Zodiac Weapon quests's feedback to Yoshida (since you asked for it from your letter)

[LuxLeonhart]

The point is, I don't have the feeling like I am progressing in something. Making us doing FATEs over and over is painful, yeah, but also is unrewarding. How about this "each fate drops a quantity of stones required to get an Atma"? They could be even "you drop two, for an atma you need 200", or be weekly capped, but at least you can actually see your progresses somehow.
We have people who can virtually (and not) get their Atma Weapon in one or two days, while other may take months.
If SE wanted to make us grinding using low levels FATEs in order to help others, they could have developed the system better and different than this.

[ThirdChild_ZKI]

This argument really is going in circles. Anyone who makes a legitimate complaint is "whining" and wants everything handed to them, which isn't always the case. Anyone who already has an Atma/Animus weapon sees no problem and suggests "Run SCOB/Levi EX and stop complaining"

Actually, do just that. Forget about Atma/Animus weapons, and that'll REALLY get their attention, the alternatives are already in place for you. Nothing says "I don't like your product" like complete disinterest, sudden decline, or massive migration to a different "product". By this, I mean let the numbers do the talking. SE has already shown you that these are factors they consider when it comes to implementation:

Lots of people complained that getting Zenith weapons was too easy/too quick -----> Atma/Animus system
Not enough people had Animus weapons by a given time -----> Novus upgrades got pushed back
Decreased numbers in Tanks -----> Bigger rewards/incentives for Tanks
Fewer people moved to the Goblet (Ul'dah housing) because of the uninteresting view -----> Ul'dah housing slated for change

So yes, go for the Coil/Leviathan/Ramuh weapons and bring the Atma/Animus/Novus grind to a complete stop. THAT will get their attention. As for those who see no problem with the system, keep in mind, this will affect your progression too. It already has once.

[LDSkinny]

I know that no one really cares, nor is anyone of consequence paying attention to this forum, but I canceled my account as soon as I saw there would be no changes to the atma system in 2.3.

They could have done many things to prevent people from getting it too quickly, but I crossed the 50 hour mark last week and I have two atmas. I'm just done with it. It's gotten to the point where each time I complete a fate I get angrier and angrier, as I am the only person in my FC who does not have their animus, and I know that my inability to obtain one will eventually hold us back.

I love difficult challenging content, but Animus requires no skill to obtain at all. Each player is assigned an amount of time they need to invest to obtain it, some 5 hours, some 5 weeks, some a year. For someone like me who has spent weeks with two atmas to show for it, well, Square Enix has made it clear that they no longer wish to allow me to progress. Thus I no longer wish to provide them with money

[Duuude007]

As for those who see no problem with the system, keep in mind, this will affect your progression too. It already has once.

Ironically, to my benefit. Instead of 2 atma weapons complete, I have six now.

Your "consequence" was many of our 'silver lining'.

[ThirdChild_ZKI]

Good for you, Duuude. I'm sure that gave plenty of players, myself included, time to catch up. One could even suggest it was a ruse intended to push players to work harder for it, but I'd rather not get into speculation like that.

Anyways, those who actually like the Atma/Animus system, you are unfortunately the majority. By and large, players both hardcore and casual, Japanese or otherwise dislike the system. It's not the length, it's not even really the grind. It's the completely random element. Imagine if even with the best gear, the most solid team, and the best strategies, it was still based around RNG to survive a Primal fight? No patterns, no warnings or visual cues. A pure RNG battle. . . Do you think people would be satisfied with that? (I'll head off the sarcastic responses ahead of time: some would. But with patterned battles already posing a challenge, adding a completely random one would be a step in the wrong direction, and even SE has noted that themselves.) That is what we're dealing with. It doesn't matter where, it doesn't matter how, it doesn't even matter which FATE you run - you have virtually NO control over whether you get it or not. That's not a grind. That's a gamble.

I said it before, hit 'em where it hurts. Just don't go for Atma/Animus weapons. I've got one, and one is enough for me. Any other classes, I'll gladly take the alternatives for, knowing that the time and effort put in (loot drop rolls being the one random factor, but to a FAR less severe degree) will give more clear results. The numbers will speak for themselves. If that holds back content, to those who've successfully gotten Atma/Animus weapons, I'm sorry. I would hope it doesn't affect it in the future. But I gave pretty clear examples before. You want their attention on the Atma/Animus issue? Stop GIVING it attention.

[Duuude007]

First off, those who actually like the Atma/Animus system, you are unfortunately the majority.
By and large, players both hardcore and casual, Japanese or otherwise dislike the system.

These two arguments... seem to contradict each other.

