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  1. #1
    Player
    Kiara's Avatar
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    Mar 2011
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    Gridania
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    Kiara Silvermoon
    World
    Masamune
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    Gladiator Lv 60

    The Journey - Is It Still Wanted?

    Hi All,

    With the lively discussion in a recent PL thread, the topic of the Journey was brought up. Seeing the diverse opinions on the subject, I'm curious:

    • Do people still care for the Journey from Level 1 to Max? Specifically the dreaded "G" word, known as the Grind?

    We know Final Fantasy XIV Version 2.0 is promising a wonderful reboot and a complete World Redesign (joy!). But even then, will Yoshida-san keep the super fast speed and pace of leveling as it is now? And if so, will people even get to enjoy most of the new areas before they're at Max Level doing End Game-only content?

    While I agree that killing your 2,000th Raptor isn't going to teach you how to beat an End Game Boss, there is something to be said about the Journey to get from Level 1 to 50.

    During Final Fantasy XI (in the early days), some of my fondest memories were of things like...



    Traveling to Valkurm Dunes for the first time. Seeing all these strangers and fellow low level players braving the beaches and trying to get a high enough level to progress further. Running back into the coastal town with accidental links to prevent dying. LOL Or Shouting for a Raise for a dead party member and finding a friendly high level White Mage who helped us out. Or someone accidentally pulling Valkurm Emperor thinking it was another dragonfly (back in the early days .



    Getting to Jeuno, and then exploring the zone underneath known as Qufim Island was another memorable experience during my grind. I remember scared warnings from fellow adventurers to retreat when it got dark (night), because Qufim Island at night turned into a completely different horrific environment compared to daytime (for low level players). But it was fun, being scared and staying huddled, waiting for the sun to come back up.



    Or wandering Rolanberry Fields, a scenic detour near Jeuno and meeting all sorts of strangers there on their way to Crawler's Nest...



    Which was a pretty crowded, popular area to camp those giant Crawlers. Sure there was fighting over mob spawns, but it was also filled with nervous, fun memories of overcoming and pulling Crawlers across long portions back to your camp, like bringing a prized kill back to your family (party) to enjoy (EXP off of).



    Gustav Tunnel was another memorable place I had some fun EXP Parties at. I remember the first time I ran around a corner to come face-to-face with this big Wyvern-like NM, Bune! :O I was so freaked out and it proceeded to destroy my entire EXP Party, LOL.



    Pashhow Marshlands was another interesting area filled with Quadavs (Beastmen) and a visually distinct environment to party in.



    And of course, wandering into Beadeaux and finding Quadav NMs was always interesting.



    Running into Castle Oztroja, and fighting Yagudo (Bird Beastmen) was another fun time sink, and memories of Mee Deggi The Punisher are forever burned in my brain.



    Kazham and the 2 Jungles and the Tonberry Temple were other very memorable EXP Places that I met and discovered new friends while on the grind.



    And places like The Boyahda Tree, and someone accidentally pulling Aquarius NM (thinking it was a regular crab) was hilarious thinking back on it now.

    The pace of the original Grind from Level 1 to 75 in Final Fantasy XI was definitely too long in this day-and-age, but I had many good memories as I made my way to my first Level 75 job back then.

    I learned about Skillchains and helped teach fellow players how to Skillchain. We learned our abilities and weaponskills, how to handle multiple (accidental) aggro, built up confidence, and just generally grinded (true). But I had fun.

    The new Final Fantasy XIV Version 2.0 World Redesign is truly AMAZING! (If you haven't seen the PDF with images, do so now! -

    Final Fantasy XIV Version 2.0 World Map Art (thanks Starlord!)
    http://aniverse.net/attachment.php?a...3&d=1318757548

    http://aniverse.net/attachment.php?a...4&d=1318757561

    http://aniverse.net/attachment.php?a...5&d=1318757639

    http://aniverse.net/attachment.php?a...6&d=1318757654

    http://wdl.square-enix.com/ffxiv/download/en/FFXIV_2.0_Specs_EN.pdf

    Will people still want to spend time EXP'ing in these areas given the feelings on the boards about how good the super-fast pace of EXP is right now?

    All I know is, I can't wait for new classes to open up for an opportunity to take a new Level 1 class through and explore all the new world areas in Final Fantasy XIV Version 2.0. (^_^)

    Don't get me wrong, I want a complex, well-developed pantheon of End Game Content (many choices for many people (Instanced Dungeons, Non-Instanced Dungeons, HNMs, Large Scale PvE Areas, our own XIV version of SKY or SEA or Dynamis (original days)), but I'd love to just adventure and explore the new, distinct world in 2.0 with fellow adventurers.

