Originally Posted by
Sephrick
Okay, here's my suggestion on how to make everyone happy:
Open world
The problem I've most witnessed people complain about in regard to having events focused in the open world, especially endgame, is situations of monopolization.
People don't want to be handed things, the just want a fair shake at them without other players stepping on their toes. Sky was great in theory, but it quickly turned into a voke macro showdown with RMT bots included.
Bounty System
I think a good way to keep any one mob from being a claim fest would be to remove the drops from the mobs themselves.
At this point it would be a two-fold endeavor. The Grand Companies have heard that there are schematics hidden in ruins around Eorzea for ancient and powerful equipment. However, recent events have awoken powerful monsters and they are terrorizing the land. Because of this, the Companies must focus their full attention on the beasts and ignore what could be a wild chocobo chase.
Expedition Forces
At a certain rank, the Grand Company has enough trust in you to divulge the location of known ruins. If you're so inclined, you can investigate. These are seperate zones, but not instances. Their only requirement for entrance is being of a certain rank. After all, even access to Sky was contingent on story progression.
These open world areas are full of dangerous foes and pitfalls. It's up to the player to explore and discover where the schematics are located. Ultimately, they're a drop from a boss like abjurations in Sky. The schematics are U/U.
Bounty Points
So you've found some schematics. Or you just want to help fight the good fight.
Either way, the Companies' master craftsmen can't be bothered with the schematics when they're so busy churning out equipment and supplies for soldiers to take on these new beasts roaming the land.
The Grand Companies are willing to make a deal, they'll get you the attention of their master craftsmen if you aid in the battle against the roaming NMs.
Each time a player participates in a kill on an NM, they get a certain amount of "Bounty Points." These can be accumulated for the big prize or, for those not interested in the schematics, for Company Seals.
Instances
Some people just want to schedule an LS event and play on their own schedule, this should be tailored to them.
The Base Item
The story is short and sweet: Grand Companies aren't the only citizens of Eorzea aware of the schematics. It is rumored that the Beast Tribes of Eorzea have been creating weaponry based on their own versions of the same schematics.
In each of the strongholds is an entrance to an instanced raid. The Amalj'aa Armory, the Kobold Foundry and the Ixali Floating Keep.
These raids eventually lead to a battle against a boss who drops a weaker version of the open world items.
The Upgrade
Garlean Magitek can do many wonderous things, including enhance weaponry of a specific design.
Players can partake in difficult instanced raids on Garlean outposts in search of a functioning one-time-use piece of Magitek that will upgrade their specific equipment to the Open World version.
Conclusion
There's a balance in all of this. In the open world, you're not guaranteed a chance at the fight, but when you get claim and win you at least make some form of personal progress. In the instances your guaranteed a chance at the battle on your own schedule, but drop rates are low and require getting two specific drops per item.
Ideally, both would be designed to take about the same amount of time. But both are influenced by luck. In the open world, a player may never get in on a kill or could just be around for all of them. The instances could go over like Dynamis -- I know people who head RDM hats hitting the ground whereas my LS saw three drop in as many years.
This all leaves it up to the player to chose. There's plenty in the open world to explore and even terrible beasties to bump into.
Everyone can choose their own path to the same items while still having to put in a significant amount of time.