Alzelia's take on fixing the armory system.

[Alzelia]

I know that they are completely remaking the battle system, but I'm not sure if they plan to scrap the armory system or not. I think I have an idea which would easily fix this system while still encouraging class distinctness and horizontal growth.

Currently you are given a certain number of points to spend on abilities that you can use for your class. (I can't remember what the points are called at the moment, ability points?) If three small changes were made to the armory system, I believe it would greatly improve the game.

1) There should be a medium sized penalty to the strength of abilities you have equipped that are not from your class, but still in the same discipline. For example, equipping bloodbath on an Archer would only heal you for 75% of the HP it normally would. There should be a large penalty for equiping an ability from a different discipline. For example, equipping cure on a Archer would only heal 50% that it would for a CON.

2) Abilities from a different class in the same discipline should cost twice the ability points to equip. Abilities from a different discipline should cost 4 times as many action points to equip.

3) Finally, you should only be able to equip an ability gained 10 ranks below your current class.

Of course all the numbers are just examples, but this should give the basic idea of what I'm trying to say.

[Kilta_Firelotus]

None of that helps imo and greatly discourages cross class abilities. Honestly Kinda tired of these "fixes" and ppl just basicly want to scrap the cross class abilities. Should try it out it is pretty fun, very helpful in solo too.

My fix is make cross class abilties useful and encourage it mose and encourage players to balance stats as your character instead of basing it per class.

[darkstarpoet1]

you already have penalties for cross classing abilities, but don't let facts get in the way of your thread.

[Carpe]

They won't scrap the armory system, they might make some tweaks or changes, but I highly doubt there will be any fundamental changes to how it works. They are going to be adding a job system in addition to the armory system. No one has any concrete ideas on how that might work, but I think having the job system playing a role in how cross-classing affects skill potency would seem better to me because if you do too many harsh penalties when mixing across disciplines, like with your suggestion, you basically gimp anyone trying to make a war/magic hybrid. For example, people would be too discouraged to do a kind of Paladin build with your suggestions because they would have to using up too many action points for the healing and buffing spells they need for their build which have been watered down so much anyway. If the penalties you put on cross-classing are too harsh, you're just going to be end up pigeon-holing people into the same builds because they will have no incentive to really experiment.

[Kilta_Firelotus]

personally Id like to see point cost removal or them getting lowered. Nearly every ability costs 3 points. Can't even use more then 2 spells as a low level conj or thm.

Also what I would like to see is ability combo "buffs" kinda like blu in ffxi. Where certain ability combos gave you a trait like auto refresh etc.

I would like to see idea that encourage cross class abilities and people use their stat points more for their character instead of per class.

Which was how it was intended. It was suggested that your stat piint was for your character, not per class. (which is why you get points on PL level up and not by rank up)