Low End Content *Until* Endgame Content

[Eeek]

Low-leveling exping was never fun. Most people only joined slow, boring exp parties because there was no other alternative.

In the fall of last year, I leveled my DNC from 37-70 the traditional way. Despite all the bad parties (do people even remember how many bad parties we dealt with back in the day?) and FoV, I managed to level to 70 in roughly 6 weeks. It took 3 days to level from 70-85. I'd rather of spent those 6 weeks gearing up my DNC and getting comfortable playing it at the level that matters: 85 (now 90).

I started in 2006, and my mid-level content options in my LS were BCNMs and CoP. Players complained endlessly, on forums and in Lower Jeuno, about the strict party setups and strategies needed to win these battles. They complained so much so that CoP was nerfed into oblivion and the level caps removed. I played through CoP with my LS as we leveled our first and second jobs to 75, and the run through Riverne on my fresh-from-Crawler's-Nest 40RNG to fight the mammets was an astonishing experience for a newer player like me.

But most new players back then couldn't even dream of completing the game's mid-level content. Hell, many 'experienced' players couldn't cope with the CoP BCs. The content wasn't impossibly hard; lazy players just made it look that way. SE probably removed the CoP level caps out of frustration so that more players could experience the nifty (and devious!) Lumoria zones.

SE also spent 2009 adjusting the game and developing content for the low-mid levels. SE emphasized it so much that it completed stagnated the game at the high levels. I love Fields of Valor as much as the next guy, but I don't think that was worth the lost year of development possibilities.

Let's look reality in the eye: FFXI is an old, legacy MMO. There are not hordes of newer players on low and mid-level jobs. There will never be another substantial flow of new players entering the game, and SE would be foolish to develop new content that caters to a statistically insignificant percentage of the player base. It's been done already. The content is there if anyone wants to do it. The only thing stopping people from doing things like Garrison or low-level exping is a lack of initiative and creativity.

Compared to the old days, there are now a ridiculous number of options for leveling jobs (and boosted exp!). And yet people still complain.

If SE has any sense, never again will they develop content specifically for the low-mid levels. The game's old. That ship has sailed. SE's strategy will rightly be the development of high-level content as means to keep the game fresh and to retain players (as well as to lure back former players). FFXI can certainly remain viable for years to come.

[Kaych]

The “problem” I think when they made double EXP to all levels is that, people level too fast from 1-30, (You have to bring multiple sets of gear if you wanna keep up with the exp) and you dont level fast enough from 50+. (Abyssea is faster)

I think that the “EXP boost” should be increased via quests as you level. They could add “EXP boost”-quests/missions. That way people will have a better reason to finish quests and missions^^ It can help the over-all-content as you get to lvl 75. It can be a added bonus when you finish all nation missions, all quests from a nation etc.

I know SE is very afraid to change old content. They usually create new stuff instead. So either these “EXP-boosts” can be made avalable through new missions/quests or they can revamp the old areas to add “EXP-boost” rewards as you finish quests/missions; example all the Nation missions in bastok gives 10% of your level in exp bonus each mob. With each completed story line, you are added another 20% EXP bonus. All three nations done would give 60% in EXP bonus. All nations, ZM, CoP, ToAU, WotG, and 3 addons would make 200% of your level in bonus EXP. So if you are lvl 10, you get the normal exp + 20 exp plus. If you are lvl 50 you get normal exp + 100 exp, and so on.

Implementing the "Double EXP" in this way I think would be more beneficial. Then it would be adjusted to your level, rank, fame etc and would increse as you level and finished these achivements.

Another thing is when you get a fame rank up, you could get Experience Points. For fame 1 you get 1000 exp. Fame 2 you get 2000 exp, and so on. That way, people could also have an "extra" motivation to finish quests.

Also, "all-quests-finished" in one area, like Jeuno, Bastok, Windurst, could give 50k EXP reward. There could be a level cap, like lvl 50+ before you can receave the EXP (I dont think its unreasonable with that amount of EXP, but if you do, feel free to comment^_-)

Limit-cap quest could give 50 extra EXP to people over a certan lvl. when you break the lvl 50 cap, you get 50 more exp for lvl 50+ jobs. And when you break lvl 55 cap, you get another 50 (resulting in 100EXP bonus). And so on and so on.

Getting chains from 1-5 could give more EXP and should be adjusted to your lvl

Obtaining certan Titles that are difficult to get, could also give a "EXP boost" or EXP (or something else if you have a better suggestion).

Overall, I think this would make people wanting to do more stuff outside of Abyssea and at the same time make it more enjoyable ^_-

[Eeek]

Once again, the only thing stopping people from enjoying the already-existing mid-level content is good ole laziness. Instead of actually getting people together in game to do some of this stuff, most people find it easier to bitch and bitch and bitch and bitch on any forum they can find. Usually it involves proposing some from of bribery to force other players into doing content they normally don't want to do (like Garrison).

