From all thread that asking content (hardcore vs casual) : sum up objectiveto SE

[Silma]

As an "hardcore" player myself, i'll try to give a good idea of what i call difficulty.

Difficulty means teamwork.

• Have fights that requires several class types, not only BLM or only LNC+BLM
• The fight must provide each class with a way to be usefull. For example, a boss would be temporarily insensitive to offensive spells while at the same time taking extra damage from PUG Weapon Skills, etc.
• Have fights that requires actions from only a certain kind of Disciples, for example at a certain moment only disciples of Magic can activate that switch on the wall to create a shield that absorb damage, or at a certain moment only Disciples of War can walk on a plate on the floor that opens a door, etc.

Difficulty means preparation:

• Have Bosses randomly casting a certain magic. For example, a boss can cast Water or Lightning spells and this is determined by its color when you enter the arena. That means people need to have 2 sets of equipment in their inventory to protect themselves from each magic.
• Have bosses sucking MP or TP, so you need to bring in potions.
• Since bosses will use WS, have counter -WS, so people need to have that particular WS in their action bar to not take damage.

Difficulty means rewards:

• random loots from a loot table is so out-of-date and old-fashioned, please stop with it.
• Have people choose which item they want if they succeed, but then only ONE item will be given.
• Provide players with a way to be proud of their accomplishement other than equipment, should it be a Title "Slayer of Ifrit", a pet like in WoW, a pure cosmetic equipement (a helmet that looks like the Head of Ifrit), or even the possibility to transform your character into Ifrit itself why not ?
• As for more "casual" players, or less equiped or less skilled maybe, provide them with the possibility to get the same items but at a much slower pace. For example, everytime you fight boss X but loose, you gain 1 point. One item costs 50 points, etc.

This is just 0.1% of what is possible to do, and it all depends on their game engine and easyness of scripting things. We will have a better idea of what the devs are capable to do with the engine in the next few months i guess.

[AdvancedWind]

Oh, look. This thread. Again.

Says who?

You can have both types of content. Bring it on. If you don't like the type of content, don't do it.

I bet all the casuals will STILL want to do it because in the end, everybody wants to try those super challenges.

The point he made is that, to make a very stupid but good enough example, fishing for 1.000 hours is not a challenge at all, but is pretty "hardcore". And yes, every once in a while there are people proposing the kind of content that is just that: pure time sinks where the only "challenge" is having the kind of play time needed to complete it.

awesome stuff

This is a much better example of things that could be done, imo.

[Lucifer]

Oh, look. This thread. Again.



The point he made is that, to make a very stupid but good enough example, fishing for 1.000 hours is not a challenge at all, but is pretty "hardcore". And yes, every once in a while there are people proposing the kind of content that is just that: pure time sinks where the only "challenge" is having the kind of play time needed to complete it.

Intensive time sinks should always be around in an MMORPG. It keeps people subscribed and it keeps them busy.

[AdvancedWind]

Intensive time sinks should always be around in an MMORPG. It keeps people subscribed and it keeps them busy.

Sure, but there are timesinks and timesinks. Trying to get a 7 materia forbidden meld is a major timesink that, imo, is also good as most of the effort related to it comes from activites as varied as partying up on strongholds, leveling crafts and gatherers, hoarding gil, etc. It comes naturally as you play the game.

Now, forcing players to do the same boring task (or a small group of tasks) over and over and over for a long time is the kind of crap that, while common in MMOs, are nothing more than a major pain the ass and whoever introduced those to the genre deserves to be killed. Twice.