Island Sanctuary feels intentionally slow and inefficient.

[DezereDawn]

Perhaps because there's a veritable mountain of other content to do? This is an MMORPG, not a farming simulator. Island Sanctuary isn't even the main content of the game, let alone the only content...

Okay? it still fails at being good casual content despite the fact other stuff exists, that's my point.

if content cannot stand on it's own, then it isn't good content, it may not be the main content but even as far as side content is concerned it's very, very lacking. Diadem and Ishgard restoration were far better casual content at their respective launches in SHB

[Rilifane]

My point was that it's meant to keep an even playing field between groups, not that it's catered to any particular group. And yes, they can do that but what happens when those who can play 24/7 zoom ahead while those who can't are making small bits of progress every couple of days or weekend? Would that not lead to some feeling like they can't keep up and abandon the activity all together when they realize the scope of what they need to do to get to where everyone else is?

I'd rather an online game lock progress for x amount of time to give everyone regardless of playstyle the chance to get to the same point before allowing for more content to be consumed by the whole. That's all I meant. It keeps it even. If you can't get there within the time gate then that sucks but it gives a chance at least.

Also, for the record, I'm thinking of time gating in a similar fashion to what Tower of Fantasy currently has. It gives everyone a chance to catch up to level cap before they unlock more.

Nothing. That would happen. So this random player over there has IS at max rank. Doesn't matter, doesn't make a difference.
There is no need to "keep an even playing field" for content that was specifically designed to have practically no impact on anything outside of that content. So what if someone fills their glamour dresser with fancy stuff faster than someone else? Or has collected more minions in a shorter time?
It has no impact.
Isn't one of the traits many people more on the casual side pride themselves in that they don't have the mindset of having to keep up because they're all about chill fun? Then there's no reason to timegate things hard and what Neko said, that someone could just spend an entire weekend doing nothing but IS if they feel like it has more merit than someone feeling like they "can't keep up" in casual content that was specifically designed in a way that there is nothing to keep up with - like with glam, minions, achievements, jumping puzzles, Gold Saucer etc.
None of that loses value if you are slower.

[Saraide]

It feels slow and inefficient sure, but what am I even working towards on island sanctuary? It feels like all the island is is just a piece of farmland with nothing else on it. Am I missing something?

[LaylaTsarra]

It feels slow and inefficient sure, but what am I even working towards on island sanctuary? It feels like all the island is is just a piece of farmland with nothing else on it. Am I missing something?

Rank 10 is the highest right now.There are a ton of cool rewards in addition to having a cool place to spend time in and build. I love the bath house and although this isn't ward housing it's still a fun place to spend time. I'm actually spending way too muich time there and neglecting my story clears on my alts.

[RobynDaBank]

It's been ~3 days and people are already saying it's aimless, empty and slow? I started this morning, got sucked in for a couple hours, and goodness I felt like I barely scratched the surface. It really doesn't seem like content to devour within a day. I'm fine with that. What's the point of content that's over and done with before a week is past? It's just cute side stuff, nothing worth being front and center. Just like housing.

[Iyrnthota]

My point was that it's meant to keep an even playing field between groups, not that it's catered to any particular group. And yes, they can do that but what happens when those who can play 24/7 zoom ahead while those who can't are making small bits of progress every couple of days or weekend? Would that not lead to some feeling like they can't keep up and abandon the activity all together when they realize the scope of what they need to do to get to where everyone else is?

I'd rather an online game lock progress for x amount of time to give everyone regardless of playstyle the chance to get to the same point before allowing for more content to be consumed by the whole. That's all I meant. It keeps it even. If you can't get there within the time gate then that sucks but it gives a chance at least.

Also, for the record, I'm thinking of time gating in a similar fashion to what Tower of Fantasy currently has. It gives everyone a chance to catch up to level cap before they unlock more.

I can't help but be reminded of the old Fatigue System in 1.x they had to "even" progression, whereby xp gains would be reduced over time to stop people grinding to get ahead.

Generally panned as a pretty crappy idea.

I don't think people should be prevented from grinding, if that is their prefered method of playing. The timegating doesn't bother me personally, but given the choice I would remove them altogether tbh.

