What affect does wrong level gear have?

[Delsus]

Its a hidden stat reduction, amount depends how far off the optimal rank you are, i dont think anyone knows exact amounts yet, but you should try to be +/- 5 ranks i beleave. Also the gear gets damaged alot quicker if you are off the optimal rank again +/- 5 ranks should be enough

[syntaxlies]

Its a hidden stat reduction, amount depends how far off the optimal rank you are, i dont think anyone knows exact amounts yet, but you should try to be +/- 5 ranks i beleave. Also the gear gets damaged alot quicker if you are off the optimal rank again +/- 5 ranks should be enough

its not hidden,
for example
first equip the right sword check then check your stats,
then equip a rank in-appropriate sword and check the stats.
The rank appropriate equipment will always give you higher stats. And rank inappropriate equipment degrades faster.

[Rydin]

Its a hidden stat reduction, amount depends how far off the optimal rank you are, i dont think anyone knows exact amounts yet, but you should try to be +/- 5 ranks i beleave. Also the gear gets damaged alot quicker if you are off the optimal rank again +/- 5 ranks should be enough

No... the stat reduction is completely visible on your screen

+5% per star (minimum 1)
Not sure though if the penalty from not meeting the reqs is after or before that. Anyone checked if the penalty is at least linear?

Kind of... +1 is indeed a minimum of 1.... But +2 and +3 are also a minimum of 1, not 2 and 3 respectively

SO if a piece of gear gives, say 5 defense.... then the +1, +2 and +3 will ALL give 6 defense because the numbers would be
+1 = 5.25 = 6
+2 = 5.50 = 6
+3 = 5.75 = 6

recommended class penalty is -40% on all stats, so the 26 craftsmanship of the Dodore Doublet is only 16 to a class that is not recommended

Optimal rank penalty is tricky

You have Primary stats
Attack, Magic Attack, Defense, Magic Defense, Craftsmanship, magic craftsmanship and Gathering
These suffer a -20% penalty for being 1 rank under optimal rank. and then suffer another 2% of the starting value for each rank below that
Its not exact though but thats the rough number

So being 5 ranks under a piece that gives 100 attack would only get you:
72 attack, again, none if it is exact but its all very close
you lose 20% for being one rank under
22% for being two ranks under
24% for being three ranks under
26% for being four ranks under
28% for being five ranks under

The Secondary Stats are:
Accuracy, Magic accuracy, Evasion, resilience, control, perception, output

These suffer a 10% drop for being 1 rank under, and another 1% of the total for each additional rank