Harsh penalty for non-optimal class and/or level [for devs]

[Nakiamiie]

I think the penalty for having a non-optimal class and/or level is really harsh.
Why do we lose all the bonuses (+HP, +stats, etc.) for not having the optimal level or class?
The item's stats scale with the level when not optimal, why isn't it the case with the bonuses too?
Why can't I have at least half the bonuses when not having the optimal class?

There are already items with required class and level to equip. I dislike those. Can I have the regular items with optimal requirements provide less than optimal bonuses for less than optimal level/class (just like the items stats)? Thank you, it would be very appreciated. I'm not the type of player who likes carrying 5 sets of gear for all the classes I play. Thanks for reading.

[tymora]

Harsh but it now prevents people from skipping gears, which in turn drives the economy better.
I am all for it.

[smokymcweed]

im not for it i agree with the op the detriment suffered for non optimal lvl/class is to sever and should be reduced to more reasonable stat levels

[syntaxlies]

i like tht they did that. Now people will buy lowbie gear instead of just buying the best gear ever and using it for all 50 lvls

[REDace0]

Harsh but it now prevents people from skipping gears, which in turn drives the economy better.
I am all for it.

Although it's inconvenient, this is the reason I'm for it. Before this change, nobody would ever want low-level armor. Why would you worry about what to equip below L25 if you could just equip L30 armor and do passably well until you actually reach L30? Now that the content is becoming more fleshed out, it seems that the best thing to do would be to actually slow DoW/M progression to be in-line with DoL/H progression so that the market for armor from each is stabilized and demand remains significant for lower-rank armors for all classes.

In case it isn't clear, this issue does affect me. I currently have no crafting gear for any of my lower crafting classes because I could get some benefit from my higher-level gear that I used for LTW and WVR. With the changes to the Guildleve system I've essentially stopped progressing on any crafting classes but LTW and WVR as a result of this change. At some point I'll get another crafting set, but I see why this is for the best.

[zaviermhigo]

I like this system, I agree it's more harsh, but in the months to come gear will now mean something and be a motivation for people which is always good. The whole "stats mean more at lower levels" and "gear means more at higher levels" I think is kind of ideal, at low levels you would like to bypass some gear sets and not depend on gear as much because you don't have as much money, at higher levels when you do have money or a craft leveled you'll buy/make gear and then you'll maybe even put some materia in it. That now becomes the goal. Before there was no goal because you could wear gear higher/lower level and not care.

[Ferth]

It wouldn't seem nearly as harsh if preceding this people weren't able to wear level 50 gear at level 10 and have it be, at the least, comparable to level 10 gear.

This is a good change overall, even if on a personal level it might suck.

[Jinko]

Harsh but it now prevents people from skipping gears, which in turn drives the economy better.
I am all for it.

+1

Although I find it a lot more time consuming to manage my gear sets I do find it more enjoyable, I actually have to take my time on what I should be wearing/making (this includes dying) its like a mini game in itself :P

As others have said in so many threads so many times, its nice to have something to aim for and work towards.

I look forward now to hitting the next level and being able to upgrade to a new piece of armor.

Thank you Yoshi-p for adding restrictions on gear

Once the dye system is fixed it will be pretty awesome.

[glassalice]

I do agree that penalties are in place for a reason and appreciate that it drives the economy. What I will agree with the OP on though is that the actual REQUIRED class restrictions are bogus.

Gear gives everyone an aesthetic difference - we all look different because we all like different looks. I'm playing a mage but I can't stand the look of robes and canvas ('witch') hats, etc... I don't want to look that way! I am having a devil of a time finding anything (that isn't white) that I CAN even wear at all around level 27-35 that isn't robes and tights, etc... So bogus. I would gladly take penalties if I could just wear what I want to wear. I like green - why are all the green outfits for botanists? That makes no sense!

I'm still frustrated...

[Quesse]

The problem is that there is not enough different gears available for them to be locking it down like this. It is too harsh because in many cases there are not good alternatives.

Idiotic move. They should have given us a greater variety of gears and THEN required optimal level after there was plenty of alternatives.