Quick explanation of merits? Think talent builds from WoW.
This could be added to the character profile system you guys have in place already. It could just be an extra display tab in the same sense that you have skills and job lists.
It's the one element that has existed in-game for years and something that I feel Allakhazam can take advantage of. There are some third party sites out there that let us show off and there are proggies we can download to help us keep track of merits, but what's the fun in that?
What I'm gunna do in this post is break down the full merit system and what would be cool to see if a dev makes some magic happen. I know we're low on the dev count and this would be a lot of work, so I don't really expect this to happen anytime soon, but at least you guys get the general idea! Oh, and if anyone sees anything that I might've missed, post here so that who ever is the poor bastid who is stuck coding this can add in one swoop!
/cue FFT Tutorial music
The Merit
For another WoW reference, a merit points = a talent point.
Any one trait or ability has it's own merit requirement. In WoW, 1 talent point can gain you a skill or upgrade a skill. In FFXI, 1 ability/trait may need any number of merits.
To gain a merit, it takes 10,000 limit points once you hit 75. Basically, you XP directly to earn more merits. You can store the MAX of 10 merits on your character before you need to spend those points on something. Cool feature would be seeing how many total merits a single character has gained and/or total limit points acquired.
Pooled vs Job
So now you got your merits...now what?
Time to spend your merits!
There are two types of merits: pooled and job specific. As you can already guess, any skill up that you upgrade that is pooled will be shared amongst ALL jobs you have on that character. So if you level up your base STR by 1, all characters (lv10 and above if you wanna be picky) will have 1 extra STR point to their base STR.
Job specific is...um...job specific.
Categories and Merits
Now that you know the two different types of merits, let's rush off to all the goodies we can level!
Most merit abilities increase in merit requirement as you level. To make things simple (and this is how I've seen it described before), I'll demonstrate it as follows:
1 > 1 > 2 > 3
Which basically means
lv 1 = 1 merit
lv 2 = 1 merit
lv 3 = 2 merits
lv 4 = 3 merits
Also, each category of stuff you can upgrade can also have a max amount of times it can accept upgrades. I'll show this by the following:
Max Per Skill: 4
Max Total: 4
That means that each skill in that category can be upgraded 4 times. Total number of "upgrades" in that particular category is also 4. So that means if I have this:
Skill 1 lv3
Skill 2 lv1
I can't upgrade either skill because the max in that category is "4".
Pooled
HP/MP
1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 5 > 5
Max Per Skill: 8
Max Total: 8
Max HP (+10 per upgrade)
Max MP (+10 per upgrade)
Attributes
3 > 6 > 9 > 9 > 9
Max Per Skill: 5
Max Total: 5
STR (+1 per upgrade)
VIT (+1 per upgrade)
DEX (+1 per upgrade)
MND (+1 per upgrade)
INT (+1 per upgrade)
CHR (+1 per upgrade)
AGI (+1 per upgrade) Thanks, MD!
Combat Skills
1 > 2 > 3 > 3 > 3 > 3 > 3 > 3
Max Per Offensive Skill: 8
Max Per Defensive Skill: 4
Max Total: 20
Offensive:
Sword (+2 per upgrade)
Great Sword (+2 per upgrade)
Axe (+2 per upgrade)
Great Axe (+2 per upgrade)
Katana (+2 per upgrade)
Great Katana (+2 per upgrade)
Polearm (+2 per upgrade)
Dagger (+2 per upgrade)
Club (+2 per upgrade)
Staff (+2 per upgrade)
Hand-to-Hand (+2 per upgrade)
Marksmanship (+2 per upgrade)
Archery (+2 per upgrade)
Throwing (+2 per upgrade)
Defensive:
Evasion (+2 per upgrade)
Shield (+2 per upgrade)
Parry (+2 per upgrade)
Guarding (+2 per upgrade)
Others Thanks for Others/Magic, Jinte!
1 > 2 > 3 > 4
Max Total: 8
Max per merit: 4
Enmity Increase (+1 per upgrade)
Enmity Decrease (-1 per upgrade)
Critical Hit Rate (+1% per upgrade)
Enemy Critical Hit Rate (-1% per upgrade)
Spell Interruption Rate (-2% per upgrade)
Magic Skills
1 > 2 > 3 > 3 > 3 > 3 > 3 > 3
Max total: 16
Max per merit: 8
Divine Magic Skill (+2 per upgrade)
Healing Magic Skill (+2 per upgrade)
Enhancing Magic Skill (+2 per upgrade)
Enfeebling Magic Skill (+2 per upgrade)
Elemental Magic Skill (+2 per upgrade)
Dark Magic Skill (+2 per upgrade)
Summoning Magic Skill (+2 per upgrade)
Ninjutsu Skill (+2 per upgrade)
Singing Skill (+2 per upgrade)
String Instrument Skill (+2 per upgrade)
Wind Instrument Skill (+2 per upgrade)
Blue Magic Skill (+2 per upgrade)
Job Specifics
Quick note on job specifics. There are group 1 and group 2 abilities each job can learn. The max total is PER job. Not max total for ALL jobs.
