Stormblood and the off-hand equipment slot

[kattzkitti]

Has there been any information released about what (if anything) they intend to do with this slot for all the other jobs? Maybe return the option for one-handed main hand with off-hand for casters? Combine sword and shield and just remove the slot?

[Vidu]

...why should they do anything with it? ALL crafters and 2/3 gatherers are using the off hand slot... Its a lot more than just sword and shield for paladin.
It is however pretty obvious that the other battle classes wont be using the offhand anytime soon (they havent added one weapon and shield for casters with HW and even changed some of the old one-hand-weapons - coil, ifrit, mog, titan... - into two hand versions) - but since every crafter is using it, I really dont see any need to change it? Why is that empty slot a problem for your whm, bard or warrior?

[Gaj85]

...why should they do anything with it? ALL crafters and 2/3 gatherers are using the off hand slot... Its a lot more than just sword and shield for paladin.
It is however pretty obvious that the other battle classes wont be using the offhand anytime soon (they havent added one weapon and shield for casters with HW and even changed some of the old one-hand-weapons - coil, ifrit, mog, titan... - into two hand versions) - but since every crafter is using it, I really dont see any need to change it? Why is that empty slot a problem for your whm, bard or warrior?

Because why not? As a Black Mage I think it would be bad ass to be able to have some type of totem in that hand or something (Like in Diablo III). I wouldn't say I view it as a "problem" as you put it but more so of a way to add another element.

[Jim_Berry]

In Final Fantasy XI, there were items such as: Grips, Ammo and other items. Maybe FFXIV's "off-hand" is something similar?

[ErikMynhier]

In Final Fantasy XI, there were items such as: Grips, Ammo and other items. Maybe FFXIV's "off-hand" is something similar?

If they ever add anything to the slot, this is my expectation. Honestly I'm ok with DoW/M except for PLD using it now as It seems fair PLD gets more then the default material slots as PLD is in such a bad way that it feels ok that it is an advantage for them alone.

That said if they boost PLD like they are planning it will quickly become very unfair. "All the tanks are now equal in strength.... oh snap PLD gets an extra 24 DET/CRIT on their shield? PLDs only for this raid boyz!"

I think it's time SE adds off-hand items to even this out.

Ideas
DRK/WAR/DRG - Grips
BLM/RDM/WHM/AST - Charms
SCH/SMN - Quills
NIN/MNK/SAM - Beads

Would be fun.

[rxnin]

OH for machinist should be a second gun LOL

[Xandos]

OH for machinist should be a second gun LOL

You want to make a John Woo styled machinama don't you?

Grips and ammo would be a great addition if they don't decide to give us real weapons/shields.

[Kazrah]

There's the possibility of combining Paladin weapons into one just for the purposes of more suitable itemization while still maintaining the current tool setup for all DoH and the two DoL classes that implement this system. Given that Paladin has been constantly stated to be getting a major overhaul, this would probably just be one more thing on the list.

[Lambdafish]

There's the possibility of combining Paladin weapons into one just for the purposes of more suitable itemization while still maintaining the current tool setup for all DoH and the two DoL classes that implement this system. Given that Paladin has been constantly stated to be getting a major overhaul, this would probably just be one more thing on the list.

There is one reason, and one reason alone why this won't happen, Glamour. It is a massively backwards step to combine the sword and shield and force people into combination pairs that they maybe don't like. I have glamoured shields that I don't like to be paired with swords that I do, and that system works. Their solution to the problem was to have swords and shields always drop at the same time in loot tables, and that is IMO all that needs to be done.

[Kazrah]

There is one reason, and one reason alone why this won't happen, Glamour. It is a massively backwards step to combine the sword and shield and force people into combination pairs that they maybe don't like. I have glamoured shields that I don't like to be paired with swords that I do, and that system works. Their solution to the problem was to have swords and shields always drop at the same time in loot tables, and that is IMO all that needs to be done.

OR like the ARR caster 1-handed weapons, they could just transition out of them, offering it as one item rather than as individual items. I'm sure they could find some means of setting up a glamour system for it that would work the same as it does now.

I like to mix and match pally tools too, but I know that like caster 1-handers, the idea that they should stay separate items when the dozens of Paladin players mostly use weapons of the same set is logically pointless and mechanically outdated.