Reward your older players

[Niro]

I have been reading through the forums and it seems that alot of players have some of the same concerns that I do. When the original players did the original battles and mission sets, the game was much harder. The players that put in the work and stratagized to beat the battle where rewarded for their efforts. Now the new players with the level cap increase are able to easily obtain the items that the older players worked so hard for.

What if a system was put in place to give parameters for fights.

for example the ark angels fight. They could put a set of parameters when entering the battlefield to let the group choose.

If they choose to do the battle with the original difficulty setting they would obtain the original item that was granted. If they choose to take the uncapped version of the battlefield then the item they recieve would be slightly dumbed down.

If they chose to fight the battlefield with the original intended level cap and without any dumbed down version of the battlefield then they would earn the item that the original victors obtained for the same difficult battle. If they chose the dumbed down version they would get a lesser item but would still get the mission credit for the win.

This seems like a way to give the original players who put in all the work their just rewards while allowing the players that feel the original battle is to hard to still complete the mission.

One other idea is to add a system of experience to the items obtained.

Maybe the raja's ring should gain +1 to each stat for each year the item has been in the players inventory... just an idea but something needs to be done to reward the people that have been playing the game for 8 years.

[Fiarlia]

I'm sorry, but I think this is a horrible idea. And I've been playing since NA PC launch day (October 2003, if I recall correctly).

Just because I, or anyone else, has played the game longer doesn't mean we're entitled to more. Nor does it mean that those who don't go through the same challenges as us don't deserve nice shinies. Times change, the game changes, big whoop. I'd much rather they go make new content, or revise older content (in a way that benefits everyone) than waste time and energy of the development team doing something like this.

[Greatguardian]

I'm sorry, but I think this is a horrible idea. And I've been playing since NA PC launch day (October 2003, if I recall correctly).

Just because I, or anyone else, has played the game longer doesn't mean we're entitled to more. Nor does it mean that those who don't go through the same challenges as us don't deserve nice shinies. Times change, the game changes, big whoop. I'd much rather they go make new content, or revise older content (in a way that benefits everyone) than waste time and energy of the development team doing something like this.

^ +1 to all this, same playtime. I really don't mind if other people are allowed to get Duelist's Chapeaus and junk in a couple of weeks. More power to them if they go out and do it. It doesn't make my stuff worth any less. The value of an item with regards to the effort I put into it hasn't changed.

[Luvbunny]

The game is much better now with all the recent adjustment. What the original FFXI was lacking is options. Now you can have the easy mode, where most of the stuffs are accessible to almost ALL players, OR you can still do the hard mode - translation: you can duo most of the stuffs, which still be challenging (meaning: a big huge deal of time sink due to mobs die very slowly). So there is your hard mode, already in place in the game. However most sane folks would take the easy, fun, and a whole lot more accessible way to obtain items. The ones who crave challenge can solo or duo the rest of the game for that extra "self inflicted" hard mode.

[Randwolf]

The ONLY thing I would like to see for long-time players is perhaps some extra items to choose from during the anniversary celebrations. Something like 6 - 8 years, 3 - 5 years, and 1 - 2 year categories. And nothing insanely great in the higher time categories. Just some cool token you could wear showing off how long you've been playing.

If they did add various categories for battle-mode, then all those with items would already have the base-mode (uncapped) item.

[Fiarlia]

The ONLY thing I would like to see for long-time players is perhaps some extra items to choose from during the anniversary celebrations. Something like 6 - 8 years, 3 - 5 years, and 1 - 2 year categories. And nothing insanely great in the higher time categories. Just some cool token you could wear showing off how long you've been playing.

Ok, this idea is actually fairly decent. In fact, I kinda like it.

[Luvbunny]

Yeah an anniversary token where you can trade to the Moogle to augment your gears of choice (including AF1-3).

I think they should add this where you battle BCNMs, get points, trade points for an augment key, trade it to the Moogle where you can add up to 3 augments to any gears of your choice.

They can also add base items (armor, accessories), you get it via bcnms, then do more bcnms to get points, and start adding augmentations to the base items (add 5 defense, max to 20 bonus defense - add evasions, attack etc). The current synergy is a bit too complicated. By letting you use points to trade to augment item, it will make it more easier.

[Fiarlia]

Yeah an anniversary token where you can trade to the Moogle to augment your gears of choice (including AF1-3).

I think they should add this where you battle BCNMs, get points, trade points for an augment key, trade it to the Moogle where you can add up to 3 augments to any gears of your choice.

They can also add base items (armor, accessories), you get it via bcnms, then do more bcnms to get points, and start adding augmentations to the base items (add 5 defense, max to 20 bonus defense - add evasions, attack etc). The current synergy is a bit too complicated. By letting you use points to trade to augment item, it will make it more easier.