For All Jobs
Max per Skill Group 1: 5
Max per Skill Group 2: 5
Max Total Group 1: 10
Max Total Group 2: 10
Group 1: 1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 5
Group 2: 3 > 4 > 5 > 5 > 5
Warrior
Group 1
* Berserk Recast (-10 seconds per upgrade)
* Defender Recast (-6 seconds per upgrade)
* Warcry Recast (-10 seconds per upgrade)
* Aggressor Recast (-10 seconds per upgrade)
* Double Attack Rate (+1% per upgrade)
Group 2
* Warrior's Charge (-2 minutes 30 seconds recast per upgrade)
* Tomahawk (+15 seconds duration per upgrade)
* Savagery (+10 Weapon Skill TP Bonus per upgrade)
* Aggressive Aim (+4 Ranged Accuracy bonus per upgrade)
Monk
Group 1
* Focus Recast (-10 seconds per upgrade)
* Dodge Recast (-10 seconds per upgrade)
* Chakra Recast (-10 seconds per upgrade)
* Counter Rate (+1% per upgrade)
* Kick Attack Rate (+1% per upgrade)
Group 2
* Mantra (+4% per upgrade)
* Formless Strikes (+5% effect per upgrade)
* Invigorate (+24 seconds duration per upgrade)
* Penance (+20 seconds duration per upgrade)
Theif
Group 1
* Flee Recast (-10 seconds per upgrade)
* Hide Recast (-10 seconds per upgrade)
* Sneak Attack Recast (-2 seconds per upgrade)
* Trick Attack Recast (-2 seconds per upgrade)
* Triple Attack Rate (+1% per upgrade)
Group 2
* Assassin's Charge (-2 minutes 30 seconds recast per upgrade)
* Feint (-2 minutes recast per upgrade)
* Aura Steal (+20% absorb rate per upgrade)
* Ambush (+3 Accuracy Bonus per upgrade)
Paladin
Group 1
* Shield Bash Recast (-10 seconds per upgrade)
* Holy Circle Recast (-20 seconds per upgrade)
* Sentinel Recast (-10 seconds per upgrade)
* Cover Effect Length (+4 seconds per upgrade)
* Rampart Recast (-10 seconds per upgrade)
Group 2
* Fealty (-2 minutes 30 seconds recast per upgrade)
* Chivalry (-2 minutes 30 seconds recast per upgrade)
* Iron Will (+19% effect per upgrade)
* Guardian (+19% effect per upgrade)
Dark Knight (/cuts =P)
Group 1
* Souleater Recast (-12 seconds per upgrade)
* Arcane Circle Recast (-20 seconds per upgrade)
* Last Resort Recast (-10 seconds per upgrade)
* Last Resort Effect (+2% Attack Bonus, 2% Defense Down per upgrade)
* Weapon Bash Recast (-10 seconds per upgrade)
Group 2
* Dark Seal (-2 minutes 30 seconds recast per upgrade)
* Diabolic Eye (-2 minutes 30 seconds recast per upgrade)
* Muted Soul (-10 Enmity per upgrade)
* Desperate Blows (-5% Delay per upgrade)
Samurai
Group 1
* Third Eye Recast (-2 seconds per upgrade)
* Warding Circle Recast (-20 seconds per upgrade)
* Store TP Effect (+2 per upgrade)
* Meditate Recast (-6 seconds per upgrade)
* Zanshin Attack Rate (+1% per upgrade)
Group 2
* Shikikoyo (-2 minutes 30 seconds recast per upgrade)
* Blade Bash (-2 minutes 30 seconds recast per upgrade)
* Ikishoten (+3 TP gained per upgrade)
* Overwhelm (+5% damage bonus per upgrade for the first 3 upgrades. 2% increase each for the last 2 upgrades)
Ninja
Group 1
* Subtle Blow Effect (+1 per upgrade)
* Katon Effect (+2 damage and +2 seconds resist down per upgrade)
* Hyoton Effect (+2 damage and +2 seconds resist down per upgrade)
* Huton Effect (+2 damage and +2 seconds resist down per upgrade)
* Doton Effect (+2 damage and +2 seconds resist down per upgrade)
* Raiton Effect (+2 damage and +2 seconds resist down per upgrade)
* Suiton Effect (+2 damage and +2 seconds resist down per upgrade)
Group 2
* Sange (-2 minutes 30 seconds recast per upgrade)
* Ninja Tool Expertise (+5% activation rate per upgrade)
* Katon: San (+5 Magic Attack and +5 Magic Accuracy per upgrade)
* Hyoton: San (+5 Magic Attack and +5 Magic Accuracy per upgrade)
* Huton: San (+5 Magic Attack and +5 Magic Accuracy per upgrade)
* Doton: San (+5 Magic Attack and +5 Magic Accuracy per upgrade)
