Idea: Merit system

[linay]

Somehow I feel that the people who pull high DPS would also be the people who'd have no issue to put in the effort to grind out their merits. But yeah we can't allow dedicated players to get head in any way, rather have them unsub between content patches bc they run out of things to do, that's healthy for a game ^^

So instead you'd have people who would unsub when they find things like grind out merits to be busywork.

...

I think you've just described why item level progression is a good thing. It's simple enough to grasp and not as grindy as it can be or as other systems can get yet still useful but optional at the same time. Look at how many people still complain about solo quests. My guess is many of those complaints would disappear if they'd just have better gear. Max level dungeons also don't have item level cap as far as I know, so better gear is what can save you when other people in your party isn't performing as they should. And if you only play with static, then you can set your own item level depending on the challenge you want to set for your group.

As for relic system, anything that gives core ability would just not work in a vertical progression system in my opinion as it would just be discarded in the next expansion or suddenly not work as well when abilities get changed (pruned/reordered/expanded). That's why item level with "boring" stats works so well from expansion to expansion until a simple stat squish is done whenever they feel the need.

[Nalien]

It's simple enough to grasp and not as grindy as it can be or as other systems can get yet still useful but optional at the same time.

In what way is it useful? What content does item level actually help out with?

Perhaps I should clarify, when I say item level, I mean something you'd actually have to put effort towards getting. You can sleep your way into a full set of i440, heck even a set of i460 given enough weeks. So what purpose does i470 serve in this game? Making the content you just beat to obtain it even easier? It's a non-reward. Just compare the rewards people actually care in this game, to the gear rewards; Mounts. Something like Trials exist almost exclusively for mount farming. The item level from the weapons? Redundant pretty much at release. Relevant item level is something that requires absolutely no effort, and as such the "relevant" item level from raids/etc. offers absolutely no purpose IMHO.

Like I said, the thing to work on and improve in this game isn't your item level, it's learning the mechanics of encounters. That's it. Like I also said, that's not necessarily a bad thing, but it does leave an itch thoroughly un-scratched for people who expect RPG elements in a MMORPG. People want a progression system in their RPGs, when you're basically fully geared by default? There's no progression there. You hit the level cap and the thing to work on isn't your equipment, it's learning a set of scripts for boss encounters. That's great for some people, bad for others.

Again, I think Relics are the solution, but SE has casual-ified Relics to such an absurd degree... Not only that but it seems they get pushed back each expansion, too... A Realm Reborn released with A Relic Reborn, and when that content was relevant it was IMO the best piece of progression content this game has offered. Anima weapons took a while to get going in comparison, and Eureka took almost half of Stormbloods lifetime to even get released to lukewarm reception... I wish they'd go back to A Relic Reborn style Relic quests, the whole idea to make Relics a casual reward is absurd to me; Isn't that exactly what tomestone weapons are already? Instead now we get Relics that you can upgrade largely without even using... It's such a pathetic state of progression... Anima was the worst IMO, simply because for the vast majority of that process I was not using the weapon, or even doing Lv60 content... Eureka was at least Lv70 content, if you can call FATEs content, but it was level capped, so the weapon was largely irrelevant until they had the admittedly rather good idea to add Eurekan Effect stats, but that was basically right at the end of the process... Heck most of A Realm Reborns process was awful too, the initial quest was only good because it (mostly) carried over from 1.x, it was the closest this game every came to offering some mid-core content though, now it's Savage and Ultimate for hardcore players, and literally everything else for the super casuals... No inbetween...

[RoyalBeef]

So instead you'd have people who would unsub when they find things like grind out merits to be busywork.

So you're saying people would rather stay subbed when there's nothing to do than stay subbed when they're given something to do? /doubt
And yeah, MMOs consist of busywork. That's the only thing that keeps them afloat. Aside from beasttribes etc, even the MSQ quests contain busywork. So people grind out beattribes for some silly mount, and go through extreme lengths to farm glamour sets, but make them complete the same busywork for actual improvement of their character, suddenly they start whining about it being a bad thing. You're doing stuff anyway, and you rather have that exp go to waste instead of being able to use it for character improvement? Doesn't make any sense.

For the players who don't engage in endgame content those perks wouldn't bee needed anyway, so they could completely opt out of getting them, so nothing would change for them.

[Deusteele]

Hell no, no level cap ability progression BS. I don't need to level up to the new expansions cap, only to have half my class locked behind some grind-or-die tryhards e-peen tracker.

[Lunavi]

Why do you want us to have to play through MSQ one time for each job we want to play? This is like one of the best parts of this game compared to WoW, it is already bad enough that they still have the miserable specialist system for crafters.

[Shougun]

I wouldn't want to see a merit system that affects our combat capabilities as many of the reasons people have referenced, but I do think a cosmetic merit system could be fun- especially if presented in a nostalgic way. I think it'd also be nice because we'd still have a use for EXP after cap, so for those who wanted to heavily invest on their cap job rather than "well guess I need to level something else if I don't want exp to go down the flusher".

