Development Team Response Request - Job Adjustments

[Seriha]

Historically, I can't say people have been fond of my accusation that SE has been charging premium price for a sub-par service these days when it comes to FFXI. Sure, some might argue "It's worth it to me!" or "MMO fees haven't really gone up in a decade, so we should consider ourselves lucky!" Nonetheless, it's pretty much night and day the effort that went into the game back in the day compared to now, both in content development and security.


Really, all I can do is bang the drum that certain modernizations need to take place. Yes, it will require SE to actually invest more than the bare minimum back into upkeep. Yes, some players may even groan about it. However, it seems quite evident that what is going on now isn't "working" and that those unwilling to exploit, or hell, multibox, are in for a hard(er) time.


1) Remove server transfer fees and cooldowns while adding a means to transfer worlds in-game.
We've heard it before, Asura sucks because it's overcrowded. Random Joe likes their dead server. Meanwhile, others can't find people to do content with without having to pay or cross their fingers that they could maybe, possibly leech a less desired drop. Congestion can be a thing, and also something you can't really avoid in the moment. The ability to move to other worlds gives players a means to combat numerous issues, but I'll also posit it most definitely isn't the only step SE needs to take.


2) Combine the Auction Houses across all worlds.
Part of this is with #1 in mind, but it's also to actually make it harder for RMT to manipulate multiple markets as they would either be competing with yet more players or even themselves. This isn't to say FFXI isn't prone to other economic issues, particularly when it comes to durable goods, but let's just say one step at a time here.


3) Create matchmaking systems and improve cross-server communication.
While it's true that people can pretty much solo most story content these days with enough investment and Trusts, what exists for endgame is definitely another story. Of course, that doesn't mean people don't have trouble earlier on or maybe just want someone to play with to help kill monotony. As such, I'd propose opt-in channels broken down into each expansion, shared cross-server, that people can utilize relative to content needs. Others like Escha, Ambuscade, Dynamis, and so on can also be created as more specific examples. Interested parties can then congregate on the desired server. The /tell command should also be expanded to allow a <name>@<server> variant so that people can more rapidly communicate while also avoiding the issue of people with the same name temporarily being on the same world.


4) Revitalize the STF, or at least staff up an equivalent.
People at the same spot for days playing non-stop? Yeah, probably a bot. Problem is, nothing really seems to be done about them anymore. I doubt any of us are really interested in hearing how this, or other issues, are hard to detect, when in this case, some common sense should tell you one person isn't playing 24/7/365 without break. Otherwise, the game is also in desperate need of some security updates so that things like position hacking or enhancing movement speed beyond normal means are no longer possible. RMT spam is still a thing, too.


5) Learn from Windower.
To some extent, this actually has happened over time, but there are still add-ons out there people use and would like to see a legal means to utilize. Just things like having BLU spell sets has been a common request over the years, as an example, and really shouldn't be impossible to implement. Of course, I'm also cognizant that there are some things that shouldn't happen even if some do find their presence convenient. More generally, I could have call this an "Improve the UI!" section, but in the end, I feel it's a bit more complicated and encompassing than that.


6) Content Roadmap.
Some say maintenance mode, but is the game really? I seem to recall some hubbub about a "surprise" for FFXI fans a while back, but heard nothing since. What about the mobile version? Might there be an expansion in the works? Are we getting a fourth iteration of Dynamis to bang our heads against?! Either way, this is more about countering the ennui of content or at least having things to look forward to in the short term. Stuff like converting merit spells to scroll learned is something myself and others certainly requested in the past, and it's nice it's finally happening here and there, but it's pretty obvious some jobs need more than that. Old issues like conquering the "max spell" limit also need to be addressed, as it certainly puts a finite growth on casters. More generically, the goal with job stuff should be improving functionality and identity. If need be, actually talk to us to find what we want or what we feel lacking. Lord knows I spent years doing that for RDM in the past to what has equated to mixed success these days. That experience has also taught me you'll have people who vehemently disagree with said attempts at conversation, sometimes merely to be contrarian to the person bringing the idea. Be mindful of that should it be a route taken. Anyway, the occasional JP post roundup doesn't really cut the mustard, either. To some extent, it's like they don't even care what the NA side has to say, and that has almost ALWAYS been a problem. Too little, too late, mayhaps, but the joke about being a forum rep here being the easiest job in the world is one we don't make without reason.