* Raiton: San (+5 Magic Attack and +5 Magic Accuracy per upgrade)
* Suiton: San (+5 Magic Attack and +5 Magic Accuracy per upgrade)
Dragoon
Group 1
* Ancient Circle Recast (-20 seconds per upgrade)
* Jump Recast (-3 seconds per upgrade)
* High Jump Recast (-6 seconds per upgrade)
* Super Jump Recast (-6 seconds per upgrade)
* Spirit Link Recast (-6 seconds per upgrade)
Group 2
* Deep Breathing (-2 minutes 30 seconds recast per upgrade)
* Angon (+15 seconds Defense Down duration per upgrade)
* Empathy (+1 copied effect per upgrade)
* Strafe (+5 Wyvern Breath Accuracy per upgrade)
Beastmaster
Group 1
* Killer Effects (+1% intimidation rate on all killer effects per upgrade)
* Reward Recast (-3 seconds per upgrade)
* Call Beast Recast (-10 seconds per upgrade)
* Sic Recast (-4 seconds per upgrade)
* Tame Recast (-20 seconds per upgrade)
Group 2
* Feral Howl (-2 minutes 30 seconds recast per upgrade)
* Killer Instinct (-2 minutes 30 seconds recast per upgrade)
* Beast Affinity (+2 pet level per upgrade)
* Beast Healer (+1 Regen amount per upgrade)
Ranger
Group 1
* Scavenge Recast (-10 seconds per upgrade)
* Camouflage Recast (-10 seconds per upgrade)
* Sharpshot Recast (-10 seconds per upgrade)
* Unlimited Shot Recast (-6 seconds per upgrade)
* Rapid Shot Rate (+1% per upgrade)
Group 2
* Stealth Shot (-10 Enmity per upgrade)
* Flashy Shot (-2 minutes 30 seconds recast per upgrade)
* Snapshot (-2% Delay per upgrade)
* Recycle (+5% activation rate per upgrade)
Puppetmaster
Group 1
* Automaton Melee Skill (+2 per upgrade)
* Automaton Ranged Skill (+2 per upgrade)
* Automaton Magic Skill (+2 per upgrade)
* Activate Recast (-40 seconds per upgrade)
* Repair Recast (-6 seconds per upgrade)
Group 2
* Role Reversal (-30 seconds per upgrade)
* Ventriloquy (-15 seconds per upgrade)
* Fine-Tuning (Increase accuracy by 5, ranged accuracy by 5, evasion by 5, and magic defense by 5 per upgrade)
* Optimization (Increase attack by 5%, defense by 5%, and magic attack by 5 per upgrade)
Corair
Group 1
* Phantom Roll Recast (-2 seconds per upgrade)
* Quick Draw Recast (-2 seconds per upgrade)
* Quick Draw Accuracy (+2 per upgrade)
* Random Deal Recast (-40 seconds per upgrade)
* Bust Duration (-10 seconds per upgrade)
Group 2
* Snake Eye (-2 minutes 30 seconds per upgrade)
* Fold (-2 minutes 30 seconds per upgrade)
* Winning Streak (+20 seconds per upgrade)
* Loaded Deck (-10% failure rate per upgrade)
Dancer
Group 1
* Steps Accuracy (+3 per upgrade)
* Haste Samba Effect (+1 per upgrade)
* Reverse Flourish Effect (+3 TP per upgrade)
* Building Flourish Effect (+2 accuracy, +1% attack, and +1% critical hit rate per upgrade)
Group 2
* Saber Dance (-30 seconds per upgrade)
* Fan Dance (-30 seconds per upgrade)
* No Foot Rise (+1 Finishing Move per upgrade)
* Closed Position (+3 Accuracy and +3 Evasion per upgrade)
Summoner
* Avatar Physical Accuracy (+3 per upgrade)
* Avatar Physical Attack (+2 per upgrade)
* Avatar Magical Accuracy (+3 per upgrade)
* Avatar Magical Attack (+2 per upgrade)
* Elemental MP Cost (-1 elemental perpetuation cost per upgrade)
Group 2
* Meteor Strike (+60 TP Bonus per upgrade)
* Heavenly Strike (+60 TP Bonus per upgrade)
* Wind Blade (+60 TP Bonus per upgrade)
* Geocrush (+60 TP Bonus per upgrade)
* Thunderstorm (+60 TP Bonus per upgrade)
* Grand Fall (+60 TP Bonus per upgrade)
Scholar
Group 1
* Grimoire Recast (-2 seconds Light Arts/Dark Arts recast per upgrade)
* Modus Veritas Duration (+10% per upgrade)
* Helix Magic Acc./Atk. (+3 magic accuracy and +2 magic attack bonus per upgrade)
* Max Sublimation (+10 MP available per upgrade)
Group 2
* Altruism (Light Arts Stratagem (requires two charges). Increases the accuracy of your next white magic spell.)
