An open discsusion on the consequences of death

[Jabo]

The game is easy because the content is easy, not because there is no death penalty.

So making dying worse isn't making the game harder?
Strange opinion. For me it's realy the very first indicator of a games diffculty. (Demon Souls f.e.)
Or take Super Mario.
I mean, if you die and have to repeat the complete level it's a lot harder than letting you go on and simply lose 1 of 1000 addition lifes. (Prince of Persia)
It's cause you dont care if you do stupid stuff. A game where you can give a da.. how you play is easy. It's as simple as this.

Or they could make you wait 30 mins (the time it takes to get back 5000 SP) and nothing changes. How fun.

What is the difference between 5 or 30 min?
1. You dont fight 24/7
2. Something you already earned beeing taken from you is a comeplet different thing than something you maybe wanted to do been postponed.

In FFXI you either grouped or didn't play. There was no other choice, so of course it 'worked'. "Too bad" this game is different.

I dont see your point. In FFXI it certainly did not just work, because you hade no choices.
This would mean that we simply have to remove solo play to make the battlesystem suddenly good.

Also it isn't only a matter of helping people in the party. It is matter of an overall feeling that your help is worth something.