Yoshida-san - Please KEEP +1, +2, +3 Levels of HQ Weapons + Armor + Tools

[Kiara]

Hi All,

As you may have heard, Yoshida-san has mentioned that they are currently aiming to get rid of +1, +2, and +3 HQ Items in favor of just a "NQ" (Normal Quality) and one type of "HQ" (High Quality) Item.

Naoki_Yoshida: We are planning a revamp for HQ item synthesis from Patch 1.20 on. Currently, there are multiple qualities of HQ items, which can get confusing. To fix this issue, we plan on separating these items into normal quality (NQ) and high quality (HQ).

The above post hints that the reason they want to get rid of +1, +2 and +3 Weapons and Armor is because they "can get confusing." Huh?! I don't recall ever seeing an outpouring of complaints on these SE Forums from people crying that +1, +2, +3 Crab Bows are "too confusing" and no one understands how to use them.

Yoshida-san has also mentioned Server Space issues:

Naoki_Yoshida: I receive a lot of suggestions to increase inventory space or make inventory unlimited, but it is impossible to possess every single item (which is increasing constantly through updates) on a single character. Please understand that this is physically impossible, because there is a cost related limit to server storage (the location where everybody’s character data is stored). In order to increase stored data, (tens of thousands of characters x numbers of items x bytes of each item) there is no other option but to increase hard drive size. Basically, charging fees for additional storage options exists to combat this issue.

Even for stand-alone package games, the size of the save data is greatly affected by the number of items, so the numbers of items and the size of each item are determined by available server space.

I also know that for many people, the lack of inventory space is their primary reason to want to get rid of +1, +2, and +3 Weapons, Tools and Armor.

But I have to ask Yoshida-san and everyone:

• Is the problem truly with the *concept* of +1, +2 and +3 Weapons, Armor and Tools? OR, is it because there's not enough Space (Server Space and Individual Retainer Space)?
  
  Because it sounds like for many people, the frustration is lack of Inventory. And Yoshida-san even hints at a lack of Server Space.

If that's the case, then the reason the FF Team wants to kill +1, +2, and +3 Weapons, Armor and Tools is a flawed reason: They're not doing because they fundamentally "disagree" with +1, +2, +3, but because Square-Enix doesn't have enough Server Space and they're finding a bandaid method to temporarily resolve this issue.

Personally, I like have +1, +2 and +3 Weapons, Armor and Tools. For example, for me:

• +1 Sword = Something that's slightly better than a Normal Sword. It provides a little more of an edge in Attack Power, Accuracy, etc.

• +2 Sword = Rarer than a +1. It's a higher goal for adventurers and crafters to strive for. It's an upgrade over a +1, which is an upgrade over NQ. Gives even more of an edge.

• +3 Sword = Rarest of them all. This is the upper bound. The highest stats for that particular item you can get. It's very hard to make, but when you get one, you feel a sense of accomplishment for gaining one.

With a conversion of everything in our game to just 2 settings: NQ or "HQ" (1 version), we start getting a more homogenized, similar experience.

Sure, Yoshida-san is hinting that our current +3 will most likely be the "HQ" in the future, but still, all everyone will see is just 2 states. People who have Normal Quality, and then 1 state of "HQ."

Of course we'll still have Materia to customize our Weapons / Armor further, but fundamentally, we lose some variety by removing +1, +2 and +3. I can live with either system, but there's a sense of loss and a feeling that the *reason* behind removing it is merely to temporarily solve some Inventory Issues (for Players) and Server Storage Issues (for SE).

If people had a Mog House (and more Storage), would those that are complaining about +1, +2, +3 Weapons / Armor / Tools have a problem then?

Thanks~

[Risae]

I agree. zehnzeichen

[Madruk]

I don't really know of anyone holding onto different HQ versions of the same tool or weapon in the first place. They'll carry whatever highest HQ item they have.

This is mainly to relieve the frustration of collecting mass amounts of HQ mats to synth a finished product only to get the dreaded NQ. Despite what Yoshi says, this system really looks like it will encourage HQ flooding unless making HQ materials is like a 5% conversion rate.

[Nexxus]

NQ & HQ+3 is fine with me, using the materia system to make the quality of NQ like a +1, +2 should be enough.

[Kam]

NQ & HQ+3 is fine with me, [SIZE="7"]using the materia system to make the quality of NQ like a +1, +2 should be enough.[/SIZE]

If anyone missed that...

It all depends on what materia can do. Though I hold the same hopes. Its all about server space right?

[Nuru]

I certainly love having inv space of 100/100 on my main, 100/100 on retainer#1, and 99/100 on retainer#2... So, no to this, i like the ideas presented by Yoshi_P, unless all +1 +2 mats are done away with, and we get Monogrinders for our weapons and armor..

[Raze]

since +1/2/3 (and all) parts are being done away with, that's inventory space right there. Call it a wash. (a lot of crafters save inane parts when they HQ)

[Jabo]

I also like the +1,+2,+3 system and I'm also not sure, if it really helps that much regarding the storage problem.
A bigger issue in my opinion is that the game forces you to have multiple crafts and multiple fighting classes.
80% of my inventory is just equipment for the different classes.
Multiple crafts means also far more mats.

But something has to happen that's for sure. I'm not even playing crafting classes and i sell a lot of stuff to npcs and i have like 40/300 free inventory spaces. Usually on my character, which get filled up in few hours during leves and fighting.
There are simply too much ingredients, items you get and need.

[Rentahamster]

I actually think that the +1+2+3 system propagates too much redundancy in the system, so I don't mind it going away. If it resolves some server issues at the same time, then all the better.

[Kiara]

I actually think that the +1+2+3 system propagates too much redundancy in the system, so I don't mind it going away. If it resolves some server issues at the same time, then all the better.

Hi Renta,

If I may ask, how does +1, +2, +3 add too much redundancy to the game? I guess if you mean in terms of a having a Sword +1 (so, 5% Boost) vs. Sword +2 (10% Boost) vs. Sword +3 (15% Boost), sure there's some overlap, but it's also different tiers of augmentation right?

But with this morning's Lodestone Update on Materia, I think this whole situation might go away...

Since if all Materia has IV "Tiers" of Potency, then *that* right there is going to be the new "+1, +2, +3, +4" then.

So if it turns out that

* Heaven's Eye Materia I = +2% Accuracy
* Heaven's Eye Materia II = +3% Accuracy
* Heaven's Eye Materia III = +4% Accuracy
* Heaven's Eye Materia IV = +5% Accuracy

Then, I understand and am fine with them reducing the base weapon to just NQ and HQ (since getting "HQ" (IV) Materia would be rare in and of itself (I hope)).

If the Materia I - IV is just a matter of converting a higher rank Weapon (so a R12 Sword gives you Heaven's Eye I, and a R50 Sword gives you Heaven's Eye Materia IV), then I'd still like to see +1, +2, +3 Weapons again.