New Version Update Announcement! (05/14/2010)

[KingOfZeal]

Re: New Version Update Announcement! (05/14/2010)

From my understanding, the 75 merits will stay in place. There may be adjustments (as mentioned above), but the Merit System itself will remain unchanged.

Then they'll be adding a new system, which will be similar to the Merit System which will let you tweak your character, which will be available at level 99. I doubt both will be called Merits though, it will likely be two separate, but similar, systems.

[Takelli]

Re: New Version Update Announcement! (05/14/2010)

From my understanding, the 75 merits will stay in place. There may be adjustments (as mentioned above), but the Merit System itself will remain unchanged.

Then they'll be adding a new system, which will be similar to the Merit System which will let you tweak your character, which will be available at level 99. I doubt both will be called Merits though, it will likely be two separate, but similar, systems.

That to me sound sjust plain stupid. Why would they make merits for 75, so you have to spend hours upon hours to merit for th e75, then get to 99 and spend even more hours to merit the lvl 99... -.-;

[Mhurron]

Re: New Version Update Announcement! (05/14/2010)

That to me sound sjust plain stupid. Why would they make merits for 75, so you have to spend hours upon hours to merit for th e75, then get to 99 and spend even more hours to merit the lvl 99... -.-;

Most likely you will be able to do the lvl75 merits at any time once you hit 75. I don't see you needing to hit 75 and cap merits there before moving past to 99 and meriting again. They could just add group 3 and what not merits. Groups 1 and 2 are available anytime after hitting 75, and groups 3+ after hitting 99.

Your objections sound like 'why would they add merits at 75? You spend hours upon hours leveling to 75 just to then spend hours and hours getting merit points.' The 99 cap is going to break many many things about the game, but I don't see the merit system being one of them.

[MrMageo]

Re: New Version Update Announcement! (05/14/2010)

Gotta agree with Mhurron, I see an addition of group 3 maybe 4 that are only attainable at lvl 99. However What they do to groups 1 and2 etc I am unsure of. Taking RDM for example, if they add teir 3 enfeebles to group 3 or 4, or spells as we level what would be the point of using the teir 2's as group 2's. Now that RDM can AoE phalanx (presumably) with /SCH what is the point of Phalanx II other than single target with a slight y longer duration at 5/5.

As RDM primarily I do not know if it is worth my time capping any T2 Enfeebles or the like in group 2. I used to have some capped but removed points to get a different set of spells for a different function. (yada yada yada). I am sure the same can be said about a lot of jobs. WHM for instance what would be the point of pro V if they make pro VI, or what would be the point of AMII if they make AMIII for BLM.

As it is up in the air and the only factors I see being continuous are group 1's and generals, looks like I am merit capped on 2/3 jobs =).

[Malacite]

Re: New Version Update Announcement! (05/14/2010)

o_O IT LIVES!!!


EVERYONE RUN FOR COVER!!!

[Solymir]

Re: New Version Update Announcement! (05/14/2010)

As RDM primarily I do not know if it is worth my time capping any T2 Enfeebles or the like in group 2. I used to have some capped but removed points to get a different set of spells for a different function. (yada yada yada). I am sure the same can be said about a lot of jobs. WHM for instance what would be the point of pro V if they make pro VI, or what would be the point of AMII if they make AMIII for BLM.

I understand what you are saying about not capping certain merits, but to say what is the point of meriting AMII if there is AMIII is like saying what is the point of buying/questing Tier III's when there are Tier IV's. AMII's should be cheaper to cast and mp efficiency should be considered.

[TheGrandMom]

Re: New Version Update Announcement! (05/14/2010)

Gotta agree with Mhurron, I see an addition of group 3 maybe 4 that are only attainable at lvl 99. However What they do to groups 1 and2 etc I am unsure of. Taking RDM for example, if they add teir 3 enfeebles to group 3 or 4, or spells as we level what would be the point of using the teir 2's as group 2's. Now that RDM can AoE phalanx (presumably) with /SCH what is the point of Phalanx II other than single target with a slight y longer duration at 5/5.

As RDM primarily I do not know if it is worth my time capping any T2 Enfeebles or the like in group 2. I used to have some capped but removed points to get a different set of spells for a different function. (yada yada yada). I am sure the same can be said about a lot of jobs. WHM for instance what would be the point of pro V if they make pro VI, or what would be the point of AMII if they make AMIII for BLM.

