Current State of End-Game Contents - A Blog Post from A Japanese Player

[Leelya]

For those that think the current system requires skill, I'd like to present another viewpoint. Youtube was out during FFXI, and there was still an extremely high number of linkshells (80% fair game?) who couldn't clear content. The HNM community still had to learn how to adapt to the random mechanics throughout the fight.

• In the case of FFXIV, your kill videos are the exact how to.
• The community has done a great job at simplifying these concepts in pictures (Titan picture guide comes to mind.)
• The community in general expects you to take off work for each new patch (Which isn't reasonable for many adults).
• If not you better stalk Reddit until you find a kill video, and memorize your role.
• Sit through 6-8hr sessions attempting to clear new content with a new party setup every 2 - 3 runs.
• You must player almost every day of the week the new patch comes out. Finding learning parties afterwards will be twice as hard.

Posting 1/2.

[Leelya]

This culture leads to an anxiety associated with new content that can't even be fully enjoyed with your friends. It also defeats the purpose of FC's and linkshells as you really have no content that more than 8 can play. (Yes, I know about CT and the German language queue up on 3). Many of us expect to be able to enjoy content with the community with an MMO and currently the upgrade path, and the mechanic driven gameplay doesn't lend itself well to a good gaming experience over time.

Posting 2/2.

[Raenryong]

For those that think the current system requires skill, I'd like to present another viewpoint. Youtube was out during FFXI, and there was still an extremely high number of linkshells (80% fair game?) who couldn't clear content. The HNM community still had to learn how to adapt to the random mechanics throughout the fight.

The vast majority of FFXI players were horrible and didn't gearswap. All HNM fights were extremely trivial as long as you didn't have 18309213 melee giving the monster infinite TP. Tank/spank the whole way (except KB and Ixion I guess)!