vareal Wrote:I don't wear things that are out of my rank range, but perhaps there should a lock on equipment that is above your rank; in being that you cannot equip it until you are that rank, and if you can there needs to be an obvious penalty. In Lineage 2, the equipment grade's go as followed, No Grade, D, C, B, A, S, S-80 and S-84. If you equip something above your level range (say you equip B grade when your level only permits C grade) you get a serious movement weakness, your defense drops, your attack weakens etc.
Well, the thing is that you already do get penalized in a similar manner in FFXIV. Just to cite a few examples, I have both a Bronze Needle and an Iron Needle (weaving), as well as a Bronze Doming Hammer and a Iron Doming Hammer (armorer). They're levels 12 and 22, respectively, in their hierarchy of tradecraft tools (I got them early because I saw some great prices, and just wanted to keep ahead of the price curve). If I try and equip the latter tool, I see a severe reduction in all my craft stat points (both those crafts are level 12 to me).
But the problem is that your average schmoe isn't really taking stock of this. Or they're too lazy or uncaring. Honestly, if I found out I was commissioning a crafter to make me a Super Mega Ultra Armor of Awesome +2, and I came to realize he was using a tool 10+ levels above his level, I think I'd just walk away from the deal and find someone else.
Anyway, I can see a point to this system. FFXI players know very well about the Level Sync system, and how it was meant to allow for more accessibility to playing with lower level friends without the hassle of having to get brand spanking new low-level equipment. The system effectively pared down your armor and weapon stats, even removing some of its beneficial effects, so while you could keep wearing your level 75 gear, you were not still a God of Death at the same time.
Now in FFXIV, where inventory space is about as limited as my patience for Tea Party enthusiasts (hah, hah! Topical humor!), there's a reason to be thankful that you can recycle equipment to your other jobs, and it's even justified to a degree. But there's a limit to that justification.
A friend to the end to depend on you can.
I walk through the sea, swim through the sands.
To the edges of the earth, to your rescue when you hurt,
Only thing I learnt is I'm not Superman.
~Giant Panda - Strings
I walk through the sea, swim through the sands.
To the edges of the earth, to your rescue when you hurt,
Only thing I learnt is I'm not Superman.
~Giant Panda - Strings
