Patch Notes are up!

[Starcade]

I think SE underestimated just how much of a hurdle SoF would actually be when done by eight random people. The mechanics are pretty nifty, but the unforgiving nature of the battle made it a real pain in the ass to do in DF. You miss a couple of dragonkillers, you mayaswell just all AFK until the thing resets and pray that half the party hasn't left in the meantime. It's just a matter of effort vs reward - right now it requires too much of the former for not enough of the latter, so many people just automatically leave when they land on it.

I think SE clearly OVERESTIMATED the skills of the playerbase -- a playerbase weaned on Windower-XI and cheats and bots and all that kind of crap.

This is one of the largest reasons I loved Steps forcing people out of 123 Kick 123 Kick... You could almost bot that. You can't do it on unnerfed Steps.

[Nalien]

I think SE clearly OVERESTIMATED the skills of the playerbase

I don't really think this has anything to do with player skill, not significantly anyway.

Step of Faith is about communication. SE has designed a pretty great MMO, but the Duty Finder and relative ease of most content has breed a community which doesn't communicate, and on the off chance it does, it's a good bet that communication will simply be "Watch the guide" and/or borderline harassment. The whole cross data center aspect is great and all, but it just removes any sense of consequence. You'll go back to your server after and it's doubtful anyone you just played with will be there. Other people become tools to get you a clear rather than, well, people.

SE desperately needs to do something to encourage the community to stop ripping itself apart, 'cos the commendation system really isn't cutting it. This whole "We'll make casual content and hardcore content (and eventually nerf the hardcore content)" just segregates the community and creates more drama than it's worth. Give us some serious non-instanced content that might encourage people to be actual decent human beings and communicate with each other, rather than queuing for an instance solo and saying nothing all run - that has been an issue with the Duty Finder since day one.