Thoughts on the new Letter from the Producer? (May 20)

[Kiara]

Hi All,

The new Letter from the Producer X is great. Sure, there are many things in there that we may have known about earlier, but it's also on update and reaffirmation of what we can expect in the near future (soon). This is great communication on Yoshida-san's part, and those that complain that he's being vague or rehashing stuff, would you rather him NOT give us any update at all? I think it's great that the Producer / Director is taking time out to talk to the Players that are playing the game, and prospective new ones.

Some thoughts:

• Story / World Lore / Quests
  So many people wanted more Story / Lore about the world of Eorzea / Final Fantasy XIV and those are the top line items in his list. We're getting more Quests surrounding the impending danger to Eorzea (Garlean Empire), more Storyline / World Quests, and Grand Companies (which sound like major missions / challenges tied into the whole building war).
  
  How is this a bad thing? It's simply awesome!

• Overhauling Crafting / Synthesis / Gathering
  People have complained and asked for changes to Crafting (it's boring, repetitive, problems with too many components for recipes, etc.), and we're getting simplified recipes and most importantly, the Materia System (keep the name! ), where we'll be able to *customize* Weapons and Armor. Where players can go to Crafters to tweak, customize items, instead of just dealing with a faceless Market Ward of flooded generic, mass-produced items (as it is now). The Materia System also involves Gatherers who are supposed to be able to source Materia Catalysts for this new Materia System.
  
  How is this a bad thing? It's not. It sounds GREAT, and certainly better than what we have now.

• Challenging, Fun COMBAT System
  From the Players Polls and numerous threads on so many forums we've heard that Players want a more unique, challenging Combat System, and we're getting that also. Sure it sounds like "Oh we're just getting Auto Attack," but it's so much more than that. We don't know the details yet, but at least Yoshida-san and Matsui-san are confirming and giving us some timelines on Battle System changes, making combat "reward effort, reduce monotony."
  
  Which includes making Classes stand out more from each other (so everyone doesn't just map the same things and do the same things in combat over and over).
  
  Which includes a new Job System (Classic Final Fantasy feel (FF Tactics, FF V, FF XIII)), so we'll see the return of great jobs like White Mage, Black Mage, Paladin, etc.
  
  How is this a bad thing? I think it's pretty awesome!

• Mid Level and High Level Raid / Dungeon Content.
  Many were clamoring for it, and in this letter he's affirming the coming of the Rank 30 and Rank 50 Dungeons, as well as MORE Notorious Monsters (NMs), and New Items / Recipes, as well as the previously mentioned Grand Companies offering more powerful items as well.
  
  How is this a bad thing? It's NOT. It's what many people were hoping to get and the Raid Dungeons are coming in 1.18 (~3 weeks).

• And he announced we're getting an epic IFRIT Boss Encounter.
  Which sounds like it's being presented with all the gravitas and fanfare it deserves with custom cutscenes, quest planning, etc.
  
  And there'll be additional Primal Boss Fights (hopefully Shiva, Bahamut, etc. )

So overall, maybe it sounds like there's "nothing" coming from this letter for some people, but I think this Summer is going to be awesome for Final Fantasy XIV!

Could it have been done sooner, faster, released now? Maybe, but if it comes with the polish and proper implementation that a major overhaul needs to have, then I think it's worth the wait.

[Elexia]

I pretty much did quit and leave.. me coming to the forums is to see where they are actually going with this game. I hate when people say crap like why don't you just leave OOHHHH look but your still on the forums. Remember, I paid 80 bucks for this 'game', I'm gonna get my money's worth out of it.

By trolling and constantly saying "oh still sucks" "lame" "boring" and jumping on anyone who has a positive or comparative suggestion/insight? That's definitely getting your money's worth.

I paid too but If I quit the game and washed my hands of it I wouldn't sit around being negative towards it and everyone else day in and day out. I quit WoW, I've yet to visit a WoW forum for the 7 months I stopped playing it.

[Spellbinder]

It's on the Japanese letter too.

Japanese is not my native language, but I firmly believe 夏まで should not be interpreted as before summer or the beginning of summer. I'd like to think I've studied Japanese long enough to know that.

[Cairdeas]

By trolling and constantly saying "oh still sucks" "lame" "boring" and jumping on anyone who has a positive or comparative suggestion/insight? That's definitely getting your money's worth.

I paid too but If I quit the game and washed my hands of it I wouldn't sit around being negative towards it and everyone else day in and day out. I quit WoW, I've yet to visit a WoW forum for the 7 months I stopped playing it.

I bought and paid for Darkfall. I was pretty freaking active on their forums. But the moment the game released and I spent 5 days getting ganked by people of my own race while I was trying to farm materials for crafting I quit. I never stepped foot on those forums again.

[Cairdeas]

That's your opinion of getting your money's worth.
To me, actually COMPLETING a game is getting my money's worth

lolcompleteinganmmo

[Elexia]

Japanese is not my native language, but I firmly believe 夏まで should not be interpreted as before summer or the beginning of summer. I'd like to think I've studied Japanese long enough to know that.

It's my native language, it's only interpreted in the way you want to interpret it which in English, for some reason, there's 100,900,000,239 ways to interpret a word. The fact it's plans means as of now, until summer (patch 1.18 no doubt) these are the current plans, not so much what will be added.

[Xeno]

It's my native language, it's only interpreted in the way you want to interpret it which in English, for some reason, there's 100,900,000,239 ways to interpret a word. The fact it's plans means as of now, until summer (patch 1.18 no doubt) these are the current plans, not so much what will be added.

Hot damn, if what you're saying is true, patch 1.18 will be like 2gb.

[Kailok]

Why is it hard to believe that this stuff is what they've been working on for the last 5 months? >.>

[KaedrianLiang]

I loved how he saved the best and most anticipated for last. "Mount system"

[Elexia]

Why is it hard to believe that this stuff is what they've been working on for the last 5 months? >.>

People that know nothing of development, let alone game development think stuff is made on the spot.