Superficial

[ellohwell]

My clue was the title and first sentence. None of the changes are superficial unless you consider server hardware and engine software superficial.

Maybe if you're pessimistic enough you can say it's superfluous..but not superficial.

The main points I raised were combat and crafting, since that's most of your activity in game. Server improvements will aid in both systems, sure, and perhaps in that case it isn't superficial, and if you wanted to argue semantics, be my guest. You can damn well feel free.

But all anyone in this thread has said, and provided links for, are superficial adjustments to both crafting and combat. Sorry. But I don't see any of your points.

[Jennestia]

The main points I raised were combat and crafting, since that's most of your activity in game. Server improvements will aid in both systems, sure, and perhaps in that case it isn't superficial, and if you wanted to argue semantics, be my guest. You can damn well feel free.

But all anyone in this thread has said, and provided links for, are superficial adjustments to both crafting and combat. Sorry. But I don't see any of your points.

It's not really semantics though -- superficial would generally mean adjustments on the outside or what you see never getting to the root of the problem which has far been the case of the recent and upcoming updates, for example one of the sentences used in the official definition:

These superficial changes don't address the underlying problem.

The underlying cause of a lot of XIV's problems lie within the server infrastructure, engine utilization and serverside interface, all of which they said will be changing by and for 2.0. A lot of updates from now until 2.0's are more than superficial changes, they're core changes. A new engine alone is more than trying to slap a new coat of paint over something.

[ellohwell]

It's not really semantics though -- superficial would generally mean adjustments on the outside or what you see never getting to the root of the problem which has far been the case of the recent and upcoming updates, for example one of the sentences used in the official definition:

The underlying cause of a lot of XIV's problems lie within the server infrastructure, engine utilization and serverside interface, all of which they said will be changing by and for 2.0. A lot of updates from now until 2.0's are more than superficial changes, they're core changes. A new engine alone is more than trying to slap a new coat of paint over something.

I agree to an extent, but my point is that all these fundamental improvements will mean little to nothing at all if they aren't utilised in terms of combat and crafting mechanics. Improvements to both server and client infrastructure gives the game more potential, but I fail to see where they are meeting this potential.

The server improvements will alleviate lag (which will affect combat indirectly but will hardly make it a winning feature). Lag will make the interface between play and game much less frustrating.

But all of this is a given.

the crafting system and the combat system do just fine, but none of it's great. It's just blah.

[Jennestia]

I agree to an extent, but my point is that all these fundamental improvements will mean little to nothing at all if they aren't utilised in terms of combat and crafting mechanics. Improvements to both server and client infrastructure gives the game more potential, but I fail to see where they are meeting this potential.

It's not easy to see till the time comes and see if they do or do not realize the potential, usually core changes and even engine changes are good for games, hell the '.5' update to Unreal 2 changed everything for games that upgraded to it (nevermind the jump to 3 and 4) so it's just something that has to come to really find out.