Possible melding NPC.. .what do you think?

[Welsper59]

Logical relevance????



1) Player search tool.
2) Ask a qualified player nicely, remember to remain humble and say please. Ask people without the AFK sign. Wait for their reply.
3) I've never met a melder who charged me. In fact, when I tried to tip one, they told me "OMG no, please please, it's for free". Maybe I'm just lucky? Or perhaps politeness and ability to show appreciation was rewarded?

You mean how services rendered IRL is identical to services rendered in-game? Pretty sure it's self explanatory on that. People look at crafters as a means to an end. A tool, essentially. It's not a bad thing, but it's no different than opening the yellow book IRL to find a business to do some job you need done. Do you get in contact with those people to build a relationship with them? Your argument was about losing a socializing tool by adding the NPC. I'm saying that you wouldn't lose anything meaningful by this. The example of IRL services to how you would look to a crafter for in-game services is there to showcase why it's not a big deal. That is, unless you do so with the express purpose of making a friend in the process. Most people don't though. If you want to make a friend, seeking melds is not the only way to do it.

Again though, all of those variables must be in play. If one is not, then the seeking player is out of luck and must wait till one is avail or willing. You're right in that most crafters are okay to help you out, but it's still an unreliable variable for something so minor. Your replies are very short sighted, even though I spell out why those thoughts apply. Wall of text mentality maybe, as I do preach a lot.

[Yallaid]

I can commiserate - I never melded any of my leveling equipment both because i knew it wasn't worthwhile to deal with materia until end-game and because it meant shouting and tracking down other players which is always going to be something of a barrier.

An NPC that can do basic melding would definitely have players like me getting a lot more use of grade 1-3 materias and it'd make it a lot easier to just throw some Vit or main stat onto a piece of leveling gear for the hell of it. BUT, I would NOT like to see this hypothetical npc in my opinion. There has to be a better way to encourage participation in the Materia system that doesn't remove the player/player interaction element of the whole thing. Losing that would be too big of a cost.


I'd like to see a system where you can request melds from players and fulfill requests for melds - much like the current market board. Something where you might have to leave an item on the 'Materia Board' for a few hours while you wait for a player to fulfill the request, and maybe post an attached donation to anyone that does. This kind of system would encourage participation more than what we have now (shouting in a populated area) but it would retain Crafters/other players as the sole participants.

tldr: removing player/player interaction from an MMO is not the way to handle this issue.

[Kaurie]

Personally, I think the player interaction doesn't need to be forcibly enhanced via the current melding system. Further, I think that my interactions with melding have been pretty meh. I have received melds from numerous people on my server, and if you asked, I'd be able to regurgitate only one of their names.

[Colorful]

I don't think player interaction should be forced in this manner, especially when it feels I'd just be pestering friends to meld my gear so I support it. Overmelding will be kept to crafters, as it is now.

[Kaisha]

If they're going to spend any time on the melding system I'd rather it be them adding a retry option to the Request Meld feature (like they did for personal melds in 3.2) so I'm not stuck waiting 10 seconds between attempts on someone's 8% overmeld.

[PArcher]

If they add a melding NPC, it should only be usable for the guaranteed melds on White gear. No Greens, Blues, Purples, Pinks (well, if Pinks get meld slots anyway). Just the basic White gear.

EDIT: Maybe (big maybe) on crafted Greens too...but have to charge a ton for it

And for reference, if someone asks me to meld, I'll do it. If they tip, yay, if not, didn't cost me anything anyway

[dejavutwo]

I would like it. Right now I get my melds from one of the crafters in my static right before we start a raid, but it would be convenient to be able to do it on my own.

[Aethaeryn]

I don't really get the "player interaction" arguments here. I have melded for people around Idyllshire or even outside my personal house/FC house, and I barely ever get more than a "Thanks!" and the person runs off. It's not like that builds any kind of community. Maybe on an RP server, I guess? I think it'd be pretty awkward trying to strike up meaningful conversation with some random person after giving/receiving a meld.

Personally, I would like to see an NPC added. Aside from this character, I have three alts with multiple 60s, and I don't want to level crafters on all of them. It's enough work already keeping up with weekly stuff like tomes and midas on multiple characters, and then I feel bad having to bug friends or randoms for melds on top of that. Maybe that puts me in the 'lazy' camp too despite having all crafters on my main.

For people worried about the incentives for leveling crafters, you already have:

1. Advanced melding
2. The ability to repair your own gear anywhere, anytime
3. The ability to make your own food/meds/equipment far cheaper (generally) than market board prices
4. Potential networking via crafting linkshells/groups
5. This adds onto 3, but access to a variety of vanity items earlier or cheaper

Obviously not an exhaustive list, but if that's not already enough incentive, you probably aren't going to level your crafting anyway. I just don't see how an NPC offering melds for 100% slots only could hurt anything at all, but it definitely would improve the quality of life for others.

[Lexia]

The translation from the live letter was

A: There’s actually already a system in place for NPCs to meld materia into equipment that has open materia slots. However, I’m thinking advanced melding should be requested to those who are Disciples of the Hand, but we’ll look into this carefully as we keep an eye on feedback.

What I get from that is he saying there already a NPC that can meld your gear if it has 100% slots but apparently that not good enough for people and they want to be able to over meld without needing a crafters help which he is saying no to. I don't see why people want to play a MMO and feel they are being bothered to actually play with others.

[Kaurie]

The translation from the live letter was



What I get from that is he saying there already a NPC that can meld your gear if it has 100% slots but apparently that not good enough for people and they want to be able to over meld without needing a crafters help which he is saying no to. I don't see why people want to play a MMO and feel they are being bothered to actually play with others.

Where is this NPC that melds into guaranteed slots?