What, no? Then it's back towards being biased to older players.

We're talking about just some silly event gear (like Halloween has Pumpkin Heads, Treat Staffs, Pitchforks, Easter has Egg Helm, Ammo Eggs) that's purely cosmetic. You wouldn't actually wear it while fighting. It'd be more for showing off than anything else, which I think is a fantastic idea. Even works to the advantage of JP's who played before NA release, giving them something to look super special.

[katoplepa]

The ONLY thing I would like to see for long-time players is perhaps some extra items to choose from during the anniversary celebrations. Something like 6 - 8 years, 3 - 5 years, and 1 - 2 year categories.

YEAH !!! I'm online since september 2003 and payed every single month up to March 2011 !!! never suspended or canceled, payed every single fee from that first day !!! reward me with a top prize of mog bonanza !!! *________________*

[Randwolf]

YEAH !!! I'm online since september 2003 and payed every single month up to March 2011 !!! never suspended or canceled, payed every single fee from that first day !!! reward me with a top prize of mog bonanza !!! *________________*

I'll assume it's sarcasm since you left out the part about it not having any real value.

[Piccollo]

horrid idea

though some reward for playing for 6 years would be nice:P

free chocobos forever lol

[Nepharite]

Also back when we were doing those missions, we had tons of other people needing those missions.
The player base that needs that stuff done now is incredibly small compared to back then.
Making things easier makes this stuff accessible to players that would never have got them otherwise.

I don't know about you, but I prefer other players to have access to decent gear.

[Swords]

Also back when we were doing those missions, we had tons of other people needing those missions.
The player base that needs that stuff done now is incredibly small compared to back then.
Making things easier makes this stuff accessible to players that would never have got them otherwise.

I don't know about you, but I prefer other players to have access to decent gear.

Agreed, its much harder to find a decently sized group to do anything worthwhile that doesn't give a reward in return anymore. When CoP had just came out people would do the missions left and right as soon as they came out, however a few months after the expansions storyline had finished it became difficult to find help without a dedicated group.

Now with newer gear outclassing much of the older stuff, older players leaving the game, and many new players with no access or interest in the old content, doing anything like CoP or RoZ is that much more difficult. SE wasn't reducing the difficulty and removing the level caps because of years of lazy trolls whining and moaning, they were doing it in order to give new life and new players a chance to enjoy older content that is not really done anymore. Had all the old difficulties and level caps that were in place back in 2005 were still being used, how much hell do you think new players would have finding anyone to help them through these missions.

[Malamasala]

If they choose to do the battle with the original difficulty setting they would obtain the original item that was granted. If they choose to take the uncapped version of the battlefield then the item they recieve would be slightly dumbed down.

And if you play a melee job, which is the easy mode job, you shouldn't get any reward at all. Only advanced roles like tank, crowd control and healer should get items.

Can we perhaps stop talking about what is easy and what is hard on these forums? Because it is just stupid nitpicking where everyone thinks what they do is hard, and what everyone else does is too easy.

[Dooom]

Also back when we were doing those missions, we had tons of other people needing those missions.
The player base that needs that stuff done now is incredibly small compared to back then.
Making things easier makes this stuff accessible to players that would never have got them otherwise.

I don't know about you, but I prefer other players to have access to decent gear.

Exactly. People complain about "easy mode" with stuff like CoP missions, but the truth is that prior to changes, they were practically "impossible mode" because of the difficulties of getting help for most newer players.

[Alkalinehoe]

If the reward is vanity, then sure, I'm all for it. I will disagree if its something game breakingly good. What I really enjoy about this game is that everyone has an opportunity to get everything they want to be the best, nothing of any real value is of limited time only. It just takes time.

[lowkey]

Just how many new players do you think are running around, that necessitates a seniority system be in place? Most people who still play are long-term players, and players who quit, returned and started from scratch for whatever reason. The last major influx of completely new players was at the XBox 360 launch, and it was nothing in comparison to the NA PS2, and NA PC launches. Any of them who are still around, have been around long enough to be considered veterans too.

[Liselle]

Isn't the best reward that you still play the game ?

[Lexin]

I been playing since PS2 launch and honestly no us older players should not be rewarded due to the game evolving. I don't understand why people constantly feel the need to be rewarded for every single thing in the game.

[Zyrs]

The ONLY thing I would like to see for long-time players is perhaps some extra items to choose from during the anniversary celebrations. Something like 6 - 8 years, 3 - 5 years, and 1 - 2 year categories. And nothing insanely great in the higher time categories. Just some cool token you could wear showing off how long you've been playing.

If they did add various categories for battle-mode, then all those with items would already have the base-mode (uncapped) item.

