Game too complex or easy?

[Rivaille]

My opinion as someone who is actually progress-raiding and playing ever since the launch of Version 2 this game is too easy.
I'm speaking of battle class-content since this is the most obvious one.
(My boyfriend could probably write an essay about crafting and gathering in 3.0 since apparently crafting and gathering is the real endcontent right now... but yeah.)
Apparently this game is not too easy for the most of the player base, but when you're decently skilled or at least capable of reading the tool tips of your class, you'll probably end up being bored.

The main problem currently is that there are only 2 types of difficulties: babymode and hardcore.
I'll count to babymode: EX (because, let's be honest here, you can be carried through Ravana/Bismarck by now if the other 7 are decently skilled or have enough gear), Alexander Normal (for obvious reasons, you can play this drunk and still not wipe) and dungeons (which simply don't offer any difficulty).

Hardcore: Alexander Savage
But even there exists one major problem: A1 and A2 Savage are ridiculously easy compared to A3 Savage and above.
For example; my static has beaten A1 and A2 with almost zero effort during the first ID when it released, but we're having major problems in A3 Savage ever since then (dps is not much of an issue, but the mechanics as europeans due to server delay are a pain). I mean - how many groups have killed A3 Savage by now? Only merely around 10 - worldwide? No clue. People even say A3 Savage is more difficult than T7 Savage back at IL110 times, but anyway. A3 and A4 Savage are literally the only fights who are ridiculously hard and require a lot of work, even for skilled players. Almost 700 wipes till world first in A3 Savage makes one cringe. In pain.
There is nothing else. Nothing.
And only two bosses for the hardcore is...not a lot.
There is no other challenge than beating A3 and A4 Savage right now - and this is what makes people complain.

I'm not saying this game is overall boring. No.
I still have fun playing this game. If you're bored, you're doing something wrong.
But for someone who is enjoying challenges and who is trying to play their classes perfectly this game isn't offering much, currently.
I'd say the game is complex for newbies and casuals who simply enjoy playing the rpg-elements or the game overall; but for anyone else it's too easy.
I simply refuse to call this game 'difficult' or 'complex' simply because of two bosses which probably won't be beaten by 99,5% of the whole player base.

[Jatoi]

In my opinion, the game can be difficult or easy depending on the people you group with as well. Some people are more mindful of their surroundings than others.

It'd be foolish to forget the human element.

[Gilthas]

But as usual, someone fails to understand that just because something is faceroll easy to them (max level and overgeared as they are), does not mean that it is that easy to others.

That's pretty much how things work around here.

I simply refuse to call this game 'difficult' or 'complex' simply because of two bosses which probably won't be beaten by 99,5% of the whole player base.

This brings up an important question though. If 99,5% of the whole player base won't beat these two bosses, does it really make sense to add more hardcore content?

[Cakekizy]

Too complex.

[Miscreant]

The game is as hard as you make it, find casual content too easy? Do it undersized or with lower tier gear.

For a real challenge go in savage, A1 & 2 might be somewhat easy but A3 will make life hard for you, and A4 well from what i've seen it looks nuts. If your still starving for a challenge, go and do Savage Coil in 110, do FCoB in 110, SCoB in i90, BCoB in i60. Strip off most of your gear and go run Titan Ex.

[justinjarjar]

Wow it is easy to get people to argue. I am in the middle myself. Do not have a group for ex primals together since I am waiting for FC mates. Will probably never touch AS.

[BloodPact]

For terms of complexity. The game is more or less the most basic and simple AAA mmo on the market.

Gear has no unique stats, Jobs have no unique builds, progression is pure linear (the game goes in a strait line more or less progression wise). No real supporting roles for jobs (Br/mch is not a support class). no resistance and weaknesses. Game is ultra simple from start to end.

As for easy. Well that explains everything except the most current endgame raid.

So by that default the game is extremely on the ultra easy spectrum. Although complex vs easy is not really a good argument. THe game could be piss easy and ultra complex, Example ffxi outside 2 bosses the game was easy mechanics wise but everything else pre-abysea was ultra complex with a jobs having multiple party roles, builds, and gear sets. Hard vs Easy would be a better comparison.

Great answer above. I'd also like to add that now with opening duties to undersized parties, you can personalize most instances to your own level of difficulty, which can be a great deal of fun if you pick a couple of friends and start your own achievement list.

[Monty]

If you want to make this game challenging, you need to go into any Coil/Alex Savage having read/watched no guides. So many people claim things are easy, after they've watched others defeating it. Congratulations, you read a guide and followed the instructions...what fun is that. I haven't had any issues with any of the end game content (though I haven't done any in a long time due to a wonky work schedule). Why? Because everyone points out exactly what I need to do, and if you can follow and remember instructions, nothing is hard.

But then comes the argument of, well you're wasting 7 other people's time if you don't read up on it. Cause well, the 7 others want quick clears and no challenge.

[StrejdaTom]

Argument as old as the first MMO.

Here we go again.. no one says that savage is not hard enough, but having one hardcore content in game doesn't justify not having more hard or mid/core content. I get it, faceroll lovers are afraid that if there was 1 hard dungeon now and then there wouldn't be enough content for them.

But.. we already have 1 item level 90 dungeon, why more? Just run it all over again with lowest ilvl gear.

[Tuathaa]

IMO they should just stop with the story mode Alexander. Because :
1. When you do the savage mode there's no real surprise effect, a lot of players just don't care about doing it.
2. The level of difficulty of savage mode is actually too low (mechanics wise) and closer to what FCoB was and nowhere near what SCoB savage was. For this reason it doesn't deserve to be called 'savage'.
3. The story mode grind is real and mind numbing, drop system is really bad (you can do a floor 8 times if you're unlucky which probably leads you to call it a week because you don't wanna hear about alexander after that),it's better than before though.
4. The story mode is purely faceroll and shouldn't exist for this sole reason (it's not even close to the WoD difficulty).

You realize that if they did this all the people wanting to experience the story and that barely have any use in story mode are going to be queuing for savage and ex right?