@nelchael
I guess I'm just going to need to see it in a spotlight or development corner discussion. To my mind different types of characters would need different gear.
In general: A tank type character would need high armor and the ability to soak up damage; A ranger or assassin based character would need lighter armor to facilitate movement and speed; a caster would take light armor and be hard as Hades at lower levels but a force at higher levels.
When I read through the posts I get trade skills are important but gear is not which doesn't add up in my mind.
Different gear will affect character survival in different situations in a given based on resistances, stats, etc of the gear in question.
I'm just not sure how it plays into the overall game play of this game.
If people or guilds can get better gear from MOB X then there is not incentive to help crafters level for persons or guilds. It's always been easier to go kill MOB X several dozen times to gear up a group then level trade skills.
That's what I'm waiting to see. Even in games I've played in the past both PVE and PVP where they claimed trade skills would supply the best gear eventually the game developers caved to the players and had better gear drop from mobs.
After many games that have changed their tunes after the launch I'm so skeptical there's not enough salt in the world to demonstrate my disbelief. @kellewic had an uphill battle just to get me to look at the game let alone sign up to these forums. (like seriously uphill both ways in neg 30 weather with only a hot potato to keep warm
)
Basically, if trade skills are going to matter in this game then let them matter and make it worth while for people and guilds to dedicate time and resources to players that will create items - weapons, armor, food, etc for them. If they are not going to matter and just as good or better gear will drop then let us know now so we can move on.