I really like this idea, even if it's just that you give people who have been playing for the last eight years something like a two room mog-house, or elderly boots (movement speed+15 when chasing kids off your lawn) or something.

[Nathos]

Let's ask SE to let us have all 3 rings and all DM earrings because we play since release. We deserve it.

/sarcasm off


Seriously. Don't think it's a good idea.

[Kjara]

Even SE did say the first purpose of level cap increase and mission fights level cap removal had the purpose to aid the few players who needed those missions, as they were expecting a huge depopulation to happen with the release of FFXIV (and it did happen, even though not many went to FFXIV in the end... just look at all the server merges). Even abyssea's first purpose was to "make it easier to gain experience points". Look up the old threads of SE at the last festival when they announced the level cap / abyssea expansions release and you'll see they said all of that.

[Nephilipitou]

Early adopters will always get screwed. Did you not know that rule? It has very few exceptions.

[Kimikryo]

Well I do not mind it beeing easier for noobies to the game.
The only thing that really ticks me of is certain fights made so easy,it makes me cry.
Excample? Airship, Oryu, Mammet.In that Order. I started those after the "No Exp Loss" alteration, and really was glad that they changed that.

I AM in fact for a reward old player program. But, excuse me for naming it. WoW has a brilliant system for that. You can see an old player, having cetain pets. In FFXI we do not have pets like that, but there are certain rewards ppl get for visiting vana fest. Such things could be implemented for long time players. Noting that gives you an advantage over new players, but something that has is funny/nifty. Like a Teleport somewhere hat, a Chocobo Mask or such. Stuff nobody "needs" but is fun.

[kingfury]

Too many of you are forgetting that this idea would absolutely be the best business move to date should they incorporate it.
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"Shouldn't the reward be that you can still play the game be enough?" /facepalm+2 (scores a critical hit!) Ugghhh! The level of fan-boy'ism in this thread is just blinding lol. All jokes aside though, try to remember for a second that SE is a business folks, and that this would be the most brilliant business move ever if they introduced it asap. What better incentive to continue paying an annual fee for an another entire year, than to create an exclusive "time/accomplishment sensitive" rewards system for devoted gameplay. Not to mention it would make the veteran players that have been "Actively" playing FFXI since it's launch feel appreciated like never before.
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Yeah, you've paid well over $1,200+ (that's if you only have one character which few people do) over 8 years, bought expansions( more $$), and poured countless hours of your life into playing/testing/refining our game to it's fullest (PRICELESS lol)! With your invaluable contributions, we wish to award you for your devotion with something absolutely special! Here's your veterans harness that has 0 stats but looks awesome around town! Each year you continue to play, it will change a different color to show you're FFXI loyalty.../stagger!! I suppose for the "fan-boy" crowd, this would be just awesomeness +2. I myself, as well as other hard core FFXI players I'm sure on the other hand, wouldn't mind a system that in fact rewarded me for years/time spent playing FFXI with some "USABLE" gear! The OP'er didn't call for game breaking stats at all, and the +1 to stats per year for certain equipment would fit perfectly in line with where some gear/accessory stats are sitting at our current lvl (as well as stats to come 90+).
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It could be both awesome gear you show off + have great stats that improve each year you play based on more than just having an account for 6-8 years(and yrs to come), such as time played/quest completed/missions completed/ EXP gained, etc. The possibilities for unique rewards would be as endless as the content in FFXI is. A great example of this type of system is already functioning nicely via Synthesized Atma which is based on past achievements. The more you achieved in the past, the more rewards you can unlock. It's perfect. New players to the game would be in awe of such rare and non purchasable types of equipment and it would do nothing but inspire them to achieve the same lvl of game loyalty over time. Thus creating another money sink for SE to enjoy for years to come. It would be great business for them, and completely fair for the incredibly devote players that have "actively" played and given feedback on the game since it's launch.

[Icestein]

Cosmetic items, maybe, I can see that. If you incentivise players who have played longer all you achieve is further splitting up the player base and creating an air of superiority for those who have played longer.

I've played for quite a long time, and I still think that rewards should not, nor should they ever be, based on the amount of time you have played.

[kingfury]

Cosmetic items, maybe, I can see that. If you incentivise players who have played longer all you achieve is further splitting up the player base and creating an air of superiority for those who have played longer.

I've played for quite a long time, and I still think that rewards should not, nor should they ever be, based on the amount of time you have played.
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So, you believe seniority is a bad thing? Should 7-8 year players not feel a bit of superiority over a newly started player? I'm confused. Every single MMO has this effect to some degree or another, and for me, it creates the drive to achieve the same superiority for myself. Which in turns pushes me to strive my hardest to catch up to such senior players. That's a good thing in my eyes. Clarity needed please. Thanks

[rog]

If the reward is vanity, then sure, I'm all for it. I will disagree if its something game breakingly good
Pretty much this.

