Expanding Non-Raid Content Discussion

With the recent and likely momentary resurgence in PvP, I've been thinking a lot about unpopular content in FFXIV that could use a few sparks to revitalize them as all. Currently the only endgames on FFXIV that get any real attention is raiding and glamor. People like challenging fights and people like to look good. But there is other content in FFXIV that could reach an endgame popularity like this with some fine tuning, attention, and work.

Sure, I know the FFXIV team doesn't have the resources they need to go all out. Hopefully when they do, they'll look to this discussion or put attention to things brought up in this topic. But for know, I think it would be fun to muse. Maybe they'll see it, maybe they won't but it's worth talking about right.


Some of my own thoughts are the content I enjoy more often (I'm not a raider). Namely, PvP and the Gold Saucer. I know there are players out there that don't care of it at all. Some want more for it, and some are indifferent about it. Especially with Gold Saucer, but I would really like to see these things expanded upon.

PvP could use some relatively easy updates. Not to see they are as easy as flicking a switch, but compared to adding all new stuff, it seems easier. For example, an option for lvl 60 (and soon to be lvl 70) modes for all FL modes. Secure was a fun mode, but it's stuck back in the lvl 50 era with poetics. Some people like Slaughter (I don't, but to each their own) and would like to see that updated as well. And I would love it if Seize and Shatter came with up to lvl 70 with Stormblood. Could we use more maps for each mode? Sure, but one thing at a time.

Likewise, let's take one of FFXIV's biggest failures, Lord of Verminion. It's not BAD, it pretty fun, for me at least. What I liked most about the minigame were the challenges. What most people do with the mini game are the challenges, rather than fighting each other. So why not add more? With HW coming to a close, maybe give us some HW challenges like how we have ARR challenges. It would be a lot to ask but 2-3 challenges a patch would be AMAZING once the team has the capacity to do so. And like with everything else, hiding a prize at the end as a minion or mount of glamor or w/e would maybe breathe some popularity into it.


That just two things that have been on my mind. There's plenty in the game aside from raiding and hunting glamors that could use some freshening up, so I'd love to see and hear what others think as well.

The mini-games are kind of meh. Makes me wonder if there has just been overall discontent with the players that made SE say they are not adding anymore Gold Saucer attractions in (forgot if this was in the context of ever or any time soon). The GATES are pretty fun and triple triad was all over the place for a while. Like most mini-games, though, it eventually became non-existent.

That being said, I'd like to just see all of the Frontlines be the same level across the board with just differing modes. I'm sure they don't do that so people that haven't bought expansions can have something to do. The largely greedy part of me says, "To the seven hells with that! Do Slaughter and Secure even queue anymore?!"

Still waiting they make the chocobo race "playable".

Currently its still like controlling a bag of potatos (not lalafel).

There is no tournament.

Just one race mode.

No spectator mode.

Events to special times, similar to the jumbo lottery, would be nice thing.

I would like them to revamp chocobo races, add blitzball, and some new mini games in the GS.

Diadem I hope gets a great overhaul and becomes fun.

I hope they add underwater cave explorations in 4.0 to be a new type of content.

I think one issue with the Gold saucer activities is they are overly complex (LoV) and/or somewhat unrewarding. With so much MGP earnable by just doing the daily cactpot every day there isn't really much reason to look to other sources of MGP, particularly when they feel clunky or overly confusing.

As a general rule I think alternate content to raiding or even dungeons would be nice to see. Exactly what though is hard to consider since its hard to know what the game can actually manage. Perhaps more developed FATE system could hold potential. A lot of people enjoyed the Darkscale chain for a while.

Of course, like Gold Saucer, it's reward to effort ran out pretty quick but it was definitely fun. I would like the Gold Saucer to feel more like a themepark than something I need to spend time reading a manual to enjoy. I don't fundamentally have an issue with chocobo breeding but if our just wanting to do some races, most players are going to be more interested in skill in a race over breeding I suspect. The reward doesn't seem to match the investment needed. Likewise LoV. The main turnoff for me is there was just too much variety in the minions to the point that I wasn't really sure what to use for what. Gold Saucer doesn't feel rewarding enough to justify theory crafting. Plus both forms of content are hard to do in sizable groups and once you have enough MGP to buy what your after there is very little reason to go back and do it again.

PvP I think they are making good improvements on, though it still has a way to go, particularly with the ranking system. I tend to be a casual PvPer. My main reason for stoping doing Frontlines was when I capped on Wolf Marks and didn't have anything new to spend them on. Adding some form of consumable or alternate currency sink would be useful. Hell, even adding sets more regularly.

I'll be curious what they have planned in 4.0. Deep Dungeon was a winner for me and I am looking forward to future ones. Diadem 2.0 we will see about in a few weeks. Beyond that, a spin on instanced content could be interesting that break the Mold. Maybe a version of Hamlet defence. After all we are in a warzone. Defending a Eorzean Alliance outpost from waves of Garlean attackers could be interesting, particularly if you mix it up by adding things like Cannons to the defence.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Belhi

FATE ... A lot of people enjoyed the Darkscale chain for a while.

