Players need more power

[JasonMarkle]

You make a strong and good case with what you're suggesting. The problem is the amount of time and money it would take to turn a game already released into what you're saying. Though I love the idea of the "give players the tools to make something to do" philosophy that you brought up, it's so broad people could turn it into many opinions as to what you mean. So can you please elaborate on what you see that philosophy as? Such as - "what tool?", "what can you make?". "I have the sword, I can slay the monsters. In essence that is what your saying." (this is an example of what people will do to this kind of a good post here).

[gifthorse]

You make a strong and good case with what you're suggesting. The problem is the amount of time and money it would take to turn a game already released into what you're saying. Though I love the idea of the "give players the tools to make something to do" philosophy that you brought up, it's so broad people could turn it into many opinions as to what you mean. So can you please elaborate on what you see that philosophy as? Such as - "what tool?", "what can you make?". "I have the sword, I can slay the monsters. In essence that is what your saying." (this is an example of what people will do to this kind of a good post here).

Of course what I am suggesting is nigh on infeasible in a game already released because this is the kind of philsophy that should be the foundation of a game, not a simple appendage. But there is still room for improvement to FFXIV with the addition of player-driven features.

Allow me to elaborate. I will just explain an example of what I mean.

Territory

By this I mean the ability to own land and build things on said land in the persistent game world. (There's enough copy-pasta terrain to go around so I am sure nobody will call foul on urbanisation of their precious game world).

This may sound like a petty addition, but it can lead to some interesting game features when you consider such things as turf warfare, either with other players or with aggressive NPC factions (beastmen tribes and so on).

The protection and welfare of your communities would become a priority, and your own player-community would be compelled to create your own quests as a demand rose for certain things: "create a wall here or defenses there", "dispatch the encroaching beastmen tribes so that we might remain safe".

Being able to move beyond that into small villages and even cities could lead to a political atmosphere which the players were in control of. Such player-driven content would provide countless sources for drama, mutinies, etc., with more meaningful rewards or consequences than anything the developers could write.

[JasonMarkle]

Of course what I am suggesting is nigh on infeasible in a game already released because this is the kind of philsophy that should be the foundation of a game, not a simple appendage. But there is still room for improvement to FFXIV with the addition of player-driven features.

Allow me to elaborate. I will just explain an example of what I mean.

Territory

By this I mean the ability to own land and build things on said land in the persistent game world. (There's enough copy-pasta terrain to go around so I am sure nobody will call foul on urbanisation of their precious game world).

This may sound like a petty addition, but it can lead to some interesting game features when you consider such things as turf warfare, either with other players or with aggressive NPC factions (beastmen tribes and so on).

The protection and welfare of your communities would become a priority, and your own player-community would be compelled to create your own quests as a demand rose for certain things: "create a wall here or defenses there", "dispatch the encroaching beastmen tribes so that we might remain safe".

Being able to move beyond that into small villages and even cities could lead to a political atmosphere which the players were in control of. Such player-driven content would provide countless sources for drama, mutinies, etc., with more meaningful rewards or consequences than anything the developers could write.

Thank you for the example. Now that I understand what you're saying, I believe I can now more adequately reply.

We are getting housing and the ability build ships as well. This was stated in the previous months, but has been put on hold do to the need of development for the games already lacking mechanics. However, I think these suggestions would suffice to help the development team in what they do decide on for how they structure that kind of content. For instance if you've noticed, each town has another area other than the market wards, each currently un-accessible. During the alpha and beta tests it was suggested that one would be the market wards, and the other would be the area for player housing - once we found out about the idea that is.

Another possible idea is that this could be a spot used for both building houses and the ships. Being that there's really no need for ships in terms of water transportation, the development team has stated they want to find new ways of using airships and chocobos. One of those possibilities could be the development of company airships that you would not only build the ship but also the dock, hence the random airship docks you see all over the continent of Eorzea currently; of course this is speculation, but I feel that it's also somewhat valid in its conceptualization.

If any of this would be the case, it would give you most of what you want.

[gifthorse]

Thank you for the example. Now that I understand what you're saying, I believe I can now more adequately reply.

We are getting housing and the ability build ships as well. This was stated in the previous months, but has been put on hold do to the need of development for the games already lacking mechanics. However, I think these suggestions would suffice to help the development team in what they do decide on for how they structure that kind of content. For instance if you've noticed, each town has another area other than the market wards, each currently un-accessible. During the alpha and beta tests it was suggested that one would be the market wards, and the other would be the area for player housing - once we found out about the idea that is.

The trouble with instanced housing is that it only exists for you and you alone. Obviously it depends on the size of the instance, but I don't believe an MMO should be a game lobby for instanced content such as housing which no one other than yourself will ever bother to visit.

Another possible idea is that this could be a spot used for both building houses and the ships. Being that there's really no need for ships in terms of water transportation, the development team has stated they want to find new ways of using airships and chocobos. One of those possibilities could be the development of company airships that you would not only build the ship but also the dock, hence the random airship docks you see all over the continent of Eorzea currently; of course this is speculation, but I feel that it's also somewhat valid in its conceptualization.

Yes, first you need a system which allows for exploration (island zones etc) before you design the means of exploration (player made boats). I think the trouble with seafaring is that we have nowhere to take ships at the moment, and also the Crystal Tools engine cannot render water to save its life.

A funny example: In the original Version Update notes which they released a long time ago, they said that Company Owned ships would lead to new multiplayer content. Obviously that was deliberately kept vague because they have no idea what kind of multiplayer content they are going to add. So being able to make your own boat is kind of a step in the direction to empowering players, but it's futile at the moment.

Chocobo raising was a good feature in FFXI which gave players some freedom. Since day one, all you could do was buy a yellow chocobo from an NPC, but with the introduction of chocobo raising, that changed. It would be nice to see this expanded to being able to tame wild chocobos like how you could tame wild horses in Ultima Online.

Anyways, I'm not sure this idea of player made ships complies with the idea of giving players power. Just building a boat which takes you from A to B, while being a novel addition, doesn't allow you to change anything.

I think it's a move in the right direction though. Similarly, having a Company owned airship is a good idea too. I'm so sick of being a passenger in MMOs and never an actor in them. Being able to guide your own life, or letting other players in your Company guide your life, is something they should strive toward.

However, it should probably be noted that under Tanaka's regime, in an interview, he shot down the idea of player-run airships. He said they would not be implementing that. So im not sure if they will ever implement this.

If any of this would be the case, it would give you most of what you want.

I definitely think it's a step in the right direction, and definitely an improvement upon MMO predecessors.