Now that leves will be gone from our main exp function...

[Dreamer]

I don't want to play another quest grinder. There are plenty of games out there that do it better than FFXIV can ever hope to.

[Gath]

I don't want to play another quest grinder. There are plenty of games out there that do it better than FFXIV can ever hope to.

Me either, quest grinding is something I don't want from this, I want a mix of grinding with a reward for killing mobs like the beastmen tribes will give you certain currency as a bounty reward from an npc for certain beastmen type gear and whatnot

[Krikwan]

ur all nuts if u believe that leves wnt be the main part of the game.......
Guildleve Reforms
When FINAL FANTASY XIV was launched last September, it was stated via official channels that guildleves will form the heart of the game. Today, I’d like to officially retract that statement.

Guildleves will no longer be central to FINAL FANTASY XIV.

In my mind, central content isn’t a static thing. Rather, it’s new content that we continually develop for our fans’ enjoyment, with no one item indefinitely bathing in the spotlight.

incase you all didnt notice the WHOLE letter more or less was about leves lol..... they still be there and will be biggest part of game...

[CanteJondo]

Me either, quest grinding is something I don't want from this, I want a mix of grinding with a reward for killing mobs like the beastmen tribes will give you certain currency as a bounty reward from an npc for certain beastmen type gear and whatnot

hear hear! /awesome

[Ashthra]

ur all nuts if u believe that leves wnt be the main part of the game.......
Guildleve Reforms
When FINAL FANTASY XIV was launched last September, it was stated via official channels that guildleves will form the heart of the game. Today, I’d like to officially retract that statement.

Guildleves will no longer be central to FINAL FANTASY XIV.

In my mind, central content isn’t a static thing. Rather, it’s new content that we continually develop for our fans’ enjoyment, with no one item indefinitely bathing in the spotlight.

incase you all didnt notice the WHOLE letter more or less was about leves lol..... they still be there and will be biggest part of game...

There are going to be multiple letters.

Also, please stop butchering the English language.

[Sephr]

incase you all didnt notice the WHOLE letter more or less was about leves lol..... they still be there and will be biggest part of game...

Obviously they won't be the biggest part of the game. The strongest evidence for this is that the producer of the game just said they were no longer going to be the biggest part of the game.

I expect company-based content to overtake them in importance - Dungeons and beastmen-fighting will probably come from them, as well as dealings with the empire.

Also, please stop butchering the English language.

Also this.

[Takedakai]

I don't want to play another quest grinder. There are plenty of games out there that do it better than FFXIV can ever hope to.

I may be reading too much into the translated letters we get but Yoshi keeps giving me the impression that he wants this game to have MANY avenues to get SP, and for it to be less of a grind game. So I agree with you that I don't want to see this game go to a purely quest grinding structure. I think it could only make the game more attractive to a larger amount of players if there are several viable ways to obtain SP.

[RedAffinity]

I may likely be a minority here when I say I want camp/party based grinding. The real prize is endgame, that doesn't mean the climb to 50 has to be boring. If the enemies are interesting, and the battle system is fun, I'm personally content with a party based enemy grind system to level up.

Considering the large unused areas on the map, certain locations can be populated with aggressive or friendly enemies that can be used to XP from.

[AlexiaKidd]

I may likely be a minority here when I say I want camp/party based grinding. The real prize is endgame, that doesn't mean the climb to 50 has to be boring. If the enemies are interesting, and the battle system is fun, I'm personally content with a party based enemy grind system to level up.

Considering the large unused areas on the map, certain locations can be populated with aggressive or friendly enemies that can be used to XP from.

This what I would prefer, there are huge areas of the map that are completely useless. Fill them with mobs that can be used for grind parties to set up camp and take them down.

[Kiara]

Hi Gath,

Great topic.

I agree completely that it's great to move the focus of Party-based SP'ing away from Guildleves, and it's a bold step for Yoshida-san and his team.

Party-based SP "in the wild" so to speak, in a wide-open environment can definitely help players improve their skills and learn more about better ways to utilize their various Abilities, Traits and Weaponskills, and eventually learn about the new replacement for the Battle Regimen.

Dealing with accidental Adds (beyond the annoying simple Mitelings or Diremites), being careful about Pulling and where you position yourself in a small area (if there are more dangerous, aggro'ing mobs nearby) all are good practice in preparation for more strategic, dangerous content (Raid Dungeons, eventual End Game, etc.).

As for how to gain SP in Parties?

It could be that Yoshida-san sees players putting in Solo Time to get their SP in (and via the new Side Quests with SP Rewards he mentions), while Party-based stuff is more about grander rewards and goals (Raid Dungeons for tough NM Fights, Rare Treasures, etc.).

I can also see Behests being developed (and he mentions they're still being "reformed") as another way to get Party-based SP in. Hopefully the Behests turn out to be more challenging and interesting, with more exciting "Bosses" at the end of them.

Ideally, there are Side Quests that also offer tasks for a Party to complete that are challenging and offer good SP Rewards.

And I still hold out hope for Party-based SP possibilities via the Grand Companies of Eorzea. Besides the Raid Dungeons, I hope they also have smaller "Quests" or "Challenges" that a party can go and tackle, to gain some SP and more Grand Company Reputation Points (progressing through their Ranks).

Perhaps The Maelstrom sends you off to random, various parts of Eorzea to fight back sudden Garlean Empire incursions? An example:

Je'ala of The Order of the Twin Adder tells you: "Elder Seedseer Kan-E-Senna and her battalion are currently under heavy attack by a Garlean Assassin Team at Twinpools! All members of the Twin Adders should head over there immediately for a rescue operation!"

and off you go to Twinpools to battle back the Garlean Invasion, get some SP and you're rewarded some Grand Company SP in the process.

Maybe if you beat back the Invasion in that skirmish faster, you get more SP or Reputation Points for the entire Party, etc. To reward more efficient party play, and encourage people to focus and improve and play better?

I can also see other content being developed for Party-based SP'ing via each of the nations (something like a Conquest, or battling the Beastmen). Yoshida-san has mentioned we're getting Beastmen Strongholds (can't wait!), so maybe we'll get some good Party SP there as well.

Lastly, just pure, Mob-based Grinding Parties would be the default for now I think. There's nothing wrong with that, if they increase the number of areas to get SP in Parties. And we know they're revamping the maps (major revisions), so hopefully we will get our own interesting versions of The Boyahda Tree, Castle Oztroja, Xarcabard, and other unique areas to SP on.

I don't mind fighting mobs for Party SP, as long as we have variety of mobs and areas to go to.

Overall, I can't wait for 1.18 and 1.19 now. Exciting!