Adding the Sphere Grid!? Or Materia System!?

[RastaBlack]

The Final Fantasy franchise has had so much success. Why not use that success to improve FFXIV?
I was so excited when I found out FFXI was going to be online.
I thought we would get an all new and exciting complex character progression system that has been happening in previous FF games, to an extent. But character progression in FFXI and FFXIV is pretty linear.

Think about it though. It would be so cool to learn our skills in a Sphere Grid style similar to FFX. This would give classes more flexibility with learning specific skills they want and it could fix the point allotment system that people have been talking about recently.
I guess you could call it a 3D talent tree with stat point distribution included. But I get so bored of talent trees. something more like a talent ants nest would be more fun. Obviously it would need to be altered to suit FFXIV.

And the materia system. I loved collecting materia! Think about this as well. You form a party to kill a NM or instance boss. Out pops a Knights of the Round Table materia! Nah just kidding. That's a bit farfetched. Seriously though, I want to add materia to my weapons and maybe an accessory slots too.
Luck materia maybe. Increases chance for rare quality item drops.
Or something more simple. VIT materia, increases vitality by x amount or %.
The possibilities are endless.

Any thoughts on my suggestions?

I'd love to hear what character progression aspects of previous titles everyone else would like to see implemented into FFXIV.

[Kirith]

While it's true these features could be quite fun and interesting, it has been a long standing ideal of Square to innovate in their games, plus these features would require a lot of work to be applied right and work in the same way.

The most plausible result for doing so, in my opinion, is: "They made a cheap copy of a glorious system and ruined both our memory of an old masterpiece and a new game" or simply "Square-Enix has ran out of ideas", etc...

This doesn't mean parts of these ideas or their underlying concepts shouldn't be considered to improve the current system.

[snowstriker]

I wouldn't mind seeing customization come in the form of a Sphere Grid, Crystarium, or Licence Board for FFXIV.

Of course, I'd want a new system unique to FFXIV, but taking inspiration from those systems is ok.

I doubt it'd happen, but hey

[Winterclaw]

Every new game in the FF series tends to get new tweaks. As much as I liked the sphere grid system more than the boards or the crystalarium I don't think SE would copy that system. Also I'm not sure how nice it would be to work with it considering we have a ton of classes and SE will probably add more in the next expansion.

[Perez]

Every new game in the FF series tends to get new tweaks. As much as I liked the sphere grid system more than the boards or the crystalarium I don't think SE would copy that system. Also I'm not sure how nice it would be to work with it considering we have a ton of classes and SE will probably add more in the next expansion.

I agree... Sphere Grid wouldn't work to well... Although I think that they should enhance the Guardian thing... like exclusive technicks and magicks an differences in attributes evolution.

[JayvirDeforte]

First off... this isn't FFX or FFVII. No two games rehashed the same concept.
And secondly, they have the mechanics in place to make this great, they just haven't got it working yet -_-

[Peregrine]

Yes, by now FF fans should know that this won't happen. Blitzball and materia won't be reused outside their own FF numbers no matter how good they are. Each FF is its own thing. Always has been, always should be. If we wanted nostalgic reuse of successful mishmashes we'd be playin a Zelda MMO.

[RastaBlack]

Wow look at this message from Yoshi P!
I really didnt expect it to happen.
But it makes my eyes light up to know I have some of the same thoughts as the dev team. 8D
This game may have a chance after all. Jusr have to be patient.

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We are planning a number of adjustments to the stats on crafted items, aimed at the following two ends:
•Create a characteristic uniqueness for Disciples of the Hand
•Allow Disciples of the Hand to craft items in high demand

For any given rank, there are differences between the important stats on pieces of gear suited for different classes. In line with this, we will be making adjustments that let crafters tweak the stats on crafted gear to customize it for certain classes. (Of course, we’ll be balancing Discipline of War and Magic classes at the same time.)
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I mentioned this in one of my previous letters. These new concepts are not limited to simply new elements in the synthesis process, but also aim to stimulate the economy as much as possible. Through crafting, we plan to breathe new life into the game’s economy by improving gilflow and the distribution of items, and ultimately improving both the merits of, and motivations for, all classes.
Among the devs, we are tentatively calling this the Materia System, though that name may change. This new system will allow Disciples of the Hand to fuse materia to weapons and armor using special catalyst items gathered by Disciples of the Land.
•Disciples of War and Magic can customize and personalize their gear
•Disciples of the Hand can answer the materia-fusing needs of others
•Disciplies of the Land can gather catalyst items to meet the realm’s demands

I’ll be posting more details on the Materia System at a later date.
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[Gilgamesh_VII]

But what happens when you unlocked all the sphere grid you just be the same as everyone else in STR and VIT so it won't work that way unless each class had a a different grid and you get a level cap on how many spheres you can place which would balance each class out.

Final Fantasy VII wont work as every character would be the same which would disrupt the balance of the game.

and like some other people have said SE doesn't use the same level up system twice.

[RastaBlack]

I think some people are missing the point of my post. I said something SIMILAR to previous titles, not a replica.
They've done it before with FFXII. That's similar to the sphere grid in that it's a grid.
Also like talent tree's in other mmo's no one has every talent in the tree. You gain talent points with each level up to spend in the tree.
To make each class different you wouldnt need a seperate grid for each one, you would just have each class start in a different position on the grid. As you progress you could learn all the skills and attributes in close proximity to where you start to really specialize in your class or you could make your way over to another classes area and form a hybrid class.
Theres a lot of room to make a unique class.
Where has everyones imagination gone....

At the moment FFXIV has no character progression.
Gain a level, get a new skill and spend attribute points on your class requirement... Boring.