Anyone could corner me with a 'but..but...Abyssea?' rebuttal, and I don't care. I, along with a number of people I know, enjoy doing stuff in Abyssea for a variety of reasons.

[Andevom]

Garrison, Campaign, Assault, Besieged, BCNM/ENMs, Missions, etc are all activities you can do before you hit 75. I've only done a few Garrisons, but they are pretty fun and I do wish more people were into them. It is unlikely unless SE adds some OMG awesome item from them.

Garrison is in serious need of an overhaul if it's ever going to be popular again. Like you, I enjoy the concept and would like to do more of it. But the problems are the time restrictions (can only do it once per Conquest and doing it in a large group takes time due to the 30 minute cooldown), and the fact that you have to be affiliated with the nation that has control of the zone. These complications make it hard to get people interested. New items for rewards would be good, but rewards need to be something that encourages redoing the event. Part of the problem with giving gear as a reward is that once people get it, they don't care about doing the event anymore, and once the majority of people interested get the stuff they want, they're not always going to be the type to help those who need it done.

[Kaych]

Once again, the only thing stopping people from enjoying the already-existing mid-level content is good ole laziness. Instead of actually getting people together in game to do some of this stuff, most people find it easier to bitch and bitch and bitch and bitch on any forum they can find. Usually it involves proposing some from of bribery to force other players into doing content they normally don't want to do (like Garrison).

Anyone could corner me with a 'but..but...Abyssea?' rebuttal, and I don't care. I, along with a number of people I know, enjoy doing stuff in Abyssea for a variety of reasons.

I love Abyssea, but I love the old world as well. Its not "lazyness" that stops people from going to the old content. Its just more beneficial to be in Abyssea.

[Eeek]

I love Abyssea, but I love the old world as well. Its not "lazyness" that stops people from going to the old content. Its just more beneficial to be in Abyssea.

Yeah, it absolutely is laziness. People would rather stand in Port Jeuno watching /shouts, complaining the whole time, than go out and actually do something. Actually lead.

But they don't.

To be honest, I've been having fun with the occasional trip to revisit older content. Assaults and Nyzul Isle are still fast and fun. I enjoy Dynamis so much more with a small party these days as opposed to an alliance (or more) half-filled with inattentive, poor players. I've even farmed popsets and Sky NMs for a few people who missed a piece of gear or two along the way or leveled new jobs.

A Humble Request for the FFXI Development Team: Is it possible to update Kirin so that he'll actually drop Wyrmal Abjuration: Legs once in awhile? It would mean a lot to myself and some of my friends. Thanks for your time and your consideration.

[Rambus]

I love Abyssea, but I love the old world as well. Its not "lazyness" that stops people from going to the old content. Its just more beneficial to be in Abyssea.

That is one of their points.... that is why people do not do lower level content, that is why there is no point to make mid level content....

(maybe not seeing their post now but that is how i took it)

[wish12oz]

I have no problem with Abyssea - I just can't do it... and I know there "is" content - but I want content that advances my levels - BCNMs, garrison, etc. just takes me away from leveling - therefore increasing the length of time I am stuck mostly alone in the world outside of Abyssea.

By not going to abyssea to gain exp, you are intentionally increasing the length of time you are stuck alone. You could have 90 in 2 days of exping in abyssea, or 65 with 2 days of exping outside. You've also been able to go there since 30.

[Olor]

By not going to abyssea to gain exp, you are intentionally increasing the length of time you are stuck alone. You could have 90 in 2 days of exping in abyssea, or 65 with 2 days of exping outside. You've also been able to go there since 30.

Go there and what? News flash - I can't kill anything in Abyssea - so if I want exp people have to invite me to an alliance and I have nothing to offer that. No cruor = no keys.

If I saw a shout in Jueno that said "looking for leeches to stand around!" I would be all over it. I've told my LS mates that I want to go but they don't take me - they say I should wait till I beat maat - (partially because they don't have enough atma to carry me/everyone else over 30 in the LS that would like to leech) so that is all there is to it.

I can tell you now that if I logged in tonight and someone sent me a tell saying "hey come leech in Abyssea right now" I would be all over it. So don't tell me I am "intentionally" skipping it when I am NOT.

[blowfin]

I can tell you now that if I logged in tonight and someone sent me a tell saying "hey come leech in Abyssea right now" I would be all over it. So don't tell me I am "intentionally" skipping it when I am NOT.

But that's how it works for him so it has to be the same for EVERYONE else :rollseyes:

Seriously though, that's a little harsh of your LS not to let you come and leech with them when they EXP. Ask them again. It's not like it's any skin off their nose if you weren't going to be contributing a whole lot in the first place. By investing some time leveling you up now, they`re ensuring you`ll be useful in a shorter time span.