Suggestion: Merit Points

[justinjarjar]

Well, the way they're going with gear post-50 makes me worry for the glamour system. More choices are always welcome across all classes, and my suggestion also deals with the glamour limitations on WHM/BLM/SCH/SMN. This goes without saying, but the scions and numerous NPCs repeatedly broke the gear limitations, and we should be allowed to do the same.

It would also give people an incentive to participate in merits, since I'm sure some people want either more glamour options or something different. Sucks that certain jobs have nifty boot options, for example, while I as a PLD am stuck with greaves and nothing but greaves. And I say that as someone who glamoured thighboots all through ARR.

Well you point out the scions why the heck not, I would love a system that encouraged some rerunning of content for RP and glamour.

[Shougun]

Keeping with the idea of merits implemented in a way that is RP-friendly/cosmetic, here's a couple of suggestions for some jobs:

White Mage

General (Cosmetic)
Medium Armor - Allows medium armor (mail-type armor) to be glamoured on to your equipment.
Heavy Armor - Allows heavy armor (plate-type armor) to be glamoured on to your equipment.
Working Clothes - Allows DoL-specific gear to be glamoured on to your equipment.
Manufacturing Attire - Allows DoH-specific gear to be glamoured on to your equipment.
The Padjal 'fro - Allows access to an afro with padjal horns coming out of it via the aesthetician.

Category 1 (Effects)
Graniteskin - Replaces the animation of Stoneskin with a stone wall that rises from the ground (essentially how it looked in 1.0)
Watery Cure - Replaces the cure particle effects with water effects
Boulders - Replaces the effect of your stone spells with boulders.
Afterglow - Critical heals cause the recipient to glow for 5 seconds.

Category 2 (Abilities)
Divine Aura - You grow glowing angel wings and a halo. Effect ends upon reuse.
Float - 2.5 second cast. Allows target to float for 20 seconds. Slows falling speed. Can only be used out of combat. Taking damage or attacking an enemy cancels the effect.
Call Elemental - Summons a non-combat minion that follows the White Mage (minion uses the old model for elementals seen in 1.0)
Pearlescent Ward - Channeled effect. Creates a glowing mark at your feet with the WHM symbol for 10 seconds.

Paladin

General (Cosmetic)
Armor Mastery - Allows "of Striking/Scouting/Maiming/Aiming" armor to be glamoured on to your equipment.
Robe Mastery - Allows "of Healing/Casting" robes to be glamoured on to your equipment.
Working Clothes - Allows DoL-specific gear to be glamoured on to your equipment.
Manufacturing Attire - Allows DoH-specific gear to be glamoured on to your equipment.
The Eye Shield - Allows access to a hairstyle long in the front that covers your eyes via the aesthetician.

Category 1 (Effects)
Spiritual Cover - Replaces the tether from cover with an etherial version of you.
Mercy Sword - Replaces the axe effect with a sword when Mercy Stroke is used.
Big Bulwark - Using Bulwark causes your shield to grow for the duration of the effect.
Blessed Halone - Using Rage of Halone causes the spirit of Halone to assist your attack (you get a giant Halone that pops up behind you like a Stand and does Rage of Halone with you)

Category 2 (Abilities)
Shining Armor - Your armor gains a soft glow for 60 seconds.
Defensive Advance - You raise your shield and keep it up while moving. Effect ends upon reuse. Effect ends upon entering combat.
Mounted Swing - Swing your sword while riding most mounts. 2.5 second cooldown.
Honor of the Sultansworn - Channeled effect. Kneel to create a glowing mark at your feet with the PLD symbol for 10 seconds.

Monk

General (Cosmetic)
Medium Armor - Allows medium armor (mail-type armor) to be glamoured on to your equipment.
Heavy Armor - Allows heavy armor (plate-type armor) to be glamoured on to your equipment.
Working Clothes - Allows DoL-specific gear to be glamoured on to your equipment.
Manufacturing Attire - Allows DoH-specific gear to be glamoured on to your equipment.
The Ascetic - Allows access to a hairstyle resembling monks of old via the aesthetician.

