Future Request:Solo and Group Player actions in cut-scenes based on class.

To start off, I understand the difficulty and work load in implementing this - however, consider it a challenge for a higher standard of quality.


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Everyone who's beaten to Kill a Raven or has played FFXI is familiar with this. The final blow is given in an epic battle and the 'enemy defeated' cutscene is played, yet you never really see the player in cutscene land the final blow.

Or in situations in which your character is fighting, NPCs end up show-boating incredible attacks and motions, yet in the scenes you are being shown doing anything, it's typically spectating or 'generic attack action number 1.'

As much as I love SE's cinematography I feel that leaving all of the 'action' done from the player to in-game sections only takes away from a sense of empowerment in the cutscenes themselves.

What if it was shown that a Lancer smacked down a weapon out of an enemies hand, or the weapon was blown away by a Thaumaturge's thunder or fire spell? Pretty much every class in the game has offensive skills that can be used to fit certain cutscenes, especially cutscenes unique to class quests that force you to be said class.

I believe we have reached a level in production quality standards where we can take these added steps to give players just that little bit more of a thrill in the game's already great cut-scenes, especially those that depict the player as a solo element.

It could be possible, that either the player witnesses their own character or maybe even everyone share a random view of a party member doing to coupe de grace to a powerful boss at the end of a fight.

Or that, if a class is present, that class does an action in cutscene a specific manner. (Conjurers summoning the famed "Party Shield" move to defend against a cheap attack before the real fight begins, or a Gladiator covering a member being struck against with his shield.)

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These small things that show our classes acting like their class and their branching jobs depict could go a really long way for player engagement for the story.

Just imagine how much better this cutscene (Warning, spoilers for 'Future's Perfect') would feel if it were you and your party members doing those actions? Granted, that would be quite hard to do completely given the variance of party compositions, but if even a fraction of it were accomplished, think how much excitement and praise that would garner. Things Yoshida and crew could really benefit from.

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In the end, this is just another wishlist item. But it's something to conister. Final Fantasy coined the cut-scene in Video Game RPGs. If they can show that they can up the ante on engaging cutscenes even further in this game, it may be enough to draw even more fans to play and I, personally will never fail to appreciate the effort put in to them.

Of course, to give some direction onto discussing the topic. What kind of actions would you like to see your class do in cutscenes, both in group cutscenes and in solo ones? Would you like to see designated personal cutscene finishers, and if so, would they be private or shared?

As always, thanks for your time.

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Originally Posted by Hyrist

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Holy wall of text batman.

While I agree to a degree, I'm not sure how much I feel this helps immersion.

sometimes I win a fight without breaking a sweat. and i'm staggering in a CS. or I'll struggle and barely win, and i'm all shiny in the CS. so they would almost have to customize the CS to your 'degree of win' to really make it more immersive.

Also, keep in mind, in FFXI we were all 'just adventurers' while highly skilled we were numerous and not necessarily the stuff of legends. in most fights we out-number who we are fighting. such cool and fancy maneuvers should be reserved for the NPCs who's strength we may not be able to rival. I feel the same way about FFXIV. except all of the PCs are set apart by the power of the echo. but there are NPCs who possess this rare talent as well.

I'm just glad that my party members appear in the CS at all. it would be a nice feature but i don't personally think it would help my immersion.

Added some flashy images to help break up the wall of text, tried to keep them more or less to my point.

I disagree the concept of 'we're just adventurers' especially given the type of praises our characters are given after quest-line fights like Ifrit and Garuda.

In United We Stand we're pretty much told we're the best of the best, and that nations are depending on us. It would be nice if in cutscene, we were acknowledged as to why.

Now this does not take away from the quality of the cutscenes we do have. It's no secret that I'm an avid fan. But I feel as if they can do more in the future, really take the feel of cutscenes to the next level, and I encourage them to press themselves to go truly above and beyond expectation.

It's still fun to watch those pre-rendered CG they do, but what do we all crave form them, gameplay. What if that gameplay included them taking what they do very well, cutscenes, and including us players as active components. Speaking just for myself... I'd probably squeal in delight all over mumble and upset my LS.

Do I expect it of them? Like hostile territory, no I don't. But it's something that I think the game will benefit in little ways that will lift the whole. Yoshida aspires to make this the best, and to do that we should encourage them to press in ways they typically turn away from, and revisit concepts that might have been viewed as difficult before. Just sharing my two gil on some of the overlooked gameplay elements that may actually be worth the effort.

This is an idea I can stand behind. I'd also love it if the game were to record the party members that were in the cutscene and what they were wearing so that you can look back into an actual... well... flashback, instead of looking at the same cutscene but with one person instead of 8.