Bringing Back Hamlet Defense?

Maybe this has been brought up before, but it would be a pleasant surprise to see Hamlet Defense come back to FFXIV. It was one of the few positive end game options that came out of 1.0.

Essentially Hamlet Defense was a tower defense instance against a beastmen invasion. Where you and your party would try and stop the beastmen with the aid of various NPCs before the beastmen destroy the instance's cache supplies.

There was also a preparation time for gatherer/crafters to aid in the defense before the instances themselves. It was neat to know of but I didn't participate in that aspect myself so I can't say much about it.

Big reason I'd advocate for it's return is 2 reasons:

1. It's a nice alternative from the 2.0+ DDR battles with a single boss in a giant circle we see in every update.

2. It gives beastmen some sort of threatening appearance in this game again. Something this game has always struggled with, at least in my opinion.

I think it would be an interesting addition. It was one of the better designed content in 1.x

I've heard some good things about it in the past, so I'd love to experience it for myself.

I’m pretty sure the fate system is the “replacement” for hamlet defense, but I’d love to bring back hamlet features (doh/L contribution, enemy takeover of points of interest) if they’re going to improve fates in Endwalker like they did for Shadowbringers.

It's been a long time, obviously lol, but I thought hamlet was closer to an X-Hero Siege / Siege maps, rather than a TD. As I don't recall any structure / pathing management in Hamlet. Not to say TD wouldn't be potentially fun, honestly they could probably make a fun TD mini-game in FFXIV. I had thought with their minions they could also make an Enfos, Line Tower war, Maul, like content - which could be fun.

I agree though hamlet defense could make a cool return. Also as referencing old stuff, FFXI had some siege content on a city which might be able to make light into the system as well.

While we don't have too much info on Sanctuary Islands, one thought was, especially if this content does well, they make Hamelt creation content for FC. Using the relatively dead reputation info in the FC bar to the next level, so players can grow reputation with other cities, nations, organizations, and npcs, on behalf of the FC, to then allow the FC a semi-industrial / housing Dark Cloud hamlet building experience. As you construct your hamlet you'll be tasked with defending it as well, which adds to some progression of the area. Beast tribes from all over will attack your hamlet, your FC will be able to narrow down the attacks based on scale and your other progressions (scout/towers, etc, big attacks would always be known in advance). For adding extra value to the system there would be npc hamlets FC could protect, you could always be hired to protect for another FC (both parties gaining benefits), and go on the offensive into the beast tribe's stronghold to do battle there (adding content to some of those cool strongholds we only see portions of). For those FC that just want a hyper chill experience there might be ways to mitigate, hire npcs, and hide the hamlet, just losing out in some quicker progression opportunities (if you successfully quell an attack there'd be rewards for the hamlet and also the players participating, but if you were like 'no leave me alone' maybe there are ways to go about that and just go a bit slower). There would also be FC vs FC opportunities, entirely optional to making important progression to the content though (like PvP in the game is in general). In sum then you'd have long term, or at least longer term, content for the FC to build, and do content out in the world on behalf of your FC, interact with NPC hamlets in a new way, and as well other FCs.

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Originally Posted by Shougun

It's been a long time, obviously lol, but I thought hamlet was closer to an X-Hero Siege / Siege maps, rather than a TD. As I don't recall any structure / pathing management in Hamlet. Not to say TD wouldn't be potentially fun, honestly they could probably make a fun TD mini-game in FFXIV. I had thought with their minions they could also make an Enfos, Line Tower war, Maul, like content - which could be fun.

I agree though hamlet defense could make a cool return. Also as referencing old stuff, FFXI had some siege content on a city which might be able to make light into the system as well.

