Ok...let me level with you here SE...

[Camate]

We have been seeing a lot of pretty fierce comments in regards to the trials to upgrade Relic/Mythic/Empyrean weapons and I feel the need to comment on a couple of things.

The number of items necessary
Let me start off with an explanation and apology.

While we did mention that the number was temporary, it seems like many of you misunderstood that and took the numbers we posted as indicators of the actual values. Instead, we should have used numbers like 1 or 9999 to make it abundantly clearer that these numbers were temporary.

I do not want to risk confusing you all even more, so I will make this simple. The difficulty (as well as time necessary) of obtaining the items necessary to upgrade each type of gear will be, in order of increasing difficulty, Mythic > Relic > Empyrean. As such, the number of items necessary to upgrade each type of gear will not be the same between the sets of trials.

As an adjustment to the time required for both creating and enhancing Mythic weapons, we are trying to increase the amount of zeni received for each soulplate traded, so you receive over 10 times the amount. (Currently on the test server the data has been changed so you receive 15 times as much)

With this as a basis, we are currently looking into and testing the appropriate amount of items, as well as the content of trials up until now and the obtainment paths for the required items. Once the amount has been decided after the investigation, we will be announcing the information along with the detailed thought process behind it.

In the meantime, we ask that you please stop focusing discussions on the idea that these values on the test server are the actual values that are to be implemented.
　
　
　
The accuracy of the content implemented on the test server
Regarding content implemented on the test server, we have been receiving comments stating that it is not right to implement content that has yet to be finalized.

We understand that some of these comments may come from players who have not read our posts or the information released with the road map, but I would like to explain again, because the test server is an important aspect of future version updates, as well as our development and QA procedures.

In general, please consider content implemented on the test server as content that is either in development, needing adjustments or in the process of being adjusted.

As soon as content is implemented on the test server, not only do players have a chance to test out the new content, the development and QA teams also perform balance checks and bug screening. It would be possible to delay player access to the test server, but this would shorten the time that players are able to submit feedback, which may lead to unnecessary delays. Therefore, we have our current test server for the benefit of all involved, so we would appreciate if you understand the reasoning behind our current implementation strategy.

[Insaniac]

The shared concern seems to be that an item trial makes 0 sense. It makes even less sense when you consider that the item comes from content requiring 18+ people and it starts getting really stupid when the same items required for stage 1 are required for stage 2. Most people are aware that the number is temporary but even if lowered to 5 there are still far too many relics in circulation for this trial to be considered something that most PCs will complete and the demand for these items to complete stage 1 means that stage 2 is no longer just a virtual impossibility it is now literally impossible.

Stage 1 needs to be rebuilt and rethought from the ground up. Lowering the number of items required does not fix it.

[Insaniac]

Ehhhh, shoot the messenger ect. ect. Camate is just posting a translation of something Mochi posted on the JP forums which was probably handed to him by some jerk we have never heard of. Less comrep bashing more constructive ideas.

[Nynja]

The original post did state the numbers were temporary...but it was probably an attempted failsafe to the explosion that would ensue. Please remember Camate, test server had 1500 metal plates, we thought it was a placeholder number an would be fixed cuz 1500 is nuts...it wasnt.

20/10/60 had to have been concieved somewhere otherwise they wouldnt have been used. Imo atm the difficulty goes emp, being easiest, then mythic (with proposed 10x zeni change), and far far far away are relics. If u take out the Zeni change, mythics and relics are well behind the pack to emps. Alima and rex are routinely farmed, therefor rift dross/ciner will be created all the time, PW is farmed very rarely, ADL gets killed almost never. With the zeni change, If youre getting 1k per naul, you can have enough zeni for 1 person 3 boxing a pw pop in 7 hours, instead of 70, which is a major improvment. Someone hardcore, who wants to get their weapon finished in due time can get the zeni in 10 days, if they turnin 7x a day.

Relics need some serious adjustment.

[Nynja]

Also want to point out...had there not been such rage about the trial numbers, would SE have left them as is?

