Trial XXXX

[Alukat]

i like some "brain off"-grinding once in a while ^^
so i'm fine trials in the way they are.

[Eeek]

There's a unique message when you get your level 80 version; the others are all the same.

I love storyline in games. Without a good storyline, I find myself failing to get immersed. However, the emphasis is on the word good - I would hardly call lack of quests this in most cases. The structure of a typical quest storyline is

I need x item! Here is my reason for wanting x item. Please bring me x item.

There are obviously exceptions to this with the ToAU General quests for instance, but on the whole we're not missing anything.

Agreed. I personally don't look for or expect story content from Magian trials. It's an awesome, Assault-like system that rewards player with equipment in exchange for effort. No bullshit drop rates - just gear for putting effort into the associated events.

I'm also a little disappointed with the NPCs receiving the Magian treatment, but it makes some sense. I mean, the NPC storyline is finished (as far as I remember), so I don't personally mind if the developers put in their effort elsewhere.

Also, FFXI has massive amounts of story content for those who want it. I think the Magian detractors want storyline content with their Magian trials, and that's just not that system's intended function. There are a bajillion WoTG missions out there, and like Raen metioned, outstanding like questlines like the Skyserpent General quests.

I just don't think the majority of players, including the ones here, will search out story content unless forced to do so on the way to a desired reward.

[Mirage]

Sort of agree and sort of disagree. It would be nice of the magian moogles at least seemed to actually notice what sort of item it was you were handing to them. It wouldn't have to be anything elaborate, but at least certain top-tier items should get special treatment.

As it is now, it is pretty bland. I don't really demand loads of well-written quest dialogue for each item, but at least give the moogles a bit of flavour. Right now, it feels a bit standing in a queue to deliver a document to a bureaucrat, having him stamp it without even looking at it, then get out of there.

Changing the current trial dialogue might not be something we can expext to happen, but it would be nice if they kept this in mind for upcoming items.

Maybe they could also put the trial systems on different NPCs around the world. Reuse the basic trial system for various new quests, but let there be a few more npcs with a bit different personalities.

As for trials often being boring, yes, I agree. It's not a flaw with the trial system in itself though (they are no different than regular fetch/kill quests), but the how repetitive some of the tasks are. The main problem is that you end up killing the same monsters in the same area for several hours, before moving to a new area with new mobs and do the same for several hours. I think it would be very good for our sanities to get more variations within the same trial, even if it meant having to relocate more often.