Naoki Yoshida interview @Gamescom

[Alexander_Dragonfang]

Balmung players should be banned from the main forums, or get their own main forum, so they keep living in their little bubble of wonder where a proceduraly generated RNG dungeon and useless flying mounts are "innovative brand new content".

That way, the rest of us could have a proper discussion of why the pattern of patching is making XIV stagnant and is hurting its capability to retain people, why the speed of the vertical progression is hurting the player base.

These are things that need no much explaining, considering the gathered data we already have and how we, in game, can see the server populations activity and productivity, are EVIDENT. The game is not doing great, maybe not even good, considering the competition new expansion which has seemed to have kicked it out of the park, this game could easily lose 100k more players, things need to be done, things deep down, in the very core design philosophy of the game have to change.

The constant fear of "running out of content", which is grind basically, needs to be overcame, we got it, XIV 1.0 was a disaster, but we are coming close to 4.0 already, get over it already.

[Thayos]

Balmung players should be banned from the main forums, or get their own main forum, so they keep living in their little bubble of wonder where a proceduraly generated RNG dungeon and useless flying mounts are "innovative brand new content".

I'm not on Balmung, but I find those players you describe to be far more interesting and fun to play with.

[Alexander_Dragonfang]

I'm not on Balmung, but I find those players you describe to be far more interesting and fun to play with.

If its fun or not to play with them, or interesting, is irrelevant, this discussion is far above them since most problems being discussed do not apply in their server by the numbers and by the mentality. Balmung players think the PotD mount is an amazing new addition when is nothing else than a retexture of the ahriman mount, 20 minute work, at best.

[Bloodb]

How is more vertical progression hurting you? I'd rather have it than not have it. What if Eorzea's highest Ilvl was still 90?
I'd rather have flying mounts too than not have them. We've got ground and flying mounts and a reason to use both, they are not worthless. Even if your not using a flying mount and flying to a quest because it moves faster than a ground mount, it's still fun sometimes to just fly around willy nilly on your new twintania, zu, or primal falcon.

[Alexander_Dragonfang]

How is more vertical progression hurting you? I'd rather have it than not have it. What if Eorzea's highest Ilvl was still 90?
I'd rather have flying mounts too than not have them. We've got ground and flying mounts and a reason to use both, they are not worthless. Even if your not using a flying mount and flying to a quest because it moves faster than a ground mount, it's still fun sometimes to just fly around willy nilly on your new twintania, zu, or primal falcon.

Why do anything if you can get it much easily after 3 months? Its obviously hurting the game since we already know, even SE noted, that players are not raiding as a whole, gear incentive and gear relevance are the mayor culprit there.
And i never said go full horizontal, i just said it "slow it down a notch". If we were still i90 we would be like GW2 and that would be a terrible mistake too. If i had to put it in iLvls. "we should be i210 still".

What is the point in anyone doing A12S when it comes out for that juicy BiS for the expansion weapon if by 4.0, it will be replaced by an NPC weapon arround lvl 68/70. Aside the braging rights of course, which we know, don`t drive anyone to raid basically.

Vertical progression is needed, but it also needs to be worth the effort and relevant, same issue we have with relic quest right now, its not worth the effort, the time, the grind, etc, because we already know it will get replaced. Grind needs to be slowed down, or patching needs to take longer, like 5 months or so.

[Mugiawara]

I can't think of any other MMO that I've played, where you can accurately predict almost everything that is going to be added in a content patch months or even years before the patch is even implemented. This is because of the pattern that FFXIV follows and that pattern is what people are getting tired of.

You know, it makes me wonder if the game is THAT predictable and boring, why keep investing in it?

Zetsumei has explained exactly how I've felt since late 2.x patches.
I think people are still holding on to a glint of hope that things end up changed. I know I am.
The patterns have literally been the same for 3 years and yea, sick of it now.
3.4? Some tomes nerf, new gear that looks the same as old gear, add a dungeon/raid thing, some gear that gets knocked next patch and repeat again in 6 or so months.
I pray to baby Jesus things change. XIV can be fun at times but now it's only fun for a week or so when you're done.

[Kosmos992k]

If its fun or not to play with them, or interesting, is irrelevant, this discussion is far above them since most problems being discussed do not apply in their server by the numbers and by the mentality. Balmung players think the PotD mount is an amazing new addition when is nothing else than a retexture of the ahriman mount, 20 minute work, at best.

You're so happy aren't you? I bet you're a real star at parties, always full of good cheer and compliments. So very refreshing.

[Thayos]

Why do anything if you can get it much easily after 3 months? Its obviously hurting the game since we already know, even SE noted, that players are not raiding as a whole, gear incentive and gear relevance are the mayor culprit there.

No, the vertical progression isn't why so many people don't like hardcore raiding. Most people who don't raid either don't like raiding, or they don't have time to waste in PF groups, or they don't have time for a static.

Raid participation and a distaste for vertical progression only matter if you're specifically referring to the game's proportionately tiny raid community.

Heck, the sheer size of RPers on Balmung pwns the crap out of the raid community.

[Welsper59]

Why do anything if you can get it much easily after 3 months? Its obviously hurting the game since we already know, even SE noted, that players are not raiding as a whole, gear incentive and gear relevance are the mayor culprit there.
And i never said go full horizontal, i just said it "slow it down a notch". If we were still i90 we would be like GW2 and that would be a terrible mistake too. If i had to put it in iLvls. "we should be i210 still".

What is the point in anyone doing A12S when it comes out for that juicy BiS for the expansion weapon if by 4.0, it will be replaced by an NPC weapon arround lvl 68/70. Aside the braging rights of course, which we know, don`t drive anyone to raid basically.

Vertical progression is needed, but it also needs to be worth the effort and relevant, same issue we have with relic quest right now, its not worth the effort, the time, the grind, etc, because we already know it will get replaced. Grind needs to be slowed down, or patching needs to take longer, like 5 months or so.

Bolded part is very dangerous territory to keep your mind in. We're talking about levels here, so it's very important to remember the significance of power that alone implies. In RPGs, most of the time, your actual character level far outweighs the minor (ilvl) buffs you're normally accustomed to when it comes to making your character stronger. 8-10 actual character levels is significant in RPGs. Having weapons that transcends so many levels of upgrades is actually a very boring design choice. Like... exceptionally boring, dull, and uninspired. The argument about equips lasting longer is only truly relevant for the given range (e.g. each raid tier at level 60), but is hardly even worth thinking about when you relate it to a new expansion and increased character levels.

The devs are banking on the players urges to get what they want now. Not tomorrow, not next week, not next patch... now. The grand majority of players are of the mind, and some folks of that group are only now realizing the illogical stupidity behind their own impulses. They're the ones that have always wanted to rush their way to something because they felt it was the "best" way to do it. When reality slapped them in the face, well... here we are. Essentially 3 groups of players now exist: the ones who like doing content while new, the ones who take their time, and the ones who despair for their wants.

[Alexander_Dragonfang]

You're so happy aren't you? I bet you're a real star at parties, always full of good cheer and compliments. So very refreshing.

In parties yes, in forums supposed to be for feedback and serious discussion about the game issues, not so fun.