The Decline of FFXI: Forums, Gameplay and Nostalgia

[Olor]

I don't think I've heard anyway say the bolded complaint... if they did god save them.

Yeah I would like to see a quote there... heck I know (since I haven't really even done Abyssea) that I certainly didn't say anything like that.

I do think casual players balk at scarce developer resources (and our monthly fees) being used to create elitist content that is only used by a small portion of the playerbase though. Those aren't the same thing.

Again, all the content that people think is so much better than Abyssea still exists - so I don't get why people who think it is so much better don't just go and do that.

Oh, actually, I do get why.

It is because they know damn well that salvage, Ein. etc. isn't anymore difficult than Abyssea - they only hate Abyssea because everyone has a shot at getting nice gear now, and they no longer have special shinys to set themselves apart from the scrubs.

Sorry, I have no sympathy for that.

I don't care about Abyssea as such (ie. Atmas, brews/whatever) but I do strongly oppose going back to the bad old days when most players who paid for the game could only dream of getting the opportunity to join an endgame shell so they could slave away on someone else's relic.

[Karbuncle]

Lies.

Continually mentioning me in all your post in a passive aggressive crazy server-jumping way doesn't help your case in the least bit. It makes you look like a psychopath who can't let things go. I don't feel i've warranted that yet, have i?

Plus, after reading this little rant, I can safely say now you haven't read a single thing I've posted, Or you just have terrible reading comprehension. Cause nothing you mention even remotely reflects what i've said to this point.

I thought i made it clear that a balance of Hardcore, and Causal content, leads to an Ideal game. its simply hard to maintain that balance accurately. My only gripe about old-FFXI was Ground Kings, Everything else was just peachy.

I want difficult content, I just dont want content were certain people won't be able to enjoy it. I don't think this is your view, but i can actively enjoy content even if other people can enjoy it. I can get armor and be happy even if other people have that armor.

There can be fun, challenging content, without the need to limit how many people can realistically achieve it (I.e Ground kings bad - Einherjar good).

You haven't mentioned Kings as far as i know, i Just wanted to really drill it in the only real thing i hated about old FFXI was World Spawn HNMs, the other systems at least gave people oppurtunities to participate every day, regardless of "Compitetion". .

[RaenRyong]

Casual players don't have full +2 sets often, nor Empyreans, nor multiple full +2 sets ... etc.

Hardcore players are still allowed to excel, just not in having special "I botted this" drops like Ridill. You just end up further along a line of progression that everyone is on.

[Anewie]

Continually mentioning me in all your post in a passive aggressive crazy server-jumping way doesn't help your case in the least bit. It makes you look like a psychopath who can't let things go. Really, Its a bit on the insane side?

Plus, after reading this little rant, I can safely say now you haven't read a single GD thing I've posted, Or you just have terrible reading comprehension. Cause nothing you mention even remotely reflects what i've said to this point.

I thought i made it clear that a balance of Hardcore, and Causal content, leads to an Ideal game. its simply hard to maintain that balance accurately. My only gripe about old-FFXI was Ground Kings, Everything else was just peachy.

You really shouldn't get so mad D:! Try and cheer up! We're just having a friendly debate here^^;

[Karbuncle]

You really shouldn't get so mad D:! Try and cheer up! We're just having a friendly debate here^^;

Sounds a little more like Mockery than friendly debate.

Friendly debate does not including parroting my responses back and me then taking jabs at me in responses to other people :|

That, or you have some really mean friends.

Edit: Also, I edited my response a bit. you should read the rest of it, it might let you know my point of view a bit more. I'm beginning to understand yours at least though.

[Olor]

Casual players don't have full +2 sets often, nor Empyreans, nor multiple full +2 sets ... etc.

Hardcore players are still allowed to excel, just not in having special "I botted this" drops like Ridill. You just end up further along a line of progression that everyone is on.

Yeah I second this. Heck the people in my LS barely do Abyssea at all and I don't think anyone has a full set of upgraded Emp. gear or an upgraded emp weapon.

Now, if hardcore folks went and burned through all the content in Abyssea and are burned out on it now and are complaining that the devs didn't make it a bigger time sink or whatever... all I can say is "boo hoo."

Those of us that can't play a game 24/7 shouldn't be forced to spend every hour of spare time we have in every day to make reasonable advances in a video game. It isn't fun. I know I wouldn't pay for it.

Those with enough time on their hands to have every emp they want in the game already might want to play two MMOs at once to get enough content to keep themselves busy - I don't know. Either that or go find a Korean grinder to play.

[Akujima]

I want difficult content, I just dont want content were certain people won't be able to enjoy it. I don't think this is your view, but i can actively enjoy content even if other people can enjoy it. I can get armor and be happy even if other people have that armor.

If there is one thing we have learned from this thread, is that this statement right here is not 100% possible.

Why? Because as is happening already, "the hardcore" (we'll refer to them as such in order to save time) are complaining about too much casual content. And in the past, "the casuals" (also referring them as such to save time) complained about hardcore content such as Ground Kings.

