Required rank on all gear

[PrettyPrincess]

YOU SIR ARE SO BOLD

[Cairdeas]

All the NM/Dungeon gear they've been introducing has class/level requirements though, it's clearly the direction they're going.

Rare/Ex, Unique/Untradable, Dungeon Drops, Etc. Should all be locked to level.

But crafted gear should remain optimal rank.

[Malakhim]

I wouldn't be surprised if there were a lot of players that just didn't have the slightest idea that the gear they're wearing isn't for their rank. An easy fix would be to create some kind of noticible graphic or notification that would convey "HEY! This shit is too high level to be effective! We wouldn't recommend you go out in battle in it!"

[tachikoma]

I like the idea that you can't earn materia spirit bond points if you are under optimal lvl or wrong class, this encourages you to wear optimal proper rank and class/job gear without putting that restriction. I like to swap my weapon and not go completely naked ever time and when I plan to do anything for any period of time I'll go through the trouble to get proper gear.

[Cape-Freak]

Rare/Ex, Unique/Untradable, Dungeon Drops, Etc. Should all be locked to level.

But crafted gear should remain optimal rank.

This is similar to my own opinion. To elaborate a bit, I'm fine with the unique/untradeable having a required level since (in theory) one would need to be close to that level in order to obtain the gear in the first place. On the other hand, for crafted stuff (for example), you can just walk into the market wards and buy it at any level, provided you have enough gil. Definitely need some indication on "optimal level" gear as to what the actual stats you get from it are when equipping it below optimal level, though.

[JackDaniels]

I like the idea that you can't earn materia spirit bond points if you are under optimal lvl or wrong class, this encourages you to wear optimal proper rank and class/job gear without putting that restriction. I like to swap my weapon and not go completely naked ever time and when I plan to do anything for any period of time I'll go through the trouble to get proper gear.

I never really thought of it like that before. I suppose that as long as the level/class restricted gear is always better than the generic gear, then I wouldn't really mind if there was always some new generic gear being introduced into the system.

[Estellios]

Part of the reason low level gear is so expensive and not around is because of the time/rank investment required to make gear atm. 1.19 should make it so even new players with low level crafting classes can make gear for themselves/for others.

I personally like the optimal rank system because it saves a lot on inventory space. If I have gear from a higher ranked class and the stat hit isn't too bad and I really need the room I don't have to hold on the old gear. They just need to show the modified stats you get from equipping the gear and make it super obvious that it is because your rank is too low, like people have said before. If they do that and make it easy to compare too high gear with at-rank gear, people would stop using stuff that's way above their rank.

[Rhylee_Mau]

Some random person asked me where I can get my Alpine War Jacket the other day. I "stalked" said person on lodestone and found out he/she was a R28 LNC. I just pointed out it was a Darkhold drop item (by linking the ffxivpro site since the person only used auto translate). If gear is made so the mats or the piece itself cannot be obtained unless you are in range (45+ in DH) rank restrictions should not really matter.

I'll also take this opportunity to share a tip for the mid level NMs. Bring them down in full parties. I did Cactuar Jack the other day (damn thing won't stay still!) and the Fists / Elmo was dropping back to back (not together though). Go hunting for free gear people!

[Fleur]

I think crafted and low-mid range gear should stick with "recommended" class and/or rank. I don't want to have to get a full new set of gear for a class I'm only taking up to R25 for such-and-such skill!

And as for the lower ranked NM's I think that having the gear be class-locked is fine, since there is no requirement to hunt the NM's and you can get help from friends at lower ranks. On the other hand, I like that only a R50 can equip their class weapon from the Darkhold -- you need to be R45 even to enter, and rank required rewards are a nice incentive to hit 50 if you haven't already.

[Adol]

Required rank on every piece of gear would be great.
+1

Currently the low rank gear in this game might as well just not exist, since most people will buy mid-high rank gear:
a) Because most of the time it's actually cheaper than low rank gear and
b) There's more mid-high rank gear being sold

Not only that, people think they can just skip buying low rank gear just because they can, and they do just for that very reason (to avoid spending money on a new piece of gear every 5 or so ranks).

Adding required rank to everything will make almost every piece of equipment important in its own right.