Should have made FFXI-2 instead of this game IMO

[BedroomRockstar01]

Quest driven leveling is such a bad idea IMO.

As opposed to mindlessly grinding mobs? Well, I guess that's one opinion.

I'm enjoying gathering (which levels much quicker then job leveling)

You're doing it wrong then (not that gathering takes that long either).

Also, if you considered leveling alts a viable option in FFXI, then you must have not played pre-CoP. That was the last time I was there, and you were lucky to have 1-2 jobs at 75, let alone an entire alt character, although I understand that they basically nuked that system of leveling and made it a joke at some point. There are things I loved about XI that I'd like to see come back, but not any of the things you're suggesting. So what's my point? Take the game for what it is, and judge it on that alone. If it's not for you, then it's not for you. Comparing a 1 month old game to a 10 year old game is unrealistic to begin with.

[Slickpig]

As opposed to mindlessly grinding mobs? Well, I guess that's one opinion.

Also, if you considered leveling alts a viable option in FFXI, then you must have not played pre-CoP.

Actually I played as soon as Zilart came out, up until Abyssea, I just ran out of time to play, and the elitist players made it no longer fun for me. If I didn't have uber gear, and was doing end game then they wouldn't talk to me. Which is fine, to each their own, I'm a more casual player anyway. I had 3 level 75's and most of the others were 36. Leveling other classes was something else fun to do, made me understand the classes better so in a party I could react better based on the situation.

[BedroomRockstar01]

Actually I played as soon as Zilart came out

Great, then you understand that leveling system and how terrible it was. The temptation to be blinded by nostalgia is strong for me too, but you couldn't pay me to go back to the Valkurm Dunes > Qufim Island > Yhoator Jungle > Garlaige Citadel > Crawlers Nest > etc. grind. And yes, there were a few great groups who would hit other leveling spots (usually due to overcrowding), but that's essentially how it breaks down.

Leveling will always break down to the lowest common denominator. Whatever is fastest, most efficient, that will always be the way it goes regardless of what system is implemented. In that sense, any changes to our current system are entirely superficial.

I do agree with you that I'd like to see a premium on crafting services. They're greatly devalued at this point.

Just noticed something. You mentioned "instanced experience party areas." Don't we already have those (dungeons)?

[Lisotte]

[QUOTE=BedroomRockstar01;1390944]Great, then you understand that leveling system and how terrible it was. The temptation to be blinded by nostalgia is strong for me too, but you couldn't pay me to go back to the Valkurm Dunes > Qufim Island > Yhoator Jungle > Garlaige Citadel > Crawlers Nest > etc. grind. And yes, there were a few great groups who would hit other leveling spots (usually due to overcrowding), but that's essentially how it breaks down.


/QUOTE]

The key word in your anti-grind rant is "group." If I play an MMO I want to play with people, not go do fetch quests by myself.

[BedroomRockstar01]

The key word in your anti-grind rant is "group." If I play an MMO I want to play with people, not go do fetch quests by myself.

What I said was hardly a rant. You have the option to group all you want. I duo'd my entire way from 1-50 with my wife. We grouped and did every dungeon along the way as well. We FATE grinded all of 1 level. The argument that mob grinding is somehow superior because it requires a group is nonsense though. If mob grinding was the most efficient, then we'd be doing that. We would always choose the most efficient form of leveling. Thankfully we have the option to group (dungeon) or solo if we so choose.

My point, again, is that the method of leveling makes no difference whatsoever. If given the option, the majority of people will always choose the most efficient path. We're grinding no matter what. It's just a matter of how we want to sugarcoat it.