As it is up in the air and the only factors I see being continuous are group 1's and generals, looks like I am merit capped on 2/3 jobs =).

If they make available an additional group of spells at level 99 via merits, there is still a reason to get the other merit spells at 75 because there are still 24 levels between. I don't think I'd max all of them out but they would still have their uses for a significant amount of time. And we are assuming that the spells they add will be worth meriting too. We all know thats not always the case.

[MrMageo]

Re: New Version Update Announcement! (05/14/2010)

o_O IT LIVES!!!

Yes I am back but i left the young tough internet guy act behind a few years ago =)

I understand what you are saying about not capping certain merits, but to say what is the point of meriting AMII if there is AMIII is like saying what is the point of buying/questing Tier III's when there are Tier IV's. AMII's should be cheaper to cast and mp efficiency should be considered.

Like AMI's were? Not to come off sounding like a total douche but there are numerous cases where new spells have contradicted the old flavor of standard game mechanics. Paralyze II for example costs 6 times as much MP as paralyze 1 but until 5/5 merits it is pretty well junk. Bio III costs twice as much as bio II yet until 3/5 Merits you must cast it twice to equal the duration of bio II.

AMII's cost hlf as much as AMI and did twice as much damage, what happens if AMIII cost the same as AMII and do 3 times the damage or cost the same as AMI. Or what If SE just decides to say well you know what here are 6 AM2 Scrolls we have changed the your cat II's to enhance potency only not unlock the spell. While still a solid group II they could go further still and not reimburse or carry over merits.

I am not saying do not bother meriting the spells, sure some of them are great, some people capped out a long time ago. All I am saying is if you can only be "useful" for 24 levels with said merits capped, then it kind of defeats the purpose of raising the cap. Some jobs don't have the luxury of 2.5-3 merits an hour. Some are lucky to get one.

Im just saying for those who have not capped group 2 merits, I would not spend my time currently doing so as there is potential for a complete flip. I would b shocked if SE said ok from 75-80 you get nothing because you could spend 3 weeks meriting for those instead of questing/buying. I would not be surprised to see Cat II's like AMII and Enfeeble II's go to scrolls, to be replaced by potency and acc for the given spells, such as Slow potency + x Acc + x that covers more than just the spell cast but 2-3 tiers of it Or Dia effect + 1% per level, giving the option of using dia 1 at same potency as a naked dia II at 5/5.

In my honest opinion if SE expects people to have these merits and provides no spells on the same ground until 99 cap merits, I think that the cap increase is a waste of time.

I know a lot of new people who have never merited that are excited to b part of lvl 99 FFXI. It would be unfair to them to make them pause at level 75 for several weeks/months to unlock spells before they are accepted to carry on.

If they make available an additional group of spells at level 99 via merits, there is still a reason to get the other merit spells at 75 because there are still 24 levels between. I don't think I'd max all of them out but they would still have their uses for a significant amount of time. And we are assuming that the spells they add will be worth meriting too. We all know thats not always the case.

While this to an extent is true as a RDM and knowing the RDM merit spells potential

Dia III is terrible at 1/5 on anything other than colibri that die in 30 seconds. Even then the MP cost =/= the reward
Bio III same as dia III, the mp cost/duration is terrible until 3/5
Slow II possibly the only good merit at 1/5 RDM gets
Para II potency and accuracy near equal to that of a Paralyze one which costs 6 times less MP and lasts longer.
Blind II lolblind
Phalanx II situationally usefull as is at 5/5 when accession is useable phalanx 1 wins.

to unlock all 6 spells that is 18 merit points or 6 hours (if you get into an awesome party, 9 hours for a typical party 18 hours for a BLM burn, or 36 hours for campaign/solo all for spells which are bettered or mp wise not as good as their early variants.

Thats even before seeing if ninja gets Jubaku, Hojo upgrades.

For RDM our spells were never that great and not being able to aquire them all for a good effect is crap, and not having them all for 24 levels while we wait will probably be seen as crap.

Maybe I am just over thinking the situation. But as it stands in my memory and current playing. RDM teir II spells suck they either can not be used on a target due to its high resistance or the targets die to fast to be wortwhile for the MP cost.