7) To other players...
...part of this is a problem of our making, too. Putting aside a lack of new content, broken mechanics, or whatever, what tends to boil down to greed and/or elitism isn't really doing the community any favors. Seeing posts from people saying Trusts should be removed the game come off as a real head scratcher to me, as for many I suspect they're what has made modern FFXI even remotely playable. Further trying to "force" interaction does no good with lacking features like I outlined earlier above, but also does nothing to remotely incentivize established players into helping those who are not. I get it, certainly, that if content has no personal worth, it's not really worth doing. But what would change that? And I'm not talking about fleecing poor newbies or returnees out of their hard-earned gil. What would it take to perhaps nudge "you" out of the commonly isolationist linkshell system to help total strangers? Should we perhaps acknowledge certain drop rates are too horrid? Maybe more or a universal content point system that can fuel common endgame buys? And no, we don't need some self-proclaimed altruist swooping in here saying they help people so nothing is possibly amiss. You're not on all servers. You're but one of many. Frankly, I'd say it's rare to even see such claims verified. So, hey, I'm the pope. Prove me wrong? Jokes aside, people just need to be more welcoming and accommodating, not be jerks or gatekeepers.

[rotflcopter]

Wall of good points

Very well said.

Bottom line is just like you said the lack of effort being put into this game that is still a PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION game is horrible. The development team needs to either step or be replaced.

I know the Director of 14, Mr. Yoshida has a fondness for this game. I wish we could reach out to him someway and tell him how dissatisfying this game's updates have been.

[Zehira]

Very well said.

Bottom line is just like you said the lack of effort being put into this game that is still a PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION game is horrible. The development team needs to either step or be replaced.

I know the Director of 14, Mr. Yoshida has a fondness for this game. I wish we could reach out to him someway and tell him how dissatisfying this game's updates have been.

Whoa. Maybe you don't know but if we look at Matsui's history of works carefully. I personally think Tanaka and Matsui together deserve a credit for creating job/battle systems in the first place. If it wasn't for them you won't be playing Yoshi's FF14 then. Let us have some respect please even we are in this (extremely small) community (English). I know we feel frustrated, it is just a matter of time. Before you blame Matsui, you should think twice how poor Tanaka was training Matsui before he left FF11 and FF14 to Matsui and Yoshi.

Here is the history of Matsui's works:

[BurnNotice]

6) Content Roadmap.
Some say maintenance mode, but is the game really? I seem to recall some hubbub about a "surprise" for FFXI fans a while back, but heard nothing since. What about the mobile version? Might there be an expansion in the works? Are we getting a fourth iteration of Dynamis to bang our heads against?! Either way, this is more about countering the ennui of content or at least having things to look forward to in the short term. Stuff like converting merit spells to scroll learned is something myself and others certainly requested in the past, and it's nice it's finally happening here and there, but it's pretty obvious some jobs need more than that. Old issues like conquering the "max spell" limit also need to be addressed, as it certainly puts a finite growth on casters. More generically, the goal with job stuff should be improving functionality and identity. If need be, actually talk to us to find what we want or what we feel lacking. Lord knows I spent years doing that for RDM in the past to what has equated to mixed success these days. That experience has also taught me you'll have people who vehemently disagree with said attempts at conversation, sometimes merely to be contrarian to the person bringing the idea. Be mindful of that should it be a route taken. Anyway, the occasional JP post roundup doesn't really cut the mustard, either. To some extent, it's like they don't even care what the NA side has to say, and that has almost ALWAYS been a problem. Too little, too late, mayhaps, but the joke about being a forum rep here being the easiest job in the world is one we don't make without reason.


7) To other players...
...part of this is a problem of our making, too. Putting aside a lack of new content, broken mechanics, or whatever, what tends to boil down to greed and/or elitism isn't really doing the community any favors. Seeing posts from people saying Trusts should be removed the game come off as a real head scratcher to me, as for many I suspect they're what has made modern FFXI even remotely playable. Further trying to "force" interaction does no good with lacking features like I outlined earlier above, but also does nothing to remotely incentivize established players into helping those who are not. I get it, certainly, that if content has no personal worth, it's not really worth doing. But what would change that? And I'm not talking about fleecing poor newbies or returnees out of their hard-earned gil. What would it take to perhaps nudge "you" out of the commonly isolationist linkshell system to help total strangers? Should we perhaps acknowledge certain drop rates are too horrid? Maybe more or a universal content point system that can fuel common endgame buys? And no, we don't need some self-proclaimed altruist swooping in here saying they help people so nothing is possibly amiss. You're not on all servers. You're but one of many. Frankly, I'd say it's rare to even see such claims verified. So, hey, I'm the pope. Prove me wrong? Jokes aside, people just need to be more welcoming and accommodating, not be jerks or gatekeepers.

Totally agree with your points, but there is two that stood out the most. The roadmap was a thing and SE Dev decided to stop doing that due to frequent changes and delays.

As for players asking to have the Trust system to be removed, that makes no sense at all. If those same players take a moment and think, the main purpose of the Trust system is to help new players get into the game, complete storylines and quest, and tackle certain endgame content to help develop their skills to be able to join the general population of others who do endgame content. For years, I've seen new or returning players get turned away from endgame content because they don't have the proper gear( which they need help getting to begin with) and/or they have not access to certain content due to them not progressing through the storyline/quest that requires help from others but unfortunately no one is available or willing to help (this is why the trust system was implemented in the first place).