[SUGGESTION] LIMIT POINT / MERIT POINT SYSTEM

[Sandpark]

I'll reiterate too, I LIKE character customization. I wish FFXIV would do more to differentiate people of the same job. I'd like some kind of specialization system to emphasize different playstyles. But I object to false choices.

As a NIN main, maybe I could choose to emphasize my DoT gameplay and have a specialization that revolves around DoTs and getting bonuses when I manage those correctly. Maybe I could have one that emphasizes positional gameplay, adding more positional requirements to my abilities and providing commensurate bonuses when I execute that properly. But whichever one of those I choose, they'd have to be roughly the same in terms of performance. Then it really is a playstyle choice.

/Throws money at Callinon. Get on the dev team and make it happen, it is sorely needed.

[Waeksyn]

It's narrow-minded to assume everyone has that option. A lot of people can barely afford time for one MMO and those people (myself included) chose FFXIV over other games for very real reasons (like my wife not being a typical gamer but enjoying XIV). Merits or no merits, it's not unthinkable to let people wish/request systems inspired by features they enjoyed in previous games.

I don't think that I said anywhere that I assumed everyone agreed with me. I was asked for what I wanted and that's what I posted. Obviously everyone has their own opinions.

It's been said in this thread that merits were really a stop gap for capping real progression at level 75. XP was a brutal grind in FFXI - hour after hour of XP parties to barely get a single level. Merits just extended that mechanic. A real grind fest.

I would prefer developers spend their time developing content within the framework of FFXIV's game design. Keep the vertical progression and accelerate the release of new dungeons, raids, recipes and fun side quests (like Hildebrand).

[OMEGA_HACK]

I don't think that I said anywhere that I assumed everyone agreed with me. I was asked for what I wanted and that's what I posted. Obviously everyone has their own opinions.

It's been said in this thread that merits were really a stop gap for capping real progression at level 75. XP was a brutal grind in FFXI - hour after hour of XP parties to barely get a single level. Merits just extended that mechanic. A real grind fest.

I would prefer developers spend their time developing content within the framework of FFXIV's game design. Keep the vertical progression and accelerate the release of new dungeons, raids, recipes and fun side quests (like Hildebrand).

Yeah but XI had a mix of horizontal and vertical progression which is what made it really feel like you accomplished something and also gave you (the player) the ability to do lots of different things. The problem with only vertical progression is number bloat (see: World of Warcraft's big number nerfing) While it really didn't impact any of the game besides readjusting how much damage was dealt out it did make players feel weaker. I know we cannot change gear but currently this game offers one thing: grind for one set of gear as its the best no questions asked. Have you (hypothetical) ever stopped and truly asked why SE implemented a cap/limit on gear rewarding? You might say well its to prevent people from gearing up too quickly, and while you are right you are deluding the response, trying not to be honest with yourself (again hypothetical you). The real honest answer is this: They put a cap/limit on gear rewarding because if you were to obtain all the gear in the game faster than intended you would realize there is NOTHING else to do in the game that would really utilize said gear besides making the hardest content easier--note I say 'easier' and not 'possible' as its possible to complete Savage Alexander without Savage Alexander gear.

Now don't get me wrong I'm not unhappy with game, its quite the opposite and the reason why I am suggesting things for the game; as without change to the formula this game will go stagnant and they will lose subscriptions. Horizontal progression of some kind is needed in this game and currently they don't offer any besides leveling up.

[Saggo]

I don't think that I said anywhere that I assumed everyone agreed with me. I was asked for what I wanted and that's what I posted. Obviously everyone has their own opinions.

You did say:

I do not want FFXIV to become FFXI. You can play that game if you wish. I left it behind years ago.

And that sentiment implies the assumption that everyone has that option.

Merits also had the function of making you focus to a degree on a handful of jobs even if you leveled everything, so there's that.

[Waeksyn]

The purpose for weekly caps is obvious. Slow progress down in the game so that you subscribe longer. Frankly, that is the purpose of each and every feature of the game. SE is running a business after all.

I would much rather have development investment put into accelerating the design and release of new dungeons, raids and story content instead of developing new subscription holding grind fests. We have more than enough of that now. Just ask crafters what they think of the new scrip system.

