Itemization in this Game is One-Dimensional

[KHShadowrunner]

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.

Ultimately, Min/Maxers will destroy it anyways. People will (and thank you to those who do) meticulously calculate the best combination and people will, for the better part, focus on it. The key would be prioritizing what are the -required- stats, and building a builder that allows you to cross-combo any gear (regardless of ilvl) that allows you to meet those requierments. Say, ACC is pretty much the only required one (Ok, HP is also required). Plug those in, and come up with x number of sets that meet that requirement.

EDIT: or to go a different route. Nothing is stopping you from using the Moogle weapons. Relic +1 took most people to the end of the end, so i'm sure a moogle weapon will take you two steps away from it, so why not use it until you absolutely have to use the other one? When I get tired of "iron suit" tanking, I take of the body piece and use Hoplite gear, just because i think it looks better. Go for it, nothing stops you! (even the iLVL requirement doesn't get close).

Plus there's always vanity in 2.2 (hopefully...)

[KamikazeMan]

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.

Ultimately, Min/Maxers will destroy it anyways. People will (and thank you to those who do) meticulously calculate the best combination and people will, for the better part, focus on it. The key would be prioritizing what are the -required- stats, and building a builder that allows you to cross-combo any gear (regardless of ilvl) that allows you to meet those requierments. Say, ACC is pretty much the only required one (Ok, HP is also required). Plug those in, and come up with x number of sets that meet that requirement.

Aren't you allowed to switch gear inside instances?

[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.