Lack of Game Play Diversity

[Heat]

It looks like the developers have gone the route of focusing on making end-game content hard to keep players interested, instead of adding variety across the spectrum.

This and only this.
They added the retainer venture, but it's not enough, they need to add more to it, like we can summon them in dungeons, or interact more with them.
The companion, why is it limited this much?
The map hunting, find a map, kill some trash mobs and that's it, why not make it like you need to get a hint from the map to do a dungeon or a raid, and build a story around lost people in this dungeon that we have to save?

its like they start something good, but put in hold for a long time just to create end-game content, more gear and more gear and that's it.

[Dreamer]

I want more content that doesn't revolve around combat. Possibilities:

• Chocbo Raising
• Hamlet Construction
• Moogle Mail Intern
• Magitek Mechanic/Construction
• Imperial Spying
• Parley (fully done this time)
• Swimming/Diving
• Card Systems

While housing and gardening have been great starts...we need more.

[Kyoreore]

I feel as if a lot of their energy and focus has gone into promoting the game since it's in its first year of re release, trying to fish out more subs releasing it on different platforms. But if they continue this route and get too greedy with new players without continuing to add immersive content and making vast improvements to the game, it won't have a long life. We'll see how things play out, adding new jobs in the next patch is definitely a step in the right direction, something really tells me the 1st expansion will be extremely exciting and answer to all of our calls. The good ones at least.

[Ksenia]

This and only this.
They added the retainer venture, but it's not enough, they need to add more to it, like we can summon them in dungeons, or interact more with them.
The companion, why is it limited this much?
The map hunting, find a map, kill some trash mobs and that's it, why not make it like you need to get a hint from the map to do a dungeon or a raid, and build a story around lost people in this dungeon that we have to save?

its like they start something good, but put in hold for a long time just to create end-game content, more gear and more gear and that's it.

Coil, Ultra, uber, elite, extreme version 4 anyone?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0LVwtuCHlQ&hd=1

[Lamentations]

Just to use this example....I've never seen this work as intended. usually it becomes a case of Well used zones the "monster attacks" are quickly quashed and it becomes more annoying than fun ( I mean seriously do you think Camp Dragon Head, Fall Gourd Float, Revenant's Toll will ever want for "defenders"?). and disused or low lvl zones are almost permenantly "Captured" and no one cares because no one goes there anyway (I mean how often was Xarcabard/ The deeper side of Yhtunga Jungle outpost actually open, and don't get me started on the mess that Tabula Rasa was)

You'd have to give player an actual incentive to defend the lesser used places... and being able to teleport there isn't enough, and then it would still be a case of, defend the well used places for easy reward/garunteed success. and then pick the easiest to defend places after that, and many other zones would still remain "Perma-Captured"

Sounds like Campaign in ffxi, ugh.

[Nekodar]

Random hard mobs. It really is not that hard of a concept in a random location. Roaming the area until it's killed and then it spawns to another random area at a random time.

Like Odin... Which is a FATE...
Only difference would be that your version stays up until killed...
Which will happen if it's worth doing, or just waste resources if not. So fits better as a FATE still...

[Gormogon]

Golden Saucer is coming and it will be big.

I'm not worried as long as they continue this route of major patches but don't neglect other aspects to put so much focus on raiding.

[gornotck]

Then they make Gold Saucer a 24 man raid-style dungeon with irritating mechanics.

[Arkghyom]

That's hardly content, just a boring time sink to gather useless materials to make useless gear and sell it for useless gil.

This game basically turns into "farm gear so you can farm better gear" and that's about it. How is that any different from any other MMO? I don't know. Maybe it's because the only real content in this game is dungeons that are either so easy I fall asleep or so difficult that you either have to be a masochist (pugging) or you have to turn it into a chore (static) to clear it. The only point in actually getting coil gear is for your e-peen. Once you have the full set there's nothing you can do with it except clear content you already find easy even easier.

It is content and it's part of the game. Actually, the crafting/gathering system in this game is pretty unique since you can customize it. You don't have a capped char with horrible costumes fishing in a pond, you actually get to be a fisherman!

[Nero]

Why do I want to do the same FATES over and over and over again? Why do I want to do the same Leves over and over and over again? Why do I want to do the same instances over and over and over again? Why do I have to rely on a group to get things done? What is the point in gear grinding? What is gear grinding helping you do other than grind to get more gear? THIS if not resolved WILL greatly effect this game's long term future.

Looks like the whole Genre of MMO's is not for you. I do not mean that as an offense, but you just listed vital points of a MMO so why do you play them, if you are against it? Back in the day when you did not like a certain Genre, you would go and look for something, which does fit your personal preference. So why don't you do that, but instead trying to twist the Genre around to cater to you, who don't like the Genre?