    How does everyone else feel?
    (138)

  2. #2
    Player
    DeadRiser's Avatar
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    Mar 2011
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    Limsa Lominsa
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    2,612
    Character
    Kipp Kaida
    World
    Sargatanas
    Main Class
    Conjurer Lv 70
    I must agree. I never played XI, but the time I spent playing the first month was so exciting.

    It was fun to travel to all the different places, all over La Noscea and finally making it to Bloodshore. Traveling from the boat after getting dropped of in Thanalan and finally making it to Ul'dah. Or traveling through The Black Shroud not knowing what is around the next corner. I'm happy about smaller zones. And I hope they slow down leveling a little bit for the higher levels and not let PL be the rule of everyting. I'm tired of joining parties that turn into PL parties D:

    Anyways, very refreshing post.
    (14)

  3. #3
    Player
    tymora's Avatar
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    Mar 2011
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    Tymora Estrellauta
    World
    Balmung
    Main Class
    Thaumaturge Lv 90
    Bune and not Guivre in Gustav?
    (0)

  4. #4
    Player
    Synfrag's Avatar
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    Jun 2011
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    Ul'Dah
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    377
    Character
    Syn Kazama
    World
    Hyperion
    Main Class
    Conjurer Lv 50
    There are some great stories in this thread.

    I agree with the OP but in no relation to the PLing. The progression is not there, nor was it ever. I certainly hope it returns with the map redesign and it sounds most likely that it will based on what Yoshida has said regarding it. I think with independent areas there will be significant mob re-locations involved and that that will break it up a little.

    I too have the same fond memories as many do with their first step into Vana'diel, making friends, joining their first LS and everything else that came. But, XI was my first step into the MMO world and most of the nostalgia and feeling I have for the game comes from that fact. I do have some fond memories from Aion in the beginning but again, that was a first (PvP) that inspires the sense of fun and adventure.

    Although many of us have fond memories of our first exposure to those zones and experiences most of us dreaded going back to them on our 2nd, 3rd, 20th job. I don't ever remember hearing "Yay time for Valkurm again!" outside of a sarcastic comment. The same goes for nearly every other zone, much to the point where people took to soloing and powerleveling in XI to avoid them. My point being, most of the players now having at least 1 lvl 50 have no desire for a grind like that.

    The main problem is that there is no awe inspiring sense of progression at all so nobody cares to enjoy what doesn't exist. There are no milestones yet, the Job system strives to change this but will it? Should that change in the future and people start enjoying the grind a bit more then powerleveling will likely go down.

    For the longest time I have stood by and been a supporter of the game and franchise. But, without a massive, massive overhaul to the story and progression I fear even 2.0 will fail.

    Yoshida and the Dev team know that that sense of progress doesn't exist so if they don't fix it their heads will roll as it is a franchise staple.
    (4)
    Last edited by Synfrag; 11-21-2011 at 01:36 AM.

  5. #5
    Player
    Tempestmoon's Avatar
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    Apr 2011
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    Gridania
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    Character
    Mataya Tempestmoon
    World
    Hyperion
    Main Class
    Gladiator Lv 70
    Quote Originally Posted by Synfrag View Post
    There are some great stories in this thread.

    I agree with the OP but in no relation to the PLing. The progression is not there, nor was it ever. I certainly hope it returns with the map redesign and it sounds most likely that it will based on what Yoshida has said regarding it. I think with independent areas there will be significant mob re-locations involved and that that will break it up a little.

    I too have the same fond memories as many do with their first step into Vana'diel, making friends, joining their first LS and everything else that came. But, XI was my first step into the MMO world and most of the nostalgia and feeling I have for the game comes from that fact. I do have some fond memories from Aion in the beginning but again, that was a first (PvP) that inspires the sense of fun and adventure.

    Although many of us have fond memories of our first exposure to those zones and experiences most of us dreaded going back to them on our 2nd, 3rd, 20th job. I don't ever remember hearing "Yay time for Valkurm again!" outside of a sarcastic comment. The same goes for nearly every other zone, much to the point where people took to soloing and powerleveling in XI to avoid them. My point being, most of the players now having at least 1 lvl 50 have no desire for a grind like that.

    The main problem is that there is no awe inspiring sense of progression at all so nobody cares to enjoy what doesn't exist. There are no milestones yet, the Job system strives to change this but will it? Should that change in the future and people start enjoying the grind a bit more then powerleveling will likely go down.

    For the longest time I have stood by and been a supporter of the game and franchise. But, without a massive, massive overhaul to the story and progression I fear even 2.0 will fail.

