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It's been said that the battles will have different strategic elements added to spice things up. Square Enix has hinted that the game will have an adaptive learning curve: new players will have simpler battles, but as they progress the game becomes harder. The game will have large-scale battles that actually require parties to decide on strategies for defeating the enemies.
The fights in FFXIV are in real-time, although they will not be as action-packed as some might be used to from other MMORPGs. There will be more strategic elements in place. Check the trailer for certain speculations.
Items will degrade in durability, depending on how much and how often they're being used. This leads to light speculation that class changes might actually be encouraged in the form of the tank switching to healer and the healer switching to tank in longer parties.
The Armoury System
The core system of Final Fantasy XIV will be the so-called "Armoury System." It is completely focused on your character's equipment. In order to change a playing style, you change your equipment parts, which is done in real-time.
An example is the following: let's say you join a group of adventurers and you're fighting enemies, if you wear the corresponding equipment you are ready to defeat foes as an archer. When said group has disbanded, you may change gear and you'll return to becoming a fisherman or a gardener, etc.
This will allow for a lot more freedom and it'll make FFXIV quite solo friendly. A warrior who wants to be cured of poison can easily change into a healer by himself. So, having plenty of inventory room is far more important than it was in Final Fantasy XI.
In order to increase in specific areas, Square Enix recommends balancing your equipment parts between the inventory slots. The level of your equipment is essential in Final Fantasy XIV, its more important than your "character level" itself. Square Enix has mentioned the freedom of the system yet again and that it will be a lot more flexible and fun having such a system in place. The team behind FFXIV has deliberately chosen to avoid the usual job classes, instead selecting much more neutral names.
Highlights of the Armoury System
- In Final Fantasy XIV there's a larger focus on the level of the items you are using rather than your own level and skills.
- You're able to switch from warrior to a healer with ease when solo playing - soloing becomes a whole lot more fun and easier.
- Changing your "job" is as simple as switching your weapon, you can relax and not feel a lot of stress.
- Getting invited to a group which has too many of your current class? No problem, switch to a healer or whatever class they lack numbers in. After the adventure is over, switch back to your previous class; gardener for instance.
- Weapons and your equipment have their own "levels." You need to coordinate your equipment to reach whatever goal and power type you're aiming at.
- The "holy trinity" type of jobs (healer, tank, damage dealer) have been avoided, the jobs of FFXIV are far more neutral.
- Square Enix promises a lot of freedom in Eorzea. Almost unrestricted freedom!
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