The Illusion of Choice

[MeiUshu]

snip?

your analogy is biaised..when you have people at diner your goal is to satisfy the mass and offer the best, not really a choice. In a game, ultimately, you look for your enjoyment first and foremost, with some exceptions, therefore your options are not exclusive of each other they are just not applying since they dont *play* on the same level.

Just my opinion though.

For the rest, this game offers lots of opportunities to try out stuff, I dont understand and never will understand why we all must be copied pasted players when playing similar class.

Just me though what do I know

[Pence]

For the rest, this game offers lots of opportunities to try out stuff, I dont understand and never will understand why we all must be copied pasted players when playing similar class.

You probably don't understand because you're not playing FFXIV? Lots of opportunities to try stuff out? Gurl say wah!?

We're all the same for balance reasons. Very simple. So so simple.

[Lyrica_Ashtine]

your analogy is biaised..when you have people at diner your goal is to satisfy the mass and offer the best, not really a choice. In a game, ultimately, you look for your enjoyment first and foremost, with some exceptions, therefore your options are not exclusive of each other they are just not applying since they dont *play* on the same level.

First of all, the analogy the OP provided was a "single individual" scenario. No matter what you would choose, the "majority", or in other words: you, would approve. If you're playing alone for anything, no one's going to care what you do or how you do it.
Secondly, this is exactly what the illusion of choice is in an online game, especially for group content. Let's say I choose to be a DPS white mage and refuse to heal. That's a choice, but would you take one with you?

[MeiUshu]

snip

this is still your choice, choices implie consequences. the illusion is to believe that all your choices are the right one, and all your choices will be met with approval, but then do you need the approval of anyone when you make a choice? The difficulty is to live with the consequences which most cant too hard you know

As for the rest, you can play different ways without it being it that wrong, not optimal but not wrong, just people believe that only one way is viable and that is when all of us from individual becomes robot. I dont agree with it..but nobody has to agree with me either, that is my choice, right ?

[AskaRay]

this is still your choice, choices implie consequences. the illusion is to believe that all your choices are the right one, and all your choices will be met with approval, but then do you need the approval of anyone when you make a choice? The difficulty is to live with the consequences which most cant too hard you know

As for the rest, you can play different ways without it being it that wrong, not optimal but not wrong, just people believe that only one way is viable and that is when all of us from individual becomes robot. I dont agree with it..but nobody has to agree with me either, that is my choice, right ?

I don't know, Ice Mages are essentially playing their class wrong.

I...really like not having the illusion of choice. The game could be harder in different areas instead. Better, cleverer bosses. More exploration. More environment traps...stuff like that.

[Lyrica_Ashtine]

this is still your choice, choices implie consequences. the illusion is to believe that all your choices are the right one, and all your choices will be met with approval, but then do you need the approval of anyone when you make a choice? The difficulty is to live with the consequences which most cant too hard you know

As for the rest, you can play different ways without it being it that wrong, not optimal but not wrong, just people believe that only one way is viable and that is when all of us from individual becomes robot. I dont agree with it..but nobody has to agree with me either, that is my choice, right ?

What you're referring to is a Dilemma or Morton's Fork. A Dilemma or Morton's Fork would be a choice between two equal/undesirable choices. Regardless of the form, the choices have the same weight. The form of illusion of choice here is Hobson's Choice or in line with "Something or nothing". Which I will refer back to the cheese analogy: There are 100 kinds of cheese you can choose from, but the 7 others only like one

The moment you are engaged in group content, you're forced into Hobson's Choice. Be it online or offline. If you have an objective, like clearing content in FF14, you'll have to comply to Hobson's Choice. It's in line with "something or nothing" as: If you don't comply with the group's choice, you get nothing. If you do, you get something.

[Ibi]

What you're referring to is a Dilemma or Morton's Fork. A Dilemma or Morton's Fork would be a choice between two equal/undesirable choices.

Nitpicking, but these aren't the same thing.

A dilemma involves choosing between multiple options that all lead to different unpleasant results.

Morton's Fork involves choosing between multiple options that all lead to equivalent (or identical) unpleasant results.

[FoxyAreku]

I'm reminded of WoW where I was laughed at for years for being a holy priest when discipline was 10 times better in 80% of fights.

I'll pass. The game doesn't need this.

[Alahra]

I'm reminded of WoW where I was laughed at for years for being a holy priest when discipline was 10 times better in 80% of fights.

Personally, I don't want anything approaching WoW's level of customization in Vanilla/BC. But you can still have a controlled amount of customization without introducing grievous imbalance. WoW's current talent model (or FFXI's merit points) are examples of the sorts of things that I think could work here.

The big problem in early WoW's case was an over-emphasis on talents that increased general effectiveess (DPS, HPS, or mitigation) and that's definitely not what I'm looking for in FFXIV when it comes to customization.

[FoxyAreku]

Personally, I don't want anything approaching WoW's level of customization in Vanilla/BC. But you can still have a controlled amount of customization without introducing grievous imbalance. WoW's current talent model (or FFXI's merit points) are examples of the sorts of things that I think could work here.

The big problem in early WoW's case was an over-emphasis on talents that increased general effectiveess (DPS, HPS, or mitigation) and that's definitely not what I'm looking for in FFXIV when it comes to customization.

I wasn't even talking about early WoW. My experience is late wrath and all through cata and pandaria.