"Perks" would do soooo much for this game

[Nektulos-Tuor]

In regards to the "having to equip said item to gain its perk" idea, I don't think they would be used all that often.

Unless the stats stack according to your level, the basic stats tied to the gear piece will be underwhelming compared to anything you equip otherwise. For example, if you're going into level 60 content and you have the choice between equipping your esoteric gear and the perk gear, chances are you will need the esoteric gear.
As the perk gear will never outclass the gear for that content anyways.

Or consider the Bismarck EX trial, where everyone is trying to squeeze out as much damage as possible on the Scale. There is really no perk that you could have that would be more beneficial than a gear piece that increases your damage, critical hit, etc. And if it was, players would almost make it mandatory to use in place of the damage gear (as some people already pointed out in the thread).

Though the perks might be useful for leveling up lower classes in dungeons or something, where the gap in stats is not as noticeable as higher level content.

That is why perks that greatly increase your damage, critical rating, critical chance are usually very bad. They are mandatory.

Here is an example of a trait that is designed, a niche but here is how a trait should work.

Paladin
Trait: Greater Flash
Flash now sends out chains and pulls all mobs towards you and range is increased by 50%.

Dark Knight
Trait: Siphoning Armor
Gain a small amount health and mana when hit.

Warrior
Trait: Overpowered
Decreases the TP cost of Overpower by 20% and increases range by 3.

Disciple of War
Trait: Fleet of Foot
Movement Speed is increased by 15.0%.

[Kewitt]

When Merits where added to FFXI... it was you need THIS THIS THIS... and last one you could pick. It would be no difference with any other system added.

As for Gear with Perks. They don't want to make gear in such a way that if you do not have it you will not get invited to something.

[Yuisr]

happened with merits in FFXI the merit points could be put into countless areas to improve a character... but warriors still put them into strength, mages into int etc.. its a pointless system that makes it feel like we are progressing. but as you say, it is an incentive to be active when you've done all there is to be done. im 50/50 on the perk idea.

[randysquirrel]

Just my opinion, but I'd like to see something like equipment (or materia) that adds a small chance of something happening. Rather oddly, I think the chance should be very small, so small that it is never RELIED upon, and no-one would care if you didn't have it, but just something a bit more fun so on the odd occasion it did come up, it would add something new. For example, as BLM, imagine a materia that added a 1% chance on that any fire spell would give me a triple buff for my next spell. 1% should be low enough that this doesn't come up very often, but the rare occasion it did, it would be fun to shoot off 3 x fire IVs/Flares/whatever.

As I said just my opinion, might be more fun and mix people's rotations up a bit, whilst remaining rare enough that people wouldn't be like "hey you don't have that 1% buff gtfo"
I believe they don't add things like this tho, someone said, is because a raid group might "get lucky" and get a lot of these buffs on one particular run and get world first on something.

Maybe SCH could have a 1% chance of the second fairy appearing for 1 minute, SMN could have a small chance of another summon appearing. BRD could have all songs activate for 30 seconds. Maybe an ASTs next card could have all 3 royal road effects. I'm sure people could come up with better ideas than I have.

I'm still progressing on A3S, and obv I know it's a completely different beast from A1S and A2S. In those two floors, I cast the same spells, in the same order, move to the same spots, at the same times. Every. Single. Time. There is no variation at all, except whether or not something crits. And even whether it does/doesn't, I still don't change what I'm doing/casting. Bit dull really.

[loreleidiangelo]

This game's itemization and skill customization are bland as fuck. Never really noticed until I started playing other games, but having done so recently during the pre-3.1 lull I'm now no longer certain I'll be able to come back. This game's glacial GCD coupled with cookie-cutter skill builds and boring gear optimization needs a facelift pretty badly, IMO.

I'm not quite sure that I agree with the OP, though. Nobody should HAVE to craft to get the best gear, nor PVP - they should have the OPTION to do so if that's what they prefer. This game sorely needs more "options", not more pigeonholes.

[odintius]

They way I can see it adding a short of perks is to add a system similar to to ffxi skill ups, but not exactly like ffxi were it required while in battles. Instead a point system where you level it up receive points, were you can select perks you achieved and limited to how many perks can be active at a time. Like cure for example at certain level when reached you have two options for perks heal potency inceased x amount or mp consumption decreased by x amount you can put a point in and freely change at anytime but only use one of these options, this is a over simplied concept more depth required of course.

[Critical-Limit]

I craft, have like 5 jobs geared as well as 2 gathering jobs. I keep materials on hand and glamour.

I haven't even come close to needing to get a new retainer. What the heck are you guys complaining about inventory space hoarding?