[LordGiggles]

My point was that it's meant to keep an even playing field between groups, not that it's catered to any particular group. And yes, they can do that but what happens when those who can play 24/7 zoom ahead while those who can't are making small bits of progress every couple of days or weekend? Would that not lead to some feeling like they can't keep up and abandon the activity all together when they realize the scope of what they need to do to get to where everyone else is?

I'd rather an online game lock progress for x amount of time to give everyone regardless of playstyle the chance to get to the same point before allowing for more content to be consumed by the whole. That's all I meant. It keeps it even. If you can't get there within the time gate then that sucks but it gives a chance at least.

Also, for the record, I'm thinking of time gating in a similar fashion to what Tower of Fantasy currently has. It gives everyone a chance to catch up to level cap before they unlock more.

An even playing field for what though? Outside of a few cosmetics there's really nothing to even out here. It's single player content, there's zero reason to ensure that everyone plays or finishes at the same time. As much of the the thread has said, this is not serious competitive content.

I also think the logic you've given here kind of inevitably leads to supporting some other choices we clearly all agree would be a bad idea (such as a cap on how much exp or how many ms quests you can beat per day/week, or a big fish/ocean fishing point cap).

I can't imagine people so casual they quit because they don't want to play the game when others are further ahead are much of a group worth caring about here anyway. It'd be a miracle if those people even beat EW at all.

[DezereDawn]

An even playing field for what though? Outside of a few cosmetics there's really nothing to even out here. It's single player content, there's zero reason to ensure that everyone plays or finishes at the same time. As much of the the thread has said, this is not serious competitive content.

I also think the logic you've given here kind of inevitably leads to supporting some other choices we clearly all agree would be a bad idea (such as a cap on how much exp or how many ms quests you can beat per day/week, or a big fish/ocean fishing point cap).

I can't imagine people so casual they quit because they don't want to play the game when others are further ahead are much of a group worth caring about here anyway. It'd be a miracle if those people even beat EW at all.

plus, with the current iteration, anyone who didn't immediately start Sanctuary at 3AM on launch day will be perpetually behind thanks to not being able to make any effort to catch up anyways lmao, it's timegating that doesn't even lighten up over time

[Raoabolic]

It's been ~3 days and people are already saying it's aimless, empty and slow? I started this morning, got sucked in for a couple hours, and goodness I felt like I barely scratched the surface. It really doesn't seem like content to devour within a day. I'm fine with that. What's the point of content that's over and done with before a week is past? It's just cute side stuff, nothing worth being front and center. Just like housing.

It's the min/maxers who are upset that they can't churn out everything the IS has to offer without waiting. That said, the long wait for what boils down to a 3d facebook game bolted to an MMO is a bit deflating. Not to mention they go on and on about how you can customize your IS yet the customization is just the flooring and some walls, and where the buildings are placed in prepositioned areas. Also, the orchestrion music doesn't seem to play past your base (AND IT DOESN'T SAVE THE SONG, FIX IT DEVS!). All in all, if it wasn't ready for 6.0 or 6.1 I wonder what state the IS was in when 6.0 launched.

*pulls SE to the corner*
Hey, uh, you didn't have anything to show during 6.0 outside that really spiffy picture of that catgirl and tiny yellow chicken, didn't you? It's okay, we won't get mad but those issues I brought up in front of everyone really should have been dealt with during playtesting... ...You did playtest the island before release, right?

[Striker44]

Okay? it still fails at being good casual content despite the fact other stuff exists, that's my point.

if content cannot stand on it's own, then it isn't good content, it may not be the main content but even as far as side content is concerned it's very, very lacking. Diadem and Ishgard restoration were far better casual content at their respective launches in SHB

Well, massive opinion would suggest otherwise. Aside from the few posters here in this thread, I've seen nothing but people enjoying it. You for your own reasons may have a different opinion, and that's fine, but it's just that, an opinion. Something doesn't objectively "fail" because you personally didn't find it your cup of tea. Are you suggesting the thousands of other people that are thoroughly enjoying it are somehow "wrong"? Let's separate opinion from fact, eh?