---

Don't forget Odin. Its there since release, but still alot of people go for it.

The problem with revitalizing old content is it can't be anything PvE based, so really the only things can be revitalized are noncombat based side content. PvP isn't really revitalized, they just added new mounts and gear to it and they're more or less face roll to get. If they want to expand on old content they need to not make it so closed off, right now the only thing I can see them doing is reworking some dungeons to allow solo or 2 player runs, and tether that to a new game type, but this isn't really revitalizing the 4 player version and would likely require level 50 minimum. Which is a problem because trying to get people to do older content synced back to 50, will likely result in a lack of runs, and placing things at 60 might make things too easy.

Hamlet Defence would be a great addition. Roaming Primals will be nice whenever they feel like getting around to it, I mean it was promised. Also, more world bosses like Odin, I don't know how it is on other servers, but I never see people show up for Odin. I remember the 2.0 trailer showing a gigantic Adamantoise in Central Shroud, only for it to never be implemented.

More world activities like those, perhaps add tome rewards to these, a small amount, nothing that degrades the need for roulettes and dungeons. It just seems like there should be more ways to earn tomes outside of dungeons/raids, something to alleviate the grind.

This is the unpopular opinion, but the FATE system. I want them to go back to the drawing board with this content. It's a great idea, but similar to GC content, it's an easily forgotten system in the game.

Here's the thing. In theory, the FATE system could be the number one driving force behind getting players out into the open world. They just aren't giving enough incentive to get involved, and the whole system just feels poorly executed, considering how well thought out it seems. Give a chance to get some music scrolls from it. Give treasure maps from it. Make them more involved, and less copy/paste. If you're going to have content in your game, either make it worth doing or don't have it at all, yeah?

They should take the Diadem approach with any content that isn't hitting the mark, but that takes time I suppose.

As an aside, that seems to be the common thread with content that needs revitalized in the game. Usually, there's good ideas there, but there's no good reason to spend your time doing it, and definitely no replay value if you do. Primals have come a long way, and still could use work, but they're a good example of how all content should be in the game. There's always another reason to run the content. Housing, mounts, weapons, music, bardings, money (from those things). All content should offer a similar level of incentive, in their own way.

I would like more event fates. That give out a pool of rewards to increase their replayability.

Chocobo Racing:
-They seriously need to add new maps to chocobo races. I can't imagine it would be terribly hard to do since there is nothing special about them other than the borders running along the track.
-They should allow you to queue as a pre-made party and without the NPCs if you are less than eight participants.
-They should allow you to place MGP bets on your own races, despite the issue that may present with Gil->MGP trading.
-They should consider adding a simple storyline similar to those you have with DoH and DoL quests where you rise through the ranks, just for a bit of fun.

-They should add additional race modes and just outright rip of some ideas from racing games to make it both humorous and fun. For instance, imagine the following:

[Circuit Mode]
A simple closed circuit route that has a minimum of two laps to complete.

[Drag Mode]
A race where you essentially run along a straight course as top speed. Included are obstacles to avoid and you can shift "gears" by offering a gentle nudge with your feet like when riding a horse.

[Chocobo Tuning]
A mode where you can fine tune your racing performance to perform better in specific races. These settings are adjustable at the cost of some consumables and presets can be saved.
Eg. Use shears or potions to cut/grow chocobo plumage for aerodynamic purposes, use special saddles that shift weight more to the front or back to adjust posture and make either accelerating or braking easier.

[Chocobo Shop]
Here, you can add custom paint, body kits and spoilers to your....- no, not really.




In any case, as ridiculous and far-fetched as all of that sounds, I would find those updates to be absolutely awesome.

A revamp of the FATE system would be nice, I would strongly suggest the devs take a look at what GW2 does with their open world content. The thing I'm referring to specifically (for those that didn't play Guild Wars 2) is that the game does have a FATE system of it's own with level synch. However, the rewards (which also has a bronze/silver/gold ranking system) scales upwards dependent on your level. So for example, if you are level 70 and go do a level 10 FATE, you get increased rewards for being so much higher in level.

Now I know what you're thinking, "but Khalithar you charismatic stallion, won't that cause all the high levels to just sit in low level areas all the time?" The answer to that question is yes and that's a good thing. In GW2 you see huge crowds of players running through some zones in a circuit, killing monsters and chatting with each other while also coordinating the kill order for a lot of the FATEs. I personally think it's a very good design.

For PVP, I'd be happy to see a drastic increase in the number of mounts and minions available through PVP and a lot more PVP specific glamours that people can work towards. This event and it's rewards have revitalized PVP, I hope the devs take it to heart and see they can cultivate an active PVP community by actively adding more rewards and more maps to keep things fresh.

For gold saucer, let's get a battle square, more minigames, more chocobo racing maps, more chocobo racing modes such as time trials (fastest time completing unique course) and mirror match (race against a duplicate of your bird) or dare I say it? A chocobo racing battle mode!?