Support in the direction the game is taking

Making a game appealing to both the hardcore and casual crowds is a big challenge.

You will always have people whining on both sides when you take a decision. However, I believe there are many people in between: people who grew up with a MMORPG (mainly FFXI for the current FFXIV crowd) who now have families and important jobs. We’re still trying to make a MMORPG fit into our lives, for various reasons (detachment, relaxing, cheap hobby indirectly helping mortgage payments, hanging out with old friends, stimulative alternative to TV, etc ...).

Our playtime might be casual, average at best, but we’re still trying to fill up the void that the strong sense of achievement of FFXI used to fill. A lot of people are nostalgic of such moments, but few really miss the gigantic grind and timesinks (and can’t afford it anyway).

We can feel that it’s considered in the direction this game is taking. Examples: Guildleves becoming efficiently quick solo content instead of making people grind on coblyns, releasing content + job system leading to party play that should please the hardcores instead of doing the same leves over and over, etc ... I personally really liked the comment from the last Letter of the Producer about 1 hour content for weekdays, and hardcore content when we can afford it on some weekends.

We know that perfect balance between hardcore and casual can never be achieved, but you seem to make the efforts to at least try and take the best of each side. We’ll still give our feedback/opinions on some specific core aspects (i.e. rank 1 to 50 in same area, making challenging and lasting content). A good share of the louder crowd who complains about everything seems to be people who played 10+ MMORPG over the last few years. Those people will never be satisfied with anything. They’ll just move to the next MMORPG released if they haven’t already, and do the same.

Thank you for trying to make a game that can please to everyone. Please know that they are prolly many people (I know a few), who aren’t the loudest and the most active on forums, that strongly support the direction the game is taking.


Edited typos.

Thumbs up.

I feel that Aion and WOW were sort of close with this when they introduced hard/end-game 5 player dungeons. They're hard, but short enough to cater to the "casual" crowd that isn't composed of poor players and that does want to be challenged.

I'm no longer a highschooler or college freshman with no job, few responsibilities, and easy snoozefest classes. Although I still get in a LOT of play time per week on whatever games I'm playing, I can no longer play games that require me to put in 3+ hours at a time, or that i can't just stop playing the moment something comes up.

casuals will try hardcore content, and in the end, will troll about they cant complete it. How many games have nerfed content coz this?

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Originally Posted by Raistlin

casuals will try hardcore content, and in the end, will troll about they cant complete it. How many games have nerfed content coz this?

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I dunno. You tell me. And I'm sure you'll be able to back this up with actual evidence?

The game needs milestones along your journey that is what I loved about FFXI. You were never that far away from hitting that next goal, it could be anything like getting a Chocobo, Airship pass, being able to equip that new weapon or armour. There was always something and FFXIV is lacking in that department.

It took me months to get my first 75 on FFXI and when I finally dinged it I was so happy as I had finally made it. In FFXIV when I hit 50 I felt hardly anything it didn't feel like an achievement as it was not hard to get there. They do not need to make FFXIV a mad rush to cap as long as they fill it with meaningful milestones and content along the way, levelling should be part of your journey not something standing between you and endgame.

I hope this is something they will consider when moving forward with FFXIV.

Another thing I feel FFXIV needs And I know this will be controversial but it needs those elite items and gear that are not easily obtained. Like the Relic Weapons in FFXI, I knew I would never get my Apocalypse Scythe but I still thought it was cool as hell whenever I saw someone with one. I know that the Relic's were huge time sinks but maybe FFXIV needs something like that for those that are willing to put the time in. Maybe the timesink is not the best way to do it but there should be something that is extremely challenging that few will ever be able to attain.

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Originally Posted by Eekiki

I dunno. You tell me. And I'm sure you'll be able to back this up with actual evidence?

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Wasn't directed at me, but I'll take up the mantle. I'm a casual player myself (I probably average about 5-6 hours per week), but I find the constant throttling of difficulty by games to be quite a pain. I don't need my accomplishments handed to me just because I'm short on time, thanks.

LotRO's Volumes being made soloable.
WoW giving an extra buffs to PUGS and general difficulty nerfing.
Rifting nerfs in Aion.

One of the aspects that people find enjoyable is the satisfaction of overcoming a challenge. That disappears when there is a distinct lack of challenge in the game.

People need to stop equating challenge with time consuming and short with easy.

I love everything they've said they are doing except the 1:1 Jobsvsweaponsfiasco

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Originally Posted by Wolfie

People need to stop equating challenge with time consuming and short with easy.

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Yeah this misconception needs to go. But unfortunately people only understand it when they are in that situation. Until someone has time constraints (job,family,etc.) they will always think that people who are casual are people who doesn't know how to play well and that are not looking for challenging content, which is not the case.

I myself get to play games a lot, but I consider myself casual for the simple fact that I cannot plan my playtime ahead of time so I cannot say things like: "ok next thursday I'll be able to play from 6pm to 11pm so I will come raid" That doesn't work for most casuals because unfortunately, that thursday at 5:30pm something will come up, either had to stay late at work, family crisis, friends coming over,errands to run, etc.

Edit: All that to say that yes, I love the direction the game is taking and considers giving options depending if you have little time to play that night or more time so you have different options available.

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Originally Posted by Raistlin

casuals will try hardcore content, and in the end, will troll about they cant complete it. How many games have nerfed content coz this?

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Ok, this has been a sore spot with me since day one. First of all, Anyone willing to stick out this Incredibly Awkward Stage of FFXIV should be considered hardcore, imho, regardless of hours clocked. Second: See, for me, giving up 20-30 hours a week to play this game is a sacrifice, one that I feel is worth it. Its a beautiful world with endless potential (and potential challenges). I have very stressful days and its worth for me to spend time in Eorzea. It's time that hurts to give up, esp for a game! And because of that I feel I have a stake in this game and its future and that I am just as valuable a player as anyone else. If someone has 80 surplus hours a week to blow on a video game, good for them, but a sacrifice out of abundance isn't really a sacrifice. So to Yoshi I say "Thank You!" /bow <yoshi>.

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Originally Posted by Wolfie

People need to stop equating challenge with time consuming and short with easy.

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Game, set, match for Wolfie. /broniefist

I think the point is not that it has to be a huge time sink but the really awesome gear should not be something you can get in an hour of play. As long as casual players can log in and make meaningful progress in a short space of time there is nothing wrong with that. So if a hard core player can complete something in a week, then a casual player may take a month but they can make some progress everytime they log on.

I liked how Nyzul Isle worked in FFXI it was challenging and if you were short on time you could get together and just do 5 floors and start from there next time you logged in. The trick though is to make it so players will still want to run it even after they have what they want so you will always have people to go with.

Casual and hardcore elements have been in the game's core design since release. What matters is if they can fully implement everything they talk and hint about :)

IF the game still has meaningful hardcore goals as Yoshida says it will I cannot complain about adding casual stuff... mmos need both casual and hardcore content because it is impossible to make something that works for both groups of players.

Atm it appears Yoshida seems to have grasped that concept with the casual content for workdays, and more hardcore content for weekends.

As long as I can log on for 30-40hrs a week a not run out of things to do and there are things to keep me working towards for long periods of time, like relics/mythics in FFXI or that uberleet gear which cost 100s of mill and takes time and work to obtain. I will be happy.

My biggest fear is I will beat the game... Aka literally run out of things to get and do, cap all my classes, get all the gear and all that. Once that happens I am forced to play a new game. If they can produce enough hardcore content to keep me busy for the next 5-8yrs then I am all for this path the game is going down.