Suggestion - Allow unique equipment to be melded into materia!

[Jocko]

The Materia system is one of my favorite additions made to the game thus far, but I feel like it hasn't been taken as far as it should have been. One major thing I was disappointed to find was that unique equipment couldn't be melded! Perhaps I'm short sighted, but I can't really see a reason for this. In fact, I feel like the simple addition could allow for a bit more content replayability!

For instance, what if Unique equipment became specific materia when melded? For instance, if Elmlord's Tusk always became a +atk potency materia? Knowing that, it would become a prime piece used for creating materia, and that would mean that the open world NM's suddenly became a lot more worth hunting, and would keep them relevant throughout a player's journey through the game.

In fact, why not take it one step further? What if certain unique equipment could become exclusive materia? For instance (And this is just an example, not necessarily with balance in mind), what if Ifrit's Battleaxe could be melded into "Ifrit's Rage", a materia that allowed other melee weapons to do fire damage? Again, this would keep Ifrit relevant far beyond getting your LS member's their respective weapons!

So, what do others think?

[viion]

I agree on items you can reobtain: Chest items in Dungeons, Ifrit Weapons or NM Dropped/crafted items.

But no to some specifics: AF as you cannot reobtain them.

Very good idea!

We should also be able to meld materia onto some Rare/Ex armor, even if it is only 1 piece with 100% rate, it would make AF a bit more unique to the person.

[KiriA500]

No... NM drops turn into delicious company seals now, why the heck would you chance turning them into cruddy materia?

On top of that, none of the NM drops would turn into a level 2 materia at most. 200 seals > Whatever II

[Rau]

all the more reasonable to add high respawn time, high difficulty NMs

[Radav]

I do believe they should add the ability to enhance U/U equips with materia. Probably the easiest way would be for it to have U/U equipment come with a set number of slots that will allow you to place materia in them with a chance to lose the materia ONLY if it's more then 1 slot. This would enhance the materia market thus making the need for spiritbonded gear go up which would in turn give crafters a reason to produce l50-ish gear. What this would also do is remove the utterly retarded situation of having people go through multiples of already ridiculously rare weapons trying to get the double or more materia melds on their Ifrit Blade.

[viion]

No... NM drops turn into delicious company seals now, why the heck would you chance turning them into cruddy materia?

On top of that, none of the NM drops would turn into a level 2 materia at most. 200 seals > Whatever II

Why do i need seals, eventually I cap, even when they increase rank, I get that rank then cap out then the armor is a waste.

[Roaran]

The purpose of the materia system was purely directed at increasing demand for crafted items. Allowing items that are not crafted to be melded is a complete contradiction of the materia system in its entirety.

However, I have suggested before in another thread, if dungeons and notorious monsters were instead of dropping the rare/ex gear themselves were to drop materials for the gear, there would be a path to a system that could allow superior dungeon related items to be improved.

I happen to believe that having dungeons drop materials instead would be a far superior system for a few reasons; chief among them being: Active raiders have reason to continue farming content and extend the duration that it is played by being granted an incentive to gather materials. Because the goal is no longer a single dropped item that is in its finished state, but instead a multi melded piece of armor, materials could drop in large amounts, enough for a single run to reward nearly everyone in the raid with some equipment or chances to improve their existing equipment.

But to reiterate, to implement melding of rare/ex gear that is dropped straight from dungeons is to essentially, at least partially, undo the materia system in the sense that it's purpose for implementation would have been diminished.

[Zantetsuken]

The purpose of the materia system was purely directed at increasing demand for crafted items. Allowing items that are not crafted to be melded is a complete contradiction of the materia system in its entirety.

However, I have suggested before in another thread, if dungeons and notorious monsters were instead of dropping the rare/ex gear themselves were to drop materials for the gear, there would be a path to a system that could allow superior dungeon related items to be improved.

I happen to believe that having dungeons drop materials instead would be a far superior system for a few reasons; chief among them being: Active raiders have reason to continue farming content and extend the duration that it is played by being granted an incentive to gather materials. Because the goal is no longer a single dropped item that is in its finished state, but instead a multi melded piece of armor, materials could drop in large amounts, enough for a single run to reward nearly everyone in the raid with some equipment or chances to improve their existing equipment.

But to reiterate, to implement melding of rare/ex gear that is dropped straight from dungeons is to essentially, at least partially, undo the materia system in the sense that it's purpose for implementation would have been diminished.

/applause

It's nice to see someone else who really understands the vision behind this.

Also, the recent direction of stats on AF and Darklight gear has completely cut the feet out from any argument for Melding U/U gear.

It was really only a matter of time before the Devs would ramp up U/U stats to make it better. The Darklight Cuirass for instance, outclasses a triple-melded Vintage Haubergeon +1 and is far better looking as well. There is no reason at all to allow that Darklight, AF, or any other future U/U to be melded if this becomes the trend.

[Jocko]

Oh my, I think I worded something incorrectly, because we're talking about something completely different. I'm not talking about slotting materia INTO unique gear, I'm talking about spirit bonding and turning unique gear INTO materia

[Phobos]

Oh my, I think I worded something incorrectly, because we're talking about something completely different. I'm not talking about slotting materia INTO unique gear, I'm talking about spirit bonding and turning unique gear INTO materia

You said melded in the title. Based on your first post, you meant converted. These are two very different things, which is what has caused the confusion.

Convert gear into materia.
Meld materia onto gear.