Please grow the MMO part of the game. End game is lousy.

[Theodric]

I can't help but look at the difference between the games developers and game philosophy and wonder if in fact that is the reason.

I doubt it, given that many of the same problems are beginning to manifest here as well.

One of the biggest criticisms of World of Warcraft by many was the lack of consistency in the story and the bizarre decisions to turn even well liked characters into raid and dungeon bosses. To say nothing of how poorly the decision to resort to weird and contrived time travel as the justification for an entire expansion. Tying everything to 'Old Gods' was also criticised...as well as various other factors, such as Sylvanas and Jaina being pushed as victims when they decided to indulge in a bit of genocide. It's particularly revolting in Jaina's case given that her target was the Blood Elves - a race that was not only the most popular pick for Horde characters but was only a part of the Horde in the first place due to the Alliance already trying to wipe them out through no fault of their own.

So, bringing the discussion back to FFXIV...much of the above is now present in FFXIV as well. The weird attempts to excuse genocide when Venat is responsible for it, the contrived time travel, everything being linked to the Ancients to the point of considerable character agency being lost in the process and so on.

Of course, not everybody will agree but as someone who played WoW before I played FFXIV and only decided to play FFXIV because it seemed to take itself more seriously? I'm wary, especially since I'm seeing the exact same arguable trajectory taking place.

[Lauront]

It's hard to make a full assessment based only on what was said in the LL. My take is that given the trend for people to play MMOs as an increasingly "Alone Among Many" experience rather than the early generation experience of needing to have people to progress, I wouldn't be surprised that they've decided beefing up the Trust system is a sort of future-proofing. When it comes to social interaction in general content, I hardly experience any; even when I'm in an all EN party. The only time I get any real interaction with non FC members is in RP or general "hang out" locations while waiting for queues and such. This has created a situation where, at least for me, DF groups are essentially glorified Trusts that get things done faster and earn more tomestones.

Making all MSQ duty content either solo/quest duties or doable 100% via Trusts is a good thing in my book. Leaving everything else to DF/PF isn't a bad thing, but if they make all dungeons etc available with an option to be Trusts with an Adventurer's Guild squad, I'd be down with that.

We'll see how it pans out in practice. My view for a while has been that it would be nice if they could put MSQ trials through the trust system so that the normal DF mode isn't so constrained in difficulty, but that would require them to actually treat it as a separate mode of difficulty more or less... although there's easy ways to do that. So that aspect of it, if used that way, would be good in my eyes too, but I'd like to know what else this will entail.

[Illmaeran]

We'll see how it pans out in practice. My view for a while has been that it would be nice if they could put MSQ trials through the trust system so that the normal DF mode isn't so constrained in difficulty, but that would require them to actually treat it as a separate mode of difficulty more or less... although there's easy ways to do that. So that aspect of it, if used that way, would be good in my eyes too, but I'd like to know what else this will entail.

Why do you always have to be reasonable and well-written; it makes it hard to come up with inflammatory arguments to your points!! *grin*

I'm looking forward to more information in the future. Right now the only thing I really care about is Island Sanctuaries, I need info NOW!!

[Ath192]

"Alone Among Many"

How to summarize the modern MMO era gameplay in 3 words.

[Skiros]

But whose forums would you troll then?

Bruh I don't even troll now! People just get mad at me easily. To be fair I know how I come across and it's grating for people but I don't care!

[ASkellington]

We'll see how it pans out in practice. My view for a while has been that it would be nice if they could put MSQ trials through the trust system so that the normal DF mode isn't so constrained in difficulty, but that would require them to actually treat it as a separate mode of difficulty more or less... although there's easy ways to do that. So that aspect of it, if used that way, would be good in my eyes too, but I'd like to know what else this will entail.

This is my hope as well. I don't see it happening if I'm going to be brutally honest, but I for one would welcome it. Let people do trusts for the easier content and those that want a challenge can do dungeons/trials normally.

[Ath192]

Bruh I don't even troll now! People just get mad at me easily. To be fair I know how I come across and it's grating for people but I don't care!

I mean the tags you put at the bottom of the thread don't help your case here lol. But I personally don't mind your threads. Everyone has the right to post in public discussion forums. Not that external opinions matter.

[Catwho]

I would be more hesitant about this if it was being done at the expense of other content. But it's not. If the live letter was correct, they have two Ultimates planned for the 6.X series, so they listened to those who complained about the lack of really really hard content as well.

Adding a trust option to the lower and middle levels to allow the game to be played as if it was a single player MMO is not going to have any impact on those who are doing Savage or Ultimate, since it's two different demographics.

They also likely plan to hook people in with the HW free trial -> Upgrade to full game and get 30 days free combo. Even if that person never pays another dollar for the sub fee, by purchasing the game they've already pay more money than they would have before.

[Equitable_Remedy]

Timid, single-player 'holdouts' are a drop in the ocean in comparison.

The great thing about the internet is that allows people to be both obviously wrong and extremely confident at the same time.

Telling the company that makes the FINAL FANTASY series that no one plays single-player games is the hottest of takes.

[Skiros]

I mean the tags you put at the bottom of the thread don't help your case here lol. But I personally don't mind your threads. Everyone has the right to post in public discussion forums. Not that external opinions matter.

Those aren't put up by me. If you hover over those tags you can see the names of the people who put them up.