Are "custom attribute-points" really accomplishing anything right now?

[Terin]

I'll answer that:

No. No they are not.

The reason is simple; each and every Job has a "best stat", and the only real competition is between the Scholar and Summoner. Thus, there is no real choice, because the "choice" is simply "Do I want to purposely hinder my character".

As such, I'd like to recommend one of two options:

1.) Remove "Bonus Points" from the game entirely, and just roll them into the baseline stats for each Job. This effectively has zero impact on the game right now, other than it removes the possibility of someone unintentionally hindering themselves (ie. many Monks go into the game thinking Dexterity would be their primary attribute). Or...

2.) Make your Bonus Points universal, thus requiring a bit more personal investment into where those stats are allocated. That said, allow players to either spend Gil to reset their Attributes, or gain a free attribute-reset once each month. That way, you never have to worry about "permanently screwing your character up, and needing to create a new character in their place", but at the same time, adding a bit of *real* choice in there.

Just my thinking!

[MilesSaintboroguh]

If you make the points universal, then aren't you encouraging people to play only one role to get the most out of their points? I wouldn't want all my points I put into WHM become trash the minute I swap to PLD nor would I want to stretch myself thin spreading points over multiple classes or having to respec said points every time.

[Jim_Berry]

If you make the points universal, then aren't you encouraging people to play only one role to get the most out of their points? I wouldn't want all my points I put into WHM become trash the minute I swap to PLD nor would I want to stretch myself thin spreading points over multiple classes or having to respec said points every time.

Agreed!

In FFXI, I maxed STR, AGI, and DEX since I mainly played COR and NIN. When I'm needed to do a 3-hour links hell event as WHM, I have no bonus to MND.

[Terin]

If you make the points universal, then aren't you encouraging people to play only one role to get the most out of their points?

That's actually the point. You're then asking yourself "Do I want to be absolute 100% invested in this single Job, or allocate points into multiple jobs?". Even if you don't invest any points into a particular stat, it should still remain playable, just not operating at its peak. Because you can still "reset" your Bonus Points, it doesn't lock you into a particular Job permanently or anything, but gives you a bit of personalization in making your character feel a more more uniquely your own.

Alternatively, like I said, just remove the choice entirely, as it doesn't really serve much function, other than allowing new players to unintentionally screw their stats up.

[MomomiMomi]

Alternatively, like I said, just remove the choice entirely, as it doesn't really serve much function, other than allowing new players to unintentionally screw their stats up.

Just about every post in this thread has said otherwise. Also it's 250 GC seals to change your stats. 250! You can get about 75 stat respec items in less than an hour. Screwing up your stats is not a big deal.

[Giantbane]

Just about every post in this thread has said otherwise. Also it's 250 GC seals to change your stats. 250! You can get about 75 stat respec items in less than an hour. Screwing up your stats is not a big deal.

While there is some use for the system, it really isn't that meaningful. Sure it can be appropriate for a WHM to choose between PIE, MND & VIT (top tier content), but why do they have the option to put points in STR or DEX which does nothing for them?

Personally, I think it would be a more meaningful choice to put points into secondary stats (including PIE in this). Sure many classes have a *best* choice, but at least it's not as clear as, say, DEX vs. STR for a Dragoon. Although, for this to work, the secondary stats would need to be normalized so that on average, one isn't clearly better than the others on a point/point basis. Oh, and merge skill speed/spell speed because there's really no good reason for them to be separate.

[Izsha]

While there is some use for the system, it really isn't that meaningful. Sure it can be appropriate for a WHM to choose between PIE, MND & VIT (top tier content), but why do they have the option to put points in STR or DEX which does nothing for them?

That's the point though. The problem isn't that spending points as is is dumb. It's that the alternatives to the main stat are so worthless that it's not a choice. Make other stats have a purpose and spending those 30 becomes meaningful like it already is on tanks and whm. When you could literally delete every stat on mnk besides str and vit and NO ONE would care, then giving you 30 more points to choose from has no interesting functions. Maybe if dex reduced tp consumption, or mind increased the effectiveness of heals cast ON you. I dunno just random spit all but you get the idea. If other stats had reasonable effects you would have interesting choices for those extra points that would tailor you to specific builds and such. But as long as only 2 stats matter for most classes ( damage and vit) then there is no real 'choice'.

the fault isn't with the extra points. Leave them. It's with the inconsequential value of other stats. Change that and the bonus points automagically become interesting.

[SarcasmMisser]

Alternatively, like I said, just remove the choice entirely, as it doesn't really serve much function, other than allowing new players to unintentionally screw their stats up.

Why are you ignoring the posts in this thread that tell you that the points you need to invest changes on racial bonus for some jobs (BLM)?

Why is it so hard for people to admit they were wrong and didn't consider some factors.

[MomomiMomi]

But my VIT!

[Naelle]

Our black mage is currently 29 int 1 piety for the extra fire cast per rotation. Not 100% useless. :/