It's not the length, it's not even really the grind. It's the completely random element. Imagine if even with the best gear, the most solid team, and the best strategies, it was still based around RNG to survive a Primal fight?

Well, a few points here.
1: This weapon tier was never meant to be skill based.
2: Its not the journey here that is RNG based, it is the reward. Much like the original Ifrit HM. (which was ironically dumbed down to 100% weapon droprate, and still a /dice roll rng to earn that, instead of mostly Dark Matter piles)
3: People seem to like RNG making a comeback in FFXIV, as they are making an optional high-end boss battle which has heavy RNG conditions, as mentioned in the latest live letter.

No patterns, no warnings or visual cues. A pure RNG battle. . . Do you think people would be satisfied with that? That is what we're dealing with. It doesn't matter where, it doesn't matter how, it doesn't even matter which FATE you run - you have virtually NO control over whether you get it or not. That's not a grind. That's a gamble.

Welcome to the nature of RPGs.

[ThirdChild_ZKI]

I made typo as I was rushing to start a dungeon. I'll fix it later.

As for your other points:
1. Apparently it wasn't meant to be skill based. Which - for ME and ME ONLY - really just invalidated it completely. Especially after I had to get good enough skills to beat HM Primals and grind up tomes from all kinds of different content to get Thavnairian Mists to make my Zenith weapon before. Sure, I'm only speaking for myself, but I'm certain there are plenty of others out there who felt/did the same. Oh well, I'll see what Second Coil has to offer once I get there.
2. So, a journey that takes time, not exactly effort, no skill - not that it was intended to - in order to get a purely random, low probability reward? Which only serves as a gateway to another grind? You're not selling me on this, honestly. Might be fine for some, and I'm not exactly an impatient person, but I can find plenty of other ways to occupy my time.
3. If that's what people want, well, I'm happy to see them deliver. Curiosity might bring me to try that battle, but that, much like FATES, Atma, and some other content that was there from day 1 won't really pull my interest. Mind you, I'm just one person saying this. . . On a larger scale, that won't really mean much. But if my opinion were the majority opinion of most players, would you agree that it'd be of concern for SE?

Lastly, I've played RPGs with worse grinds. Some I stuck with. Others I didn't. Gamers are a fickle lot; I know that all too well. I wouldn't doubt that any of us are lacking for other games to play and enjoy. That's not a "I'm quitting this game" threat; hell, it's not a threat at all. Just a reminder that I'm well aware of what control I have here. I don't have control over the Atma grind, no. But I DO have control over whether I support it, either by accomplishing it, or by even playing FFXIV. I like this game, but I dislike the Atma/Animus system. For that reason, I'm disinterested in the Novus system. <---- Feedback.

But there's plenty else to enjoy, so I'll do just that.

[Duuude007]

/But if my opinion were the majority opinion of most players, would you agree that it'd be of concern for SE?

Certainly, but how exactly would you quantify that? I doubt even a percent of the players have ever posted in here, let alone voiced a yea-or-neigh opinion. And as we know, complaining is ALWAYS more common than support. A: its easier, B Those who like: play, they tend to not follow stuff in here as much, C: WK stigma, harassment, etc.

I mean yeah you could do a poll, but refer to B.

For that reason, I'm disinterested in the Novus system. <---- Feedback.

But there's plenty else to enjoy, so I'll do just that.

Granted. In fact, I believe your exact stance was expected by SE. Some will grind it all now. More will just get their favorite weapon and stop. More still will find another progression path. All valid choices.

Aside: No single faction of players will always see eye to eye to every other faction. and this MMORPG is meant to be a place where fans of the entire series can find stuff they like to do, no matter which title they liked the most.

Injecting this playstyle into a few facets of the game, while not creating lockouts to explore new areas, is a smart way to add variety. Just like many elements of the tanaka-esque atma are here, FFXII's marks in 2.3, and ffIII's crystal tower, Gilgamesh's FFV similarities.

[ThirdChild_ZKI]

Well said. I'm all for diversity, even if I myself might ever have the more unpopular view. And I'd call it good planning ahead on SE's part to provide alternatives. Took me forever to get into Coil, and now that I am, I love it (human elements aside). That might not be for everyone, but for me, it's a more tangible and rewarding system. That will be MY path forward.

Still, I am all too aware of the sting of the Atma system. Elsewhere, you did mention a "divining rod" concept. I'm interested in this.

[JeniLinsky]

At least they're unlikely to repeat this particular mechanism going forward. The purpose seems to have been to get experienced players back into the lowbie areas for the PS4 release, and on that level, it worked as intended. And there aren't any other major platform releases coming up anytime soon. So....