're always forced to choose whatever is deemed to be the "best" regardless.

[ApolloGenX]

Vanity should solve most of the issues. It allows you to wear and use whatever you want to. As others have said, it's not like you ever have much choice anyway. You're always forced to choose whatever is deemed to be the "best" regardless.

The "best" is clear in a numerical progression system. It is not as clear in a system that uses varied effects in addition to stats.

For example - In EQ (Luclin), I traded a decent stat neck for a neck with negative hps, but it had some stats and flowing thought (mp regen)... I made a choice to give up some stats to increase my longevity as a healer. I couldn't compare stats 1:1.. it was a style issue. I might give up stats on something to get mana preservation... or enhanced healing... or improved range.

When you only have numerical values, things are black and white. When you have more, things become gray and interesting.

The problem is that for a system like that to work, developers have to create many varied items.... and it's easier to just go the lazy route and use the numerical progression, make "sets" and call it a day.

Heck even in Planes of Power, there were the ornamental "sets" and the elemental "sets" (First and Second more powerful set)... but those weren't the "best"... they were just good sets for raiding tiers... the tiers dropped lots of items...different items in the same tier that were different with different effects. You had choices.

(I kept my epic through Velious and Luclin to PoP... and My prayer shawl through Luclin to PoP....)

[Jennika]

Didn't they say they would possibly branch out with new stats and such after they were satisfied with the balance of the classes? Let's hope so. Adding passive abilities and other things would also make crafting more relevant (assuming they let us craft decent gear).