A New Realm with new Threads (Gear Styles that should be around in ARR)

[Siegtaru]

I'd really like to see more gear that has that kind of "overglorified trenchcoat" look to it, robes with more bells and whistles. I just do not want it to get to the horrendous state WoW's gear design and many other MMO's with similar genres have decided to go in. I just don't want it to look like a suit around my character as opposed to something my character is wearing. When I look at other MMO's such as WoW or Rift where the gear is so gaudy and ridden with sparkle effects that you can't even see your character model in the slightest, nor differentiate it from others... please, SE, stick to the way FF gear should look; unique yet somewhat realistic, as in, someone would actually fathom wearing it.

That's the one thing I always enjoyed about XI and XIV; how our gear/clothing looks like ACTUAL gear/clothing that someone probably did craft or place into a dungeon's depths because it was just that awesome. Someone probably actually would want to wear said gear because it doesn't look like a costume made of cardboard glitterpixels. In other games, the realism of the gear's appearance has gone out the window, and the rule of thumb is usually "more glitterpixels means more item level", or in other words, if it's more gaudy and ridiculous looking, it has more stats. You don't often find a more powerful piece of gear in those games that doesn't look more sparkly than the piece you're replacing it with. SE could totally stand to get past the whole making some pieces of amazing gear look somewhat underwhelming thing.

[Sakasa]

the rule of thumb is usually "more glitterpixels means more item level", or in other words, if it's more gaudy and ridiculous looking, it has more stats.

Well I never played tera or WOW but I understand the sentiment from my time in RO. But there are things that can be done in 14 that could still be done a be a bit over the top and you wouldn't mind. FFXIV compared to WOW seems very muted so things that are abnormal stick out much more. Case in point Ifrit weapons the effect is still theirs and theirs alone you can pick them out of the crowd super easy same with the relics. So I don't think there really is a need or even a place to have that over the top time warp auras of look at me.

But there are "auras" that would look organic in moderation such as Aethryte glow for an earring or something like warning lights (Hate to keep digging from the same source but its the most visual accommodating to the expression of my ideas since the warning lights in FF8 were to grand) like the gun mage weapon in X-2

Its very small details that draw our eyes because we look for them unconsciously because of the muted dynamic of our gear. Like noticing someone is wearing a white raven with out checking them. Almost like a self profiling prophecy.

[hrdndv]

... In other games, the realism of the gear's appearance has gone out the window, and the rule of thumb is usually "more glitterpixels means more item level", or in other words, if it's more gaudy and ridiculous looking, it has more stats.

I agree that Final Fantasy has always supported a restrained style. However, we already have l'cie and aeons in-the nude. So even sticking to historic FF costumes there is a wide range costumes that were hardly anything. FF never resorted to nothing but sparkle, and, some of the favorite designs were based on Japanese costumes. The formal school-girl look so popular in anime is often seen in FF.

(Reality is obviously violated in ridiculous oversized weapons, which are typical of FF.)

SE has designed so many great costumes that they should pull the best into ARR. And just because some people have prejudices should not affect their decisions.

"To each his own, " said the old lady as she kissed the cow.