Super General Discussion 2.0 - Always offering a happy, fun time~!

[Antanias]

I'm famous! thanks for this Aldora! Happy Holidays!

Mine was the very first one read, but I forgot to sign my character name like a dummy xD

[Coris]

Happy New Year, SGD!
Have a great 2016 and keep up the good work!

I, for myself, have decided to leave XIV for an uncertain amount of time when my subscription runs out mid-January as I don't really enjoy the game anymore.
I'll clearly miss the SGD, even though I haven't posted a lot in the last weeks/months I still checked the thread every now and then.

Stay awesome! See you around <3

[Valan]

I, for myself, have decided to leave XIV for an uncertain amount of time when my subscription runs out mid-January as I don't really enjoy the game anymore.

It's always a sad thing read something like this.

But I feel in the same way. I just tired to look for a static only to find something that will be disbanded two week later or I must leave, I changed too much party and now I was forced to give up with the raids. The patch 3.1 was a big misstep for SE and it didn't give nothing worth to play, the anima weapon is... Too much, just too much.
So, I'm wondering if leave this game or just lay an alt in order to wait better patch.

[Rubieus]

Mine was the very first one read, but I forgot to sign my character name like a dummy xD

what a bummer! but you knew it was yours so thats cool too.

[Aldora]

I saw a very clear and pretty sky in the Churning Mists today. Here, take a look:









So many colors!

[CGMidlander]

Oh my~

[Sylkis]

I'm looking for some people to argue against my point for horizontal progression - the best way to test something is to ask people to break it for you. Can reply here or in the original thread, but I might miss it if its in the original thread (expecting it to blow up with unrelated stuff)

It's not that I disagree with the premise entirely... but rather I can't help but ask the obvious question that comes out of it.
"If not this, then what?"
What else is there? I'm no game designer, I dunno how this stuff works. What would be a better system, and can you point to some examples where it worked?

An example of horizontal progression currently used is the different jobs within the same role and the ability to switch between them. Each job requires time to be leveled up to max level before they can be used. For example: PLD, WAR and DRK can all be used to tank. Each job requires time to level up, and is stronger in different fights. WAR excels in dps, PLD in physical mitigation, DRK in magical mitigation. All can be viable tanks, but some are better in certain situations.


Similarly, you can have different items that have vastly different stats but ultimately serve the same role. There will be ones that are optimal for certain situations - this is the most common argument against it. For example, you could have 3 different shields with say 30VIT and 30STR and one additional stat. On top of those stats, one of the shields increases your damage, another has increased block and the last one reduces magic damage taken. People would work out that it is best to use shield A in fight X, shield B in fight Y and shield C in fight Z. But, all would suffice as a shield.

However, if one does not have the ability or time to obtain all the different items, the system would work out. The illusion of choice argument is only if you have access to all the different options so you can simply choose the best one.
What if you only had shield A and B but you were going to fight Z? Is shield A or B the 2nd best? There is probably an answer to that. But if there was no ilvl so you had 20 shields to choose from (only these exist in the game minus leveling phase), or you have a mixed system where there are say 3 shields to choose from per ilvl tier, the answer won't be clear. Perhaps a shield from the previous ilvl tier is better when you don't have shield C for fight Z (This actually happened to the bard body from WoD, an ilvl120 piece which was considered better than other ilvl130 pieces)

Perhaps the shields could suit different playstyles (I'm getting a bit too hopeful here) - you might gear yourself to deal a lot more damage and have 4.5 dps members in your 8 man party, but your mitigation will be low. Or you might go full mitigation and make it possible to solo tank in 8 man fights (or at least semi solo tank - skipping some tank swaps or tanking some of the adds meant for the 2nd tank).


Another example of horizontal progression, which is actually in the game is the current tier of crafting gear (ignoring specialisation...that is NOT horizontal progression but a restriction). Each class has a class specific set of gear that is the best you can get, but you cannot use it on another class. Additionally, there is a set of crafted + melded gear which can be used by any class, but is inferior in stats. You cannot obtain all the class specific gear within a reasonable amount of time (1 year), so you must choose. However, the crafted + melded gear is sufficient (this is key - otherwise it becomes a restriction like specialisation) for any craft (to my current knowledge it is), but it is difficult - you might need FC buffs, food, luck etc.

[Lucke]

Just saw Star Wars this week end. Holy catnip it was awesome.

[Kyan]

Whew! I've been back at work and just crazy times. Apparently my subscription ran out, whoops! I didn't really get to play over the Christmas period like I wanted to. So, I am going to just focus on levelling my gathering/crafting jobs which have been long neglected. That seems like something I can manage over my limited play time.

How are you all??

[Valan]

How are you all??

8'm killing myself with boredom due the very very very very very very slow grinding for the Nothung ( 23/80)