One dungeon per patch!?

[MOZZYSTAR]

I'm not sure how to feel about the one dungeon per patch thing. On one hand, it means more content elsewhere. On the other hand, I don't think SE should have to sacrifice something in order to make something else. This is a giant company that makes bank even when it has major losses now and then. But after reading around, it seems like they mostly hire contractors with very few full-timers, so... That's my gues as to why we're even seeing sacrifices like this.

On a selfish note, I don't think this Ultimate content will be content I'll personally invest my time in like I do with roulettes. Expert roulettes are already a struggle because there are so few dungeons in them to diversify them. So, adding only one per patch instead of two will exacerbate that "problem," I think. I'm hoping they'll keep all level 80 dungeons as expert during this phase, that way we have... like... some dungeons to actually roulette on.

I'm a big fan of 24-man alliances especially, but I also like 4-man content. I like the "dungeon" feel as opposed to an "arena" feel for PvE if that makes sense? So, I doubt Ultimates will be up my alley. Meanwhile, my amigo is way into arena/trialesque content, so he'll probably be all over this. Speaks to some, not to others. Though, even so, he's concerned about expert roulette, too.

[TheMightyMollusk]

I'm willing to wait and see just what other content is being worked on with those resources before passing judgement, but honestly, dungeons are only really fun the first time or two anyway. Amaurot was incredible the first time, a wonderful capstone on the expansion and a great climactic build-up to the final showdown, but now it's just another pile of tomes to collect and gear to desynth.

[yukiiyuki]

Again with the nonsensical insinuations, so no reason for me to respond differently when you're stuck making nonsensical arguments.

It could be easier if you could read pal, instead of taking things out of context : )
About umbrellas stuff, that's what people really like to see in game, way to go! My only hope is the new eureka in this game, hope they won't screw it up.
GCBTW

[ForteNightshade]

I'm not sure how to feel about the one dungeon per patch thing. On one hand, it means more content elsewhere. On the other hand, I don't think SE should have to sacrifice something in order to make something else. This is a giant company that makes bank even when it has major losses now and then. But after reading around, it seems like they mostly hire contractors with very few full-timers, so... That's my gues as to why we're even seeing sacrifices like this.

To be fair, hiring battle designers is not an easy task. MMOs aren't a popular market nor is console/PC gaming nearly as prominent in Japan as it is the west. Most developers with the skill set Yoshida wants go into the mobile game industry because it practically prints money. And it isn't as though they can hire outside Japan since they'd require someone who is fluent in Japanese. FFXIV's team is actually among the largest for any MMO on the market; surpassing even WoW. They just have decidedly few battle designers. In fact, the person who designed Chocobo racing was trained to eventually become a battle designer.

Now SE could probably throw huge amounts of money to attract the right people. But what incentive do they have when FFXIV has not only ran smoothly for years but has gained new players consistency ever since it's re-launch?

[SieyaM]

I have said it in another thread but since my last posting it seems clear here too, there is no good future for dungeons in this game. The most vocal community despises them and the developers seem to take to them, further reducing the number of them instead of redesigning them to be more engaging. Eventually we might end up with no dungeons at all in an expansion and just small solo instancted runs for MSQ and all Trials and Raiding for the rest. Even though people are trying to sell the idea that we got Ultimates pretty much for free, I don't think that is the case, even reusing assets there was time and energy involved in creating them.

[MrKusakabe]

One dungeon per patch is fine if they find another way to funnel "interest of gameplay" into.


I, for example, enjoy playing the game itself. I love to go into a Roulette, to meet strangers (and outright weirdos!) and to see if we can pull off whatever that dungeon wants us to do. I enjoy being Red Mage, I love their animations, clothes, the flow. I do not need to see new things every month. Look how long for example League of Legends is being on top of the hill with effectively only one map - the "Summoner's Rift"? I played today, it will be 9 years in a couple of months.

What I think FF needs is a long-term goal that you can do in small steps. In Guild Wars 2, there is the mastery system that I absolutely love. For those who are not familiar with it: After you finish levelling, you keep gaining EXP which you invest in personal stats. E.g. you "level" once to be able to use the glider. Then you can choose if you want to level up to use less energy/endurance while gliding, or if you have more precise steering.. This made me log in and play for 1 or 2 hours because I knew I can now glide onto places unreachable before. Other masteries were like "not being poisoned by certain fumes" or "able to understand native folk lanuage X" which unlocked merchants and NPC locked behind said mortal dangers. I'd like to evolve my Lalafell's skills further. There is a level which I think is like knowledge of the profession. And then there is the iLevel, supposed to be our equipment (duh). But our own characters are still the same. We can not swim faster or sprint longer. I'd love to skill e.g. 3% more chance for Critical Strike or adding 20 more Red Mana or whatever expands it. Making me a "Deep Red" like my mentor X'Run, not just "The Red". Set Milestones per profession. Reaching certain damage thresholds, critting this amount of times, Vercuring 100,000 HP, all this stuff. Give me "medals" that I can stick into my profile. Goals to work towards. iLevel and glamour is not enough, so people ask for one of the few combat features left: Dungeons.


There would be many possibilites to keep me playing/levelling: Level up? +10 Red Mana. Up to 150 for longer/more Enchanted Rapier fights. Or "gain 3% more Red Mana". Then 5%. 20%. Your 500th Verflare. It deals now 10% more as you gained training. +10% range and Crit of "Corps a Corps". +20% change. Acrobatic? Killing an enemy with your Rapier resets Corps a Corps/Displacement (and that other skill tied to them). Nothing would break the game as it's on top of existing skills, but it'd be so cool to have a tab in the profile adding skillpoints to it to become a "Red Mage+".





They tried that with e.g. the Zodiarc weapons, but RNG is never a good thing. I for example stopped after the 2nd upgrade because I want significant progress done by myself or with people, but not grinding fates for RNG. Also, I can think of the developers simply having a creativity fatigue. The dungeons here are super diverse, from old-school, actual dungeons like Tam Tara up to spacey Research Facilities with hexagon floor tiles like in 60s B-movies.


Sincerely,

[Omymy]

snip

[Nestama]

I have said it in another thread but since my last posting it seems clear here too, there is no good future for dungeons in this game. The most vocal community despises them and the developers seem to take to them, further reducing the number of them instead of redesigning them to be more engaging. Eventually we might end up with no dungeons at all in an expansion and just small solo instancted runs for MSQ and all Trials and Raiding for the rest. Even though people are trying to sell the idea that we got Ultimates pretty much for free, I don't think that is the case, even reusing assets there was time and energy involved in creating them.

That won't happen. I don't mind dungeons, but if sacrificing them means we may get something better, or something new, then I'll be fine with it. I've kinda been burned out on dungeons since 2.3 (as interesting Tam-Tara HM was with its story, the fights are really boring).

[Frosthaven]

I miss old school MMO dungeon crawling. I suppose dungeons have never been their strongest product offering, though.

[Schan]

That won't happen. I don't mind dungeons, but if sacrificing them means we may get something better, or something new, then I'll be fine with it.

Well the thing is some people like dungeons and if they remove one dungeon and give you something new that they absolutely hate... will those people still be okay with it or will they throw a tantrum? This will be interesting to watch.