Category 1 (Effects)
Flying Kick - Replaces Shoulder Tackle with Flying Kick. Same effect, different animation.
Aspected Fists - Your fists glow with a specific effect when using Adamantoise Stance/Gale Stance/Vajra Stance (AKA First of Earth, Fists of Wind, Fists of Fire)
Mercy Fist - Replaces the axe effect with a fist when Mercy Stroke is used.
Power Aura - Chakra stacks cause you to radiate a power aura that gets brighter with higher stacks.

Category 2 (Abilities)
Kata - Channeled ability. Perform a series of martial arts moves over 10 seconds.
Chakra Flight - Allows you to fly without the need of a mount in areas where you've discovered all aether currents. Taking damage removes the effect.
Breaking Point - Touch the ground with a single finger, kicking up stones and dust in front of you (yes, I know that the Bakusai Tenketsu doesn't work like this, but I couldn't think of a new ability).

I like the idea of aesthetic merits, as Duelle suggested. Maybe because I'm a glamour nazi I'd like to see restrictions unlocked less broad "all heavy armor", maybe specific pieces. Battle Cleric, unlocks these thematic 5 heavy items (arbitrary number chosen). Specially looking to unlock gear that NPCs are already breaking the rules wearing, seems a bit unfair lol.

Would love to see my shield lob become a sunspear (lightning). . . xD (although I could imagine new mechanics for Paladin that could pick a slightly different mechanic than Dark Knight to also tease that duality, it seems that I run around with a full barrel of mp at most times).

I find customization and things to build over time fun, but as mentioned I'd be afraid of any system that locks you into a dark sad place. Vote kicked because as a noob you can no way hold or heal through the aggro of merited people's expectations in the dungeon, kicked for the "wrong" choices that you don't have the means or funds to redo, not invited to any PF/FC end content because you didn't turn your gaming time up to 11 to grind gear and exp - etc etc. Hence I mentioned customization that locks you in the situation to keep you unique at a given scenario but never at a full scope or via any terribly costly means (also why I think the aesthetic suggestion would be fine and a fun thing to build, as exp wouldn't be a useless idea post max level).

[Duelle]

I like the idea of aesthetic merits, as Duelle suggested. Maybe because I'm a glamour nazi I'd like to see restrictions unlocked less broad "all heavy armor", maybe specific pieces. Battle Cleric, unlocks these thematic 5 heavy items (arbitrary number chosen). Specially looking to unlock gear that NPCs are already breaking the rules wearing, seems a bit unfair

Only reason I would open up more equipment is because I'm sure some of the casters have grown to like the gear melee DPS and tanks get to wear and would want to implement some of those pieces into their own glamours. To keep the discussion going, here's a merit list for BLM:

Black Mage

General (Cosmetic)
Medium Armor - Allows medium armor (mail-type armor) to be glamoured on to your equipment.
Heavy Armor - Allows heavy armor (plate-type armor) to be glamoured on to your equipment.
Working Clothes - Allows DoL-specific gear to be glamoured on to your equipment.
Manufacturing Attire - Allows DoH-specific gear to be glamoured on to your equipment.
The Manawave - Allows access to a hairstyle via the aesthetician (this would look like an 80's hairstyle).

Category 1 (Effects)
Aether Aura - Replaces the energy particles of Astral Fire and Umbral Ice with a fire or ice aura when under their effects.
Explosions - Fire spells have a random chance to explode when impacting an enemy.
Icicles - Ice spells have a chance to form icicles after dealing damage to an enemy.
Ultima - Replaces Flare and Freeze with the spells Ultima (Astral) and Ultima (Umbral). Same damage and effects, different animations and particle effects.

Category 2 (Abilities)
Hat Pull - Reach into your hat and pull out a random object.
Warp - Returns you to your homepoint. Shares a cooldown with Return.
Black Waltz - Sprout large black wings, allowing flight in areas where you've discovered all aether currents.
Obsidian Ward - Channeled effect. Creates a glowing mark at your feet with the BLM symbol for 10 seconds.