To The Devs: A World of Individuals

[Akumu]

From Square Soft to Square Enix the characters in the Final Fantasy Series have always had their own since of unique style, regardless of the monsters and trials they faced.

This is my journey through this strange world but how can I truly fall in love with my virtual self when the only time I can keep a sense of self is when I hide my helmet to show my face. So why does Square Enix not allow us to create our own unique characters in the online series? We already have a horizontal/vertical way of leveling, so what better way to compliment such a diverse array?

Here is my proposal:

THE STYLE TAB(name tentative)

The Style Tab will allow you to place gear in the gear interface that ONLY changes the APPEARANCE of that slot and not the stats. While also having an Equip Tab(name tentative) that allows you to equip gear that WILL alter your stats as it does currently in game.



After selecting the Style Tab, the above UI will change to allow the user to know it was selected without confusion of which. You can do this by placing red(any color) borders around the slots or having a nameplate above the UI to inform you of which one. As stated once the Style Tab is activated ANY gear you apply WILL NOT change the gear that you have placed in the Equip Tab UI. So If I have My Paladin AF(Body) equipped but a Weathered Shirt in the style tab(body slot), My stats will still be what my Paladin AF(body) grants but will appear as the Weathered Shirt to Myself and other players. This change will allow a DoM to look like they are wearing heavy armor if they choose to, but they will still be the glass cannons we know and love. On the other hand a DoW can wear a robe while still being able to take damage on the frontlines.

*I decided to cut out the above as I can see how this could potentially start more of an issue.

*By default any gear not place in the Style TAB UI will give the appearance of what's in the EQUIP TAB.

This is a harmless addition to the game that will have a great impact on most players. It will allow current players to become an individual while having another hook to reel in potential players looking at the game. Not many people enjoy looking EXACTLY like so many others they come across through their journey once they hit endgame. There are those that love their AF and would love to be able to wear it without being gimped as the cap rises or better gear is added in the future. This allows the Artists on the development team to create gear and not have it forgotten as time goes on.

Crafters should also feel the impact of such a feature as people will buy gear not just for stats but the look of it.

*Restrictions: 1) A job/class CAN NOT place another jobs AF in their style tab. So a MNK/PUG/GLA will not be able to look like a paladin. I think that is only fair because the AF are uniforms and have a deeper meaning to them. However, A paladin can use the style tab to keep none, some, or all of the paladin AF to customize his paladin appeal. There are already NPCs without the full paladin AF look.

Update1: 2) Limting this open system to only equippable gear will still allow much more creative freedom then we currently have now. I do not see an issue with such a restriction being imposed.

Update2: 3) Event Items could also be restricted to prevent the game from gaining the wrong image.
*The main concept of this proposal is what I'm trying to get across to the Devs. Yoshi-P and Team can change this to fit their vision while still allowing creative freedom among appearances, thus ending the "Endgame Clone Wars" for FFXIV.

Square Enix ask yourselves this...

1) How many MMOs allow you to do EVERYTHING with one character?
2) How many allow you such a diverse leveling system like the Job/Armoury?
3) How many allow such a diverse way to create individuality such as my proposal suggests?

Now while you can find some MMOs that can fill the slots to those questions...

How many have done all 3?

[Akumu]

Please show some support/concerns for this idea and not just troll it.

edit: I will be back a bit later to check on it.

[Urthdigger]

I'd like this. I like my ash mask (And ICly, have a reason to keep it on pretty much full time), but the stats aren't really the best, especially if I'm not on DoM.

[Gramul]

Sorta like what they're doing in Tera?
I'm totally for it.

[Xoo]

I will agree that I'd like to wear exactly what I want to wear into battle and wherever. I like your idea; Nice proposition.

[AreeyaJaidee]

No Thanks.

Maybe SE could allow us a synthesis option or npc to modify certain details of all our armor/weapons besides current color-only changes.

Example: change the trim of armor plating from silver to gold; change the front half to blood-red and the back half to midnight-black; add rust or dents or rips into the textures wherever you desire; place your linkshell crest on your platemail or helm or pants leg...

As for paladins running around in crafting pants and gathering bodies: No Thanks

This isn't a flame; its my personal "hell no i don't wanna see stupid shit like that when im fighting in a party" opinion.

I do agree we need to be able to customize our gear; but cheapass dat swaps isnt the answer.

[Kazimir]

Probably not something I'd use but it's an interesting idea. There's a lot more important content to be focused on right now though. This is really something I'd maybe expect to see in a couple years. I've nothing to add to the system itself though, you covered well.

[Elexia]

As long as it's client changes only (only can see it) I'm all for it.

[Choyi]

When in battle I don't look at my char and when I'm in town I wear crafting gear or just cool looking town gear so I see no personal need for this system.

I can only see it being very confusing to identify classes at distance while in PVP with casters in plate and meele in robes, in smaller skirmish situations it would be hard to judge the strenght of your opponent by looking at what level of gear he/she has.


I'd rather be able to dye any gear(exluding AF) into any colour and also would like options to add cosmetic items to armor pieces(gemstones, chains, sigils, straps etc).

[Yelta_Sumasu]

I liked how Dragon Nest did the cosmetic gear slots but would want it to be cosmetic only and no stat changes or anything. I would limit it to equipment types you are already allowed to equip tho as I do not want a white mage wearing dragoon gear....

I kinda would like them to add a "classless" class where I can wear anything around town I want but not have any stats whatsoever.