Reward your older players

[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.