In reality, you're not going to hear the end of it from one side or another.

There will always be SOME amount of complaints from "the hardcore" about the casuals "just being noobs cuz they can't kill K.Behemoth"

And there will always be SOME amount of complaints from "the casuals" about the hardcore "being pampered with all the endgame content, I don't have the time for!"

How to make balance is this. (Please read this, 'cause I actually think there is some valid points in here)

Let's go back to Endgame 75 for a moment. We had events like Ground Kings (hardcore) Einherjar, Salvage, Sea, Sky (mediocre hardcore) Limbus, Dynamis, Nyzul Isle (mediocre casual) and Campaign and Leveling Up (casual)

The problem here is that, the most "hardcore events" yielded the most powerful rewards. And it wasn't even close to comparison. The casuals who were being left out of "hardcore events" were denied a ton of cool equipment. But there IS a solution to this problem.

My solution is this.

Keep events like Ground Kings for the "hardcores", BUT make event's like Abyssea that exists side-by-side for the casuals. All the while you can keep events that are similar to Nyzul Isle and Limbus for the "mediocre" players who enjoy a bit of a challenge, that is also casual at the same time.

But what you do with rewards is this. You make all the rewards from each of these play areas Equal BUT at the same time Different. They will be all Equally powerful, but just have different stats that play differently from each other.

Example: From events that are "Hardcore" you have a Bow that has Ranged Attack with AGI, and from events that are "Casual" you have a Bow that has Ranged Accuracy with STR. (of course this is just a rough example to show the basic idea of what I'm trying to point out)

If this happened. You will still hear complaints from both sides, but not as much as you would if there was no equal catering such as the example given above. "The hardcore" will still complain about "the casuals" being able to get awesome gear from stuff they think isn't very difficult. And "the casuals" will complain about not being able to get awesome gear from stuff they think, requires too much time and effort than they can afford to put into a game.

But the plus side to all this would be, that "the hardcore" will still be able to do "casual content" and experience the game the way they want to AND "the casuals" will be able to be geared enough from doing "the casual events", so that IF they decided to try out a "hardcore event" they would be able to do so.

Hope that wasn't confusing, but I'll be overlooking and editing this post again.

[Anewie]

Sounds a little more like Mockery than friendly debate.

Friendly debate does not including parroting my responses back and me then taking jabs at me in responses to other people :|

That, or you have some really mean friends.

Edit: Also, I edited my response a bit. you should read the rest of it, it might let you know my point of view a bit more. I'm beginning to understand yours at least though.

You're not the first person to say the things i type some off as mega *** and rude. Almost every forum ive ever been on says that same thing. I apologize if its too harsh or rude. I'ts not personal and I'm not by any means upset or stressed. I come off very stern and direct. Some would say i'm a matriarch or a ***. My comments were rude and insensetive and I apologize.

You and me aren't the same type of player, but honestly our views aren't totally different. Just our priorities with the game. I'm not an elitest but I have a habit of always striving for the absolute best. I'm not dissatisfied with being equal to others but i have more fun in game always striving for the best and being the best player I can. It's not so relaxing i suppose but its fun! My husband loves abyssea. He can't get enough!


I love you Akuji! You're spot on! Room for everyone!

[Karbuncle]

You're not the first person to say the things i type some off as mega *** and rude. Almost every forum ive ever been on says that same thing. I apologize if its too harsh or rude. I'ts not personal and I'm not by any means upset or stressed. I come off very stern and direct. Some would say i'm a matriarch or a ***. My comments were rude and insensetive and I apologize.

You and me aren't the same type of player, but honestly our views aren't totally different. Just our priorities with the game. I'm not an elitest but I have a habit of always striving for the absolute best. I'm not dissatisfied with being equal to others but i have more fun in game always striving for the best and being the best player I can. It's not so relaxing i suppose but its fun! My husband loves abyssea. He can't get enough! >.>

I'm the same way >__>?

My goal has always been to play each of my jobs in the best way. When i feel a job i have isn't the best, I try not to play it until I get better gear for it.

Recently i was forced on RDM and BLU, two jobs i'm not greatly geared on, While i enjoy the jobs, I hate walking around in "gimp" armor, even though it doesn't entirely matter.

That being said, i reiterate, My goal is to be the best. Ever since day 1 my goal has been to be the best THF possible, I'm working on that goal, and will continue too until content dies out.

[Anewie]

I'm the same way >__>?

My goal has always been to play each of my jobs in the best way. When i feel a job i have isn't the best, I try not to play it until I get better gear for it.

Recently i was forced on RDM and BLU, two jobs i'm not greatly geared on, While i enjoy the jobs, I hate walking around in "gimp" armor, even though it doesn't entirely matter.

That being said, i reiterate, My goal is to be the best. Ever since day 1 my goal has been to be the best THF possible, I'm working on that goal, and will continue too until content dies out.

Apologies, I worded it in the wrong place. Makes it look like im assuming those aren't your priorities.
Also akuji, u should report whatever loser put that tag up. It's getting really immature. One things for sure, players still have no respect for eachother.