Relaxing the requirements to meld Materia?

[Estellios]

Would anyone be against increasing the level range for Materia melding so that it's similar to repair requirements (10 levels below the optimal/crafting level or higher, whichever is lower)? This would be for a single materia only - that way forbidden materia crafting can be left as a benefit to those that have leveled their crafting classes further.

The game is being balanced around characters having a single materia set on their gear, and it is an interesting aspect of character customization and development, so it needs to be accessible to as many people as possible. Lowering the requirements might help give those multitudes of dud low level materia a use and help newer players enjoy themselves more by being able to customize their gear more easily.

[MeowyWowie]

The game is being balanced around characters having a single materia set on their gear, and it is an interesting aspect of character customization and development, so it needs to be accessible to as many people as possible.

Err.. it is equally accessible to everyone.. Anyone can go to the wards, buy some tools and start crafting.

If they lower the level requirements, then they should impose failure rates for underleveled crafts (even on the first materia).

[MariyaShidou]

They are going to add an option to Meld Materia in your Bazaar like Request Repair.

[zerrith]

I think it would be ok to lower the required level for the first materia and still have the 100% success rate. Then for materia after the first impose a greater penalty if your level is below the item in question.

[REDace0]

This makes sense. I was actually surprised when I couldn't attach materia to my own Felt Cavalier's Hat (Brown) that I made. I can make it. Why can't I attach (one) materia to it?

(Hm...should the singular of materia be 'materium'?)

[Lienn]

IMO melding should follow the repair rules. If you can repair, you can meld. If that's the case, they could just keep the current restriction for more than one materia...example:

Cobalt Cuirass is Lv49, but let's assume it's a lv57 recipe (just guessing the recipe level), being then, by repair rules, repairable past 39. So anyone 39+ should be able to repair AND to meld 1 materia to it, while those 49+ should be able to meld more than 1 materia to it.

[Bahn]

Yeah, definitely agree. Surprised this wasn't the case. The "special" materias should have strict level requirements but for basic materia melding it should definitely be a bit looser, if not 10, then maybe 5-8.

[Nayt]

Since they're gonna let you have them melded through your bazaar eventually, I don't really think it's neccessary to lower the required synthesis level

[Nakiamiie]

If they lower the level requirements, then they should impose failure rates for underleveled crafts (even on the first materia).

That's a good idea!
Maybe a 5% penalty up to 10 levels (like repairs) -- 50% chances if you are 10 levels lower.

[Estellios]

Since they're gonna let you have them melded through your bazaar eventually, I don't really think it's neccessary to lower the required synthesis level

This is true, I forgot about this, but it would still be nice IMO to give lower rank crafters some light at the end of the tunnel or even people that level their crafting alongside their class, since crafts eventually level ridiculously slow. The craft leveling speed might change, though...

I was just curious at what high level crafters thought since it's essentially horning in on their territory. I have 50 CRP but I wouldn't mind more people being able to attach materia to their own things.