FFXI was the absolute king of grinding. XP. Merits. HNMs, Relics - My God, Relics - a system that required an entire LS to focus weekly efforts FOR OVER A YEAR to get a weapon for One member (Dynamis).

And that sentiment implies the assumption that everyone has that option.

Reading comprehension must not be your strong point. How can me saying that I want something be interpreted as a belief that everyone has that opinion.

[Saggo]

Reading comprehension must not be your strong point.

Neat, so we're just jumping straight to the insult-the-other-person part of the argument.

[OMEGA_HACK]

Waeksyn, you fail to point out that that one weapon that took a year or so to get was the one weapon you would have FOREVER because like in previous FF titles, your Legendary Weapon was the best weapon for ever and always. Its the one thing about FFXIV that I abhor is that my Relic/Legendary weapon is nothing more than a glamour piece not even 5 weeks into the expansion.

I should also like to note that things like HNMs are more equivalent to Raids (as XI didn't really have instanced zones save for some of the newest stuff and BCNMs) and you really didn't have to grind all that much to get a lot of that gear if you were in a group. The thing that made XI feel like it was a big long grind in the endgame (save for Merits and Exp) was that EVERYTHING required an alliance of 18 people at least to do, and in many cases there were usually more people to assist on the sidelines, switching people in and out of parties for their 2hr abilities and the such. There was a much more strategic play involved which in turn slowed the game down as not everyone in those much needed groups could play every day.

And again you cushion the blow that really cripples this game with your answer. They slow the game down because after you get the gear there is literally nothing you NEED to do to progress, in fact there is NOTHING else you CAN do to progress besides level up another job to 60 if you haven't maxed them yet.

As for the scrip system, its not a grind fest; its just a very poorly designed system where you trade a currency for another form of currency to trade for a chance to obtain an item to trade for another item, all on top of a 1st currency weekly cap. The problem isn't the grind its the compounding of currency to create an overtly tedious process that is unnecessary. All they would need to do to fix the whole problem is to remove the currency into currency conversion and the system while still unnecessarily complex would at least make it manageable. But that is another thing altogether.

[Waeksyn]

Neat, so we're just jumping straight to the insult-the-other-person part of the argument.

Not jumping there. I don't believe that I was the one originally accusing the other of being narrow minded.

[OMEGA_HACK]

Not jumping there. I don't believe that I was the one originally accusing the other of being narrow minded.

Also by telling someone they can go play a different game (XI) because the game we all are playing (XIV) shouldn't be like the other game (XI) is in fact suggesting a form of 'goading'. There is no constructiveness in the sentence that was quoted above in another post of yours. It was implied-or at the very least could be taken as--that "if you like XI then go play XI and leave my XIV alone". Which can be taken as a dismissive remark. Just saying, I think his reading comprehension was on point as I thought the same thing but decided against commenting on such dismissive remarks.

[Waeksyn]

Also by telling someone they can go play a different game (XI) because the game we all are playing (XIV) shouldn't be like the other game (XI) is in fact suggesting a form of 'goading'. There is no constructiveness in the sentence that was quoted above in another post of yours. It was implied-or at the very least could be taken as--that "if you like XI then go play XI and leave my XIV alone". Which can be taken as a dismissive remark. Just saying, I think his reading comprehension was on point as I thought the same thing but decided against commenting on such dismissive remarks.

That was not implied. It was directly stated.

In my view (yours may differ) I would not appreciate having some of the things that I found to be the worst elements of FFXI (your view may differ) added to a game that I currently enjoy. Again, I still don't see anywhere in my post that suggests that my opinion ( I used the word "I") was to be taken as the viewpoint that everyone holds. If I meant that, I would have written something else.

That said, there were elements of FFXI that I did enjoy. The best thing ever released for that game IMO (you may differ) was CoP. A great story, compelling characters, wicked difficulty (before it was nerfed) and spectacular new locations that in themselves were a challenge (navigating Hu' Xzoi). I've never had a game experience before or since that matched the feeling I got when I completed it. See? Story, dungeons, challenge. not mindless grinding.