Suggestion: Merit Points

[Jonnycbad]

Merit system was flawed. Was an amazing idea but SE didn't expect us to min/max and math out every option to optimize things perfectly. They thought we would spec our jobs to customize our feels. Maybe they thought dragoons would want to maximize their wyvern pet's damage with Strafe and Deep Breathing, but given that their pets were about 30% of their dps when solo but <0.1% raid dps (if they didnt die....i.e 20minute cooldown), there was an illusion of choice because Angon, one of their other merit abilities was -25% defense down on the target for 60 seconds. That kind of defense down was astronomical since outgoing damage was heavily modified by attack:defense ratios. So, though SE gave drg the option to spec their wyvern, it came down to "max out angon or gtfo", and rightfully so.

[randysquirrel]

I suggest that we bring in a system like the Merit Point system from XI.

What are Merit Points?
Additionally, this would add a semblance of customization to the game

No it wouldn't. This is exactly the illusion the current attribute point system offers, "wow you get points to distribute how you want, so you can have a little more hp or mp if you like, plus some mind points to help out your healing!". Except there is a clear defined way for each job to allocate their points.

Also the fact everyone would just grind through to get every stat upgrade, which would have the same result, of everyone being the same again anyway.

I know my post sounds very negative, but unfortunately it's just how it is. It's a nice idea, but I just don't think it would work

[Kallera]

Surely there's some way to get around the meta game or raiding demand. A merit point build enhances certain traits, but they are traits that aren't vital to clearing.

[Bishop81]

Surely there's some way to get around the meta game or raiding demand. A merit point build enhances certain traits, but they are traits that aren't vital to clearing.

The easiest way IMHO is to limit these new traits and skills to Classes only and make raiding Jobs-only (which practically it already is).

[Muchmidget]

Surely there's some way to get around the meta game or raiding demand. A merit point build enhances certain traits, but they are traits that aren't vital to clearing.

The only real way to get around having to balance merits for raids while allowing all options to be viable would be to make merit rewards/skills/traits non-number factors, or things that don't directly affect healing/damage in or out. For example:

Non-number factor: An ability to pull an enemy to you. It might lead to an increase in the damage you deal, but only because it allows more uptime on an enemy, not because the skill itself increased your damage.

Directly affects healing/damage in/out: Things like x% increase to damage/healing with x skill...

Gray area: Reducing cast times, but not the gcd. No, in a turret rotation your damage would not increase. However, reducing cast time increases mobility, which can be a huge factor for dps.

[Xairos]

Surely there's some way to get around the meta game or raiding demand. A merit point build enhances certain traits, but they are traits that aren't vital to clearing.

SE would have to draw our attention away from battle. As we see with the attribute system, new players will ask where they should put points and old players will math out the best choice and then present that to the masses who then will follow it to the letter. Example: what would you do if you had an INT whm in your static?

A person might not be outwardly mean, but the subtle encouragement to change would creep in if the heals were lacking.

[Kallera]

SE would have to draw our attention away from battle. As we see with the attribute system, new players will ask where they should put points and old players will math out the best choice and then present that to the masses who then will follow it to the letter. Example: what would you do if you had an INT whm in your static?

A person might not be outwardly mean, but the subtle encouragement to change would creep in if the heals were lacking.

This worries me to the point that i actually don't want to follow the cookie cutter with certain jobs, no matter what people think.
My choices might not be totally unique, but id rather know i made them with my own reasoning.
That is what i did for the merit system in ffxi.

[SinisterJointss]

I would love to have more customization for jobs. Like having a blizzard mage or fire mage. etc etc. Or something like the AA system in everquest would be really nice

[karateorangutang]

I can't say how much i hated the merit point system. I'd rather not have people crying over certain classes not having certain skills.

Plus it doesn't synergize well with how stat points and abilities are added in this game.

[Sakuraluna]

I like the idea of merit points for a system like what we had in XI, but with ilevel I don't see much need for it.