Does 14 Promote a Culture of Mediocrity?

[TaleraRistain]

As to the original subject, one thing I'm not sure was mentioned since I haven't read all pages of the thread but some of these changes to streamline and simplify the class itself have allowed them to make more complex mechanics. For instance, there was always an amount of movement in trials. But that has increased exponentially over the years. So they have had to streamline some things about classes that worked against those types of mechanics. When I heard Enochian and Blood of the Dragon were becoming traits I was very happy. And I can say that doing EW trial 1 and not having to worry about maintaining either of those was such a relief. I could still screw up my rotation on both classes otherwise. They just streamlined a piece and made me not have to worry about it so I could worry about what was going on in the arena more. I would say we're seeing a shift where the complexity is focused on mechanics much more. And in doing that, the burden of complexity falls on all party members, not just the one or two who were unlucky enough to have very involved gameplay on top of having to do those mechanics.

[MiaShino]

As to the original subject, one thing I'm not sure was mentioned since I haven't read all pages of the thread but some of these changes to streamline and simplify the class itself have allowed them to make more complex mechanics. For instance, there was always an amount of movement in trials. But that has increased exponentially over the years.

I really really do not enjoy that direction much if there is honesty. I feel same way about this that I do about cannons in any old content they appear in.

I signed up to play white mage not cannon lackey or DDR with landmines. Much like all the rhythm games you will eventually memorize and perfect the dance so that it no longer occupies majority of mental faculties. After this the mind shall wander possibly to your rotation and how that can be optimized, where you may find it lacking.

This is role playing game so would most like to succeed because I fulfilled my role and not because I ran to waymark A, then waymark D, then back to H1 position at waymark C at the two minute mark.

One of most enjoyable experiences I have ever had in FF14 land comes from the final fight of Rabanastre with mostly new persons present, myself included. Ohhhhhh boy does that start off deceptively only to transform into this big huge two part gauntlet. The run through the trenches, the attrition I felt stabilizing the party, the bursts of outgoing damage towards the end healer check. One misplaced ogcd, one mistimed heal and someone would experience demise. The mind raced as I pondered holding aetherflow to actually heal instead of dumping all into energy drain. I was playing my class. I was support. I felt essential and not simply because big raid wide at thirty seconds into split buster repeating at one minute intervals.

I wish to fail because I did not white mage properly, not because I was slightly off on my figure eight through the alternating aoe circles in game notorious for latency issues.

[TaleraRistain]

I really really do not enjoy that direction much if there is honesty. I feel same way about this that I do about cannons in any old content they appear in.

I signed up to play white mage not cannon lackey or DDR with landmines. Much like all the rhythm games you will eventually memorize and perfect the dance so that it no longer occupies majority of mental faculties. After this the mind shall wander possibly to your rotation and how that can be optimized, where you may find it lacking.

This is role playing game so would most like to succeed because I fulfilled my role and not because I ran to waymark A, then waymark D, then back to H1 position at waymark C at the two minute mark.

One of most enjoyable experiences I have ever had in FF14 land comes from the final fight of Rabanastre with mostly new persons present, myself included. Ohhhhhh boy does that start off deceptively only to transform into this big huge two part gauntlet. The run through the trenches, the attrition I felt stabilizing the party, the bursts of outgoing damage towards the end healer check. One misplaced ogcd, one mistimed heal and someone would experience demise. The mind raced as I pondered holding aetherflow to actually heal instead of dumping all into energy drain. I was playing my class. I was support. I felt essential and not simply because big raid wide at thirty seconds into split buster repeating at one minute intervals.

I wish to fail because I did not white mage properly, not because I was slightly off on my figure eight through the alternating aoe circles in game notorious for latency issues.

NGL I'm not hot on the trend myself. It lost me my gaming buddy. My hubby just got too much sensory overload with everything going on and couldn't keep up, so it wasn't fun anymore. He quit after 5.3.

I can see the benefit in spreading out the responsibility because I do think it was unfairly burdensome on more complex classes in the past to have to do their class gameplay *and* the fight gameplay. But like you said, the DDR with landmines gameplay loses its complexity when you memorize the pattern and get the muscle memory down. I think that's why as a fellow WHM main, I enjoy PUGs and especially running with new folks. There's that element of the unexpected in a group that's struggling that really tests my ability to adapt. I'm not sure how SE could fix this, outside of adding in more randomness to fights, which comes with its own set of problems.

[Arillyn]

I really really do not enjoy that direction much if there is honesty. I feel same way about this that I do about cannons in any old content they appear in.

I signed up to play white mage not cannon lackey or DDR with landmines. Much like all the rhythm games you will eventually memorize and perfect the dance so that it no longer occupies majority of mental faculties. After this the mind shall wander possibly to your rotation and how that can be optimized, where you may find it lacking.

This is role playing game so would most like to succeed because I fulfilled my role and not because I ran to waymark A, then waymark D, then back to H1 position at waymark C at the two minute mark.

One of most enjoyable experiences I have ever had in FF14 land comes from the final fight of Rabanastre with mostly new persons present, myself included. Ohhhhhh boy does that start off deceptively only to transform into this big huge two part gauntlet. The run through the trenches, the attrition I felt stabilizing the party, the bursts of outgoing damage towards the end healer check. One misplaced ogcd, one mistimed heal and someone would experience demise. The mind raced as I pondered holding aetherflow to actually heal instead of dumping all into energy drain. I was playing my class. I was support. I felt essential and not simply because big raid wide at thirty seconds into split buster repeating at one minute intervals.

I wish to fail because I did not white mage properly, not because I was slightly off on my figure eight through the alternating aoe circles in game notorious for latency issues.

I have to agree. My reflexes are not what they used to be and the DDR trend is making it more and more apparent. And then if I'm also dealing with any latency issues at the time, I'm really gonna be dead on the floor. And I've been dead on the floor A LOT more than normal this expansion. I apologize to everyone I've been in DF/PF with and I've hit the floor!