FFXI vs FFXIV Difficulty

[Haydest]

Here is my view on it. Everyone is trying to be like WoW or pandering to casual play or free play with micro transactions. FFXI was set apart from the crowd because of its incredibly difficult game progression. True it did turn off COUNTLESS possible players. Hell I remember getting frustrated just trying to install the damn game. In the end though that is what made FXI unique and those players who did last a month, stayed for years and years and years. Sure the model is not going to net as many subscribers as an easier client but the ones you do get will pay out the nose until you shut down the servers.

FFXIV tried to go the way of the casual and look what happened. They already have a die hard core player base in FFXI who would just kill for a FFXI-2 plus whatever new blood they would lure in with this new shiny games challenging difficulty. Without a doubt they would be in much better shape then we are right now. It is only because SE is stubborn as mule this project didn't flatline 2 months after launch.

Going back to what they know, what their fans like, and at this point is the safest route is to make this more like FFXI. A fact we're seeing with each new patch as they begin to move back to the original design.

You are dead silly if you think FFXIV flopped because the game was trying to be casual; if ANYTHING the game is far more casual now than it was at launch. Rested EXP bonus that is far superior to the utter-crap system that was Guardian's Aspect? Increased EXP through leve's and the implementation of power-leveling? Whether you argue PLing was intentional or not, the dev's seemed neutral about it to the point that it still exists today.

AF armor is far more accessible in this game than it was in XI; if you played during NA launch you practically had to beg high level Japanese players to help you finish it because lord knows your static party and LS was likely not strong enough to complete the body piece NM.

FFXIV flopped because the game was shipped incomplete that only a small percentage of PC users could even run; the PS3 version was not even done at the point (still isn't, arguably speaking) and alienated a good proportion of players. The UI was clunky, there was terrible server and input lag as well as possibly the worst implemented player market in the history of MMO's.

Once again, stop mistaking that long grinds, and tedious boredom equals to hardcore whereas simplicity must mean casual. I did 4 years of HNMLS in FFXI and at least 5 years of WoW raiding before my real life situation forced me into a less reliable schedule. There were a number of encounters in both that games that I could have said were challenging and also say they were easy.

People stuck with XI because of the people they made connections with and because of the terrible RNG (not ranger) system that made them kill Fafnir 97 times to get a Ridill, not because it was hard. Let's not count how many times (and hours of sleep lost) it took them even claim the HNM.

Don't believe me? You can still find the livejournals of plenty of these 'hardcore' FFXI raiders online. If you slowly go through their entries, you'll find that by the end--most of them agreed that the game just became a tedious job.

[Zaaku]

You are dead silly if you think FFXIV flopped because the game was trying to be casual; if ANYTHING the game is far more casual now than it was at launch. Rested EXP bonus that is far superior to the utter-crap system that was Guardian's Aspect? Increased EXP through leve's and the implementation of power-leveling? Whether you argue PLing was intentional or not, the dev's seemed neutral about it to the point that it still exists today.

AF armor is far more accessible in this game than it was in XI; if you played during NA launch you practically had to beg high level Japanese players to help you finish it because lord knows your static party and LS was likely not strong enough to complete the body piece NM.

FFXIV flopped because the game was shipped incomplete that only a small percentage of PC users could even run; the PS3 version was not even done at the point (still isn't, arguably speaking) and alienated a good proportion of players. The UI was clunky, there was terrible server and input lag as well as possibly the worst implemented player market in the history of MMO's.

Once again, stop mistaking that long grinds, and tedious boredom equals to hardcore whereas simplicity must mean casual. I did 4 years of HNMLS in FFXI and at least 5 years of WoW raiding before my real life situation forced me into a less reliable schedule. There were a number of encounters in both that games that I could have said were challenging and also say they were easy.

People stuck with XI because of the people they made connections with and because of the terrible RNG (not ranger) system that made them kill Fafnir 97 times to get a Ridill, not because it was hard. Let's not count how many times (and hours of sleep lost) it took them even claim the HNM.

Don't believe me? You can still find the livejournals of plenty of these 'hardcore' FFXI raiders online. If you slowly go through their entries, you'll find that by the end--most of them agreed that the game just became a tedious job.

FFXI became tedious at the highest level of the hardest to contend with HNMs. The basic gameplay and leveling progression along with story lines were enhanced by the balls to the walls difficulty. Was needing a 6 man party to get a low level rare/ex item annoying? At time but that is also where all those great FFXI memories stem from. The fact that you were utterly incapable of doing anything alone meant that you were ALWAYS with your LS trying to help someone. When 5 people spend 2 hours of their time to help YOU specifically it really makes you bond with them.

FXIV floptastic start may have been largely due to rushed game syndrome but lets not forget that intellectual abortion of a Fatigue system which was intentionally put in place to make the game accessible to casual players while still trying to maintain their hard core subscribers. The entire system revolved around the idea that the guy with 10 hours a week could be on the same level as a someone with 40 hours in terms of character level was forced on us. Along with the leve system to regulate player's progression so those with more time didn't shoot ahead created an atmosphere of hurry up and wait. Do your leves and afk for 30 minutes until another behest rolled around.

For all those bright eyed eager FFXI players who were trying out the new game it left the taste of shit and suntan lotion in their mouths. Myself among them. I think we would do well with a radical difficulty ramp up. Get back to the idea that you had to play out the Fantasy in a PARTY. Which every single FF title before and since has revolved around.