While we don't have too much info on Sanctuary Islands, one thought was, especially if this content does well, they make Hamelt creation content for FC. Using the relatively dead reputation info in the FC bar to the next level, so players can grow reputation with other cities, nations, organizations, and npcs, on behalf of the FC, to then allow the FC a semi-industrial / housing Dark Cloud hamlet building experience. As you construct your hamlet you'll be tasked with defending it as well, which adds to some progression of the area. Beast tribes from all over will attack your hamlet, your FC will be able to narrow down the attacks based on scale and your other progressions (scout/towers, etc, big attacks would always be known in advance). For adding extra value to the system there would be npc hamlets FC could protect, you could always be hired to protect for another FC (both parties gaining benefits), and go on the offensive into the beast tribe's stronghold to do battle there (adding content to some of those cool strongholds we only see portions of). For those FC that just want a hyper chill experience there might be ways to mitigate, hire npcs, and hide the hamlet, just losing out in some quicker progression opportunities (if you successfully quell an attack there'd be rewards for the hamlet and also the players participating, but if you were like 'no leave me alone' maybe there are ways to go about that and just go a bit slower). There would also be FC vs FC opportunities, entirely optional to making important progression to the content though (like PvP in the game is in general). In sum then you'd have long term, or at least longer term, content for the FC to build, and do content out in the world on behalf of your FC, interact with NPC hamlets in a new way, and as well other FCs.

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Siege is definitely a good way to describe it. Only thing that came to mind when writing this was TD. Definitely love the FC idea as an addition to it as well.

this thread topic has been brought up before in the past. the devs have said they're not bringing hamlet defense back.

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Originally Posted by DrWho2010

this thread topic has been brought up before in the past. the devs have said they're not bringing hamlet defense back.

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They say a lot of things, and these things are not always true in the end. Nothing wrong with another request.

The fate system tries similar things, like destroying the supplies of beast tribes, but not very well because one person just solos it.

I think this is a good idea and it's something that can incorporate crafters and gatherers, a bit like with the Firmament.

I think that the direction has been to put most content into instances, most likely to make sure there aren't too many people. Instances provide better control over the amount of participation so that it doesn't become overcrowded and chaotic.

It's also a bit of a problem that if you do the beast tribe quests and the main story, you become friends with beast tribes. That doesn't stop fates but in a game that has allowed you to remove almost all references to opposing people who are now on your side by altering which NPCs appear during each quest, things like this could backtrack on that.

For interest here is a video https://youtu.be/CHSi5tHwosU

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Originally Posted by Jeeqbit

The fate system tries similar things, like destroying the supplies of beast tribes, but not very well because one person just solos it.

I think this is a good idea and it's something that can incorporate crafters and gatherers, a bit like with the Firmament.

I think that the direction has been to put most content into instances, most likely to make sure there aren't too many people. Instances provide better control over the amount of participation so that it doesn't become overcrowded and chaotic.

It's also a bit of a problem that if you do the beast tribe quests and the main story, you become friends with beast tribes. That doesn't stop fates but in a game that has allowed you to remove almost all references to opposing people who are now on your side by altering which NPCs appear during each quest, things like this could backtrack on that.

For interest here is a video https://youtu.be/CHSi5tHwosU

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I was waiting for someone to bring up the Beast Tribe relationship, especially with the newest storyline. I wasn't sure to mention it or not to avoid spoilers. It's also weird though that with everything going on in story you have open world areas with plenty of beastmen ready to murder you. The whole relationship thing as a whole bothers me, because beast men should be the "threat" monster wise, short of say divine/unholy/dragon monsters. Small pockets or tribes of friendlies is one thing, but as a whole? Eh.

As for the overcrowded, definitely agree it should be instanced and stick to just a single party. I'm starving for more open world content in general, but this wouldn't be a good example of the type of content that would be good in it.

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Originally Posted by Keramory

It's also weird though that with everything going on in story you have open world areas with plenty of beastmen ready to murder you.

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I've always thought about, but when you exceed their level enough they stop attacking you so that helps.

I did enjoy Hamlet Defense. It was some interesting content and we don't have anything really like it now. DOH & DOL were actually involved in the instances themselves too along with the DOW & DOM, not just in the prep time before the instances. It was fun all working together, the different roles playing their parts, and you still had to coordinate with each other as well.

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Originally Posted by Arillyn

I did enjoy Hamlet Defense. It was some interesting content and we don't have anything really like it now. DOH & DOL were actually involved in the instances themselves too along with the DOW & DOM, not just in the prep time before the instances. It was fun all working together, the different roles playing their parts, and you still had to coordinate with each other as well.

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A lot of people don't remember this, but near after the launch of 1.0, the original team had concept art of PvP where the DOH and DOL would build/fortify components on enemy ships while the DOW/DOM battled it out. That would have been amazing to see.

