Job/Merit points? (Idea)

[AlphaFox]

Then we get into the whole PF of "Must have maxed merit points!"

[Reynhart]

Then we get into the whole PF of "Must have maxed merit points!"

Do you see "Must have BiS to join" in every PF ? It's basically the same.

For Merits points, I'd like a Paragon system like Diablo 3. In the end, you could max everything, but the order at which you do it would all be yours.

[Blitzace]

Then we get into the whole PF of "Must have maxed merit points!"

And that is the community at fault. not SE.
This community is spoiled with rotten apples at times, Like every game.

FFXIV Just takes it to a whole new level, Often the idiotic people that make clear parties/farm groups with - KNOW ALL PHASES 100% 1FAIL=KICK.
Fail themselfs, And at the same time they fail to kick themselfs.

[Duelle]

And that is the community at fault. not SE.

Design always influences player behavior (so yes, it is SE's fault).

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The problem with merits was, as mentioned earlier, the fact that it padded out FFXI's lifespan due to being stack at specific level caps. The other part is that they were the epitome of false choices in terms of design (see: Dark Knights being given the choice to merit useless abilities like Arcane Circle or useful abilities like Soul Eater).

As I've said before, something to consider would be using merits to cosmetically affect your character rather than affect performance. Maybe allow you to purchase the option to glamour gear your job can't equip (a BLM meriting the ability to glamour Of Striking gear), alter visual effects of abilities/spells (maybe change the explosion effect for Fire III into a burning rock falling on the target), or possibly some extra cosmetic abilities (a DRG meriting the ability to super jump around instead of using a mount). The potential is there, the devs simply need to devote time to it.