Changing the Attribute Point / Physical Level System - Something more FLEXIBLE :)

[Kiara]

To: Producer Yoshida and the FF XIV Team,

Regarding Question #8 on your 2nd Player's Poll:

"The bonus point allotment system was intended to be a means by which players could customize their character's individuality. The free distribution of attribute points has given rise to certain problems, however, such as compatibility issues with the Armoury system, and the lowered effectiveness of the attributes themselves. In particular, this lowered effectiveness of attributes also extends its influence to items, and is therefore something that we feel must be rectified. To do so, we are currently looking into the following two options:

1. Removal of the bonus point system, and the addition of automatic allotment of attribute points based on class.
2. Removal of physical levels, and the addition of class-specific allotment of attribute points for each class based on rank.
3. Would you prefer option 1, option 2, or the current system?"


You said you were "surprised" by the results, but I wanted to shed some light on what some of us are feeling about the current Physical Level / Attribute Points System you have now, and why ~85%(!) of us voted to DUMP the current Physical Level System for something else:

1. The current Physical Level System makes it too hard to change Classes when needed.

You have to spend countless HOURS waiting to "Reassign Points" (and you only get a portion of your Attribute Points back) and wait a few more hours and reassign more points, etc., to finally move the points to the proper configuration you want (say, from a Gladiator to a Conjurer).


2. The current system marginalizes Attribute Points / Stat Points: You have to add an enormous amount of Stat Points (Attribute Points) to see a difference (if at all), with the current system.

Adding ~10 to 20 Attribute Points to any Statistic (STR, INT, DEX, etc.) seems to do very little in the game. But that's because you're allowing us to move HUNDREDS of Ability Points with this system. After waiting hours and hours, and finally getting most of your Attribute Points back, how can any system properly balance someone dumping, say, 150 Points into Dexterity (DEX)?

It "feels" like if you add 150 Points into STR, you should be killing weaker monsters for 9999 Damage or something , but instead you get a slight increase.


3. Related to the above, by allowing a system that can allow people to move / add HUNDREDS of Ability Points around, it really makes Equipment Stat (Ability) Bonuses feel useless in comparison:

If I can add 200 Ability Points into DEX, what good is that +5 DEX Ring (Jewelry) really going to do?

Each point of Statistic improvement on equipment should feel special and you should notice a difference in Combat. Right now, these pieces of equipment feel like they do very little, but it's all we have right now.

Suggestions:

• By having a system where you can switch Classes and have most of your Attributes switched over, with *some* Attribute Points to customize your Player, that will make it more fun and easier to change Classes in the game. That's why your Option #2 was the runaway favorite:
  
  "Removal of physical levels, and the addition of class-specific allotment of attribute points for each class based on rank."

So we get some customization, but also have our character easily swapped between different classes without having to wait hours upon hours in the current system.

And, you can now properly *balance* Attribute Points, and make them more meaningful in Combat. It would be nice to see a REAL difference if you just bought a +7 STR (Strength) Ring and saw a marked improvement in damage (not like it is right now, which is hardly noticeable, if at all).

Thanks for listening!

[Mr_Gyactus]

Honestly I don't understand why we need to remove the physical level.
I was thinking 2 different way to have a good result.

1. Easy Easy Easy (Very-very-easy)reset. Every character can reset his point touching a crystal, in a camp or in a city. This works in some other MMO very well.
2. Create a Window, where we can create, save, select, and eventually modify 4-5 different setups of stats. I prefer this model, because I can create my own setup of stats (i.e. "healer) and use it when needed in a party, or create a "DPS" setup when I'm solo.

[Akira]

yea i agree with this take out phys level and have it so each class has there own stats points to distribute so you can still customize your stats how you want to and you dont have to restat to change to a mage or another class but yet still be unique in your own way.

[Kiara]

Honestly I don't understand why we need to remove the physical level.
I was thinking 2 different way to have a good result.