    Yoshida and the Dev team know that that sense of progress doesn't exist so if they don't fix it their heads will roll as it is a franchise staple.
    I agree with most of what you said, the key is no progression. With the new zones and mobs getting tougher as you move away from civilization this will take care of a good part of it. Combined with the achievement system, landmarks and a full array of level specific instances and primal battles I think this will do the trick. Not to mention ranking up in your company, which in itself will be an achievement as long as it is not handed to us on a golden chocobo.

    all in all, i think Yoshi will do good by 2.0 and anything missing will be quickly implemented as they will not be spending a huge chunk of their time optimizing and building systems and infrastructure in the back ground.
    (1)

  6. #6
    Player
    Synfrag's Avatar
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    Ul'Dah
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    Syn Kazama
    World
    Hyperion
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    Conjurer Lv 50
    Quote Originally Posted by Tempestmoon View Post
    all in all, i think Yoshi will do good by 2.0 and anything missing will be quickly implemented as they will not be spending a huge chunk of their time optimizing and building systems and infrastructure in the back ground.
    Much agreed, not only that but 1/2 their team won't be working on 3.0 as they are with 2.0 now. With a good structure in place and a fully focused team, development will be much more rapid. I can't wait, where did I put that time machine.....
    (1)

  7. #7
    Player
    Kiara's Avatar
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    Mar 2011
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    Kiara Silvermoon
    World
    Masamune
    Main Class
    Gladiator Lv 60
    Quote Originally Posted by Synfrag View Post
    There are some great stories in this thread.

    I agree with the OP but in no relation to the PLing. The progression is not there, nor was it ever. I certainly hope it returns with the map redesign and it sounds most likely that it will based on what Yoshida has said regarding it. I think with independent areas there will be significant mob re-locations involved and that that will break it up a little.

    I too have the same fond memories as many do with their first step into Vana'diel, making friends, joining their first LS and everything else that came. But, XI was my first step into the MMO world and most of the nostalgia and feeling I have for the game comes from that fact. I do have some fond memories from Aion in the beginning but again, that was a first (PvP) that inspires the sense of fun and adventure.

    Although many of us have fond memories of our first exposure to those zones and experiences most of us dreaded going back to them on our 2nd, 3rd, 20th job. I don't ever remember hearing "Yay time for Valkurm again!" outside of a sarcastic comment. The same goes for nearly every other zone, much to the point where people took to soloing and powerleveling in XI to avoid them. My point being, most of the players now having at least 1 lvl 50 have no desire for a grind like that.

    The main problem is that there is no awe inspiring sense of progression at all so nobody cares to enjoy what doesn't exist. There are no milestones yet, the Job system strives to change this but will it? Should that change in the future and people start enjoying the grind a bit more then powerleveling will likely go down.
    Hi Syn,

    Definitely agree. I hope with the Landmarks and Map Redesign in 2.0 that we start getting interesting areas that people will want to explore and take time to EXP in. I know I want to, just from looking at the early 2D Concepts (which look simply, inspiring!) .

    I would say, though, that even on my 3rd or 4th time through Valkurm Dunes or Crawler's Nest, while it wasn't as intensive or awe-inspiring as my 1st time through, I had fun. Because during those times through, I knew the full area of the Dunes or Crawler's Nest or Qufim Island well enough to know where to camp, and I actually enjoyed helping out newbies just starting, teaching them about good camps, or how to pull, or how to do Skillchains (Renkei).

    And yes, as you said, there are no Landmarks right now in XIV. We go from one generic Aetherial Gate Camp to a similar-looking Camp and get EXP in a pretty safe environment all the way to 50 (or others get it from PL'ing quickly).

    I look forward to the new Final Fantasy Maps, New EXP Camps, Main Mission / Storyline after 2.0, and hope to see some grand, epic Missions come out of it, taking us to different parts of the world. Hopefully it's inspiring enough for everyone that they'd want to gather some friends or strangers and EXP there.
    (0)

  8. #8
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    Join Date
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    This post is pointless because they are already working on 2.0 - derp da herp.




    Haters bring it.
    (4)
    Last edited by RemVye; 11-21-2011 at 06:46 AM.

  9. #9
    Player
    DeadRiser's Avatar
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    Mar 2011
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    Limsa Lominsa
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    Kipp Kaida
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    Sargatanas
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    Conjurer Lv 70
    Quote Originally Posted by RemVye View Post
    Terrible threads all day, I'm sorry but I'm sick of this dribble flooding the forum. Moar Donkey Knight less Q_Q blotter about random trash.


    Implement a downvote / dislike button plox n thanks.



    Bring the hate haters
    Irrelevent. go somewhere's else
    (46)

  10. #10
    Player
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    Quote Originally Posted by DeadRiser View Post
    Irrelevent. go somewhere's else
    Your statement of irrelevance is irrelevant. Go post somewhere else.

    My 1 gil is worth more than your 1 gil.
    (2)

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