Quote Originally Posted by Gramul View Post
So, you basically just said "It would take a long time to do things so most people would quit". What evidence do you have to back that up? How do you know that so called hardcore players are all but gone? We where all young teenagers once with more free time. It stands to reason that there's more out there willing to play in a world that demands engagement and commitment. Certainly not as much as the casual masses that will eat anything with the slightest hint of a skinner box design, but still strong, and more importantly, committed. I believe this game can support both kinds of content, and even stuff in the middle without having to rely on cheap tricks like lockout timers.

Also, Horizontal progression does not necessarily equate to timesinks. It's more about having more options in what to do.
Too be fair, All games are pretty skinner boxes. Horizontal progression may not necessarily equate to time sinks, but they typically do.
I do however agree that there can be a balance between the two. I will say that after 8 years of being hardcore in to XI; after my departure
from that game, I have no desire to be that hardcore into a game ever again.

I play XIV everyday. If I'm not in the mood, I don't play and can be away from the game a few days with nothing to worry about. I avoid static groups for
this reason. I have gone in to coil once this whole time and beat turn one first try. Mainly because I'm ilvl 88 tank this content isn't that much of a challenge
as it should be if I did it when it came out. I'll probably play coil more when it does move to DF, not because I don't want the challenge that is turn 5 but
because I don't want to be tied down to a static group.