Nostalgic way as in we could have a sphere grid, crystarium system (FFXIII, 3d sphere grid), or license board (FFXII). I think the biggest problem being how the game shares that info and allowing players a way to manage different options, as someone may want to have some cool X effect on for their Paladin but not for their Dark Knight.

Cosmetic as in we could unlock unique things for jobs specifically as well as in general.

Job specific things for example could be:

• Dragoon- unlock hyper jump mode, allowing dragoon to make great leaps in areas they've unlocked their aether currents (it activates via the mount system). Now they can have that dragoon imagery of being able to leap through the air. An upgrade variant may even give them double jump.
• Dark Knight- unlock the smokey energy effect from the Heavensward trailer that radiates off the dark knight while they're under their dark side effect
• White Mage- Unlock a holy breast plate armor
• White Mage- Their wing ability gains another set of wings and gets larger (visually)
• Black Mage- Unlock a new heavy armor reminiscent of Ex-Death / Golbez (although I would like to see this become a job concept as a "battle mage" sort of thing, but if not that then this is cool too)

Being able to change visuals and animations of things, a unique feature not really available else where. As well as goofy new abilities because why not.

Or general concepts, including class and ability goofing:

• Unlock the flying ability (mount) from the cutscenes in the main story
• Hildibrand / Godbert run mount (that supersonic dust kick up mount)
• Some side character outfits from other FF games
• Ability to place down a camp fire and stumps/seats
• Alchemist - unlocks quick brewing that creates a timed life potion (will be removed from inventory) that greatly increases out of combat regeneration and is mostly just an RP / for fun ability
• Culinarian - brew drinks and food like above, mostly just for the fun of it but also perhaps has that built in +couple % exp boost
• Radiance - occasionally very subtle god rays will illuminate you (perhaps unlocked through Paladin / White Mage but can be used on other jobs)
• DoM - Magic camp fire
• DoW - reduces fall damage
• DoW - As you run you slowly increase your run speed (resting when you stop, obviously has a cap but gets to a respectable number)
• DoM - Surf - as you run you'll hear a chime after a bit that unlocks the ability to press space once to get into a sort of glide over ground ability that increases movement speed
• DoM - passive, tap jump while falling - casts slow fall, slows falls and reduces damage
• DoM - Levitation, double tap stops falling, instant cast can be cast while falling, resets fall damage, has a short duration before it'll turn back off (can't just stand somewhere forever)

Effects that are generally open world goof off that do affect things like culinary exp boost quick food or reduced fall damage would not work in any instanced content (including pvp), I don't want any "you didn't buy x so you can't come" merit issues.

Etc.. just customization and goof off things that players can unlock because they can. Spending that otherwise lost experience. Encouraging SE to check out WoW's Toy Box as well for ideas of things players could goof around with (and other silly spells).

[Liam_Harper]

The Crown of the Immaculate (Extreme) 460
[Loot][Duty Complete] No doubles, high dps or kick, must have max Merits or gtfo.

I'm not so sure about that idea ...

[RoyalBeef]

I'm not so sure about that idea ...

Somehow I feel that the people who pull high DPS would also be the people who'd have no issue to put in the effort to grind out their merits. But yeah we can't allow dedicated players to get head in any way, rather have them unsub between content patches bc they run out of things to do, that's healthy for a game ^^

[Deusteele]

Somehow I feel that the people who pull high DPS would also be the people who'd have no issue to put in the effort to grind out their merits. But yeah we can't allow dedicated players to get head in any way, rather have them unsub between content patches bc they run out of things to do, that's healthy for a game ^^

This BS argument is constant thrown around as some kind of Holy Grail by tryhards that want to hold developers hostage. Tryhards are going to unsub anyways once you find something else that doesn't cater to your personal agenda. They just want developers to throw casuals under the bus to make themselves feel better.

Still saying it; They listen, they give you content that you ask for, but it's not not what many really want. What many want are hard set bars that block others from that content. You wish to be the guardians that control how others play the game. You'll dissemble all your motivations to reach a satisfactory self delusion, but the truth still remains.

Get over yourselves.

[RoyalBeef]

This BS argument is constant thrown around as some kind of Holy Grail by tryhards that want to hold developers hostage. Tryhards are going to unsub anyways once you find something else that doesn't cater to your personal agenda. They just want developers to throw casuals under the bus to make themselves feel better.

Still saying it; They listen, they give you content that you ask for, but it's not not what many really want. What many want are hard set bars that block others from that content. You wish to be the guardians that control how others play the game. You'll dissemble all your motivations to reach a satisfactory self delusion, but the truth still remains.

Get over yourselves.

You can remove my reaction image, doesn't cover up your somehow deeply anchored anger towards endgame players which also shines through in other posts of yours, talking about e-peen and taking devs hostage with subs (you seem to be re-using that carbon copy of a rage response with arguments that make no sense.)

You'll dissemble all your motivations to reach a satisfactory self delusion, but the truth still remains.

Bruh I'd just like some way of further improving my character after hitting max level. What are you even talking about? Jeez xD