Suffering Server Economies

[Kylos]

While some of the biggest servers enjoy plentiful equipment and items on their Auction Houses, some (like Cerberus) suffer with serious issues. And this isn’t a recent problem, because it has been happening for years.

Almost half the servers are lacking the highest quality equipment on their Auction Houses, as a limited supply of crafters rarely stocks them. Either that, or we see players jumping from overpopulated servers after buying a ton, to sell on small servers for profit to players with no other options.

FFXI makes money from those profiteering in this manner, and while that looks great to upper management at SquareEnix, it hurts those who want to play the game and don’t want to have to pay extra on top of their subscriptions, to acquire in-game items they cannot find on their server.

For example, the only way I can easily find a Rostam in Final Fantasy XI would be to jump server. My only other options are to 1) spend months building my crafting skill up to make it myself, 2) find someone to craft it for me, or 3) stand at Auction House and check it every hour. And this isn’t the only piece of equipment that is lacking. I have also had players jump to Cerberus, who struggle to find materials for reforged. They have no choice but to go out and farm items that would otherwise be plentiful on other servers’ Auction Houses.

So, this isn’t only an issue at the highest level, but also at entry level. Many players don’t want to build characters on small servers because the effort is much higher. It is a major struggle for them, unless someone lends them a hand by crafting or killing enemies on their behalf. Not everyone is lucky to have that, though.

I know the team has done very well to introduce campaigns that help to inject certain currencies that would be clearly lacking on smaller servers if they were not there. But what about the rest? I am pretty sure the FFXI team is already aware of the vast differences in economies, and I’d love to see some of the smaller servers get a helping hand, so not only veteran players, but returning players as well, don’t continue to suffer with this recurring issue of not being able to find the materials and equipment they sorely seek.

Thank you.

[Urioh]

Unfortunately as you already know, a problem that generates profit isn't a "problem".

[Kylos]

Unfortunately as you already know, a problem that generates profit isn't a "problem".

Sadly yes, I am aware. It is an exploitative system that benefits those taking advantage of the vast differences in server economies, and SquareEnix, who is basically handing these players an underhanded form of "pay to win". Those who suffer are the average players who happen to enjoy being on smaller servers, but don't feel it is right to have to give SE extra money to acquire in-game items that should be more readily available. It is a "quality of life" issue that has been prevalent for years. I'd be super surprised if they did anything about it, because they care more about the numbers they have to show to upper management, but I guess it doesn't hurt to point out the hypocrisy.