* Focalization (Dark Arts Stratagem (requires two charges). Increases the accuracy of your next black magic spell.)
* Tranquility (Light Arts Stratagem (requires two charges). Your next white magic spell will generate less enmity.)
* Equanimity (Dark Arts Stratagem (requires two charges). Your next black magic spell will generate less enmity.)
* Enlightenment (Optimizes both white and black magic capabilities and allows access to both addenda for your next spell. Recast: 10min.)
* Stormsurge (Storm-type spells grant a bonus to attributes associated with their element. Initial bonus value: +3.)
Blue Mage
Group 1
* Chain Affinity Recast (-4 seconds per upgrade)
* Burst Affinity Recast (-4 seconds per upgrade)
* Monster Correlation (Increase monster family related effects by 1 per upgrade)
* Physical Potency (+2 Magic Potency of physical Blue Magic spells per upgrade)
* Magical Accuracy (+2 Magic Accuracy of magical Blue Magic spells per upgrade)
Group 2
* Convergence (+5 Magic Attack and +5 Magic Accuracy per upgrade)
* Diffusion (-2 minutes 30 seconds per upgrade)
* Enchainment (Grants a 10 TP Bonus to Chain Affinity per upgrade)
* Assimilation (Increases maximum Blue Magic points by 1 per upgrade)
White Mage
Group 1
* Divine Seal Recast (-20 seconds per upgrade)
* Cure Cast Time (-4% cast time of all Cure spells per upgrade)
* Bar Spell Effect (+2 potency of Bar spells, +2 Magic Defense Bonus per upgrade)
* Banish Effect (+2 damage, +2 seconds duration of Defense Down effect per upgrade)
* Regen Spell Effect (+1 HP/tick recovered per upgrade)
Group 2
* Martyr (-2 minutes 30 seconds recast per upgrade)
* Devotion (-2 minutes 30 seconds recast per upgrade)
* Protectra V (+2 defense per upgrade)
* Shellra V (~-0.8% Magic Damage Taken per upgrade)
Black Mage
Has no merits because SE hates Black Mages.
Just kidding!
Group 1
* Elemental Seal Recast (-20 seconds per upgrade)
* Fire Magic Potency (+2 potency per upgrade)
* Ice Magic Potency (+2 potency per upgrade)
* Wind Magic Potency (+2 potency per upgrade)
* Earth Magic Potency (+2 potency per upgrade)
* Lightning Magic Potency (+2 potency per upgrade)
* Water Magic Potency (+2 potency per upgrade)
Group 2
* Flare II (+3 Magic Burst damage and +5 Magic Accuracy per upgrade)
* Freeze II (+3 Magic Burst damage and +5 Magic Accuracy per upgrade)
* Tornado II (+3 Magic Burst damage and +5 Magic Accuracy per upgrade)
* Quake II (+3 Magic Burst damage and +5 Magic Accuracy per upgrade)
* Burst II (+3 Magic Burst damage and +5 Magic Accuracy per upgrade)
* Flood II (+3 Magic Burst damage and +5 Magic Accuracy per upgrade)
OK! I think I covered all the jobs...might've forgotten one.
...which was Bard!
Wow.
Fail.
Bard
Group 1
* Lullaby Recast (-1 second per upgrade)
* Finale Recast (-1 second per upgrade)
* Minne Effect (+1 per upgrade)
* Minuet Effect (+1 per upgrade)
* Madrigal Effect (+1 per upgrade)
Group 2
* Nightingale (-2 minutes 30 seconds recast per upgrade)
* Troubadour (-2 minutes 30 seconds recast per upgrade)
* Foe Sirvente (+5% effect per upgrade)
* Adventurer's Dirge (-3 Enmity per upgrade)
OK!
Done! Hope you guys add this! Everyone else, add your feed back!
Let's get this done!
Edited, Dec 31st 2008 9:21pm by Exodus
HAPPY NEW YEARS, btw!
Edited, Dec 31st 2008 9:22pm by Exodus
Edited, Jan 2nd 2009 9:05pm by Exodus
