It seems the OP played FFXI for seven years despite finding no challenge in it. I'm sorry to hear that.

FFXI did have events where all the challenge was reduced to getting claim and the rest was throwing a large enough corporate LS at the event mindlessly following a time-honored strategy. I agree that doesn't sound like fun.

Quote Originally Posted by DoctorMog
Since when does "hard" have to be a timesink or have a punishment associated with it?

A boss fight can't simply be difficult?
A quest can't simply require some strategy?

It's the ridiculous assumptions of what "hardcore" means, that is causing this debate to be stereotyped into the freekin ground.

Content doesn't have to punish players or be a timesink to provide the difficulty we want.

Drop your mental illusion that a challenging encounter requires 200 hours of farming and a team of 400.

It doesn't.
Quote Originally Posted by Roaran View Post
The proportion of challenging and unchallenging content is the single most important issue, not the hardcore/casual regurgitated argument that serves no other purpose than for personal venting.
I would like to see some challenging small group content. I am a casual player time-wise, but I still think the most satisfaction in a game comes from overcoming challenges. I found plenty of these in FFXI. Many of the mission fights, many NMs, some BCNMs, Limbus, Assaults and Salvage. Picking one favorite, Nyzul Isle Assault is a perfect model for the type of backbone content I would like to see in an MMO. It can be done with friends or a pickup group, flexible on class requirements. Randomness to promote thinking on the fly.

Oh, and when I say I want challenging group content, that doesn't mean I want it to be challenging to form a small group, like it is now.