What if raid gear had set bonuses?

[xvshanevx]

I am sure this has already been stated, but I wanna have some writing this out :P

I think a majority of the player base, as of right now, prefers running Diadem and Relic because it is either easier than Alexander Savage and ThEX or because there is simply nothing else to do for them (and I am sure there are many other reasons). So, what if you left Diadem and Relic with base stats as powerful as raiding gear (ilvl 210), but allowed raiding gear to have set bonuses? Here are some examples I was thinking of the other day.

Restrictions: only Head, Chest, Hands, Legs, and Feet are available for set bonuses.

PLD
2 set: Spirits Within restores 100 TP upon use. Cooldown of Spirits within reduced to 15 seconds.
4 set: Cover now protects against Magic based damage, and adds an additional 20% damage reduction for incoming damage while activated.
5 set: While using Hallowed Ground turn into a Servant of Halone (cosmetic).

WAR
2 set: Berserk no longer pacifies after use.
4 set: Only 4 stacks of Wrath are needed now to use Wrath abilities. (Not applicable in Deliverance.)
5 set: While using Holmgang release the Inner Beast (cosmetic).

DRK
2 set: Increase Shadow Wall damage reduction to 40% and increase duration to 14 seconds.
4 set: Dark Arts no longer takes MP and no longer needs Dark Side.
5 set: While under the effect of Living Dead you channel the essence of Diabolos (cosmetic).

WHM
2 set: Regen spreads to near by allies every 7 seconds, players with the lowest HP will be the first jumps.
4 set: Medica 2 now refreshes any active Regen.
5 set: When Benediction is casted, a glimpse of A-Towa-Cant is revealed (cosmetic).

SCH
2 set: Dissipation now guarantees the next Aldoquium or Succor to Critically Hit.
4 set: Critical Heals on Succor now double the Barrier granted to that player.
5 set: Emergency Tactics now calls fourth an army of WAR Tonberries to protect you (cosmetic).

AST
2 set: Time Dilation's duration is increased to 20 seconds and cooldown decreased to 60 seconds.
4 set: Cooldown of Synastry reduced to 90 seconds. Player chooses the next card drawn after casting Synastry.
5 set: Reveals the Zodiac constellation Sagittarius while under the effect of Collective Unconscious.

DRG
2 set: Power Surge is no longer used by 1 jumping attack, but instead last the duration of 10 seconds.
4 set: Geirskogul potency increased to 300. Blood of the Dragon is no longer needed to use Fang and Claw or Wheeling Thrust.
5 set: When casting Dragonfire Dive, while under the affect of Power Surge, call fourth an army of Dragoons to pummel your foe (additional damage of 1 if you are attacking a dragon) (cosmetic).

MNK
2 set: Shoulder Tackle no longer Stuns, but instead grants +1 stack of Greased Lightning. One Ilm Puch now knocks the target back 30 yalms.
4 set: Using Tornado Kick grants Perfect Balance for 6 seconds.
5 set: Using Perfect Balance (skill) calls fourth Hamon Holyfist to pummel your competition (cosmetic).

SMN
2 set: Ruin III no longer costs MP when casting against a target under the effects of Bio, Bio II, and Miasma.
4 set: Enkindle cooldown is reduced to 120 seconds.
5 set: While under the effects of Dreadwyrm Stance, your egi takes on the form of the Elder Primal, Bahamut.

NIN, BLM, MCH, BRD
I have no idea how these classes work post level 50, so not even going to try.

I had fun writing this up and hope some of you had fun reading it ^_^ I am sure somethings would be completely broken while others would be well tuned.

[Ashkendor]

Some thoughts:

• The 5-set Cosmetic effects would be kinda useless when weighed against BiS gear.
• Why is AST the only one that has a 5-set effect that isn't cosmetic?
• Better yet, what does revealing another constellation even do? And why suddenly is it a real-life constellation?
• Some of the effects are a lot more powerful than others. Hell, a couple are utterly broken.

[Kaurie]

I like the idea of sets, but this is just tooo OP
"2 set: Ruin III no longer costs MP when casting against a target under the effects of Bio, Bio II, and Miasma." - maybe adjust that to..
"2 set: Ruin III no longer costs MP when casting while under the effect of Dreadwyrm Trance." - as the MP is already reduced, this wouldn't be as game changing.

[Lemuel81]

I like the idea of sets, but this is just tooo OP

Pretty much this. Set bonuses would make things more interesting. also- to have full set bonus as a cosmetic is very poor design imo- make put it for 2 pieces but i wouldnt go further than that as far as cosmetic goes. imo cosmetic doesnt belon on set pieces- maybe have a void ark set bonus with some fluff be cool.

[Zojha]

So, what if you left Diadem and Relic with base stats as powerful as raiding gear (ilvl 210), but allowed raiding gear to have set bonuses?

People who already raid would be happy they get goodies, other people would either not care because they don't want to have the hassle with statics or the raiding community, again others would complain they now "have" to raid and a few poor souls will actually pick up raiding and get into a very abusive relationship with A3S that will quickly make them quit raiding or the game.

[Sove92]

4 set: Dark Arts no longer takes MP and no longer needs Dark Side.

Considering Dark Arts makes up for about 75-80% of DRK's total MP usage in a boss fight, this would be horribly overpowered. Delirium would become almost useless because DA-Souleater combos can be repeated infinitely.

[Zephrey]

Set bonuses are awesome and I've always loved to have that as an option. I also loved latent effect gear in XI and ability enhancing gear. I hope they add pieces like that into this game.

[Edewen]

I personally think sets are a bad idea. Bonuses such as this are part of why other games have so many balance issues from tier to tier. Due to the fact that in order to be compelling, they need to be strong, the strength of the bonuses would become too important to tuning and gameplay. People would see it as being forced to raid and that never leads to warm fuzzies.

Imo, set bonuses could be cosmetic. IE change the animation of something, change the skin of a egi. On top of that, You could make it so when you have the whole set, you can unlock the ability to change that animation through an interface without having to keep the set on so it doesnt get outdated.

Equip the full set, learn a special emote permanently that is based on the class/set.

Many options other than op set bonuses that complicate balance even further.

[Gilraen]

For me it would depend greatly on the set bonuses and if it meets other minimums. My gear as Bard is done, I have all the accuracy I need and every piece has crit (save the bow, but I am so getting the Anima). Job well done. If the set bonus gives me a ton of crit and enough accuracy then I'm all for it. Otherwise I'd pass. I care about my stats more than most, it seems.