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Originally Posted by Keramory

A lot of people don't remember this, but near after the launch of 1.0, the original team had concept art of PvP where the DOH and DOL would build/fortify components on enemy ships while the DOW/DOM battled it out. That would have been amazing to see.

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Yes on ships would have been fun. The ones I remember doing were in Gridania. I always was on DOH haha. We DOH & DOL would be working on supplying/building while the DOW/DOM were battling. We had to time certain things too or we would fail. I enjoyed it.

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Originally Posted by Keramory

Maybe this has been brought up before, but it would be a pleasant surprise to see Hamlet Defense come back to FFXIV. It was one of the few positive end game options that came out of 1.0.

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As long as it were thoroughly reimagined/repolished...

It was good... for 1.x and compared against the rest of 1.x near-level-cap content. That's a far cry from something that'd be seen as good today.

Nonetheless, I do think the fundamental concept there is far better than what we're stuck with via most FATEs (even including some of the notably good FATE chains).

Hamlet Defense (or at least the DotH/DotL side) was replaced by simply turning in gear at your GC HQ whenever you want to, rather than having to wait for a scripted event to play, which of course players then exploited to rapidly level their crafting classes based on the requested gear being submitted (theoretically you're meant to craft the gear being submitted yourself, but few do).

The fighting side of Hamlet Defense became the reoccuring series of FATEs in ARR areas that have a failure flag (the battles against qi'qirn and amal'jaa at Highbridge in Thanalan, protecting the pirate base in Old Maid's Mill in La Noscea from kobolds, and the battles against duskwight thieves at the ruined village of Highbury in the Black Shroud).

It's clear SE simply aren't interested in that large scale content anymore and want to keep crafting and gathering classes seperate from battle, so I do not see them changing this.

Also we kind of got the 'crafting airships' content eventually too... but as far as waging PvP battles with them, I doubt SE will end up going that far.

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Originally Posted by Enkidoh

The fighting side of Hamlet Defense became the reoccuring series of FATEs in ARR areas that have a failure flag (the battles against qi'qirn and amal'jaa at Highbridge in Thanalan, protecting the pirate base in Old Maid's Mill in La Noscea from kobolds, and the battles against duskwight thieves at the ruined village of Highbury in the Black Shroud).

It's clear SE simply aren't interested in that large scale content anymore and want to keep crafting and gathering classes seperate from battle, so I do not see them changing this.

Also we kind of got the 'crafting airships' content eventually too... but as far as waging PvP battles with them, I doubt SE will end up going that far.

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Yeah, it does seem like fates took it over. While they're comparable I'd lie if I wasn't a little disappointed this is what hamelt became. Fates are decent for exp and the very rare new expansion release fates are neat... but the difference between hamlet and fates are so night and day.

Sure hamlet wasn't a nightmare when you got used to it, but at least it was challenging and you needed proper coordination with your party. Pfft if you need any of that in any fate lol

warfronts?

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Originally Posted by Enkidoh

Hamlet Defense (or at least the DotH/DotL side) was replaced by simply turning in gear at your GC HQ whenever you want to, rather than having to wait for a scripted event to play, which of course players then exploited to rapidly level their crafting classes based on the requested gear being submitted (theoretically you're meant to craft the gear being submitted yourself, but few do).

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Here's the big issue for me: 1.x crafting leves actually took you (out) into the world to be useful to different communities in the times they needed you. I realize that can seem a time-gating or otherwise arbitrating frame, but... at least it (A) wasn't so rapidly exploitable, as you'd be given the materials for the craft then and there, and (B) gave a better sense of the world and a place for you in it. Because of that (and, oddly enough, the at-first seemingly custom recipes), I enjoyed the heck out of crafting in 1.x, despite its inventory cost.

I'd like some sense of that back, even if not necessarily through leves. (Heck, if done through leves, I think the 50+ span would need to be expanded and far more conveniently accessed than was done in HW.)

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Originally Posted by GrizzlyTank

warfronts?

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So long as you don't mean the WoW version (Warfronts ™, so to speak) thereof. I do not say that out of any wholesale hatred for or bias against the game, only in that there were some fundamental issues with the concept, and far more with the particular iteration.