1. Easy Easy Easy (Very-very-easy)reset. Every character can reset his point touching a crystal, in a camp or in a city. This works in some other MMO very well.
2. Create a Window, where we can create, save, select, and eventually modify 4-5 different setups of stats. I prefer this model, because I can create my own setup of stats (i.e. "healer) and use it when needed in a party, or create a "DPS" setup when I'm solo.

Hi Mr_Gyactus,

Well first, the option was to keep the system "as is" (no changes), or go with choice 1 or 2 (which 85% of the people voted for).

But even if they gave us the idea you have to reset their points touching a crystal (pretty good idea ), it doesn't solve the problem with balancing the whole Attribute System in making each Point more meaningful.

When you get to Physical Level 50, you can move around HUNDREDS of Attribute Points. With the current system, do you think that new piece of Armor you just bought with "STRENGTH +2" is really going to do much? (It doesn't.)

The developers backed themselves into a corner with this current system. If they do away with Physical Level and restrict the Total # of Attribute Points you can move around, then they can make the Attribute Points mean more. That +5 MIND Ring you just bought will actually have a more noticeable effect in-game during Combat, instead of right now, where it means almost nothing.

[Mioko]

Kiara has the best solution it makes gear more important even though i despise WOW since there are no clear purpose for any of the jobs we have yet maybe take the approach they did and make each class unqiue in themselves have a conj that can focus on buffing and put skills in that or put skills so they can be a nuking conjurer like a blm or a marauder that focuses on dd or can spend skill points and focus on tanking etc

[Alcide]

Honestly I don't understand why we need to remove the physical level.
I was thinking 2 different way to have a good result.

1. Easy Easy Easy (Very-very-easy)reset. Every character can reset his point touching a crystal, in a camp or in a city. This works in some other MMO very well.
2. Create a Window, where we can create, save, select, and eventually modify 4-5 different setups of stats. I prefer this model, because I can create my own setup of stats (i.e. "healer) and use it when needed in a party, or create a "DPS" setup when I'm solo.

I would love this system.
The OP has a point too talking about the efectivness of stats, but i guess both of the things can be addressed separately.

One thing I would also like to talk about about are the converter traits.
I guess they were supposed to be used to easily switch betwen different disciples but they have got 2 main flaws:
- they con't move enough stats, even using all of them you still need to reassign more then one time.
- they don't suffer the rank's cap, so are mainly used to add power to one disciple rather then ease the changing betwen them.

[Cogs]

Simply put, I think it's possible to keep the physical level, by allowing each class to respec it's attributes and they are then stored for each class so when you switch from one class to another they are what you had set them at. Same for actions too. A way to keep them saved for every class upon switching from one class to another. They put in surplus to deter us from playing too long period and from playing too long on one job, they emphasized about the ease of switching from one class to another. But they then make us have to constantly do these little micromanaging tasks each time we switch that do nothing but take time. Macros help but those still take time too.

Would be optimal to set your stats and actions once for each class, and build on or change them accordingly as you rank up. There is no need for constantly changing stats and actions, unless their main goal really was to make us spend the time to do so.

[ckb]

Nice post Kiara, Agree with you 100%. I still like the niche this game has with moving abilities but yes each job should be very different as a base to start.

[Lairin]

Ranks and Physical levels, I am fine with it.
But the stat system, I hate it!
Resetting the stats takes to long, and even if it was faster I am still not a fan of placing my stats around.
Change job, stats auto change. Hmm I need more dex. Guess I will go buy XXXX ring for more dex.
Make gear matter.

[kukurumei]

So we can have a cheat character in minutes? Or to devalue the stat system more for the sake of balance.

"Listen up people we're going to face a boss with a lot of magic attack next, so max out your mdef stats now"

There's a reason why you couldn't completely redo your stats in a matter of moments. Of course the fact that you could redo your stats in the first place had to be balanced to the point where stats matter very little with caps and forumlas.