Why the heavy focus on instance only?

[Wolfie]

you need to look around more on other forums, I see many post when it comes to new updates involving people being sick of everything being nothing but more and more dungeons, and more and more instances. Especially on Rift and WoW to a lesser extent Aion.

Really? Care to point me to some where people specifically say they're sick of instanced content and want seamless/open world content?

Because all of the complaints about dungeons that I've seen on the WOW forums are either "this dungeon is a total rehash", "we shouldn't be killing that boss for lore reasons" and "this dungeon heavily favors one class over another". I have not once seen someone on the WOW forums say "instances suck! They're bad for the game! Stop focusing on instances!"

You WoW purest need to get outside WoW and its clones and realize what the genre truly has to offer, only then will you truly realize how horribly limiting an endgame of all instances really is.

It's hilarious that you call me a WOW purist, when I have not once mentioned WOW in this topic. For your records, I spent 4 years on FFXI, longer than any other MMO, and I still think it's the best one I've played to date.

Fanboy, much?

And people need to stop associating Open World with HNMS from XI... that was at most 10% of XI's open world content and was easily the smallest part of XI's endgame. If XI's endgame was only camping NMs the game would of not held almost all its playerbase for 8yrs.

Just like you need to stop associating instanced content with WOW-style dungeons/loot hallways.

[HiirNoivl]

I would love it if instance existed in open world where you can see others killing a dragon out in the open but not closed off world(of coursei understand it would be claimed by only the alliance that initiated). Competition is another thing i would like as well as an absolute open world content.

They're still going to have instanced dungeons, but they're not going to make absolutely everything instanced... but their not going to make absolutely everything openworld either. They're going to have both. They're going to increase instances where you CAN see others, like zones, so that they can add more unique areas. You'll still see others and what others are doing.

It's a wise use of instances to maximize the game's potentials.

[Forerunner]

I'm not saying I don't like instances, but I don't want everything to be limited to 8 members of choice.

People are asking for NPCs to move to add life to the game. Non-instanced content would do the same, instead of everyone mute at aetheryte, or hugging the walls in town.

And before you say "but cross-world party finders" what if you get partied up with someone who's sole purpose is to screw your party up? what about a know-it-all who does it wrong (like tanking the batraal skeles, all 3 of em, on ARC, forcing a healer to waste all his MP/die, and have the ARC die in the process. >_>; )

Summary: I would like more open-world content, AS WELL AS more instances.

Damn, I remember the story quests for MRD. Like a billion instances over in a second. Waste of resources, coulda just had it done in an open world setting. (too many people doing it at once? not if they're only talking to an NPC.)

[Baxter]

I'm not saying I don't like instances, but I don't want everything to be limited to 8 members of choice.

People are asking for NPCs to move to add life to the game. Non-instanced content would do the same, instead of everyone mute at aetheryte, or hugging the walls in town.

And before you say "but cross-world party finders" what if you get partied up with someone who's sole purpose is to screw your party up? what about a know-it-all who does it wrong (like tanking the batraal skeles, all 3 of em, on ARC, forcing a healer to waste all his MP/die, and have the ARC die in the process. >_>; )

Summary: I would like more open-world content, AS WELL AS more instances.

Damn, I remember the story quests for MRD. Like a billion instances over in a second. Waste of resources, coulda just had it done in an open world setting. (too many people doing it at once? not if they're only talking to an NPC.)

I completely agree

[Forerunner]

Oh yeah.

That run with the ARC we had some one lag out, we went from 7 man to 5 man quicker than you could say "ARC nerf was a bit harsh"

[Xianghua]

/sigh
This Topic is really getting old.

Once again. the only difference in open world content and instance, is you get to watch people kill something or you don't. open world its typically just to fill your shell's egos. it doesn't bring anymore life then instance. (still stay in same area killing the same stuff.)

Even XI focused far more in instance content then Open world.

open world-HNMs Sea, Sky
Instance-Limbus, Dynamis, BCNMs, KSNMs, SCNMs, Einherjar, Salvage, Nysul Isle, ZNM's bosses,

some events like sky and ZNMs have both open world and instanced content.

Seriously why all the hate on instance? why do you think open world content brings the game to life when you just go to same area's killing same stuff(if you claim.) and watch other's kill the same stuff. If you really want to watch others kill go watch Youtube Video's. if you want people to watch you kill? post Youtube video.

[Jynx]

Once again. the only difference in open world content and instance, is you get to watch people kill something or you don't.

I don't even know where to start...this statement is wrong in so many ways.

[Xianghua]

Yeah all the endgame linkshells were watching Vtra on a 72 hour basis amiright guys?

Not everyone participated in the stuff you claim to be 100% of FFXI.

Because Vrtra had nothing good to go after to even bother camping. people went after him because they were bored.