Just make a little story line to it, for relics:
"the true essence of your weapon has been found, imbued within the soul of the ADL. Defeat the fiend wirlding your weapon and watch its true power come forth"

All u had to do at 75 for last stage was defeat animated weapon lol

[wish12oz]

I think most people were afraid if they did not speak up, the numbers originally posted would of been what was required. Since we got so screwed over on heavy metal plates, as was previously stated. And I really really hope you can convince the Devs the the required numbers need to be drastically reduced or more bloody murder will be screamed.

[Juilan]

Camate, my post on what the Trials should be like were far more balanced and rational than what the the dev team has proposed. If they killed the ADL with a lv 95 relic say roughly 3 people and spent the time with the two hour limit in dynamis (and conning 15 people into helping) they'd notice how absurd the ADL drop items are. You may be able to get one pop every 3 days if you're an average player... but convincing 18 or so people in the ls to spend even 2 weeks on the non-glow part, you have too much faith in people who use dynamis as a means of income. Most of the people I play with, if not all the people i play with, wouldn't be that devoted to a -5% increase to my magic damage taken since it'd take less time for them to start a second account and book/abyssea burn a whm/rdm to 95 with all the subs than it wouldnt to finish stage 1 (even with 5 items). We're not shooting the messager, but we are giving you our criticism and utter disgust with the team you are the messager for since it seems there is no other channel other than these forums to voice said disgust.

[SpankWustler]

At this point, the major complaint is that Stage 1 is just a snack-sized Stage 2. I was really hoping the two trials would work together rather than making each other worse.

I'd put the earlier concerns in an odd context. If someone tells you there's a 1% chance that an atomic bomb will be dropped on everyone and everything you love, that 1% chance suddenly seems horrifying. You'll drop everything just to fight that 1% chance with all your blood and tears and snot. Lots and lots of snots. Probably even if the chance was 0.1%.

That's how the numbers for the trials looked before Stage 1 was mentioned. A low chance of something really, really bad happening. Most people were aware that the number might be changed or something else might be implemented, but the fear that it might not was huge because of how awful those trials would have been. So, it was important to state that such nightmarish numbers would not be acceptable.

As an adjustment to the time required for both creating and enhancing Mythic weapons, we are trying to increase the amount of zeni received for each soulplate traded, so you receive over 10 times the amount. (Currently on the test server the data has been changed so you receive 15 times as much)

To add a drop of positivity here...This is an amazing change. It's more than anyone dared to hope for, but exactly what was needed.

[Coldbrand]

Can you look into adjusting Camlann's Torment while we're discussing Empyreans? Please? You nerfed the good ones, how about buffing the iffy ones?

Better yet, are the adjustments to all weaponskills coming like you said still? Or are you just leaving it at +40/30% for relics/mythics (and seemingly nothing for empyreans)?

[FrankReynolds]

We have been seeing a lot of pretty fierce comments in regards to the trials to upgrade Relic/Mythic/Empyrean weapons and I feel the need to comment on a couple of things.

The number of items necessary
Let me start off with an explanation and apology.

While we did mention that the number was temporary, it seems like many of you misunderstood that and took the numbers we posted as indicators of the actual values. Instead, we should have used numbers like 1 or 9999 to make it abundantly clearer that these numbers were temporary.

I do not want to risk confusing you all even more, so I will make this simple. The difficulty (as well as time necessary) of obtaining the items necessary to upgrade each type of gear will be, in order of increasing difficulty, Mythic > Relic > Empyrean. As such, the number of items necessary to upgrade each type of gear will not be the same between the sets of trials.

Well... first off, You guys screwed everyone with the metal plates. Then you acted surprised when everyone saw the dats from the test server with 500 items needed and reacted poorly. This is the third time you have put something stupid that virtually no one agrees with into the ultimate weapon trials. Why would we expect anything less than the absolute worst at this point?

Instead of telling us not to worry about the ticking time bomb in the room, how about using that new poll feature to get some feedback. You guys really need some solid data, because from what I've seen in game and on various forums, it would be surprising if even 5% of your customers like the 90-99 trials.

One of two things could happen. Either :
A) the poll shows that there really are a lot of people that like that stuff, and people just need to settle down.
or
B) the poll shows that you guys really need to fix that crap because your customers hate it.

Either way, you win because you get to make a game that people like.

Beating us to death while telling us that you love us is pretty demented.