Quote Originally Posted by Eyeballed View Post
You could say they put the option to auto-repeat to avoid the tedium in going back for new pages, yeah. But you can also say that people want it kept just as much if not more because of how it can be abused. As I said before, such frustration didn't even exist before the books came along. You went to camp and did your thing without being tied to this object of your misery. You killed only what you wanted, and weren't 'restricted' to finding X-number of this mob and then X-number of that mob before you'd accomplished any real progression.

How does EXP and level-based progression even play a role in the game any more if the majority is only bothered with the Endgame? Why do you say it's still necessary?
I agree with you that people want the books kept because of how easy it makes it to level/leech sub jobs, alternate accounts and what-not. But I don't agree that it should be taken away.
I dont exactly agree with your statement about the lack of frustration before the books, nor about being 'tied' to the book. Years back, during the 6-man party days, your options were actually quite limited, and thinking "outside the box" for exp wasn't always received well. Basically, you solo'd to 10, PTd in the dunes on lizards, crabs, flies & pugs, until you moved to Qufim and did worms, crabs & pugs, only to move to the jungles and fight mandies & gobs. The books are no different than past 6-man groups. You fought what was popular, or you struggled to build your own group to do something outside the norm.

EXP progression at this point is more of a formality, something that needs to be done because that's the way it's always been done. It's one of the building blocks that FFXI was built on, seeded sooo deeply that its nearly impossible to remove. There is still much to be learned thru leveling tho. You still learn things about your job, about how others play their various jobs, not to mention learning about the mentality of your fellow players, make friends, find linkshells to join, or maybe the opposite, figure out who's a douche bag and who you don't want to associate yourself with later in the game.

I don't mind the EXP system as it is now. I'm sorry that you dislike it so much.