Assault, Besieged, Campaign, ENM, ZNM, BCNM, Dreamworld Dynamis, Limbus, Sea, Quests, Leveling, none of these overtly focuses on "Claiming your content" Stop with your hyperbole. XI had tons of content outside instances that was worth doing and hardly ever as competeted for as you make it out to be.

Assault, ENM, BCNM, ZNM(bosses). dynamis, Limbus - instanced

The thing XI did was give you such a amazing expansion of option to do, with the level cap being 75 for so long the ammount of gear you could wear was astounding, just because some people obsessed over abjuration gear when there were hundreds of other viable options to them isn't SE's problem they weren't going to break game balance just to get people to come off of HNM's. Abysea did that, now it's all instanced and boring as hell.

comparing a game with its expansions to one that has none kinda pointless.

Want to get anywhere in XI nowdays? Abysea runs!

Abyssea is actually open world simply because everyone is together in the same zones. and you complain about it?

I don't even know where to start...this statement is wrong in so many ways.

Yes it basically is simply because with open world you always have the Chance to do said content. because its open to all
2 groups already there? will to bad for you there goes your plans for the night. however with instance you always get to do what you want. 6 groups doing darkhold? that's fine you still can go and and get the event done have fun. You say its not claim game but it is. no matter how you do it. if the event is open to everyone. you will always have a chance just to do the event.

Once again most of XI's content was Instanced. the only time XI became more focused on open world content was get ready. ABYSSEA! Abyssea was the 1st time you can get all your gear from open world. it completely killed off everything else. Every other place in the game because 100% useless. you were either in Jeuno or abyssea.

[Jynx]

Yes it basically is simply because with open world you always have the Chance to do said content. because its open to all
2 groups already there? will to bad for you there goes your plans for the night. however with instance you always get to do what you want.

If I want to do a instance I require a group of people, I can't just go and explore for the hell of it. I can't prod the enemies on my own to learn more about them, I can't enjoy the sights just for fun. It forces me to group, I'm not short on friends but I do like to take things at my own pace and go where I please.

Invisible walls telling me "You can't enter without 4 people dood" make me angry, for a instanced fight? Sure why not that's fine with me but to get into the area at all? Slap some time limits on that and it makes the game very restricted. At least in XI your "mainly instanced" is so wrong.

Things like Campaign were extremly friendly for people who just wanted something to do, my friends not around and I want to get a few merits? Campaign, FoV, a whole damn world with monsters I can find to solo, dungeons to explore.

XIV is lacking a real overworld even now most of the areas are neglected because all of the content is pinpoint focused in the world with a massive map with no meaning to it other than being large. I could hardly walk 5 minutes in XI without finding something to do with a quest, a NM (Even if it had nothing worth looting), people playing, sights to see, items to gather, maps to get, craig crystal to collect, camps to document, dungeons to explore.

While XI did have a large ammount of instanced content they only did this after they had a very well fleshed out world to stage the instances in.

Almost all the instanced content required you to travel in the current world, XIV you hardly have to step foot outside of town or past the nearest aetherite camp to do something. I remember my excursions to Ulegrand range ENM being a brutal trip with amazing rewards.

I remember my trip to the Darkhold, Totorak, Ifirit, and any strongholds as being a merry jog from the nearest aetherite camp...and hell even if I walked it is hardly a dangerous or spectacular journey.

Attowah Chasm...them damn Antlions and poison bushes, what I'm trying to say is while there was alot of instanced content it was fleshed inside of the open world where as XIV seems to avoid the world at all times possible. Sure XI had teleports and such but even then they themselves usually entailed some sort of price incured in the open world content.

[Xianghua]

You really think that people are going to do all this walking instead of porting to the nearest crystal? Its about time, for the most part people didn't walk form jeuno to sky. they find the fastest way to get things done. Remember how this game was when you had to walk everywhere? People hated it. Yes in XI you had to walk and travel. But the thing is after the 10th time doing it. It becomes boring and pointless. Campaign is really no different then doing behest or Leve's. Wait people hate them because they are boring.

Yes XIV is lacking in in depth world full of adventure. However its not the fault of instanced. Its the fault of horrible maps and designs by SE. Far as I know they will be changing the maps (hopefully making things more alive) and will be adding some content outside for people to do. However the Endgame and group focus will be instanced so everyone can do it not just a select few.

I think you misunderstand me. I want a word full of adventure and fun. I spent a lot of my time on XI just walking around the map enjoying the site's and sounds. However I much prefer my endgame scene to be instanced so I don't have to deal with Bots and people just being Idiots.

You can focus on Instanced making it the main scene. While still having a huge in depth world full of adventure. the simple problem with XIV is the fact we have all these camps we can port to with the instanced being right next to them. which is once again The maps design fault and not the content.