[Randwolf]

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So, you believe seniority is a bad thing? Should 7-8 year players not feel a bit of superiority over a newly started player? I'm confused. Clarity needed please. Thanks

It's your mind-set that, as a long-time player, makes me think maybe this isn't a good idea. Your idea is based on a false sense of 'superiority' (your own word). That you are owed something. My suggestion for an in-game item that has little value is simply to give long-time players a 'badge' that shows they have been supporting FFXI through the years. Nothing more. Your attitude totally supports why newer players would not want to see such an item.

[Icestein]

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So, you believe seniority is a bad thing? Should 7-8 year players not feel a bit of superiority over a newly started player? I'm confused. Every single MMO has this effect to some degree or another, and for me, it creates the drive to achieve the same superiority for myself. Which in turns pushes me to strive my hardest to catch up to such senior players. That's a good thing in my eyes. Clarity needed please. Thanks

If the rewards are dynamic, and change every year then no matter what anyone does they will never catch up. It's unfair and unnecessary. That drive to catch up is already present in the game, it's present through AF+2, and just viewing people with slightly better gear.

Having a system that rewards people based on the amount of time they have played instead of their skill and work isn't fair, and having people act superior based on meaningless things like time played will just create a divide in the player base. We don't need any more of those.

[kingfury]

No, no, that's not what I'm supporting. Not just "time only" rewards. /scrollup to see what I support:
My previous comment,: "It could be both awesome gear you show off + have great stats that improve each year you play based on more than just having an account for 6-8 years(and yrs to come), such as time played/quest completed/missions completed/ EXP gained, etc. The possibilities for unique rewards would be as endless as the content in FFXI is. A great example of this type of system is already functioning nicely via Synthesized Atma which is based on past achievements. The more you achieved in the past, the more rewards you can unlock. It's perfect. New players to the game would be in awe of such rare and non purchasable types of equipment and it would do nothing but inspire them to achieve the same lvl of game loyalty over time."
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My question to Icestein was in reference to him making superiority sound like a bad thing.
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I think something worthwhile(meaning powerful stats) that can't be obtained via "Powerleveling" and "Gil Buying" makes sense. The only way you should be able to obtain this ultra cool gear is becoming a devoted "Active" player, not just having an account for a long time only. I say it should be a combination of both time+achievement in terms of what unlocks the great stats. New players that want powerful Synth'ed Atma can do nothing but complete the necessary conditions should they want access to them. In regards to fairness, it would just take time+achievements to build up the powerful gear.

[Hyperon]

The problem with this game in the beginning was that you had to dedicate almost all your free time to this game if you wanted to get any where. It was almost like a job but without a paycheck.

Now the only excuse to counter this I see is that if you play games in general you may have just played a different game instead for the same amount of time.

To this I say, in the old ways if you didn't sacrifice your personal time for the good of whatever end game you were apart of you were punished in some sort of way. Either lost your position getting RDM hat relic, or your kitty pants in sky. I mean its was ridiculous to hear there have been players who did dynamis for years and that wanted/need rdm hat relic and didnt get it until 2 years later or at all. Waiting 2 years on one item... and it wasn't just a few ppl, it was quite a few. Of course things have changed now, its not painfull to get gear anymore from where ever you want it from. It almost felt like it was forced on to us by the unwritten social rules of those who have no life outside of going to work and then coming to work in ffxi or those who work and then hate the real world and come hide in the world of ffxi.

The only reward an older player should get is the following

1) Something cosmetic to either put on your existing armor or just anything cosmetic
2) Your still playing a game for the last 8 years and you can still find enjoyment out of it. Your still happy to play the game and you enjoy the ppl you play with. Because first and foremost this is a game. If your not having fun, sorry to say but your doing it wrong.
3) This goes back to cosmetic but I think its unique enough to say separately. I have been the same looking hume for years now. I look like a 18 year old hume who has had too much botox or is a deaf mute with no emotion on my face. How about the option of aging my face model up a bit to show how old my character is, if I want to. Also on a side note...just how about SE does that for all face models.... is it too horrible that I would like to see my character throw up a smile from time to time...

[Swords]

I'm just being sarcastic here, but if this is such an issue to some why don't they try to get SE to just phase out older gear. Sky has been out for like 8 or 9 years, phasing out god gear and older abjs make them luxuries that only older players who have actually experienced and obtained it will have the ability to sport stuff that no longer exsists.

As a previous poster said though, some of us have left and returned. Starting from scratch would just serve to exclude those players who not only traversed the missions once but twice or more. Which in the end, just throws the older players in the same catch as the new ones.