Wake up, "Seekers" is failing

[Yinnyth]

Thanks for reminding me that the game is in fact, a game? As other people have pointed out, try to take what I'm saying in-context of us already understanding that fact instead of trying to play some kind of real life card.

(Unless you're going to tell me you still do Garrison, EFs, or Khimaira)

Yes, I'm sorry, I really did word that poorly and didn't get my point across. You said:

It's recovering but we're still in that phase where a huge amount of people are unmotivated because they have no idea if working on something right now is even worth it.

1. Work on a delve weapon and they rebuff REM to be better -> waste of time
2. Work on REM for a waste of time now, rebuffed REM still don't match up -> waste of time

What I was trying to say is that those people who feel unmotivated should get over themselves. Yes, delve weapons will probably be outclassed someday. Yes, RMEs are already outclassed and will probably be outclassed. Is it a waste of time? Yes, the whole damned game is a waste of time. We came here to waste time.

Now if you're trying to argue that it's not fun, that's a different matter entirely. Or if you're trying to argue that the next thing after delve weapons is going to be possible for you to obtain without climbing the delve ladder and therefore destroy your need to ever do delve, well, we could get into that discussion too. SE made a mistake giving people the opportunity to zombie second tier (IV and V) to death, and we hit second tier delve levels much more quickly than intended. That's probably why it's taking so much longer for people to max out on third tier delve (because the bosses have a time limit).

[Demon6324236]

What I was trying to say is that those people who feel unmotivated should get over themselves. Yes, delve weapons will probably be outclassed someday. Yes, RMEs are already outclassed and will probably be outclassed. Is it a waste of time? Yes, the whole damned game is a waste of time. We came here to waste time.

You may have come here to waste time, I came here for entertainment, and part of that entertainment is enhancing my character. If I think or know that next month my enhancements this month will mean nothing then it largly impacts my enjoyment from doing the things I do to enhance my character.

Now if you're trying to argue that it's not fun, that's a different matter entirely. Or if you're trying to argue that the next thing after delve weapons is going to be possible for you to obtain without climbing the delve ladder and therefore destroy your need to ever do delve, well, we could get into that discussion too. SE made a mistake giving people the opportunity to zombie second tier (IV and V) to death, and we hit second tier delve levels much more quickly than intended. That's probably why it's taking so much longer for people to max out on third tier delve (because the bosses have a time limit).

I agree and disagree. I think its still related before those things, but those are also related. So far as the zombie situation goes, its what I have been saying for a week or so now, we abused our chance at hyper-acceleration though content and left us how we are now. The only reason Mega Bosses were not abused in the same way is cause of the time limit like you said.

[Yinnyth]

You may have come here to waste time, I came here for entertainment, and part of that entertainment is enhancing my character. If I think or know that next month my enhancements this month will mean nothing then it largly impacts my enjoyment from doing the things I do to enhance my character.

You're correct there, and I did not consider it that way, I suppose. I always refer to FFXI as "wasting my time", but the truth is I really enjoy wasting my time in FFXI. Well, most of the time.

[Sarick]

Just a question, how much of this playerbase do you think is hardcore? If you can not do content unless your hardcore, what are casual players doing? Is there a reason casual players are doing nothing? I mean there is other content in the game, Delve is not everything there is, yet everyone seems hellbent on believing it is.

I dn't think you get it. It's not the fact that everything that left is hardcore it's just the fact that the new content was rushed and basically is the wrong direction. Like I said It's something I can't articulate. More or less a monster was created that very few will have the opportunity to experience. Hell, thats the whole point is making the game fun for everyone.

Let me ask you.. When you was joining those worm parties and low man groups for your gear didn't you ever notice how much more attractive the game was on a social level? That's the thing that kills several events because people are F'n jerks the game is about teaming up with these players. People say well just make your own team etc. Tried that shit and nearly had a panic attack.

The game should be created to be friendly and enjoyable for everyone. This can't be done if the content is created in a way that forces players to upgrade to even participate. IE item levels. The system I spoke of was one that included everyone in a broad perspective. Not only that but players would keep their gained power without stuffing their safe with more trash they'll be collecting dust after a while.

I don't know how to explain it to you because you're play style differs to much. For the most part all you need to know is the game has went down hill for a lot of players most unsubscribed already. I've lost hundreds of friends off my f-list. What remains most are people who are used to playing more several days a week. They've found something to waste time on.

Like I said the expasion and it's item leveling system is horrid. You seem to agree with the item system going in the wrong direction. I just want the game to be atractive again like it was when all the ABBYSEA content was added. OMG those days where fun we could level up and merit till everything was level 99.

Now If SE added some unique boss fights/quest that upgraded merit limits and gave enhanced gear upgrade treasure for groups that assist players who've never unlocked them that'd be a community bonus. I'm looking for events like dynamis before the abbysea where everyone could participate on any skill/gear level if they was 75 and had basic gear+skills. Now days its YOU NEED gear and or a lot of ass kissing.

Sorry. I can't explain it like I said thinking about how much has changed since SoA makes me sick.

[Sarick]

What I was trying to say is that those people who feel unmotivated should get over themselves. Yes, delve weapons will probably be outclassed someday. Yes, RMEs are already outclassed and will probably be outclassed. Is it a waste of time? Yes, the whole damned game is a waste of time. We came here to waste time.

This is a horrid way to influence FFXI players who are already on the fence. Remember the only reason SE keeps this game going is because it's still profitable. You think the groups of people who are unmotivated, can't participate, are the fence about quitting or have quit because of the development choices is HELPING this game?

