[Evicerator]

see now you're just making the armor increasingly more of a Pain in the @$$. When you start introducing things like max durability loss simply to balance the armor along with the blacksmith's usefulness you're just creating a problem where one isn't needed.

It's an interesting idea and one we'll prolly see in the future (when technology allows for morphing armor and player customization like that.)

[sickel]

Well, to try to "save" your original idea a bit, the only real spin-off I could come up with along those lines is to have it where you can "salvage" old items and armor, or perhaps instead, upgrade only certain parts of that armor. I'm not sure I even like that idea, since it creates a huge new level of depth (upgrading the shoulder pads - or perhaps the left shoulder only, etc.) that really isn't needed.

What I'm talking about is maybe you like the look of your breastplate or whatever, but it's getting old, so you can upgrade it by having a smith fuse a new metal alloy over it, making it stronger and perhaps slightly different in look.

Overall though, I still just like the idea of having that ambition to acquire a newer armor and having to pursue more advanced armory and weaponry. I think that will keep me around longer than a system where I simply maintain my armor or try to make decisions based on a balancing act (since personally, I'd go with the new armor nearly every time).

[Cod Eye]

Everyone would wear the most desired armour and all other armour would become obsolete and crafting would become pointless and i wouldnt want to grind crafting just to repair.

I like to earn armour as my character grows, like a reward for my characer for achieving a milestone, this makes missions and quests worthwhile. And lets remember there is no character leveling in XIV which makes me think how is armour and weapon restriction going to be implemented? Stats requirements mabe? 10 dex to wear purple pants of power? 40 strength to use sword of forced megatron? okay made up item names but you get my point. lol

And as a fan of the crafting side in FFXI (which i thought was one of the best implemented crafting of any mmo i have played) I want to farm drops i want to synth and desynth i enjoy and feel fulfilled crafting and selling of the items i make. Some days i dont want to xp or quest i like to just sit for an hour using up all my mats while watching chat channel or talking to linkshell members.

[Grimix]

I think it's a good idea for maybe an endgame equipment option. Something similar to mythic weapons in FFXI.

But not for main leveling gear.