Gameplay lacking excitement?

[Phr3nic]

...which is part of the fun of an RPG, learning your skills as your character grows in power.

True, except that you have most skills you need at level 20-30. Afterwards you still get a useful skill or two, but the base is pretty much set.
I'll just use BLM as an example because that's what I main. At level 28 you're set in regards to gameplay mechanics. You got your fire and ice aoe spells, can stack UI/AF to two and have Thundercloud, which implements the "proc = dmg burst" mechanic of blackmages. At that time, there's nothing new to learn about how to play your character, basically. Firaga and Icega change your rotation slightly so you don't use transpose anymore, and firestarter adds a second proc to watch out for while playing, but those are just adding to mechanics you've already been introduced to, namely transpose and thundercloud.

I think after this point - after the player knows about the mechanics of their class - it is time to give them something new, either a playground to use the skills they've acquired or introduce them to something new: bossmechanics. Tank'n'spank is boring, so why not make fights exciting. Apparently this is the case in endgame, so that's something at least...

Also, I want to add that RPGs do not have to be your standard turn-based fighting style. There can be action. A lot of it, actually. Just take a look at Mass Effect or EYE: Divine Cybermancy. Those are shooters and yet are to be classified as RPGs.
The thing that bothers me about FF14 is just that it requires you to pay little to no attention. Like seriously, after a while you get the hang of when to change from fire to ice and back as a BLM, so all I would really need are 2 small LEDs to tell me when Thundercloud/Firestarter procced. That's just... UGH! One step further into that direction and you're already at "press X to win".

Maybe RPGs aren't for you?

Oh, they are. I can look back at about 7 years of playing MMORPGs now. Heck, my first game back on the SNES was an RPG and it got me hooked even back then. The thing is, with singleplayer rpgs that are turn based or leaning towards it you usally get to control a whole group of people, which allows for tactical gameplay. Who should heal whom, and when? Should I focus all my chars on mob X, or maybe let one of em hit mob Y as well because the others can take X out just fine... ya know, stuff like that. Thing is, that doesn't work with an MMO, because the different jobs are split up. Player 1 gets to decide who gets healed, Player 2 has to focus on keeping the mobs' aggro, which are fun and challenging, because you actually have something to do and need to be constantly aware of the situation. Whereas as a DPS, you sit around drooling, hitting your buttons at an awfully slow speed and all the thinking you have to do is watch a proc or position yourself to the side/back as a meelee.


Let ranged DPS have skillshots that you actually have to aim with your mouse, maybe even hit specific parts of your enemy for bonus damage or let them move while casting (or at least reduce casttime. 2,5s wtf??), give the tank a block ability that has to be timed because it only gives a few iframes but the mobs hit harder so you actually have to block (blocking will cost TP though) and let their attack restore TP so you can't just block forever as a tank, but need to look for openings and attack in between your blocks. Now THAT would be something.