Final Fantasy XIV to drop two level system

The somewhat confusing character development system of Final Fantasy XIV is due for an overhaul.

A post on the game's forums announced that patch 1.19 is expected to remove physical levels from the game.

Currently, players level their character and their class; post patch, only class based levels will exist. Players will no longer be able to allocate attribute and element points.

Instead, the patch will introduce a temporary automatic levelling system. While player control of stat increases will return in future, for now, Square Enix is concentrating on making each level have more impact.

Dinging is expected to have much more noticable jumps in a player's performance, although at higher levels, equipment will have increased importance.

A few other small changes come in support of the new system. Races will now only be differentiated by starting attributes, and a few terminology changes mean Skill Points are now Experience Points, and Ranks are now Levels.

The patch is still in development and no release date has been set.

Final Fantasy XIV is an MMORPG which came under heavy criticism upon launch and is undergoing serious overhauls; a PlayStation 3 version has been put on hold until the wrinkles are smoothed out.

Thanks, MMOSite.