New NMs and Class Specific Gear

[InuraBera]

There's not much point in only doing that is there? That means that rank 50 gear is still wearable, whereas the rank 30 gear you just picked has a requirement of that rank. Still leaves players open to wear gear that probably has way better stats.

The penalty on gear above your Rank is actually quite horrifying. I had a Hatchet until recently that was 9 Ranks below my current Rank, however if I equipped the shiny new one I had waiting for me upon reaching Rank 37/38 (a single Rank above me at the time, can't remember which) my ability to gather would drop by about 11 Points in each associated stat. It really does punish you for not following the recommended, and if you aren't one of the classes that should use it it punishes you even further.

Same with Bronze Haubergeon and such, I had a Rank 25 piece of Leather type armour which gave me around 30 more defense until I reached the recommended Rank for the Bronze stuff. Weapons as well - add to that the way that durability works now (if you are recommended Rank and Class, it degrades slower, if not, faster) then you really see that they want you to stick with what you should be using.

Basically the only thing it doesn't do is stop you wearing it outright. That doesn't mean I'm against gear with restrictions, I just don't think everything (particularly crafted stuff) should become restricted. Also, I hope that clears up some misunderstandings about the gear and the 'way better stats'.

*Edit* It strikes me as incredible just how little folk seem to notice things within the game - I guess that explains why I *do* see folk running around in Rank 40-50 gear at Rank 10 even when they would be better off in their underwear.