Battle Formula Question: Magic Number 8?

[Fiosha_Maureiba]

We're getting dangerously off topic here. Gonna try to get back on before the Judges reign in the lockage!

I suspect the +8 serves as an increase equivalent to two pieces of gear for the equivalent level. They could have easily picked other numbers, the way they could have made the level cap 40 or 51. They choose a number to balance around, in some games that's 10, others it's 20, some it's 100, and then do their adjustments.

I suspect the +8 serves as an increase equivalent to two pieces of level appropriate gear. Exclusive stats that even if someone was wearing the same gear with the same materia, the "specialist" would always have a little more edge. And with the +10 (whether this is 8 + 10, or replacing 8 for an end total of 10), would further boost the specialization. Like having a free +III materia equipped, at level 50, several different III materia equipped.