IMHO it's hurting it. For every single player that speaks up there are many who don't. Each of those players represent $14+ a month in US currency. Some own multiple accounts and mules. This money is used to pay the staff, upgrade the game and keep the severs running. I'm sure you know this already. Here's a key element.

You say these people who need to get over themselves because they don't like how the game is playing out. Think about it they don't have to stay. Are you trying to entice these players to leave? Who's fault is this if the game isn't fun? It seriously can't only be the players fault.

In heart, don't you think the game would benefit much more if it was developed to be fun and addictive for everyone instead of a boring job like environment with nothing but a long pointless grids? I'm sure if it was quality material so many people wouldn't be complaining and um, quitting. Like I mentioned the few times. These forums don't give a good poll, it's the ones who didn't speak we should be worrying about.

[Quixote]

I am not the top of the line player but I do however pay for two accounts something I won't be doing anymore as soon as my Billing comes up on my 2nd account I will not be paying for the upcoming month.
lol they did get me with the bonanza stuff i will be writing the numbers down and wait for them to be announce if i happen to win and its really worth my $12 and change I pay get my price see what the deal is with the game by then.
i however will give it hold until August.

[bloodbeat]

I think they could at least give players other avenues to pursue this stuff. I think the development team underestimate the concept that getting help isn't an inevitability when playing a social game. It's out of the players' hands.
This only gets worsened by the fact that new content better serves to bottleneck the entire player-base.
In the case of delve, people are looking to only participate with players who are in the top percentage of players.

Then when you factor in that new content takes away overall participation in older content, it can decrease the availability of support on people who are behind in their progress, yet who still need some help getting up to scratch.

I'm sure nobody wants to have a game where you can homogenise people's achievements regardless of how much time and effort they put in, but at the same time, you shouldn't be encouraging or being seen to allow a huge divide to exist between casual and hardcore players.

I think there should be more solo or low-man alternative routes to getting, if not the same gear, then something very similar. Naturally, it should take a lot longer to do, but the important thing is at least it represents progress.
I mean, I'd have happily done 500-1000 soloable old Nyzul floors rather than wait for like two years to finally climb 100.

[kylani]

I am not the top of the line player but I do however pay for two accounts something I won't be doing anymore as soon as my Billing comes up on my 2nd account I will not be paying for the upcoming month.
lol they did get me with the bonanza stuff i will be writing the numbers down and wait for them to be announce if i happen to win and its really worth my $12 and change I pay get my price see what the deal is with the game by then.
i however will give it hold until August.

What's sad is, when I first read your post, I thought, oh, I need to write those down before my account goes inactive.

Then I thought, even if I won the grand prize, do I even care anymore? The game feels meaningless now.

[Sapphires]

From my point of view, the expansion is a failure

-Too much of the casual playerbase is caught up in getting the KIs then plasm grinding and getting multiple weapons and armor for random jobs, and not advancing a single job to an advanced level capable of taking on delve megaboss.
Many players continue to grind plasm in the most boring way possible and I feel this will actually burn out alot of people on the game.



Which brings me to the next related point:

-The game lacks enough motivated+skilled players to recruit for linkshells aiming to kill megabosses . Killing 1-4 NMs in a fracture run is not too difficult, but low server population and most people aren't up for the time commitment and high performance expected to do these.

which has created another side effect:

-Some LS sell megaboss wins for gil, which doesnt motivate people to build their skills or jobs or group up to learn how to beat the content themselves. Someone can just go farm gil for a couple weeks to buy a 'win' and unlock access to the best weapons in the game for plasm.

-The developer's hopes for a dynamic world have failed imo. Noone wants to help maintain bivouacs so we are lucky if we have more than 1 in any zone. This destroys zone accessibility for solo/small groups and general exploring of every zone. You have effectively REDUCED the amount of game content in this expansion that people can access easily.

-Colonization continues to decay, and noone enjoys 5 hour naakual fights.
I got lucky and got the item I wanted from Tchakka on my 1st fight, I will never do that one again - your battle design and reward system for these is terrible and creates little incentive to do wildkeeper reives multiple times.

-The draw of participating in delve as an income source from selling airlixir is disappearing since a couple LS can now farm megaboss and continue to push the price down. This design creates less interest in plasm farming for casual players because its less viable money making alternative.

Lower airlixir prices do create more appeal in spending farmed plasm on more gear or upgrading gear (HOWEVER, you have given us no way to store conveniently all the new gear since we have not gotten any more storage space).

The drastic jump in gear power instills a lack of faith in pursuing some gear and upgrades since people feel it may be completely outclassed in the future. Previously, gear was more horizontal/sidegrade/situational and people felt generally more secure the time and effort into pursuing items.
This is probably the most dangerous change to the game in its 11 year existence since it destroys motivation to play and makes people doubt what they should be spending their time doing to advance their characters for the long term.

[Kaeviathan]

I was playing last night as a Rune Fencer and messing around in the new areas. I was experimenting Blue mage as a support Job and I found it very useful. I took advantage of the chain affinity and magic bursting lunge for nearly 3.7k of dmg. Now heres where the boring part came in. No one was doing colonization reives, and after defeating countless of tough Mobs around the area, not once have i gotten a drop of an item that is not a crystal or stones used for trial of the magians. Farming bayld points or ítems to sell from the new area is pointless as it stands now. So, all this new content has got to offer for us is to farm plasm points. I didn't mind at first, i got what i wanted from it, but to keep doing the same thing over and over again for airlixirs (really don't like how this is obtained) isn't really fun. Hoping the new content is coming out soon, or ima just calll iit quits. Neither i plan to play FFXIV, FFXI is my FIRST, ONLY, and the LAST MMORPG i'll play. I have played this game for more than 6 years, I've experienced how addictivies these games are.